Lia discreetly checked her phone once more. Caleb had texted her an hour ago that they’d landed in Manhattan. She’d told him to let her know when he had gotten back to the apartment. Surely that should have happened by now.

“Put that phone away,” Beck growled over her shoulder. She’d just started to type out a text but stuffed her phone in her bra, glaring at him as he walked back to the bar.

This Sunday wasn’t as busy as she would have hoped and she was regretting trading. But just as she had that thought, a large group of guys walked in. They appeared to be blue collar, a little rough. Typical Exquisite customers. She hoped they sat in her section. Cherry—more commonly known as Lisa—was on stage 2. She usually drew a lot of attention, so hopefully they would make their way over.

Picking up two beers at the bar, Lia inwardly cheered when they headed for two empty tables on her side of the room and pushed them together. She needed this, as she’d probably not even hit a hundred bucks for the evening. As soon as she delivered the drinks already in her hands she made her way over to them.

“Evening, boys.” Her voice was light and provocative, and she rested her hand on the youngest one’s shoulders. They all liked to be touched, and he looked the safest.

“Well, hell-o,” the largest of them said with a lecherous grin. He pointed at her and looked at his friends. “And this . . . this is why we come here.”

They all laughed, and she just grinned and winked. This was a show. A tease. And she’d gotten so skilled at it for work, sometimes she wasn’t even sure what she was doing. Within these four walls, it was all automatic and instinctive. It was also her livelihood for now. And her mother’s, and her brother’s.

She proceeded to flirt her away around the table taking their drink orders, and then went to the bar. Picking up another table’s order, she headed back to her section, and stopped in her tracks.

Tyler sat in the corner at one of her tables. He was leaning back in his chair with a casual foot resting on one knee. Leaning to one side, he had his chin resting in the crook of his thumb and forefinger, just watching her.

They locked eyes and he raised a brow but made no other movement. Her hands were full, and she had money to make. On top of that, Beck had a strict no-boyfriend-or-husband rule. While Tyler was technically neither, he would be the same kind of trouble for her, she knew, because he was not here to be a customer. That was obvious.

She turned away and delivered her drinks. His eyes on her made every smile feel ridiculous, and she wasn’t sure how well he could hear their conversations, so she could barely bring herself to openly flirt with these men any longer.

As soon as she could, she walked over to his table. With her back to the bar to block Beck’s view, she glared at him. “What the hell are you doing?”

He opened his hands. “I wanted a drink.”

“No you didn’t. You’re making trouble for me.” She knew he was only allowed in because Elliott happened to be off tonight and Tucker was working. “And where’s Caleb?”

“I dropped him home before I came. I needed to see you.”

Her heart skipped at those words, but her panic remained. “And it couldn’t wait?”

“No.”

“Well, I can’t talk to you here.”

“Fine. I’ll just sit here and enjoy looking at you. Isn’t that what all these other fuckers come here for?”

She inhaled hard, staring back at him. “You better not cause a scene. And you have to get a drink.”

“I’ll take a Budweiser.”

Going to the bar she picked up Tyler’s beer and a couple more drinks for the large table, which had already gotten loud as they watched Cherry. She dropped Tyler’s off first without a word and then headed to the group.

Normally Lia barely heard—or blew off—the suggestive comments and the lewd insinuations from her customers. But tonight, with Tyler at the next table and within earshot, every single one ripped into her soul.

“What’s wrong, sexy?” One of the guys rubbed the back of her knee below the table. “You look sad.”

She forced herself to smile down at the guy. No more than thirty, he was already balding and his button-down shirt was way too tight for the gut he was sporting. “I’m just fine.”

“You sure? I can—”

“I bet you could,” she said, cutting him off. She’d had enough of these conversations to know the script. She wagged a finger at him. “But you know the rules.”

Chuckles and shit-talk erupted throughout the group. She darted away from him, still feeling Tyler’s eyes on her. After checking on her other tables, running more drinks, fetching napkins, and then helping one of the girls fix a broken strap on her bra, she stopped at Tyler’s table again.

