“Does she know you’re here?”
Her pride, calm demeanor, and worry over Elizabeth triggered the full force of his anger.
“You mean, does she know I spent the evening with you? Don’t worry, your little secret pact with Elizabeth is safe for now.”
“You really didn’t tell her?” She seemed to shrink a little, as if she’d been holding her breath.
He studied her clenched hands. “If I’d told her I was going to a kid’s princess party, I’d have gotten an earful. She thinks I’m getting a good night’s sleep. I’m supposed to work out early tomorrow, remember?”
“But I thought—” She covered her mouth.
He raised an eyebrow. “What? That I’d spend the night with Daphne?”
Her cheeks took on a pinkish sheen, and she lowered her gaze.
“According to you, that’s my MO, isn’t it? Hollywood player that I am. What then? C’mon now. Spill.”
She frowned. “I thought you and Elizabeth told each other everything?”
Was she joking?But no, her expression was serious. He took a step backward. “Where’d you get that idea?” Even as he asked, he knew. “Is that what Elizabeth said?”
Bethany nodded.
Her gullibility sparked his anger. “And you believedher?” Was it his imagination or did she look surprised by his reaction?
She nodded again and blinked, before dropping her gaze to her lap. “Why wouldn’t I, after hearing what you said to her about me?”
Hank sighed. His irritation fizzled like a dead sparkler. He couldn’t judge Bethany’s reactions by every other person he knew in Hollywood, who seemed to only want to take advantage of him. She was straightforward and expected those around her to be too. Elizabeth would see her little white lie as stretching the truth for his own good. But Bethany would not. Not after she’d overheard him talking about her to Elizabeth.
His phone buzzed with an incoming text, but he ignored it. He sat down on the couch next to her. “Beth, look at me.” His voice sounded like he’d swallowed gravel.
She raised her head until their eyes met.
He cleared his throat. “Elizabeth lied. It’s true we’ve known each other a long time. But I don’t tell her intimate details of my relationships. She confronted me about the amount of time I’m spending with you. She’s concerned you’re a threat to my career because I haven’t returned to California. But what you overheard was a one-sided conversation. She told me to sleep with you and get it out of my system. I told her to lay off.”
Bethany wrinkled her pert nose, igniting in him an insane desire to kiss it. “Why would she think I’m threatening your career? We’re not even dating. And I’ve never asked you to stick around. That was your idea.”
He found her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. The contact had his skin tingling and his heart lurching. “I know that, and you know that, but Elizabeth doesn’t. It’s her job to make me look good. And I haven’t made iteasy on her by spending all my time eating cookies, dodging her events, and fixing up the building. She blames my lack of focus on you.” Which was close to the truth, but Hank didn’t think now was a good time to mention it.
“But youareplanning to return to Hollywood, right? Once you’ve made all the repairs?”
His breath hitched. “Eventually. I live there.” He couldn’t stay in Cleveland forever, even though he’d purchased his grandparents’ house. His career—or what was left of it—was in LA. He would have to return to the city if he wanted to work, and that meant any contact he had with Bethany would need to be long-distance. Unless he could convince her to sell the shop and move or let Travis run it. But of course, he was getting ahead of himself, wasn’t he?
Bethany wriggled her fingers from his and stood, pointing at the front door. “Your driver’s here.”
He stayed where he was. The ache in his chest from earlier in the evening started up again. “We’re not finished here.”
“Hank, you should leave.”
Why did he feel like she was ejecting him from her life forever? And why did it hurt? They’d only known each other for three whole days. He looked at his watch. Four if he counted today. Not long enough for him to get this attached. Maybe Elizabeth was right? Maybe this was all about the challenge?
He shook off the disturbing thoughts and stood. It shouldn’t bother him if Bethany never wanted to see him again. There were loads of women who did—plenty who were far more glamorous and far less prickly. He would never have to work this hard for their attention. Most would spread their legs at a smile from him. They wrote their numbers on napkins and mailed him letters with nudephotos. They hung on his every word and praised his physique.
He moved toward her, not stopping until they stood facing each other. Trouble was, none of those women had his heart racing like Bethany. None of them made him feel like she did—like he could gain weight and develop a paunch or lose his hair, and it wouldn’t matter as long as he was loyal and kind and cared about others.
She held herself tall and steady, not flinching from his gaze. The humidity had curled her hair into tight ringlets. Not a flaw marred her perfect skin. Her stormy eyes seemed to peer into his soul, wresting his demons from him, one by one. He fought an incredible urge to kiss her again. To make her want him as much as he wanted her.
He swallowed and resisted the desire to run his finger down her petal-soft cheek. All those other women paled in significance next to her honesty. She was a rare and precious gift, and she would slip through his fingers unless he found a way to gain a foothold and hang on tight. She was a prize worth fighting for, and he was a fighter. He would not give up. He could not. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t feel this connection between us.”
