It was the strangest thing, because she believed him. She didn’t even know why. Maybe it was just the way he held himself, or something like that. He looked so confident, so sure of himself.
“I don’t want to think about that.”
“Then tell me about yourself.”
She nibbled her lip, and she couldn’t help but look past his shoulder at the luxury that surrounded her. This place was absolutely beautiful. She had no doubt Evander was a wealthy man. His home, his car, even the care she’d been given at the private hospital—everything she’d seen screamed luxury, which was something she’d never had, and she certainly wasn’t used to.
Did he even realize that the moment they stepped into his home, she’d been terrified of touching anything? She felt beneath him, not good enough to tread in his shadow.
“I don’t know what you want to know.”
“Anything,” he said.
“I’m not sure I follow.” For the longest time now, she’d been going through the motions. She hadn’t really lived. She got up and did what she needed in order to survive work and then back to her place to bed. The next day, her endless routine would start again. There was nothing glamorous about it. In fact, it was downright embarrassing not being able to give him a single exciting tale.
Callie didn’t know whether to burst out laughing or sob. When she was younger, before coming to the city, she had stupiddreams about having so many different careers. There was a time she wanted to be an actress, and that ended quickly. Next, she wanted to be a veterinarian, again, that ended very quickly without grades and money. Along the way, she’d had many dreams, the biggest was opening a care home for unwanted elderly dogs, and loving them. None of that had happened.
She’d done okay in school, but she’d never been intelligent enough to get a scholarship, and, well, that would have been the only way for her to get anywhere.
How had she gotten stuck in such a rut?
Tears filled her eyes, and she got to her feet, turning away from him. “I’m so sorry,” Callie said.
She couldn’t believe she was close to tears in front of a total stranger. What was wrong with her? It wasn’t his fault. All he’d done was ask a simple question, to talk about herself. A normal person would have answered him without much thought.
He gripped her shoulders, and she wasn’t afraid of him, which was the strangest thing. His touch comforted her in the best possible way.
“It’s going to be all right,” he said.
“I know you mean well, thank you, but I don’t know how this is going to get better,” she said.
“He won’t harm you, I promise.”
She laughed, but it wasn’t even a good sound. “Honestly, it’s not even about him.” She took a deep breath, and then spun around, pausing for a second, because Evander was so close. She was used to seeing men lusting after women, always wanting to break the boundaries at work. This was different. Evander wasn’t leering at her, or making rude suggestions, or even propositioning her to go upstairs.
In all her life, she had never had this reaction to a man, and it took her completely by surprise. At first, she didn’t knowwhat to think, and then she felt this answering pulse within her body. The heaviness in her breasts, the slickness gathering between her thighs.
She pushed those thoughts and feelings aside, and focused on the now. She could not be lusting after this man. He’d helped her. Besides, he didn’t need a woman like her. He must be used to women in his own circles.
“What’s it about?” he asked.
Callie didn’t even know if he genuinely cared or not. It was nice to have someone talking to her for a change. She licked her suddenly dry lips. “I just realized I’ve fallen into a routine I never wanted to be in. I came to the big city to search for a dream. I don’t even know what that dream is anymore, but all I do is work and try to survive.” She let out a little chuckle, but it just sounded defeated. “I’m aware that’s all anyone does, but I don’t know, I think I expected to do more with my life. I wanted to make a difference, to help unwanted animals, anything.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to unload on you.”
“That’s not unloading. You’re talking.” He reached out and stroked her cheek with the back of his knuckles.
She loved his touch.
“I don’t suppose you know how I can … you know, get this?” she asked, pointing to his place. It was a joke, not quite, but she could make it a joke. There was no way she was ever going to be able to afford something like this.
“Stay with me,” he said.
Chapter Four
Evander certainly wasn’t joking.
He wanted to make all Callie’s dreams come true. To erase her past, the pain, and the regrets. God, the girl was only twenty-one and had her whole life ahead of her. She shouldn’t be so eager to throw in the towel already. If she wanted to help dogs, he’d be the first in line to help her get started.
“Is there no Mrs. Evander?”