“That’s a shame.” He licked the chocolate on his lips.
She gritted her teeth and moved toward him. “Yes, it is.”
He did not live here. Did not understand the needs of the neighborhood. Did not know how hard her immigrant grandparents had worked to build a successful business. Did not know how much her parents had struggled to keep it going so they could pass it on to her and Travis. Did not know about the homeless community she and Travis called friends, who visited the pantry and ate in the restaurant each week.
This man reeked of health and Hollywood. He was the farthest thing from homeless she had ever seen. He wouldn’t know a good deed if it clobbered him over his handsome head.
“Well...” He stretched his long arms as if to taunt her, showing off the definition in his biceps. “I do appreciate you letting me hang out in your kitchen.”
He had no idea how much they had struggled over thelast year to keep the lights on and the bills paid, only to have the bank foreclose on the mortgage.
“Funny.” Bethany stood in front of him and folded her arms across her chest. “I wouldn’t labelhidingin my kitchen as hanging out.”
How annoying: She had to look up to see Hank’s expression. It went from innocence to puzzlement to understanding.
“Oh, I’ve upset you.”
“Yes.” She blasted him with her grimmest stare. “Although ‘upset’ is too weak a word for what I’m feeling.” She pointed her finger at him. “How dare you come intomyrestaurant, hide inmykitchen, eatmymacaron cookies, and have the audacity to ask for a glass of milk frommyrefrigerator.”
He studied her pointed finger, an odd glint in his eyes. “But milk and cookies go so well together.”
“Why are you hiding in my kitchen?”
“Well...” He came closer. Too close. He smelled of chocolate and spice and everything nice.
Bethany stood her ground even when he gave her another heart-stopping grin. She would not be wowed by Hank Haverill in her kitchen. She refused to be.
“There weren’t a lot of places to hide.” His voice was as smooth as her grandma’s buttercream frosting.
“Actually, I don’t particularly care why you were hiding. I want to know if you’re planning to put me out of business.”
“Not if you’re good.” He flashed an amused grin.
“Don’t play with me. Your publicist said you’re planning to open a fitness center in this spot.”
“Elizabeth has a lot of grand ideas. She wants the best for me.”
He smoothed a hand down his hair, but despite his best efforts, a portion still stuck in the air. He looked tired—like he’d not slept in weeks, even though Bethany was certain he’d napped in her kitchen. Seeing his weariness made her want to lick her palm and flatten it against his hair like her mother used to do for her and Travis, God rest her soul.
Bethany stuffed her hand behind her back so she wouldn’t be tempted.Always mothering, she could hear Travis say. It was her worst failing. That and a certain stubbornness that kept her in Tremont when so many had left. “So you’re not going to open some place called Fitaholics?”
“I don’t think so. Does that earn me a glass of milk?”
He looked so sweet and boyish, like a child begging for a toy, that Bethany almost laughed aloud. But she couldn’t afford humor. “What do you mean by you ‘don’t think so’?”
He shoved a hand inside his pant pocket, and Bethany followed the movement until she realized where she was looking. Hank caught her staring and smirked as her cheeks grew even hotter. He was obviously used to women ogling him. She snapped her gaze back to his face and clenched her teeth until her jaw hurt.
“I’m an actor not a businessman. I’m pretty sure I’d grow bored with a fitness center sooner or later. But I have financial advisors who make recommendations. They recommended I buy the building as it’s undervalued. So I did.”
“What will you do with it?”
He moved toward the dining room. “I haven’t decided. If I can get a glass of milk and that soup and sandwich I heard you talking about,” he called over his shoulder, “I’ll continue renting to you until I figure it out.”
Bethany followed him. A squeal soundedfrom the front room.
“Oh, my goodness,” Rosie said. “You scared me. For a second, I thought you were?—”
Bethany rounded the corner in time to hear a loud thump and see Rosie slump against the table.