“I really don’t like you being here,” she said. It was true. Pretending was much harder with him watching her.

He seemed to consider her words, then surprised her by replying. “You work hard here.”

“Of course I do. What did you expect?”

He didn’t answer, just shook his head.

“Why are you here, Tyler? Did you want to discuss your weekend with Caleb, because we could have found a much more appropriate time to do that.”

“I’m here because I miss you.”

She shifted her weight to her other foot and grabbed onto the chair next to her. “Nothing has changed, Tyler.”

“No, I guess not.” He glanced around the room. “I guess I’m just a sucker. Like all these pathetic assholes.”

“You have nothing to do with the men here. And you know it.” Lia sighed and glanced toward the bar to see Beck eyeing them.

“Don’t I? I mean we’re all getting played by a beautiful woman who doesn’t tell us who she really is, right?”

Lia lifted a hand to her wig, suddenly feeling ridiculous.

Tyler sighed. “Goddamn it. I didn’t come here to fight.”

“Then why did you?”

“I guess I’m trying to decide if I can accept this.”

Her heart pounded. “And what did you come up with?”

He inhaled deep through his nose, staring back at her. “Not sure if you want to hear it.”

“I do.”

His just shook his head. “This place isn’t you, Lia.”

“I think you just don’t want it to be me.”

“I won’t argue with that. What time will you be home?” he asked, moving to stand.

A wave of relief washed over her. Partly because she wanted him to go. But also, because she did want to see him. Talk to him. She’d really wanted nothing else for the past week.

“About two.”

He gave a harsh nod, stood up, pulled out his wallet, and dropped a fifty on the table.

“Tyler—”

“Hush.” He put his wallet away and looked at her. “You call me as you walk out to your car. Do you understand?”

She sagged her shoulders. “I have someone walk me—”

“I don’t care what you have here. You call me before you walk out that door. Promise me.”

“Okay. I promise.” She almost didn’t know how to handle a man caring so much for her well-being. At least when it was a man that she cared for in return. It was a new and strange thing.

* * *

Tyler knocked quietly on Lia’s door. She’d called him a little over an hour ago and he’d spoken to her until she was in her car and pulling out of the Exquisite parking lot.

He wasn’t sure what had made him think it was a good idea to go out there. And of course, it wasn’t, because seeing her there, watching other guys look at her . . . it had been awful. She also would not appreciate him getting her fired, which he would do if he made a habit of stalking her there.

She opened the door dressed in long flowy pajama pants and a tank top, her damp hair clinging to her face. This was the real her, not the one he’d seen a few hours earlier. None of those assholes would get to see this perfectly beautiful side of her.

Leaning her head on the edge of the open door, she stared at him. “You’re here,” she said quietly.

“I can’t seem to control myself.”

She opened the door wider and stood back. “Come in and tell me about the weekend.”

He stepped inside, realizing it felt good just to be in her place, be surrounded by her scent and her things. She sat down on the sofa, and he played it safe by sitting in the chair. Right away she started asking him questions about their trip, from the plane ride to the fights. She laughed when he told her about Caleb eating his first In-N-Out Burger and she thought it was sweet that his mom forced Caleb to help her make pancakes and bacon this morning. Not that he’d refused. In fact, he’d seemed eager and happy to help.

“I’m excited to hear him talk about it tomorrow.” She picked at a pillow beside her. “It sucked not being able to see him tonight but he’d obviously been asleep. Thank you again for taking him. He’s never had an opportunity like that.”

“It would have been better if you were with us.” He couldn’t help saying it, because it was true.

She licked at her lips and looked away. “Tyler . . . I don’t know how we can make this work. We’re too different.”

“Do you really believe that?”

Turning to him, she tilted her head. “Do you not?”

“What I believe is that we could work through some shit if you’d talk to me.”

“About what?”

“Who you are, Lia. I want details. Maybe it would help me understand why you feel the need to do what you do.”

“Here we go. I need to justify my actions. Is that it?”

“Lia . . .” He shook his head. “I want to take care of you. What the hell is wrong with that?”

