Hailey sipped her tea. “Like how?”
“Gambling, drugs, and manic shopping sprees. It looks like that’s when the money started disappearing. Then nine months ago she withdrew everything she could get her hands on, and she and Marco fled the country. No one knew where they were until the Italian authorities informed us they’d died in a car accident. Then things really went to hell. The IRS started asking questions.”
“She hadn’t paid taxes?” Hailey asked the question like she was tiptoeing through a minefield.
“Not in two years. I owe them a lot of money.” Charlie tried to wash the bitterness away by pouring iced water down her throat. “They get every penny of my residuals until it’s paid off.” She raised her glass. “Thanks, Mom.”
The side of Hailey’s fist came down on the table. “I could wring her neck. How could she do that to you?”
Charlie shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“I’m so sorry, Charlie.”
She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “It’s okay. I’m moving on with my life here in Zachsville.”
“Won’t you miss being a star?” Hailey asked, and spread her fingers into jazz hands by her face.
“No.”
Hailey cocked her head. That clearly wasn’t the answer she’d expected. “Really?”
“Really.” Charlie played with the straw in her drink. “There’s no such thing as unconditional anything in show business, Hailey. You know what I mean?”
“Not really.”
How to explain it without sounding like a total brat? “In Hollywood, you’re only as good as your last role, only as beautiful as your last photograph, only as lovable as the public deems you to be.” Elbows on the table, she brought her clasped hands in front of her mouth. Her index finger rubbed against her chin. “It’s like…show business drains you of your humanity. I wasn’t a person—I was a product. I wasn’t a girl—I was a sex symbol. And I didn’t have feelings—I had issues. Does that make sense?” She shook her head and picked up her water. “I don’t know if I’m explaining it correctly.”
Hailey’s eyes looked like big green saucers. “It sounds horrible. And to think I was jealous of you for being free and having all the fun.” She reached across the table and took Charlie’s hand. “I really am sorry.”
Her friend’s closed fist over hers was a link to the life she wanted, the one she’d fight to have. “Thanks, Hay. I was sorry to hear about your mom.”
Tears shimmered over emerald eyes, and she swallowed several times. “Thanks. She was the best mom. I miss her a lot. It’s hard to believe she’s only been gone a year. It seems like so much longer.”
Charlie wondered if Hailey’s mom had changed after she left or if Hailey was forgetting all the times her mom wasn’t around because of her hours at the bar. They always said if they could combine Charlie’s overbearing mom and Hailey’s absent mom, then they’d have the perfect mother.
The waiter set their plates on the table. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, this looks great,” Hailey said.
“Honey told me she’d been sick for a while.” At Hailey’s sad expression she quickly added, “We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
Her friend shook her head. “No, it’s fine. It helps to talk about her. She had breast cancer.” A small smile ghosted across her face. “She fought like a wildcat. You know Mom. Nothing got Peggy Lawson down.”
“I remember that time she showed up to our piano recital with a broken arm that hadn’t been set yet. She strapped it to her chest with one of your dad’s belts and sat in the front row smiling like nothing was wrong.” Charlie laughed. “She was a force of nature.” What she didn’t add was that it was one of the few times Hailey’s mom showed up for any of Hailey’s activities.
“Yeah, and she made my dad drive through Dairy Bar, so I could get ice cream for playing so pretty, before she let him take her to the hospital. My dad was furious.” The loving, nostalgic look she wore bled into a bitter sneer. “He never understood my mom or me.”
“What’s going on with y’all? That exchange I heard the other night was pretty nasty.” The spiciness of the taco was like heaven to her taste buds. She’d probably regret it later, but for now, it was amazing.
“He’s getting married.” She pushed her plate away from her. “Mom’s barely been gone a year, and he’s already replaced her. She left the bar to both of us, and he wants to sell it. Can you believe it? That thing’s been in my family forever, my mom and grandma both ran it. It’s my legacy, and he wants to sell it. Her hand flicked between them. “Forget it. I don’t want to talk about my disloyal dad. Tell me about the shop you’re going to open.”
“Well, you know my grandmother always made body lotions and soaps?”
“Yeah. My mom loved the hand cream.”
A bubble of air crawled up her esophagus. Uh-oh. Hopefully Pod wasn’t about to have a full-on tantrum about the Mexican food. “I’ve been making them since I left Zachsville too. When things went south with my finances, I started selling them here in town, and they’ve sold really well. It’s always been my dream to have a little shop. I’ve taken accounting classes, but I’m nervous. I’ve never run a business before.” She wadded up her napkin and threw it on the table. “Hell, Hailey, up until four months ago I’d never run anything, including my life.”
“I’m not gonna lie, it’s a lot of work, but I like being my own boss, and I’ll help any way I can.”
“Thanks. I’m not totally without resources. Pops ran a business forever, so he’s already helped with some things.”
“See, you’re halfway there.” Hailey sipped her iced tea.
“The good news is I have a great hookup for getting my essential oils. They can be really expensive, and a lot of the time the quality isn’t very good. But Thomas Chang has connected me to his supplier. He’s trying to get started in this area, so he’s giving me a deal on some of the products.”
