Page 2 of Sultry Nights

"I have my dad's truck outside."

He nodded. "Perfect."

She set her little purse on the tray at the register and pulled out her debit card. Shirley smiled and nodded. She moved the handheld scanner near the price tag and the register beeped.

"That's thirty-five dollars."

Hanna handed her debit card to Shirley, who scanned it into their older cash register. The LED readout came back red and said "declined." Hanna's heart hammered in her chest.

Shirley turned to her, a frown on her face. "I'm sorry, but your card is declined."

The heat rose up her body faster than a raging inferno. She felt the sweat trickle down her back and her fingers shook. She opened her purse and mumbled, "It should work. I'm so sorry, I do have money in the bank." She pulled her wallet from the bottom of her purse and opened it. There were a few dollars inside, but not enough. She pulled them out and counted. A ten-dollar bill, three fives, and seven singles. Thirty-two dollars. She dug to the bottom of her purse and found some quarters. She stacked them four high. One dollar. She began counting out the dimes and nickels in her coin purse when the door opened and a woman sauntered to the register. She stood watching Hanna's shame. Frank shifted on his feet and Shirley sniffed.

Hanna finally stopped counting. Her shoulders fell forward and tears sprang to her eyes. It shouldn't be this hard. Life. She'd done nothing in her life to deserve this.

Her bottom lip quivered, and she sniffed. "I'm sorry to bother you all. I don't have enough. I'm so sorry." She turned to see Frank looking completely uncomfortable. He stuck his hand in his pocket, and she shook her head. "No. Thank you. But no."

The woman who had been standing by watching stepped forward. "Are you trying to buy this vanity?"

Hanna swallowed and took a deep breath. "I was."

The woman smiled. She was pretty. Her nails were perfect and red. Her blonde hair was cut into a short, straight bob with severely straight bangs. Her green eyes were framed with thick, dark lashes. She looked like a wealthy socialite. And completely out of place here.

"Today is your lucky day, then. I have a vanity in the back of my truck that I need to get rid of. I was bringing it here, but I think you should have it. If you want it, that is."

Hanna shook her head. "You don't have to do that for me."

"I don't have to do anything at all. All I want in exchange for that vanity is for you to tell me why you don't have any money."

Hanna stared into her green eyes. They were light and looked almost like they'd glow with the dark lashes around them. Her lips were painted red to match her nails. Her clothing was expensive, and nothing seemed to make sense.

Hanna took another breath. "My ex-husband was a..." She swallowed. "Is a gambler. I think he somehow still has access to my bank account."

"Men. I swear." She sniffed haughtily. "My ex is about to stop paying my alimony. He's filthy rich but is going to stop paying me. I stayed home at his request and raised our two children. Then, he had the nerve to tell me he was done with me. Just like I'm garbage."

Hanna's heartbeat increased. "I'm sorry."

She glanced out of the glass door to see the vanity in the back of a truck. This woman no more fit with a truck than the Queen of England did, but here she was.

The woman stepped forward and held out her hand. "My name is Tisha Barkley. I'm remodeling my home before my disgusting ex-husband stops paying me. It’s the least he can do. Plus, my son works in the construction business too, and is helping out. I have a very nice vanity out there, but it doesn't fit my new color scheme. I'd like you to have it."

Hanna swallowed the lump that formed instantly in her throat. She cleared her throat, to completely remove said lump. "Thank you."

Frank grinned. "How about I help you ladies move that vanity?"

2

Quinn Kurtz opened the door for a woman and her small child at the courthouse. He grinned at the little boy as they passed him. It was warm today. His shirt stuck to his back, and he likely smelled like he'd worked all day in a sewer. But he was going to do this in person this time. For the past five years, he'd been paying alimony while his ex refused to work. They'd argued more than he cared to think about. Their kids were grown, and he wasn't supporting her and her expensive tastes any longer. She could get a job from her rich daddy and leave him the hell alone. He only wished he could see the look on her face next month when she opened her bank account and his latest payment wasn't there. The thought made him smile.

He turned left down a corridor and stopped at the Family Court Office. Twisting the knob, he entered for the last time. The same smells hit him. Old paper and someone's overpowering perfume. His stomach rolled once and he let out a long breath and willed it to settle. He wouldn't be in here long. And, as luck would have it, there was only one other person in line before him.

He waited patiently, listening to the long-drawn-out story from the woman in line in front of him. Her ex this. Her ex that. Men were scum. Blah, blah, blah. It was like listening to his ex all over again.

Finally, the clerk managed to get the woman to move on. He took two steps and laid his checkbook on the counter. "I'm here to make my final alimony payment."

The clerk smiled. "I'll bet you've been looking forward to this day."

"You have no idea." He finished writing his check, signed his name, ripped it from the book, and handed it to the clerk.

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