She stared at him. Surely he didn’t mean what he’d said. It had come out on accident. Probably because Tyler was the consummate do-gooder. He wanted to help those in need, but the last thing Lia wanted to be was a man’s charity case. “Maybe I’m not used to having a man care about me, okay? I do things on my own. I take care of myself. I don’t count on people.”

His lips pursed. “How’s that working for you?”

She shrugged, old walls coming up around her heart as naturally as if they’d never been gone. “It’s all I know.”

“You know there are other ways of making money.”

Suddenly feeling cornered, Lia laughed. She pulled her feet up on the cushion and hugged her legs. “You’re right. I guess as a young single woman, raising her teenage brother, I should have just looked harder for all the opportunities available to me.”

He glared at her. “You know what I mean.”

She sighed. “And you know what I mean. You want me to break my issues down for you? Do you need to know that I had a super shitty childhood? I’ve spent my whole life taking care of myself. I got myself up for school, I made my own lunch, I got a job and bought my own clothes.” She threw up her hands, her memories reminding her who she was all over again. “I even paid for my own cap and gown to graduate high school with my class.”

He watched her silently, his lips pinched and his hands clasped together.

“Sure, it could have been worse. But it was bad enough. And now I’m a woman, putting myself through college. I work two jobs. I care for my younger brother, and recently I became lucky enough to pay fifteen hundred dollars a month because my horrible mother can’t play nice with old people. Do not tell me there are other ways of making money.”

She wasn’t finished.

“I can’t just change my life around because part of it makes you uncomfortable. We had only been seeing each other for a short time. Every man in my life before now has been a piece of shit. And yet I’m supposed to trust that you’re going to be different? That you’re going to play the role of savior and make it all better? Because that’s what I call bullshit on, Tyler.”

He moved his jaw back and forth, clearly considering all she’d just said. “I’m sorry, Lia. But keep in mind trust goes both ways.”

“I know. And I’m sorry for not telling you about my job. I knew it would upset you, but . . . sometimes I just think it would be easier if we let this go.”

He shook his head. “That’s not what I want, Lia. I’m not ready to let you go. I’ve missed you like crazy. You can’t tell me you haven’t missed me too.”

“Of course I have,” she whispered.

Tyler scooted to the edge of his chair. “We can start over. Do this the right way. No pressure. Just . . . see where it goes.”

Lia looked down at her hands. “I can’t quit my job.”

Tyler inhaled deep and then blew it out. “I understand. I won’t ask you to. But we have to be honest with one another. Even when it’s hard. I can’t have anything less from you.”

Lia met his eyes. He looked so desperate, but also hopeful.

“What do you say, Lia?”

Who was she fooling? There was no denying how much she liked this man. He knew more about her than anyone except her brother and her best friend. Even knew where she worked. And yet here he was.

“Okay. I’d like that.”

* * *

Lia and Tyler had been officially dating for three weeks. They’d been out to dinner, gone bowling, picnicked at a nearby lake, and today he’d taken her and Caleb to a Kansas State football game. They’d had so much fun cheering, eating nachos, and holding hands. Now, after dropping Caleb off at his friend Cole’s, the two of them were seated in a Mexican restaurant eating the best fajitas she’d ever had.

“How can you not like margaritas?” she asked him as he took a drink of his Corona.

Tyler shrugged and set the bottle back down. “Not a fan of citrusy things I guess.”

“There’s lime in this guacamole,” she countered. “And in this salsa, I bet.”

“I think you’re really reaching there,” he teased. “Guacamole doesn’t taste like lime.”

“Okay, fine. But you know a lot of people put lime in their Corona.”

“They do, yes. I don’t.”

She’d learned to love goading him like this. There were quite a few things she’d learned to love about him over the past few weeks. One of them was how much she enjoyed kissing him, without the worry of where it would lead because he never tried to push her any further than making out. A perfect gentleman.

A couple of times he’d stopped in the coffee shop and spent her break with her, and every night she worked at Exquisite she made sure to call him on the way in and on the way out.

