A groan sounded from the couch. Hank waited to see if Bethany was waking up, but she stilled.
“That’s none of your business. I just got out of one relationship. The last thing I need or want is another.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
Hank could picture Elizabeth rolling her eyes and filing her nails. “What’s there to kid about? I’m serious.”
“Oh yeah? That’s what you said about Melanie, remember? You and she were just gonna be friends. Next thing I know, you’re moving in together, and look how long thatlasted. Now we gotta deal with the fallout from her pissed-off father and a lawsuit.”
“That was different. Melanie’s Hollywood. Bethany is”—Hank turned back to the family room—“a real friend. She takes my mind off everything.”
“You may think of her as a friend, but she’s female and she’s human.”
Hank leaned against the wall. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Elizabeth managed to sound sharp and bored at the same time. This personality trait of cutting through the bullshit was one of the reasons he liked having her around. But for some reason, he found himself clenching his jaw.
“It means, you’ll break her heart. You always do.”
Hank straightened. “That’s ridiculous. Melanie’s not heartbroken, she’s mad.”
“Take it from me, Hank. She was heartbroken first. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and all that. The best thing you can do is to stay far, far away from this poor girl. You’re vulnerable—and on the rebound.”
“She’s not a rebound.” His voice came out louder than he wanted. Hank glanced again at Bethany. She lay in the same spot, unmoving. He turned away and lowered his voice. “I won’t break her heart. I’m not looking for a serious relationship. Besides, she doesn’t even like me. I’m threatening her livelihood.”
Elizabeth scoffed. “Oh, she likes you all right. You’re worth millions.”
“She’s not after my money.”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth’s tone sharpened. In Hollywood, people were catty and selfish and generally full of themselves.
“I mean she cares about people, Elizabeth. She’s feeding the hungry out of her restaurant.”
Elizabeth huffed. “Okay, point taken.”
“Great, you see where I’m coming from?”
“No, I see she doesn’t have much business sense.” Hank pictured Elizabeth grinding her teeth. “Which is all the more reason why you should stay away from the girl. Hank, I’m not trying to rain on your parade. But this is your career we’re talking about. Bethany Parker will be yet another drain on your finances. You’re already having second thoughts about opening Fitaholics. Next, you’ll be giving her back the building.”
Hank opened the fridge and found the cheesecake. He scooped a slice on a plate and nabbed a fork from the drawer.
“Hank Haverill, you have not agreed to give away the building, have you?”
“No,” he mumbled around a bite of cheesecake. He would up his workout tomorrow.
Elizabeth snorted. “Hank. . .”
“Listen, she’s entering her grandma’s restaurant in a baking contest that could earn five hundred grand in prize money. I told herifshe wins the contest andifI sell the building, I’d sell to her. She’s aware I need to make a profit whatever I do. What’s the big deal?”
“The deal is you’re supposed to be shelving this project and returning to LA, not giving the building away to charity.”
Now it was Hank’s turn to roll his eyes. “This is not charity, Elizabeth. For God’s sake, I’m not gifting her the building. If I decide to sell it to her, she’ll pay for it just like any other buyer. If she can’t purchase it, I’ll find someonewho can.”
Hank finished the cheesecake and put his dish in the sink. Despite what he’d threatened Bethany with earlier, the service he hired would do the dishes in the morning.
“Ah, Hank.” Elizabeth sounded disappointed.
He sighed and leaned against the sink. He didn’t know what he felt for Bethany. He hardly knew her. He tried again to provide some rational explanation Elizabeth might believe—or maybe he was trying to convince himself. “She amuses me, that’s all. A distraction. I’ve had too much stress.”
