Chapter 8
RHETT
Fuck, I can’t believe what one night of sleeping in a decent bed, having a bath, and getting some food in her body has done for Evie’s appearance. I almost didn’t recognize her.
Evie Cole. I got her last name from her I.D. card. I would never have believed she’s eighteen if I didn’t see it with my own eyes.
She’s only a year and five months younger than me. Hopeful that I’ll get to know her better, I choose a table at the back of the room, so we’ll have privacy.
I pull her chair out, and the blush creeping over her face tells me she’s not used to this kind of treatment. It’s actually refreshing being around Evie. The women I usually go out with take everything for granted.
After I’ve taken the seat across from her, we study the menu.
“Morning, I’m Beth, and I’ll be your waitress,” a perky blonde says as she smiles welcoming. It’s a nice change from the receptionist.
“I’ll just have coffee,” I say, not hungry at all.
Evie orders the same, and as soon as the waitress is out of hearing distance, I say, “You can order breakfast.”
“I’ve never been a big eater early in the morning. Coffee is good.”
She fidgets with the keycard, and I reach across the table to take it from her. My hand almost covers both of hers as I give her an encouraging squeeze before pulling back.
“Let’s get to know each other a little. I think it will help calm your nerves.”
“Okay,” she whispers, but her eyes don’t meet mine which tells me it’s going to take a lot to get her to feel at ease around me.
“You know my name. Rhett Daniels. I’m nineteen. What else?” I try to think of something else to say that won’t be too personal.
“The other men you live with, are they your brothers?"
Happy that she asked something, I smile as I answer, “We might not be related by blood, but they are my brothers. Carter and I have been friends since our first day of school.”
“Carter seems nice,” she says, and I don’t miss that she’s not as tense as when we sat down.
“Actually, Logan is the nice one. I think you’re the first person to describe Carter as nice.” I might have meant that as a joke but there’s a lot of truth to it. Carter is realistic and doesn’t take shit from anyone.
There’s a moment of uncomfortable silence between us. I’m not used to awkward moments with girls. Usually, there isn’t any time for awkward moments because I never have conversations with any of the women I sleep with.
But Evie is different. If she’s going to be my responsibility, then we’ll have to get comfortable with each other.
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” I ask just as the waitress brings our coffee.
While I wait for her to answer, I add cream and sugar to my cup.
“No,” she whispers before she takes a sip of her coffee.
“Do you have any family?” After placing the cup down, I cross my arms on the table, giving Evie my full attention.
“No.”
She doesn’t elaborate, which only makes me wonder more about the life she’s had.
“What happened to your parents?”
She shrugs, and finally, she looks up from her hands. Meeting my gaze, I don’t like the lost look I see on her face. I wish I could change her past.
Just when I think that she’s not going to answer me, she says, “I don’t know. I’ve never had parents.”
I frown, unable to believe that she doesn’t know her own parents.
“I’ve been in foster care since I can remember,” she explains.
Shit, at least Mia and I have good memories of our parents.
“How did you end up living on the street?”
She drops her eyes back to her hands, and I know I’ve just hit a sensitive subject.
“I turned eighteen.” Again she doesn’t elaborate, and I decide to drop that subject for now.
“Don’t take offense, but I have to ask. Have you ever been arrested?”
She cringes and whispers, “No, and before you ask, I haven’t done drugs either.”
“That’s good to know.” I take a sip of my coffee before I continue. “Have you thought about the deal?”
“I have.” Her eyes meet mine, and I see the uncertainty, which gives me hope that I can still convince her. “Can you explain it to me again.”
“It’s quite simple. I’ll be your benefactor, and in return, all you do is study your ass off. The only rule I have is that you keep your clothes on. No stripping. No dating. Give your full attention to your studies.”
“What rights will you have as my benefactor?”
I immediately read between the lines. “Evie, I’m going to be straightforward with you. I have no hidden agenda.”
She bites her bottom lip, still worried about my intentions.
“Hey,” I whisper as I reach across the table. I cover Evie’s hand with mine, hoping that I'm not too forward by touching her. “I want to give you a chance to be independent.”
She lets out a soft sound through her nose, almost like a silent laugh.
“I still don’t understand why you’re willing to help me. Especially when you won’t be getting anything in return.”
“I have a sister. She’s a few years younger than you. Living on the streets could’ve been our fate if Carter’s dad didn’t take us in when our parents died. He didn’t have to, and he certainly got nothing in return. Like I said yesterday, I want to give you the same chance I was given.”
“It’s all surreal,” she whispers as she pulls her hand from mine. “If I take the deal, what will I have to study?”
I smile, knowing that she’s going to agree.
“You can choose. We will look at apartments together, and the lease will be in my name, but you will have a say in which apartment we go with. I’m not sure what to do about your monthly expenses. I’m not comfortable with just transferring funds to your bank account.”
“I don’t have a bank account,” she says, her cheeks flushing pink.
“We’ll figure something out. I’ll pay the school fees and rent. Maybe we can get together once every two weeks to get anything you might need, and that way I can also check in with you to see how your studies are going?”
“We could do that.” She realizes what she just said when I grin at her.
“That sounded like a yes,” I tease her. She smiles, and it transforms her face. “You need to smile more, Evie.”
Her voice is hoarse with the emotion I can see on her face when she says, “You’ve given me a reason to smile. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Become a beautiful, independent woman. That will be thank you enough for me.”
“I don’t know about the beautiful part, but I really want to be independent.”
I reach over the table again and wait for her to shake my hand. When she does, I say, “We have a deal, Evie Cole.”
“It’s a deal,” she says, and a burst of laughter is quickly smothered by a sob. “I’m sorry.”
I give her a moment to compose herself. It’s understandable that she’s emotional right now.
“Let’s go apartment hunting,” I say once she’s back in control of her emotions.
“Right now?” she asks, her eyes sparkling with excitement. It’s another look which suits her.
“Right now,” I say as I get up. “I’m just going to settle the bill, then we can get going. Are you okay with staying here until you can move into an apartment?”
Evie hesitates before she answers, “This place is expensive, Rhett. I’ll be fine at a motel.”
Just because she keeps trying to get out of me spending money on her, it makes me want to give her everything her heart desires.
“I’ll feel better if you stay here,” I say, hoping to change her mind about the motel.
“Okay,” she whispers with the bright smile back on her face. “But hopefully it won’t be for too long, and we can find a reasonably priced apartment.”