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Faith’s boss at the club since day one. In spite of what most people thought of him, he was a good man. He only hired women who needed the money to survive. He refused to tolerate anyone who danced to support an addiction, and most importantly, he made sure they were all kept safe while they worked. He could have his pick of women, if he gave them one ounce of encouragement, but he was actually kind of scary. It was a trait she hadn’t noticed about him before accepting a job in his club. His every movement screamed, “Stay away.” None of those things stopped anyone, including her, from sighing and drooling over him. A tall frame, sleek muscles and movements akin to a predator’s made it impossible to look away when he was near. His hair was the perfect shade of brown and it begged for her touch, but his eyes were hard, making Faith wonder what kind of life he lived. He looked as if he’d witnessed too many things and was bored by it all. It was a rare occasion when Adam would focus his attention on any one person, but when he did…Faith shivered at the thought. As if her thoughts projected across the room, Adam lifted his head, locking eyes with her. She looked away quickly, not wanting him to think she’d been staring.
    Wanting what she couldn’t have, had become as familiar as breathing to Faith. She smiled at everyone, laughed with the girls at work, and put a good face on things for her sister. Inside, she was slowly dying. No one noticed. However, at those times when Adam would catch her eye, she would feel, for a moment, as if he knew. Every time she would think she was no longer capable of emotion, his heated glances would remind her she wasn’t dead yet.
    Lord, she didn’t want to do this any longer. She was so tired. Her best friend, Emma May, enjoyed telling her God was only testing her. If that was the case, then she would gladly concede in exchange for a good night’s sleep. After all, if she hadn’t passed God’s test by now, she never would. A tingle began at the base of her neck. She knew before looking his way that Adam was watching her again. He was the only person who could make her feel. She turned, meeting his gaze once more. He held her stare as he moved in her direction. Faith felt as if her feet were glued to the floor, leaving her unable to escape.
    “I need to see you in my office when you get done here tonight.”
    Faith nodded, unable to form a single word. She knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, but the thought of Adam summoning her to his office almost made her throat swell closed. The night dragged on until her time of reckoning came. By the time she crossed the threshold of his office, Faith thought she might be sick.
    Without looking up to see who’d entered, Adam motioned for her to sit down across from him. She sat and stewed for several moments before he spoke.
    “Something is off with you tonight. I can feel it.” Finally, he looked up, meeting her gaze. It was as if time stopped and only the two of them were left in the world. With only a glance, he gained her trust and she heard herself admitting the truth.
    “My car broke.”
    “Is it a minor fix?”
    Faith shook her head. Helpless tears burned at the backs of her eyes. She refused to let them fall. “Judging by the amount of smoke billowing out from underneath the hood, I seriously doubt it.”
    Adam assessed her carefully, in a way that was purely his own. His keen look made her feel as if he could see to the bottom of her soul. “Let me give you the money to get it fixed,” he said, even though he had to know her well enough to realize she wouldn’t accept. “No strings attached,” he added, as if it would change anything.
    She knew he spoke the truth. She could take his offer. He would never say another word about it, but she would always know. Faith smiled for his benefit, shaking her head slightly in answer. At this point, she feared anything she said might sound ungrateful.
    A wicked grin touched his