“I have an alibi,” he said. “Which has already been given to the police. They came by the club last night after the poor girl was found to ask if I’d seen anything. If you have any doubts, you’re welcome to call them. But after that, I only want you to take this job if you can trust me. I mean it, Mia. Loyalty and trust are essential to me.”

His eyes flashed as if to punctuate his words. Heat stormed through my veins, and an oddly familiar zing went down my spine. Where had I felt that before?

“Alright,” I said in a rush before I could stop myself. This was insane. Probably the most illogical thing I’d ever done in my life. But I couldn’t bring myself to turn it down. I could move out of Serena’s apartment immediately, and I’d have a month’s wages behind me at the end of it. Hopefully, his recommendation letter would be enough to get me on the payroll somewhere else when our time together was up.

Of course, I would find a way to confirm his story, just for peace of mind. I was about to move in with a total stranger, after all…

His brows winged upward. “Are you saying you want the job?”

I nodded, gut twisting with excitement and unease. “When do I start?”

A slow smile spread across his face. “Tomorrow.”

My heart flipped. That was soon. “And when do I move in?”

“I see no reason to hold off.” His eyes drifted toward the TV. “I know you’re very busy with your important plans. Think you could cancel them and move in tonight?”

I wet my lips as I stared into his chiseled face. Holy shit, this was happening fast. Could I really do this? Was I an idiot? Maybe yes. On both accounts. But it was the most exciting thing to have happened to me in months.

“I think I could manage to pack up my things by tonight.”

“Good.” He gave a nod and whispered over to the door. “I’ll have a car pick you up at eight.”

6

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Serena asked as she perched on her twin-sized bed, watching me pack. It wouldn’t take me long. When I’d run from my parents’ home in Nashville, I hadn’t brought much with me. A few changes of clothes, a Polaroid photo of me and my sister from when we were ten and eight, and a bucketload of bad memories.

“No, I’m not sure, but I need this job, Serena. I can’t keep living like this. Neither can you.”

Serena hugged her polka-dotted pillow to her chest. “Of course I can. You’re my best friend, Mia. I said it before, and I’ll say it again. You can stay here for as long as you need.”