“Are you actually serious?”
He looked offended.
“Do you think I’d mess with you about something like this?”
Shame washed over Hope.
“No, and thanks. I-I just don’t know what to say. How is this even possible?”
“You’re good at what you do, everyone’s told us that,” Annabelle said. “And John knew who you were when Ethan told him your name. He’s keen to come and work with you.”
“Really?” Hope couldn’t get her head around it.
“Really.”
“You people are too nice,” she felt duty bound to say. “I don’t get it. I mean, I’m nothing to you. How come you’re helping me? This is not supplying two tickets to a movie, this is way more.”
“Sure, I get that. But the thing is, John’s a cool guy. Of course he’s Texan, and related, so that’s a given.”
“Can I ask you one other favor, Ethan?”
“Shoot.”
“Don’t tell him about my dismissal or what happened with Jay at Wildlife. Please,” she added, as she saw he looked doubtful. “I don’t want him to have any preconceived ideas about me, or that I could be trouble.”
“He won’t, because I’ve told him about you, and that you’re nice.”
“I don’t want his pity. Sure, you got him here, but I want him to want to work with me.”
“Honey, you don’t know much about Texans, do you?”
She shook her head.
“Lion’s my cousin. If I say someone’s a nice person he’d know it for the truth.”
“Lion?”
“He used to get about in his lion hat as a child. It just kind of stuck with family.”
She couldn’t believe they were discussingtheJohn Finch. She’d obsessed over his work for years.
“Is he pulling out the Texan card again?”
She tried not to stiffen, but it happened anyway as Newman arrived.
“What are you doing here?” Annabelle said.
“Picking up takeout, as I couldn’t be bothered cooking. Saw your car, thought I’d have a beer.”
It all sounded simple, and likely was; the problem was, Hope felt suddenly tense because they hadn’t spoken, not seriously, since they’d slept together.
“Just letting her know that John agreed to come to Howling.”
“Nice work.”
The Texan nodded, then got to his feet and held out a hand to Annabelle.
“Sorry, bud, the wife’s tired, so we’re heading home. Hope will keep you company.”