“Were that Cole kid’s parents going to be home tonight?” Tyler asked.

“It’s just his mother, she’s divorced. According to Caleb she’s home, and I’ve met her once before. She seemed nice. I guess I should have verified.”

“Maybe. But at the same time, he’s nearly seventeen. If they’re going to get into trouble, they’ll find a way.” He laughed to himself. “You don’t want to know what I was doing at sixteen.”

“I’m pretty sure you’ve told me. You were a little punk fighting for money.”

“That I was.”

“I hope you don’t ever tell Caleb that.”

“Oh, he already knows plenty. If you recall it was Caleb that told you I was in a gang.”

Lia cringed. “That’s right.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t glamorize anything I did in my youth. I use it as a teaching tool. Maybe someday I’ll share some more of my past with him.”

Their eyes met briefly, both realizing what his words had implied. Someday. When it was time to go, they paid and headed out to the parking lot. He held open her car door and then walked around to get in.

As he pulled out into traffic, she had the sudden urge to speak up. Without even agreeing on it, they’d both kept the physical interactions to a minimum. Kissing was about as far as they’d gone, and while she appreciated his desire to make her comfortable, she was ready for more. “Why don’t we go to your place?”

He glanced over at her, surprise on his face. “You want to?”

“Yeah. I’m just tired of mine. If you don’t want to—”

“No, it’s fine. You sure?”

“Yeah. Since I don’t have to worry about Caleb.”

Ten minutes later they were pulling into his driveway and heading inside. She hadn’t been here since the last time when they’d made out in his kitchen. It had the same musky Tyler smell, and was only a tiny bit messy. Papers and magazines still cluttered his coffee table, and he had a couple of shipping boxes lined up in the hallway. It felt . . . comfortable. Like him.

She watched him switch on a lamp, put his keys down, and then look at her. Without thinking, Lia walked over, wrapped her arms around his neck, and hugged him tight.

His arms slipped around her waist and pulled her in to his body. She felt his lips settle on her hair before he whispered, “You okay?”

“Yes. I’m just happy to be here with you.

“I am too, babe.”

Looking up, she stared into his eyes. “These past couple weeks have been really good.”

He pressed a kiss to her nose. “I agree.”

When he pulled back, she leaned in to kiss him, and he instantly reciprocated.

“You taste like lime,” he said.

She laughed, and backed away. But he wasn’t having that and yanked her back into his arms. “On you, it tastes amazing. Kiss me again.”

“You sure?” she teased.

“Very.”

Her lips went to his once more, their tongues meeting repeatedly.

“Tyler,” she whispered.

He glanced down at her, his eyes smoldering. Running a finger down her face, he stared at her.

“I want you.” She wanted him, and she wanted it all. This was the man she could trust. She knew that now with complete certainty.

Sucking in a deep breath, he bit at his lip. Finally, he spoke. “Lia, I can wait.”

“I know you can and you would. But Tyler”—his eyes didn’t leave hers as she spoke—“I know you’re the one. Please.”

His hands left her waist and slid up into her hair, gripping the base of her head. Thumbs on her jaw, he tilted her lips up to him, and covered them with his own. Recognizing the safety net this man now represented, Lia’s body melted into him, completely vulnerable and unguarded.

As he kissed her, he walked slowly, leading her backward through the living room, down the hall, and to his bedroom.

“Tell me if you want me to stop, Lia.” He pulled her shirt over her head and dropped it on the floor. Stepping away from her, he turned on a lamp on the bedside table.

She glanced around his room. His bed was large, the gray sheets still tangled from where he’d slept last night.

His hand reached up and slid one of her bra straps off her shoulder. Then the other. “Tell me what you need. I’ll do whatever I have to do to make this good for you.”

“It’s already good for me. Just don’t stop.”

Sliding her other bra strap down, his lips found her neck. Lia dropped her head back, begging him to kiss her everywhere. She held onto his arms, loving how firm and thick they were. Everything about this man, from his body to his words, suggested safety and security.

