“Why do you sound like the voice of death?”
“Travis, if our names aren’t on the website, we’re going to have to close Grandma Lou’s at the end of the month.”
Travis leaned on the broom. “I know he’s a slime for leaving you and all, but maybe we can use Hank’s guilty conscience to buy us some time on our rent? He’d probably give us an extension to make the payment.”
She swallowed and pretended her heart didn’t lurch and shift inside her chest at Travis’s suggestion and stuck her chin in the air. “No way. I can’t face him right now. Not after the way he left.”
“I wasn’t suggestingyoucall him.”
“I said no, Travis.” Her voice shook, and she hunched against the counter to stop the trembles.
Travis shot her a concerned look.
“I won’t call Hank, and you can’t either. He’s made it clear he’s moved on. We need to as well. Call it pride or whatever, but I won’t burden him with our problems. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed we win, okay?”
“Look to your left,”Blackie said out of the corner of his mouth. “Looks like we’re about to have company.”
Hank turned his head to the side and suppressed a groan.
“Why hello, Hank. Heard you were back in town,” Melanie said, leaning over the table and granting him a full frontal view of her chest.
“Hello, Melanie. I see the grapevine is alive and well. I’ve only been back a week or so.”
She gave him a sly look, causing goosebumps to form on Hank’s skin. “Heather said you missed me. Did you miss me, Hanky?”
Hank’s insides cringed at the use of the pet name. He tightened his jaw so he wouldn’t be tempted to say something he would later regret. Why had he ever thought Melanie attractive? The pounding in his head intensified. He nodded toward Blackie. “You remember my agent?”
“Yes, of course I remember you.” She presented Blackie with what Hank called her don’t-waste-my-time smileand shook his hand. Then she leaned toward Hank and kissed his cheek like they were dear friends and she hadn’t screamed expletives at him the last time they’d talked. Hank tried to keep the surprise at her greetingoff his face.
“I heard you’ll be playing Robin Hood on the big screen. Congratulations. That’s quite a role.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Now you’re back in town, let’s do lunch and catch up.”
He raised an eyebrow and gave her his famous Apollo frown—the one he used before he vanquished the enemy. “You want to catch up?”
“Well, of course I do. You and I had something special together, didn’t we?”
“Melanie, you’re suing me for millions of dollars. Anything special we had is long gone.”
“Now, Hank, let’s not be overly dramatic. I’m dropping the lawsuit. You know I only filed it because you broke my little ol’ heart.” She pressed her hand against her chest, drawing his eye there. “When Heather told me how you felt, well, you know I want to let any past mistakes go, to see if the flame between us can be rekindled.” She leaned toward him, smelling of jasmine and roses. The name of her perfume, “Bolt of Lightning,” popped into his head—probably because the ounce he’d bought for her birthday had cost him more than his electricity bill for an entire year.
Hank wrapped his fingers around his glass and watched the ice melt. “I thought you were dating Brent Chambers?”
“My, youhavebeen out of touch, haven’t you? Brent’s old news. I’m a free agent.” She squeezed his bicep. “I see you’re still keeping your gorgeous bod in shape.” She straightened, granting him a sweet but false smile. “We were good together once, Hank, weren’t we? We could be again. But don’t wait too long. Give me a call, okay.” She left in a perfumed flurry.
Blackie guffawed. “That’s some woman. Looks like Robin Hood has put you back on Melanie’s A-list. Betterstrike while your iron’s ‘in the fire’ so to speak...eh, Apollo?”
Hank released his pent-up breath. “Don’t be an ass.” His phone buzzed, and he groaned. His dad wasn’t giving up. “Sorry, I’ll be right back.” He stood and headed toward the bar, where Blackie couldn’t eavesdrop on his conversation.
“Hank, I’m here,” his father’s voice came through the phone.
“Where’s here? In LA?” An icy hand pressed against his lungs. He pulled out the nearest bar stool and sank onto it.
“Where else? I told you we were coming to visit, remember?”
“You said you’d call me about visiting.”
