Evander grabbed the case and his jacket from the back of the chair. He began to walk toward the door.
“I’ll see you tonight?”
“I know the plan, Bastian.”
Then he left.
His friend was just caring about him, but it rubbed him wrong. Because everything was true. Evander had fucked up falling in love with Callie. She’d been a weakness because he’d bring down Heaven and Hell to keep her safe. He should have walked away when he’d had the chance. The many months of stalking were all on him. And purchasing her apartment building may have gone a bit too far. There was some pull Callie had on him from the very first look. He was helpless to the lure.
Now he was playing house and killing when he was supposed to be working at some respectable nonexistent job. He was living a lie and terrified of losing the one person who made life worth living.
Tonight, he had a bigger contract. He’d be handling it with Bastian and things could go sideways if they weren’t on their game.
He drove home to Callie. She’d been running a bubble bath when he left this afternoon to finalize the plans with Bastian at one of their safe houses. All he’d wanted to do was stay home and lick watery bubbles off every inch of her lush body. He’d behaved long enough.
Tonight, he’d be sure to enjoy her sweet, young body before heading out. He didn’t want any sexually distracting thoughts when he needed to stay focused on the task. The last thing he needed was more grief from Bastian. He didn’t want the constant lectures. No matter what he had going on in his private life, he was always professional when on a contract.
When he pulled up to the house, he noticed something was off right away. He didn’t enter the secure garage, but stopped short on the long driveway and bound out of the SUV. There was a body on his front lawn.
He had a hand near his waistband, ready to grab his handgun. “What’s going on?”
Callie looked up from where she’d been kneeling forward at the front of his house. “Just doing a bit of weeding. I was getting stir-crazy.”
He exhaled, feeling the initial rush of adrenaline drain away.
“You can’t be out here, Callie.”
“Why not?”
Fuck, her innocence was adorable. He never wanted her to change. “It’s not safe. When I’m not here, I can’t protect you.”
She smiled, adding weeds to a small pile. “From the mailman? You live in a very nice area, Evander. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Except your weeds.”
He squatted down next to her, trying to hide the sense of urgency he felt with her being exposed and vulnerable. His talk with Bastian had put him on edge.
“Thank you for the hard work. Now, how about I take you out to dinner?”
She smiled. “Oh, a real date?”
“Of course.” He stood up and offered her a hand, pulling her up to her feet. “It’s about time I wine and dine my lady.”
“Wow, I’m excited. I was starting to think you were hiding me away because you were embarrassed to be seen with me in public.”
“Never that.” He led her to the front of the house, locking the door behind them. The only reason they’d never left the house was his fear of endangering her. But he couldn’t keep her caged forever. She deserved all the experiences other women had with their men. And if he kept her isolated, she’d start to resent him.
****
Callie breathed in the country air as they drove along the rural roads. She didn’t care if the wind from the open window messed up her hair a bit. It smelled like sweet hay and new beginnings.
“So, you don’t want to go to a fancy restaurant? I’ve never heard of anyone refusing a five-star meal.”
“I don’t have any five-star dresses at your place. Well, not at my place either,” she said. Her life wasn’t flashy. It had always been about survival and staying off the radar. If she was honest with herself, she expected to be single for the rest of her life. The past week had been a whirlwind, and she was still in shock at how her future changed because of that one night.
Evander was everything she dreamed of. He made her feel safe, wanted, and somehow made her insecurities fade away.He made her feel beautiful. That was something she never thought she’d feel until she lost half her weight.
“Well, I’ve never been to The Country Barn,” he said. “I think I’m scared.”
“Stop it,” she teased. “You’re just used to the best of everything. It’s good to see another side of life. And there’s nothing to be afraid of.”