As his mouth traveled over her chest, he reached around and unhooked her bra. Standing straight, he watched as the lace lowered, revealing her to him. He dropped it onto the ground and then palmed both of her breasts.

“These are only for me,” he said quietly. Their eyes met, and Lia nodded. He leaned down and sucked a nipple into his mouth, making her gasp. Her hands went to his head, and she tried to breathe normally as his hot mouth worked magic on her skin.

His fingers found her jeans and within seconds the denim was sliding down her legs. While she pulled her shoes and then pants off, he undressed himself. Lia watched in utter fascination as she saw him completely naked for the first time. His body was a work of art—legs corded with muscle, torso lean and firm, and of course the tattoos. The very thing to put her on alert was now one of her favorite things about him, such a representation of him as a man.

“You’re so perfect,” she whispered. Placing a hand on his chest, she recalled the meaning of the words inscribed. Save me, and I’ll save you. She should have known then. This man wanted nothing more than to be needed. And oh, how she needed him now. Maybe forever.

* * *

Backing her up to the bed, Tyler gently laid Lia down. She was so beautiful he almost forgot how to breathe. Crawling up over her, he settled between her legs, kissing her lips.

His hand slid down between them, his fingers slipping under her panties. “Oh God,” he moaned, finding her unbelievably wet. He kissed her again while gently penetrating her with one finger. He would take this slow if it took every ounce of control in his body.

She arched up into his palm, driving his finger deeper.

“More,” she moaned.

Tyler pulled it out and then replaced it with two fingers, going slowly. “Does that hurt?”

“No.” She began to pant to the rhythm of his strokes. “It feels so good.”

“I’m going to make you come with my fingers.”

Her whimper was answer enough, and as he latched his mouth on her nipple, he let his two fingers zero in on her clit. Lia’s legs parted, her knees falling back toward her head. Angling his body to the side, he rubbed her sensitive skin, using her breathy moans to guide his pressure.

“Suck harder,” she whispered, and he did as she asked, applying hard pulls to her breasts.

It wasn’t long until he could tell she was close. He moved up to her mouth, hovering just above her lips. Watching her expression—eyes pinched shut, mouth falling open—he continued stroking. “I need you to come all over my fingers, Lia.”

Her eyes shot open, and then she began to vibrate beneath him. He let her body settle down for a moment, his eyes never leaving her face. She stared back at him, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

“I think you’re the perfect one,” he whispered in reply to her earlier statement.

She smiled fully now, her hands reaching for him. “I want you inside of me now.”

He was more than ready to grant that wish. Going up on his knees, he leaned over and pulled a condom from the bedside table. Working quickly, he rolled it on and resituated himself between her legs.

She lifted her knees once again, and when his cock pressed into the welcoming heat between her legs, he knew this would be pleasure like he’d never known. Lia was his dream come true. The first woman who made him feel whole. Made him want to be better. More compassionate, more understanding, less angry at himself for all the ways he’d failed others in his life.

He could not fail this woman.

Looking down at those beautiful eyes staring up at him, he searched for trust. She smiled, and that was all he needed. He flexed, pulling back just enough to slip inside her. And holy shit, the heat, the slickness . . . she was so tight. He slid slowly at first, watching as her mouth formed an O.

“Talk to me, babe,” he said.

“Keep going.” Her lips clamped shut and she swallowed. “God, it’s so full.”

Tyler rested his forehead on hers. “You feel so fucking good, Lia.”

Her hands slid down to his butt and he was afraid she might still him, but instead she pulled down hard, sliding him all the way in. Tyler moaned at the same time Lia gasped.

Her eyes went wide and he held still, not only for her to become adjusted, but because if he didn’t he might make this very unmemorable for her. That would never do.

She lifted a hand and touched his face. “I’m so happy I waited for you.”

Tyler felt her words like a punch in his gut, and never before had he felt like crying from pure elation. “Making you happy is the only thing that matters in my life, Lia.”

She let out a broken laugh, her eyes glistening. Then she gave him a naughty look. “Then please finish what you started.”

That he could do.