Chapter One
Evander Watson stared out across the parking lot, watching the bar that held the woman of his dreams, Callie West. The young woman had taken him by surprise and he wasn’t known to be easily surprised.
He glanced through the file he’d requested on her. He’d gotten it within hours of meeting her, giving him every detail of her life. She wasn’t on any social media, which shocked him as most young people were addicted to it.
Her bank statements showed most of her habits, aside from being broke. Callie lived a rather boring and sheltered life. She donated some of her money every month to select charities. She also volunteered at a local dog shelter in her free time. There was a charm on her purse of a dog.
He’d never known a kind, selfless woman like her in his circles. The only reason he stumbled across her was because he had to deal with some business where she worked. It wasn’t a popular joint, just a strip club that had seen better days. Callie worked behind the bar in a too-tight shirt, with men trying to grope her each night. He didn’t like it. She deserved so much better.
Slamming the file shut, he shoved it in the glove box before getting out of his car and heading toward the bar. There were a couple of cars in the parking lot and as he entered, he was overcome by the pungent scent of cigarette smoke, alcohol, and sex.
Like always, Callie was at the bar, serving beer while a woman swung her naked body around a pole on the stage. Callie’s blonde hair wasn’t up in a ponytail as it had been that first night, but cascaded around her shoulders. She looked like a fucking angel from heaven. A very curvy, heavenly angel.
His cock hardened at the sight of her. Several men were at the bar, and he knew those looks on their faces. One of them was there way too frequently for his liking. They were imagining her naked, but none of them were going to see her like that. Callie was all his. Every precious inch of her.
She placed a bottle of beer down in front of one of the men, and he grabbed her arm, pulling her close. She let out a little squeal, and anger rushed through Evander as he stepped in closer. He gripped the man’s wrist, applying just enough pressure to make a point. The asshole attempted to fight for dominance, trying not to show he was in pain. The fool.
“That is no way to treat a lady.”
“She’s no lady,” he said.
“You know what, Mitch, I think we should go and see Leah. She wants our money.” The guy who sat next to this fucker tried to play the peacekeeper.
Evander released the man’s wrist and waited. He hoped the bastard would take him on. No one touched Callie. And he was always up for a good fight.
They left, as did the rest of the men sitting at the bar.
“Wow, er, thank you,” Callie said.
He turned his full attention to her.
“How’s your arm?” he asked.
Callie looked down at herself and smiled. “It’s nothing. It’s all part of the job, right?”
“Dealing with asshole men, yes, I can see that.”
She laughed. “What can I get you?”
“A beer.” He had no intention of drinking.
“I think I recognize you. Do you come in here often?” Callie asked.
“Sometimes.” He’d been coming in most nights, but rarely did she see him. Callie didn’t need to know that for the past couple of months, he’d been stalking her. He knew all of her movements, what she liked, what she hated. Even some of her taste in music, which was not the same as his. She loved modern pop. He was more into soul. There was also a nineteen-year age gap, but age was just a number.
“I thought I recognized you. If you don’t mind me saying, this place is beneath you. I know a good bar a few blocks from here that would be more your style.”
“And why is that?” he asked.
“The suit. It’s designer, right? Trust me, we don’t get people like you in here that often. My boss tries to remember the glory days of years ago when it was the best thing going.”
“If you don’t like the place, why do you work here?”
“I can’t afford to be too picky. The job market isn’t exactly open for me right now.” She shrugged. “I go where I need to. Besides, I’m not afraid of a little hard work.Youmay not belong here, but I do.”
Evander thought of the file he had on her. Her mother died when she was eighteen, but before she moved to the city, she lived in a trailer park in a small town. He wanted to take her away from all of this. To fill her life with all the things she deserved.
She placed a beer right in front of him, and with no one else to serve, she grabbed a tray and headed out, scooping up theempty bottles and glasses that had been left on tables. He heard the sound of stickiness under her shoes as she walked.