“Roxie,” I replied.
She looked at me and her eyes did a quick sweep. I was sitting on a stool, my legs crossed and a bit away from the counter, leaning my elbows on it. I was wearing a fitted, boat-necked, black sweater and worn-out, vintage Levi’s. I had an intricate, chrome, mesh choker around my neck and a matching wide bracelet over my sweater at the wrist and round-toed, black suede, platform wedges with kickass magenta binding and sling-back strap.
“Have you worked here very long?” she asked.
“I don’t real y work here, I’m fil ing in.” I felt badly for her. This couldn’t be easy and she didn’t even know I was sleeping with her ex-boyfriend. I didn’t know how to tel her or even if I should. I decided I shouldn’t, especial y considering the current circumstances.
“Listen,” I said. “Do you want me to give Hank a message?”
“Um, yeah. Could you tel him –”
The bel over the door went, she turned, I looked over and we both saw Hank walk in.
Damn.
His timing was shit.
As he walked in, it hit me even more than normal y how good he looked. Jeans that fit so wel , they might be il egal in a few states. Gun and badge on a kil er, dark brown belt with a heavy, matte silver buckle. An olive brown sweater with half zip and a high col ar, the hem tucked in behind the belt, untucked around the rest of his waist, sleeves shoved up his forearms.
He could have been in a fucking catalogue and he didn’t have three stylists to make him look that way, it came natural y.
His eyes were on me, warm and lazy, the edges of his lips turned up in a sexy smile.
Shit, shit, shit.
“Hank –” I said but it came out quiet and croaky.
He rounded the counter as I cleared my throat. “Hank,” I said, louder this time but he was there. I’d come away from the counter and tilted my head up to look at him and, even though Beth was standing there, and before I could stop him, he wrapped his hand round the back of my head and he gave me a light kiss.
He hadn’t even looked at her.
“Thought I’d take you to lunch,” he said softly, his eyes looking in mine, his hand stil around my head. He’d moved away barely an inch.
Shit.
I cleared my throat again, even though I didn’t need to, and said, “Hank, you remember Beth.” Then my eyes slid to the side.
He let me go and straightened, turning to Beth and I watched him. For a second, he seemed blank, like he didn’t remember her and my breath caught in my throat.
Then, he smiled. Not the sexy lip turn, but a friendly, genuine smile. “Beth. Jesus. What’re you doin’ here? I thought you lived in New Mexico.”
Beth looked between Hank and me. She was blushing, big time.
“I moved back to Denver,” she replied.
Hank shifted into my space and his arm went around my shoulders, unconsciously doing a man-brand move, not having any idea why she was there.
She went from just blushing to looking like she’d plunge a knife in her gut if one was handy. I searched the counter just in case there was a letter opener within reach.
“That’s great,” Hank said, stil oblivious.
“Hank,” I cut in. “Beth’s here –”
“No!” she interrupted me, her eyes on me and they were huge. “I just popped by… um…” She was faltering. It was going to have to be Roxie to the rescue.
Quickly I said, “Beth’s here to buy that Dan Brown book.
You know, the one about da Vinci?”
Hank looked down at me, likely wondering why I was sharing this absurd information.
“I told her we didn’t have it. You wouldn’t know where to get it, would you? She wants to read it, like, bad,” I finished lamely.
God, I was such an idiot.
Hank looked at me, then looked at Beth, then cottoned onto the situation. If she was just looking for a book, I would hardly know her name or alert him to her presence.
His face softened and he moved away, taking his arm from around my shoulders.
“Beth,” he said quietly and my heart lurched, for Hank, who obviously felt badly but especial y for Beth, who was humiliated.
“Maybe I’l try the Tattered Cover!” she announced gamely then looked at me. “Thanks for your help Roxie.” She looked back at Hank. “Hank, great to see you. Maybe I’l see you around.”
She moved to leave and I cal ed out, “Wait!” I stepped off my stool, bumping into Hank who was stil close.
“Why don’t you two go to lunch?” I suggested.
“What?” Beth said, or kind of expel ed in a breath fil ed with mortification.
“Sorry?” Hank said, staring at me like I’d lost my mind.
I had an idea. It was a heartbreaking idea, but it was something.
She seemed sweet, she was pretty and she liked him.
She liked him enough to come searching for him when she got back to Denver. She was normal and probably never had anyone shoot at her, nor ever would.