“See! You’re already running your business.” Hailey raised her glass. “To badass women running their own lives.”
She’d drink to that. She just hoped it would turn out that way.
Chapter 39
Charlie stared at the two documents in her hand. She’d had a busy morning. First, she’d filled out the paperwork that would make her little business a company. Then she’d gotten her Texas driver’s license. Her face was a little puffy in the temporary paper ID photo, but otherwise, it wasn’t horrible. Both pieces of paper represented one more step in making Zachsville her permanent home. The more she could distance herself from Hollywood the better.
Her cheeks burned when she remembered her first DMV visit in Los Angeles. She’d walked in with her damn entourage while the media swarmed outside the building. Ron and Marci had insisted on having her stylist and makeup artist there with her, then requested several retakes until they got just the right shot. She’d been dubbed the DMV Diva by the media when that little tidbit had gotten out. It was humiliating. Oh, she could be a diva, no doubt—you don’t grow up in that environment and not believe you’re the center of the whole freakin’ world—but in that one instance, it hadn’t been her fault. The media hounded her for weeks following that debacle.
The deep breath she filled her lungs with was an automatic reaction to the latent effects of the crushing claustrophobia of those moments. Moments that should’ve been a private rite of passage, but weren’t, moments when she’d been jostled and swarmed until she feared for her safety. Moments where all privacy was violated merely for someone else’s entertainment.
“Whatcha got there?” The low, velvety rumble of Hank’s voice had an electrifying, two-pronged effect on her. One in the heart and the other in her more intimate places. His sex appeal was so potent that if he hadn’t already knocked her up, she was pretty sure his voice alone could do the job.
She shut down her raging second-trimester hormones and raised the shields around her heart. “My Texas dri
ver’s license.”
He playfully snatched it from her hand. “Lemme see that.”
“Give it back.” She tried to grab it, but he held it out of her reach. “What are you, in junior high?”
The deep chuckle slid over her. Her skin pebbled, and she ached to rub her body over every inch of his. Now wouldn’t that be some juicy gossip for the fine citizens of Zachsville? Hollywood starlet rubs naked body over town sheriff in the county courthouse. Lord, the women at the Dip N Do would eat that information up with a spoon then spread it around like butter.
He handed the license back to her. “I believe you do look like a Texan, Ms. Klein.”
She ran her thumb and forefinger down the fold of the paper. “Thanks.”
“How’s the business?”
That stopped her, and a warm glow of pleasure spread through her belly at his interest. She held up the other piece of paper in her hand. “Great. I just filed an LLC, so The Emporium is now officially a business.”
The tightening of his features was weird. “That’s excitin’. No problem getting your supplies?”
Maybe the strange look had been a figment of her imagination. He seemed genuinely interested. “None. You know that Thomas Chang connected me to his supplier, and Mr. Perez has been awesome to work with.”
“Good.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “That’s good.”
No. She hadn’t imagined it—definitely not happy about something. She didn’t need his good opinion, no matter how bad she wanted it, which chapped her ass. The only interaction she should have with him was over Pod.
“How are you feeling?”
His question caught her off guard. “I’m well.”
One step, then two, and he was right in front of her. “You’re not sick anymore?”
The change in position had her looking up at him. “Not so much.” Why was her voice so soft and smoky?
Calloused fingers skated up her arms. “Good.” The tiny hairs on her skin stood on end and begged for more. The rhythm of her breathing changed. With every rise of her ribs, her tender breasts brushed against his chest, setting off fiery sparks that shot straight between her legs. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” There was that breathy voice again.
He searched her face and ran his tongue along his bottom lip. “Go out with me tonight, Charlie?”
“Okay.” What? No, no, no. She stepped back and put some distance between them. Her body screamed in protest. It physically hurt to pull away from him. “I mean, I can’t.”
Laughter from a group of people rang down the hall and made her jump. He took her hand and pulled her around the corner and through a stairwell door. “You said yes first.” His lips kicked up on one side.
“I’m not dating you, Hank.” No way her tender emotions could take another round of heartbreak via Hank Odom. It would crush her, and she needed to be whole for Pod. And besides, she was done with people who only wanted something from her. And Hank only wanted her for Pod.
He scuffed his boots on the concrete floor. “You know, Charlie, I think you can give me one evening, considering the little item you failed to tell me. We have things to discuss.”
He played dirty. He knew exactly what to say to get his way. The guilt she’d tried to deny at keeping Pod’s existence from him wagged an accusatory finger at her. “Fine. We’ll talk. I do owe you that. But this is only about the pregnancy. Any relationship beyond co-parenting is off the table.” She didn’t like his calculating look. “I mean it, Hank. That door’s locked.”
The silence and tension emanating from him wasn’t a good sign. She knew him, and the only thing Hank couldn’t back away from besides doing the right thing was a challenge.
Great. She’d just waved a red flag at an angry bull.
