Elizebeth smiled like she’d cast a net and caught the biggest fish in the sea. “I’ve read the rules of the contest. Finalists are selected based on social media votes, correct? I’mverygood at my job, Bethany. I’ll get you the votes you need to be a finalist.”
Bethany took a deep breath and tightened a hold on her temper. “That would be cheating, wouldn’t it?”
“Oh, pah.” Elizabeth flung a hand in the air. “How can it be cheating if those are the rules? I’m not breaking any laws by getting others to vote for your restaurant, am I? Besides, I’m only ensuring you final. The win depends on you and your recipe.”
Bethany wrinkled her brow. Elizabeth was right. Bethany had planned to encourage the entire neighborhood to vote for Grandma Lou’s. “What do you expect from me in return?”
Elizabeth leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Stay away from Hank—let him concentrate on his career. Don’t respond to any invitations. Maintain a professional business relationship. That’s all I ask.”
Bethany clenched her hands in her lap and struggled to think. What Elizabeth proposed made sense, didn’t it? With Elizabeth’s help, she and Travis would be closer to winning the contest and keeping Grandma Lou’s solvent and in the family. She forced her hands to relax. “What about the fitness center?”
Instead of answering, Elizabeth reached into her Chanel purse and pulled out a tin of mints. She selectedone white mint from the case and offered the entire box to Bethany.
Bethany shook her head.
Elizabeth tossed her hair over her shoulders and smiled, but it didn’t reach her cool silver eyes. “It’s Hank’s decision whether he sells or opens Fitaholics. I couldn’t in good conscience sway him one way or another.”
“So there’s still a chance he’ll turn our building into a fitness center?”
Elizabeth laughed low and confident and fierce. “Frankly, I’m more concerned with getting Hank back to Hollywood than in opening a store. But as I’ve said, I’ve known Hank a long time. Chances are he’ll sell the building. And if you have the money, I won’t do anything to discourage him from selling to you. Fair enough?”
Bethany understood now why Elizabeth was good at her job. She hadn’t denied that they might still open the center, but she’d left room for Bethany to achieve her goal. Staying away from Hank Haverill made smart business sense. She would accept Elizabeth’s offer. Hank would return to Hollywood, Bethany would win the contest and buy the building, and all would return to how it had been before Desmond’s betrayal and Hank’s arrival on her doorstep.
“Yes,” she said.
“Wonderful. Shall we shake on it?” Elizabeth held out a long pale hand.
Bethany watched trance-like as she moved her arm from under the table and clasped Elizabeth’s palm with her darker one.
“I’m glad we understand each other.” Elizabeth stood. “When does voting start?”
“After midnight on Friday.”
“Remember, stay away from Hank, and I’ll get started on garnering the votes you need.” She nodded, queen-like, slipping in a small, satisfied smile, and turned with a flip of her hair.
Bethany’s stomach gurgled and her temple throbbed. She hugged her arms. Maybe she should have kept her hand in her apron pocket and showed Elizabeth the exit? But it was too late. The deal was made.
And Bethany meant to uphold her end of the bargain.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
If Bethany thought the deal she’d made with Elizabeth would be hard to keep, she soon learned otherwise. After Hank fiddled with her dishwasher, he left the kitchen without another word or glance her way.
Bethany continued cooking and filling food orders until Rosie came from her cleaning job to help them serve the lunch crowd. She did her best to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. It felt somewhat like the dry, hot center of a fiery volcano.
Bethany told herself that her stomachache was the direct result of too much alcohol. She told herself that Hank’s departure was a good outcome. She told herself that she didn’t care. Still, she couldn’t quit glancing out the window, nor stop her heart from racing whenever the door chimed.
Which it did, nonstop, for the rest of the day.
“Business is booming.” Travis found her emptying the dishwasher for the twentieth time since the boys had left. “If this keeps up, we’ll more than break even this month.”
He paused and peered at Bethany like he feared she would puke.
Bethany continued stacking plates on the worktable. A piece of hair landed in her mouth, and she blew it out.
“You must admit he’s good for business. Everyone who comes in is asking for him.”
Bethany tried to keep from rolling her eyes and failed. “Speaking of which, where did he go? I haven’t seen him in a while.”
