Page 56 of Evidence of Secrets

“Jerod and I had a heart-to-heart. I’d been too afraid to step up. He helped me get over that and suggested a Krav Maga class. Jerod convinced my father that the lessons were necessary. I gained self-confidence and started to bulk up.”

“Did you beat up the bullies?”

Hank laughed. “God, you’re a bloodthirsty little thing. In answer to your question, yes. It only took one misstep by a bully for them to know I was no longer a mark. And the bullies never picked on me again, and if I saw them going after another kid, I stepped in. I got the tattoo you asked me about when I was old enough.” He picked up his beer and took a small gulp.

“The bird.”

Hank spewed the swallow of beer on his pants. “Bird? It’s a phoenix. It symbolizes my rebirth, my journey through fire, as it were. But it’s also what I believe. Everyone has a chance at renewal or survival.” He stared at her. “We are not alone on the earth. We’ve been put here to help others. You’ve helped your employees. Your friends and I want to help you. It’s not charity. It’s a hand up.”

“Oh.” Laura didn’t know what to say to that. She loved his tattoo and had questioned him about it, but he’d always refused to say why he got it.

“Your girlfriends have needed help when they came upon situations they couldn’t handle alone. You know that Hailey needed help when her sister was lost, and Julie needed help when that asshole kidnapped her. Are they weak women?”

She shook her head no.

“Do you look at them differently?”

“No.”

“Then why are you so special that you can’t let your friends help you? These are circumstances out of your control.”

Laura didn’t have an answer for him. She felt foolish for not accepting help.

Before she could really do a job on her psyche, Hank stood. He took her hand and led her into the bedroom.

“Hank, I…”

“Shhh. We’re not doing anything until you heal. I need to feel your naked body close to mine. Is that okay?”

Okay? Yes, it was.

CHAPTERFORTY-ONE

It had been a few days since her robbery. Laura felt fine returning to work. Not really fine but better. The bruises were now pretty shades of blues and greens. Her shoulder ached, but she had to suck it up. There was no money for physical therapy or more medication.

Levi had stepped up to make desserts. Bridget, her assistant manager, held everything together.

Unfortunately, her insurance policy on the business didn’t cover the robbery on the street. Laura suspected this, but it was still a disappointment.

Her conversation with Hank had taken an unexpected turn. She had no idea Hank was so wealthy—not that it mattered. What mattered was that he trusted her with the information and understood better why he hadn’t mentioned he owned the building or that he covered her rent.

It helped that he professed his love for her, and when they’d snuggled naked in bed, Laura confessed she loved him too. But warned him she wasn’t taking money from him so not to even offer. Hank agreed. But he was a sneaky one, and Laura was going to stay on her toes to make sure he didn’t.

Laura stood in the kitchen, inhaling all the scents that made her heart happy. Garlic, herbs, roasting meat.

“It’s going to be all right, Laura. You’ll see. Things will turn around,” said Levi after he gave her a hug.

“From your lips to God’s ear, as the saying goes,” Laura quipped. She sighed. “I hope so. How can it get any worse?”

Jaime walked into the kitchen and enthusiastically hugged her. “Laura, welcome back.”

Jaimie was quickly becoming a favorite amongst the staff. She was always happy and willing to help.

Laura was grateful she had a staff she could depend upon, except for Rich. He had been a disappointment. Especially after she paid for the days he took off.

The problem was that she’d do it again if someone on staff needed help. The lessons learned when she was a child stuck with her. Although she couldn’t do anything to help right now. She couldn’t even help herself.

Humph, nothing to be done about that. Laura made a mental list of what she needed to do to stay on track. Not exactly on track but remain in business. The key ingredient was cash. But how much? She needed a new pastry chef. She couldn’t do her job and that one forever. Ka-ching. Entice more diners to make up for the money that was stolen. Ka-ching. Pay her loan that was due. Ka-ching. Ka-ching.

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