He was losing her. Hank could see it in the set of her jaw. Unacceptable. Every part of him that belonged to her, which was one hundred percent of his entire being, demanded he do something. But he had to play this right, or he would lose her for sure.
His hands went into the air. “I hear you.” The unconvinced expression she wore had him biting the inside of his cheek. She had to know that she’d just thrown down the gauntlet.
Her brilliant eyes narrowed. “I mean it, Hank. I’ve got more than myself to think about now. I care about you, and I always will. You’re one of my oldest friends, and I don’t want to lose that. But I’m not going to be your next project.”
“That’s not what this is.” Shit, shit, shit. He cursed the lousy timing that had him finding out about the baby before he’d told her he loved her. She owned him and always had. Couldn’t she see that?
How would she see that, dumb ass? You let her down in the worst way.
“Sure it isn’t.” She slipped the temporary license in her purse along with the other paperwork, then pulled the bag in front of her. Just one more barrier between them.
Fuck that.
He positioned his body close to hers again, took her hand, and placed it on his chest. “Feel that?’ The organ beneath his ribs pumped double time. The erratic thumps had started the minute he’d seen her in the hallway and hadn’t slowed down since.
“Yes.” Her gaze never left where their bodies connected.
“My heart only beats like this for you, Charlie. It always has. I was a fool. I know it. And I’m willing to do whatever I have to do to make it right.” He tipped her chin up. “Please, give me a chance.” Hope teetered on the edge of his request. One wrong move and it would slip into the divide between them.
Her beautiful features hardened, and she pulled her face from his fingers. “We can go out to discuss the pregnancy, and that’s all.”
“Charlie—”
“I have to go. I have a meeting with Thomas.” She reached in her purse and pulled out her keys.
Shit. “Where?”
“What?”
“Where is the meeting?” He fought the tremor of anger that wanted to wrap itself around every word.
She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “I don’t see… Wait. Are you jealous? Really, Hank?”
“No. I’m just trying to…” What was he going to say? Protect you. Keep you safe. He reined in his anxiety and suspicion before he blew the government’s entire case. He took his hat off and smoothed his hair back, then chuckled. “No, I’m not jealous. I only want to see if you needed a ride.” He pointed to her keys in her hand. “But I can see that you don’t. Besides, I need to make sure you and the baby are taken care of.”
The suspicious look she gave him communicated loud and clear that his explanation hadn’t been convincing. “No need to worry, Hank. We’ve been doing just fine without you.”
His hand went to his chest, fully expecting to feel a gaping wound from the direct hit. He hadn’t been there for her. He couldn’t blame her for not telling him sooner. He’d like to think that if he’d known, he would’ve left his failing marriage to be with her. But the truth was, he’d been so invested in saving something that never really existed, that he couldn’t swear to what he would’ve done. Also, he’d made his position perfectly clear to her, so why would she take a chance and tell him about the pregnancy?
He slipped his fingers into his front pants pockets. “Yeah, you have.”
That seemed to surprise her. “Thank you.”
The emotion in her voice was interesting. “You’re welcome. Thank you for taking care of yourself and the baby.”
Moisture gathered in her eyes, and she swallowed hard, but only nodded and walked away. He followed her back into the hallway and watched everything he’d ever wanted walk out of the courthouse.
Chapter 40
Hank’s frayed and splintered nerves were hanging by a thread by the time he made it to Wardell’s house to pick up Charlie. He’d never been so anxious about a date since the first time he took her out. Of course, back then they’d had to sneak around because her mom didn’t approve of the age difference. Strange that it had never been easy with Charlie, and yet he
had no doubt that she was the one for him.
Guilt decided to tag along with the anxiety riding him. He’d never gotten over Charlie. He’d taken her with him everywhere, including his marriage. He could see it so clearly now, but at the time he’d been oblivious to the fact that he was still carrying a torch for his first love—his only love.
His phone rang. He answered it through the truck’s Bluetooth. “This is Hank.”
“Hank, it’s Sheridan.”
Fuck. Why hadn’t he checked the caller ID before he answered the phone? “Yeah, what can I do for you?”
“Murphy and I were talking, and it would be great if you could try to find out from Ms. Klein when her first shipment of product is expected from Perez’s company.”
What in the hell? “You want me to pump her for information?”
“Well, yes, but you make it sound so crude. If you have a conversation, you could just steer the dialogue that way. Keep your eyes and ears open and be observant.”
“You want me to act like a law enforcement officer. Have I got that right?” He didn’t even try to conceal the bitterness in his voice. Fuckin’ Feds, who did they think he was? He was a cop. He knew how to run an investigation.
Sheridan chuckled. “You don’t like us much, do you, Sheriff?”
Hank turned onto Wardell’s street. “I don’t give you that much thought, Agent Sheridan. We’re both just trying to do a difficult job.”
“Right you are, Sheriff Odom. We’re all trying to do our job. Talk to you in a couple of days.”
He punched the disconnect button on the steering wheel. That call was not what he needed right now, not minutes before he was picking Charlie up for what might be the most important night of his life.
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