Page 9 of The Hitman's Virgin
He liked that she was asking about his love life. It meant she was thinking of him as more than a guardian angel. At least he hoped.
“No. If there was, you wouldn’t be here.”
She took pause for a moment. “Interesting. Does that mean you’re a faithful man? They seem a rarity. Especially at Guy’s Titties.”
“You could bet your life on it.”
He stared at her, daring her to question his answer. Evander only had eyes for Callie, her and her alone. There was nothing in common between him and the lowlifes who frequented the strip club where she used to work.
“I’m surprised you’re not married, or at least taken. I mean, your home is breathtaking and you seem to have a lot to offer,” she said.
“I’m not looking for a gold-digger.”
She gasped, a barely audible sound. “I’m not trying—”
He shook his head. “I’m most certainly not talking about you, Callie. As far as I’m concerned, everything I have is already yours.”
“What? I don’t know what’s happening here. You don’t know me. Am I missing something?”
“You’re suspicious.”
“Well, look at you and look at me.”
“Okay,” he said. “What’s your point?”
She scoffed. “Besides the fact that I’m broke, well, I don’t exactly have men clamoring at my door for dates. And you—”
He stopped her from continuing, waving a finger in warning. No way was he going to allow her to tear herself apart. Although he was grateful she was single, she already had him wrapped around her finger.
“You said I didn’t look like I belonged where you worked.”
“You don’t.”
“Because I would never choose to visit a place like that. I don’t drink shit beer or enjoy watching naked women sell themselves for dollar bills. I was only there because of you. From the first day I saw you, I was hooked. I can’t explain it, but I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”
“Me?”
He smiled. “You.”
“That’s hard to believe. Well, what were you doing there in the first place, then?” she asked.
“It was a quick business meeting. Not my choice. I never would have returned if it weren’t for you.”
“You never even talked to me. Never asked me out on a date or anything. I’m confused.”
He wasn’t going to tell her he’d been studying her, watching her habits, and then trying for the life of him to forget her and move the fuck on. Some switch in his head had flipped and he kept coming back to see her. She invaded his thoughts until it was hard to focus at work, which said a lot because he was known for his ironclad concentration.
“You said you don’t have men clamoring at your door. Well, I’m not very good with people. I tend to keep to myself.”
“You were afraid to talk to me?”
He raised a brow. “I guess you could say that.”
“And then you saved my life. That’s a good way to sweep a girl off her feet.”
“It seemed to have worked in my favor,” he said.
He took her plate and brought it to the dishwasher. She’d eaten everything he served her as they’d talked.
