She shook her head. “Not where I come from. You told me you weren’t feeling the fitness center. Now you’re in talks with the city to make it happen? Sounds like lying to me.” She turned to open her door.
“Now hold on.”
The desperation in Hank’s voice stopped her.
“That call I got while we were having lunch was from my agent. My...” He shifted from one foot to the other. “My series has been canceled.”
She wanted to get in the car and speed off, leaving him in her dust. She wanted to indulge in a good cry followed by a large container of peanut butter ice cream. She wanted toforget she had ever met Hank Haverill. But something stopped her. Some tiny bit of empathy. Acting was Hank’s life just as Grandma Lou’s was hers. Her hand stilled on the door. She glanced at him over her shoulder. “So you decided maybe you’d better open the fitness center anyway, right?”
“Look, nothing’s decided. But the last thing I want to do is put you out of business. I said I’d rent to you and the other tenants until I figure out what I’m doing. I meant it. Can’t we just ignore the press for one night?”
She turned to face him, releasing all the pain, frustration, and heartache of the last few years in a single moment like she’d lifted the lid on a sealed pressure cooker. Tears stung her eyes. “No, Hank,wecan’t. This place” —she flung a hand toward the building—“is my livelihood. Travis’s too. It’s all we have left. It’s all that’s left of our parents and grandparents too. I can’t justpretendeverything’s fine. If you mean what you say, then put it in writing.”
She would not cry in front of him. She would not. Bethany opened her car door. She needed to get home and put this sorry mess of a day behind her.
“Beth, wait.”
She made the mistake of sparing him a glance. He stood next to her, his hands in his pockets again. He looked lonely and...lost.
She let out her breath in a huff. “What?”
“I meant what I said. I’ll have my lawyers draw up a lease agreement, which I’ll sign, but in return, you have to do something for me.”
She settled her hands on her hips and curled her lip. “Like what?”
“Give me a lift home.”
She frowned and looked toward the street as if a vehicle might appear. “You don’t have a car?”
“No, my driver dropped me off. I’d hoped to catch a ride home with you after.”
Bethany tightened her hands into fists. Had he thought he could charm his way into a sleepover? Enjoy a late dinner and then get her into bed? In that case, he wouldn’t have needed a ride home. She understood. A TV star like Hank was used to getting what he wanted—including adoring fans throwing themselves into his arms every day.
He must have caught a glimpse of anger on her face because he waved a hand. “Never mind. Forget it. I’ll call my driver. My hotel’s not far.”
She hesitated. He said he would sign a lease agreement, which would guarantee she would be able to rent for the next few months. Long enough for her to learn if she’d won the contest and had the money to repurchase the building. All she had to do was give him a short ride to his hotel. Seemed like an easy enough trade. “You’ll sign a two-month lease agreement?”
“Yeah.” He nodded his handsome head and seemed almost embarrassed. “I’ll have my attorney draw up the agreement and get it to you to sign tomorrow.”
She hooked her thumb toward the passenger seat and sighed. “Hop in.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Hank’s stomach twisted like a wrung-out washrag, but he ignored the unusual sensation, putting it down to indigestion. He’d eaten quite a few cookies today. It couldn’t be because Bethany thought he was a liar. Up until this morning, she’d been a stranger. Why should he care what she thought?
“Where are you staying?” she said, her voice clipped. She stared at the road ahead, her profile severe.
“The Ritz-Carlton.” He settled his head against the cloth headrest and watched her small hands on the wheel. Capable hands. She kept her nails short and unpainted.
“That’s what I thought. It’s not far. I’ll drop you off at the front.”
He turned to look at her. “Why did you think I’d stay at the Ritz?”
Now she did flick a glance his way before giving him her profile again. “It’s the most expensive hotel in the city.”
Like staying in a nice hotel was a sin. He sighed. Her bad opinion of him was worse than the critics in his last review. Like he was all fluff and no substance. What didshe want from him? Did she expect him to beg? He tugged on his seat belt, which tightened around his neck like a noose. Fine, he would beg.
“Beth, let’s call a truce. Please.”
