Hank picked up a stone and tossed it into the lake. The breeze ruffled his hair. “She’s used to my travel schedule. I’m not at home much. It won’t be my first trip here or the last. She’s paid well to organize my life.”
“I bet Elizabeth’s not happy you’re sticking around.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I don’t know. She seemed anxious to get things settled.”
“She is. I haven’t made it easy on her by hiding in your kitchen. She works hard to make sure I get the right publicity. One wrong story could damage my career and tank hers along with it.”
Bethany stopped to dip her toes in the lake. Although it was a warm night, the water was cold, and that and Hank’s concerns sent a chill through her body. The threat of his career ending reminded her of his plans to open the fitness center. “Is your career in trouble?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. My agent calls it a dry spell. I try not to think about it. If I did, I’d drive myself nuts.”
“Is that why you’re planning to renovate our building and start your new business venture, so you’ll have another source of income?”
Hank turned and grabbed her hands, catching her off-guard. She gasped at the feeling, so warm and solid against her skin. “I’m not putting you out of business. I don’t screw over my friends.”
She kept her hands in his, but it was too dark to see the expression on his face. Surprise carved a hollow in her gut. “So you’ll fix the building and let me rent?”
He squeezed her fingers. “I’d like to.”
Hope rose like a fragile bubble in her throat.
“But it won’t last forever.”
The bubble burst, sending a surge of fear through her body. She pulled her hands from his and wrapped them around her middle.
“Listen, if I don’t open Fitaholics, I’ll need to sell the building at a profit. My financial advisor says I’ve got too many expenses at the moment to hang onto it forever. If you have the money, I’m more than willing to sell the building toyou first. If not, I’ll need to look for another buyer. I’ll try to find one who will rent to you and the others.”
Bethany drew a shaky breath. “How long do I have?”
Hank toed the sand. “I need to make a decision in the next couple of months. I heard you’re entering a baking contest with a large cash reward for the winner?”
“Boy, news sure travels fast. That’s right. I’m entering my Grandma Lou’s chocolate cake with buttercream frosting in a baking contest sponsored by Fresh & Easy, one of the largest cake manufacturers. Deadline is Friday. Finalists will be notified in two weeks, and the winning restaurant will be announced a few days later.”
“How much could you win?”
Five hundred thousand. How much are you looking for?”
Hank sighed and shined the flashlight at the lake. “At least $1 million. But I’ll tell you what. You win the contest, I’ll figure out a way for you to make payments until you own it.”
“You will?” Bethany walked to where he stood waving the flashlight beam back and forth on the water, her heart pounding.
He flicked a glance her way. “Sure.”
Was there a catch? She waited for him to elaborate, but instead he pointed the beam at the night sky. “Do you believe in wishing on stars?”
He turned the flashlight off, and dozens of twinkling lights could be seen in the inky darkness, reminding her of an old poem her grandma used to recite:Night let its sable curtains down and pinned them with a star.Looking at the vast universe, she could almost believe in wishes. “I’d like to. Do you?”
“Well, that depends.”
She turned to look at him, but she couldn’t see anything in the dark, and his deep voice held secrets. “What do you mean?”
“It depends on your answer to what I wished for just now.”
Her throat tightened. Had he wished for a roll in the sack? Somehow, she suspected Hank’s offer of friendship came with a price. She steeled her heart for whatever he was about to say. “What is it?”
“I wished you’d come back in the house and watch TV with me for a little while.”
