Chapter Twenty-One
“Mama?”
Hank took off his hat and let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding.
Rosie sobbed and smoothed a hand across Tia’s forehead where she lay in the hospital bed, hooked up to countless machines. “Gracias a Dios. You’re awake. How do you feel?”
“Good. Is that Mr. Hank?”
“Yes, pequena. He saved your life.”
“You almost died,” Tana said, crowding in next to her mother. “I was scared. So was Miss Bethany.”
Hank noticed Tana still clutched Bethany’s hand, her pale face streaked with tears. Now that the crisis had passed, his brain began to function again.
“What do you think caused it?” Rosie asked the doctor, a middle-aged woman in scrubs.
“We won’t know for sure until we’ve completed all of our tests, but nuts are a common allergen, and you mentioned there was a pistachio dessert?”
Daphne gasped, and Hank’s eyes met hers. “I brought a pistachio dessert. I had no idea the child was allergic.”
“Has your daughter ever eaten them before?”
Rosie looked at Tia. “Tia, did you eat the pistachio cake?”
Tia’s face dropped like she’d done something wrong.
“It’s okay if you did,” Bethany said. “Your mom isn’t mad. She just needs to give the doctor the right information.”
The child fingered the sheets. “Yes. It made my tongue feel weird.”
“That’s most likely the cause, but we’ll confirm,” the doctor said to Rosie.
“In the meantime, you and your daughter must be extremely vigilant to make sure she never comes in contact with pistachios again or ingests them. You’ll also need to have an EpiPen on hand.
Tonight’s emergency could have been fatal.
She was lucky this gentleman reacted so quickly to her distress.
” She squinted at Hank. “Don’t I know you from somewhere? ”
Hank wiped his hands on his jeans and suppressed a sigh. Of all the times for him to be recognized.
Hank was grateful when Travis jumped in to explain. “Television. This is Hank Haverill. You know—Apollo.”
The doctor’s eyes lit up like it was the Fourth of July. “That’s it. I knew I recognized you from somewhere. So you’re a hero on screen and off now, aren’t you?”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” Hank said.
“He is our hero.” Rosie gave Hank a tremulous smile. “I don’t know what we would have done without you. Thank you, Hank.” She held her hand out to him.
Hank took it and squeezed. Warmth flooded his chest. “It was nothing.”
“It was not nothing, Hank,” Bethany said, her eyes like shining twin stars. “What you did tonight was truly amazing. You saved Tia’s life. We—I thank you.”
Bethany’s words from the kitchen floated in his mind: I can’t do this with you.
Hank’s gaze met hers. For a moment, the room disappeared.
He hadn’t done what he’d done to earn Bethany’s approval.
His reactions had been instinctive—a summer of first-aid training in Boy Scouts brought to life.
He hadn’t thought beyond that. And he would not wish the last hour over again.
But the way Bethany looked at him now—it made him feel like he could scale a mountain or leap tall buildings in a single bound.
“I’m so sorry I brought that dessert. You were wonderful.” Daphne hooked her arm through his. “A real superstar. Everyone needs to know what a hero you are.”
Hank blinked. He’d forgotten she was in the room. “I wasn’t alone. All of you helped.”
“But you’re the man of the hour, aren’t you?” She gave him a smooch.
His female costars and rabid fans were easy with their affections, kissing his face and draping their arms around him all the time. He’d never enjoyed it, but even less now with Bethany’s eyes on him. Daphne’s flirting seemed outrageous and wrong. He removed his arm from hers, ignoring her pout.
“Let’s allow Tia some rest now,” the doctor said. “We’ll keep her here overnight for observation. However, if all is well, she should be able to go home tomorrow.” She looked at Rosie. “You’re welcome to stay in the room if you’d like.”
Rosie nodded.
“We brought you an overnight bag,” Bethany said. “You should have everything you need. Tana can stay with me tonight. I’ll bring her by in the morning.”
Travis spoke up. “You and Daphne need a lift home?”
And that’s how Hank ended the night squashed between Daphne and Tana in the back of Bethany’s tiny Toyota.
Bethany told herself Hank was off-limits. He was too theatrical, too larger-than-life. Too used to being doted on by the opposite sex and getting whatever he wanted.
But seeing him in the backseat of her Toyota—this large man, used to roomy, expensive vehicles with a driver, scrunched between a yawning five-year-old and a woman who wanted nothing more than to strip him naked—made him seem vulnerable.
Her eyes kept meeting his in the rearview mirror before he caught her at it, and she shifted her gaze back to the road.
