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“I was hoping maybe tomorrow night we could have dinner together before going out to Wicked Sanctuary. That is, if I’m not being too bold.”

Kaley laughed. She couldn’t help it. “I thought all Doms were bold.”

“We are. What do you say?”

Kaley thought for a moment. She really should say no. Dinner went beyond playing at the club. But she’d promised herself to always be honest with people, and he deserved to know her thoughts face to face not over the phone. “I won’t finish with my last job until six-thirty.”

“How about if I pick you up at seven-thirty? We can grab a bite and be at the club by nine. Oh wait, are you working the bar?”

“I have the ten to twelve shift tomorrow.” It was nice he asked about her hours at the club.

“Great. What do you say?”

“Sure. Where are you taking me?”

“Nowhere fancy. You can wear normal street clothes.”

“That works.”

“Good. Now, I want you to think between tonight and tomorrow night about sitting for me.”

“Anthony…” she started.

“Just think about it, please.”

His please melted her resolve. “All right, I’ll think about it, but I probably won’t change my mind.”

“Thank you.” His voice was soft. “I’ve dreamed of you all week, my Kaley. See you tomorrow.”

The line went dead, and she set her cell down with a sigh. Anthony was kind and considerate; any woman would date him. Kaley bit her lower lip. Anthony had been brought up so differently than she had. Better to let him know up front that she wasn’t his type before he found out about her past. Shaking her head, Kaley reminded herself it was just dinner, not a proposal.

Trailer trash. The words made her stomach cramp. Until she got the job at the vet’s office, how many times had she heard that in and out of school and as she did odd jobs around the neighborhood to pay for food for her and her siblings.

Kaley stood and stretched. Nope. She’d tell Anthony tomorrow night there could be nothing between them. He didn’t need her kind of trouble or to hear the names that some people still called her. She put her plate in the sink, put her laptop away, and carried her cell into her bedroom.

The room was as plain as her life. White walls, a worn beige rug, a double bed with a brown comforter and tan sheets. Business was good, and it showed no sign of letting up. Soon, maybe she could have some nice things in her life. It really wasn’t about material possessions, but she wanted to feel good about where she lived and her life, and saving everything she could was one of the steps.

A yawn escaped her lips. Bed time. She climbed into bed, and Anthony crept into her dreams once again. And in the dream, they were happy together.

Chapter Six

Kaley pulled her jeans on over her boy shorts and slipped on a blouse over her sports bra. Anthony would be here any minute. She’d run a few minutes over on her last job and barely had time to shower off. She threw her wallet and phone in her small purse, then grabbed her club bag, tossing her club shoes inside as the doorbell rang.

Rushing to the door, she dropped her purse on the side table, looked out the peephole, and threw the locks. “Hi, I’m running a few minutes late.”

“Easy.” Warm hands descended on her shoulders. “Breathe, sweetheart.”

Kaley closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Okay, I’m better. Thanks.” She stepped back to let him in. Was that wise? Not that Anthony would hurt her, but her apartment was tiny and not very attractive.

“You have a nice place,” he said, glancing around her apartment. The kitchen was right next to the front door, then the small dining area, and her living room. The bedroom door was slightly open, and the bathroom entrance was inside her bedroom. “But I don’t like how easily someone can get into the building.”

“There isn’t much I can do about the front door lock. Most of us have complained, but our complaints fall on deaf ears.” She’d given up, which was why she had so many deadbolts. “It’s home.”

“It’s you. Subtle and uncluttered.”

She wondered what he meant by that? How could it be her? She hadn’t done much since moving in.

“Do you have everything in your bag?” He gestured to her hand.

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