Chapter 2
TWO
CANDACE
Stepping out of my car into the cold winter air, I see my breath leave my body with each exhale I take.
I wrap my arms around myself, trying to find warmth as I lock my doors and head to the dreaded entrance.
The security guard gives me a once-over, and I feel the need to wrap my arms tighter around myself.
“You lost, sweetheart?” His voice is rough like gravel. It sends a chill down my spine that isn’t quite from the cold.
His question makes me cower in on myself. Not because of the question itself but because of the genuine concern written across his face.
“I uh, came to see the dancers.” I can barely get the words out. The guy is sexy as sin. Dark brown hair, mid-thirties, with eyes that are such a deep shade of blue he could drown an ocean.
A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth, and I can tell by the way he shifts his gaze that he’s trying to suppress a smile.
“Is that so?” He doesn’t believe me in the slightest.
“Here’s my ID. Are you going to let me in or not?” My spark is reignited by the cold making its way to my most intimate of areas.
There’s a sparkle in his eyes at the way my attitude has suddenly escalated. A wide grin stretches across his face as he glances down at my ID and opens the club doors for me. Such a gentleman. He waves me in.
“Have a good time, Sweetness.” He winks, and I try to contain my heart from beating out of my chest. I nod my head in thanks and hurry my way through the doors, eager to get out from under his intense stare.
The music is deafening. 151 Rum by JID blares from the speakers, and the energy radiating off of the women swaying their bodies and grinding against the poles is intoxicating.
Neon lights flash around the room, while gorgeous women move their hips in hypnotic rhythms. I find myself distracted from my sole intention of coming here tonight.
“This what you expected, Candy?” I startle as the security guard’s voice creeps up behind me.
“Candy? Because of my hair?” I ask, confused by the name. When you have pastel pink hair, you tend to pick up odd nicknames now and then.
“No, because of your name. Has no one ever called you that? Your name is Candace, is it not?” his brows furrow. Heat rushes to my cheeks as I fumble over my words.
“No, I mean yes, my name is Candace, but no, nobody has ever called me Candy.”
“They should.” His eyes darken. There’s something unspoken behind his gaze. Something that has my core tightening and has me wanting him to look at me like that again.
“I’m uh, looking for someone—my boyfriend.”
“Ah, there it is.” My confession confirms his suspicions. “Well, which one is he?” He stands tall, crossing his arms across his chest, flexing in a way that makes me wonder what it would feel like to have those meat sticks wrapped around my body.
Closing my mouth, I try my best to get my shit together.
I hope to god he didn’t notice me gawking at him.
I peer around the room, looking for my target.
It takes me a minute, but then I see him.
Jason sits lounging with his buddies from work, legs spread wide as a half-naked woman rolls her body on top of his lap.
He places bills in the back of her thong and tucks his arms behind his head, enjoying his view of the dancer’s ass bouncing over his cock.
Tears spring to my eyes. What am I even doing here? The security guard follows my stare to see my boyfriend having the time of his life.
“This was a bad idea.” I turn on my heel and head out the door.
I don’t know why, but I hear the guy follow me out. Sitting down on the curb, I wrap my arms around my legs in an embrace.
“Crying over a fuck head like that isn’t gonna do you any good. Forget him. A woman like you deserves more than what that piece of shit has to offer.”
I laugh through my tears and wipe them away with the sleeve of my sweatshirt.
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know a prize when I see one.” Heat crawls up my cheeks, and I’m almost certain they’ve turned a bright shade of pink. “Why don’t we get you back inside and order a drink? You’re shivering like a scared little dog.” He extends his hand for me to take, but I don’t move.
My eyes flicker from his hand to his face, trying to figure out this stranger I met less than ten minutes ago.
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
He exhales a breath, and his eyes soften.
“I don’t like seeing a pretty girl sitting outside, crying in the cold because of some pompous asshole that doesn't know how to treat his girl right.”
I stare at him for a moment. I’m not used to a man showing me so much kindness. It does things to my emotions that I can’t seem to unravel. Nodding my head, I take his hand and let him pull me to my feet.
He towers over my body with his intimidatingly solid frame. I can see his built physique through his tight black T-shirt, his biceps practically bulging out of the sleeves. I want to lick his muscles. Just a taste. What is wrong with me?
“I don’t even know your name.” My voice is small, weak with embarrassment of this man witnessing the disaster that is my life.
“Knox.” He flashes me a panty-melting smile and guides me back into the club, leading me straight to the bar.