“I’ll take Tana home first,” she said to Travis. “It’s after one, and she’s falling asleep. I’ll get her to bed, and you can drop off Daphne and Hank at Rosie’s so they can get their cars.”
“Oh, I didn’t bring a car,” Hank said. “There’s only one at Rosie’s, and it’s Daphne’s, not mine.”
“I can give you a ride, Hank honey.”
Bethany tried to stop herself from glancing into the back seat and failed. Daphne had her chest pressed against Hank’s shoulder. Hank’s eyes met hers, and he had the audacity to grin before turning to Daphne.
“Kind of you, but my ride is already on its way. Beth can drop me off at her house, and I’ll be picked up there. Travis can take you along to fetch your car. As long as that’s okay with you all?” He directed the last bit toward the front.
“Sure,” Bethany said. Did her voice sound a little breathless?
Daphne persisted. “Couldn’t your driver give me a ride to my car?”
“Afraid not. I need my beauty sleep. I have to be in the gym tomorrow by 7 a.m.”
“What gym do you go to? Maybe I could tag along?”
Bethany couldn’t imagine how Hank would untangle himself from Daphne’s suggestion without being rude.
“Sorry, my workouts are intense, and I can’t afford distractions. I always work out alone.”
She should have realized a woman like Daphne would prove no match for Hank. He appeared to have plenty of practice in dealing with clingy females.
Ten minutes later, she swung into her driveway and put the car in park. “Home sweet home.”
Travis stretched and opened his door. “I’ll carry Tana into the house.”
But Hank was halfway out of the car with the sleeping child in his arms. “I’ve got her. You okay to drop off Daphne?”
Travis raised his brows at Bethany until she gave a slight nod, indicating she would be fine. “Sure,” he told Hank.
Moments later, she and Hank had Tana in the house and tucked away in Bethany’s bed for the night. She left a nightlight on in case the child woke and was afraid or needed to use the bathroom.
She gestured for Hank to precede her, and then she followed him into her family room. His presence dominated the small space. The room seemed to shrink and take all the oxygen with it. She rubbed her neck and struggled to think. “How much longer until your ride gets here?”
He checked his cell phone. “Fifteen minutes.”
Bethany pointed to the couch. “Why don’t you grab a seat. Thirsty?”
“Don’t wait on me. You’re exhausted. Sit and rest.” He patted the spot next to him.
She shouldn’t sit that close to him, but she was too worn out to remember why. “Thank you again for saving Tia’s life. I’m so grateful you were there. You were amazing.”
“Grateful enough to tell me what you meant in the kitchen earlier tonight?”
His deep voice sent a chill through her body. Her cheeks warmed, so she bowed her head to hide from his sharp eyes. “I’m not sure.”
The soapy smell of Hank’s aftershave hit her senses like a cool breeze.
“You said you can’t be with me? Why?”
Several thoughts flashed through her mind in quick succession, starting with: I’m too busy with the business, moving to: You’re my landlord, and ending on: I promised Elizabeth.
All were valid excuses, but gazing into his ocean-blue eyes turned those ideas to mush.
She finally managed, “I’m not interested in a one-night stand. ”
Something glittered in his eyes. Disappointment? Hurt? Anger? Whatever it was, he shook his head. “If that’s all I wanted, don’t you think we’d have done the deed by now?”
Irritation swept through her bloodstream.
Did he think her such an easy target? She straightened her spine.
“That’s just like an egotistical actor. What makes you think you’d get that far with me?
Not every woman would take their top off at the thought of spending the night with the glorious god Apollo. ”
As soon as she flung the words at him, she regretted them. He’d saved Tia’s life tonight, and all she could do was hurl accusations.
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. I know you think all celebrities are slime-buckets, but if all I wanted was sex, don’t you think I would have moved on long ago?” He spoke as if his words took him by surprise. “I’ve stayed in Cleveland when my agent and publicist want me to return to LA.”
“Hank—”
“I’ve asked for your friendship—even watched my TV show with you.”
“Hank—”
“Do you really think I’d spend time getting to know you if all I wanted was a one-night stand?”
“Hank, it’s late, I’m tired. I didn’t mean to be hurtful.”
“Then be honest. Why can’t we spend time together? What are you afraid of?” His eyes held hers, demanding answers. And really, what would be the point in keeping secrets? Hank said he wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship.
Bethany wished she could invent a lie and make it sound convincing. But lies deserted her, so she resorted to the ugly truth.
Blood rushed to her face, and her cheeks burned, but she didn’t flinch from his hard gaze. “I promised Elizabeth I’d stay away from you.”