Lilli Daniels has been down on her luck for quite some time. She's been homeless, hungry and alone for far too long. When an intriguing, older stranger enters the strip club where she's waitressing her life takes on a new direction.
Successful attorney Jackson Avis maintains complete control of every aspect in his life. When he lays eyes on the beautiful, young Lilli he's captivated and has to have her. He tempts her with a life of privilege and security. He introduces her to a world she never knew existed. Complications arise when Jackson's son and aspiring doctor Cameron expresses an interest in his father's girlfriend.
Lilli fights the attraction, but Cameron wants to give into his heart's desire. He's the complete opposite of his controlling, manipulative father and will stop at nothing to protect the woman he's falling in love with.
Sometimes life leads you down one path only to bring you to your true destiny. Can Lilli come to terms and figure out exactly who her heart belongs to?
Excerpt
Lilli glanced down at the floor for a few seconds before looking up and giving Jack a small smile. Her long black hair fell down the center of her back and curled slightly at the ends. Her eyes were a most alluring color. Jack couldn’t tell for sure in the dim lighting, but they almost appeared violet. He’d never encountered such a unique woman before. He knew right away a girl like her didn’t belong in a shit-hole like this.
“What would you like?” She looked down at the pad she held and waited for his order.
“For you to have a seat.” He got up, pulled the chair out, and then motioned for her to sit.
“What? No, I can’t. I’m working.”
Jack looked around and noted it wasn’t that busy.
“I think you can sit for a few minutes.” He smiled. “Pat said you should give me what I want.”
“I-I don’t do that.” She shook her head. "Some of the other girls here do, but not me."
“I’m only asking you to sit and I rarely ask twice.” He felt a sense of relief knowing she didn't prostitute herself to the customers in this disgusting place. “Please.”
“Just for a few minutes.” She looked around the bar and then quickly took a seat.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lilli,” he said. “Do you have a last name?”
“I do.” She was too busy looking into his eyes that he thought maybe she forgot to finish answering.
Jack smiled and cleared his throat when he realized she was staring at him.
“Oh, it’s Daniels.”
“I see. What do you do besides work here, Lilli Daniels?”
“I work at the bookstore over at the community college,” she said. “I’m hoping to save enough money to take a few classes there in the fall.”
“It’s only January,” Jack said. “Why wait so long?”
“Classes are expensive.” She nervously fidgeted with the cocktail napkin sitting on the table. “So, what do you do?”
“I’m an attorney. I have my own practice in the city.”
“Oh, that sounds interesting. I’d like to study law someday, too.”
“A pretty ambitious goal.” He teased. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-two.”
Well, at least she's legal. But, for a girl working in a strip club trying to save money for school, she seemed awfully naïve. He briefly wondered if it was an act to get men to feel sorry for her. Maybe she knew exactly how to get a bigger tip out of her customers.
“Getting a bit of a late start with school, aren’t you?” Jack asked. “My son is about your age and he's in medical school.”
“My father’s not an attorney.” She ran her fingers through her hair and Jack immediately recognized she was uncomfortable when she mentioned her father. The lawyer in him needed to investigate a little further.
“What does your father do?”
“Are you ready to order?” she said. “I should be getting back to work.”
“Not just yet.” He wondered why she changed the subject so quickly. “I’m curious as to what a girl like you is doing in a place like this.”
“Me, too.” She looked around the dark room. “I fell on some hard times and I’m just trying to get my life back together. It’s honest work.”
“What kind of hard times?” He was trying not to interrogate her, but he wanted to know more about her.
“I can tell you’re a lawyer.” Her full pink lips curved into a smile. Jackson wondered what it would feel like to have her mouth against his. She was probably soft and warm.
“It’s in my nature to ask questions.” He wanted to know more about this beauty.
“Do you always get your answers?”
“I always get everything I want.” He let his eyes wander down her body. She was flawless, but he shouldn't have been entertaining any possibilities at all. But then again, when did he ever let anything stop him from getting what he wanted?
Jack reached into his pocket, pulled out his business card, and handed it to her. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. “I have to get back to the office now, but I’ve rather enjoyed your company. If Pat gives you a hard time, please give me a call. I’ll set him straight.” He knew he should leave her alone. He wasn't sure he’d be interested in getting involved with a girl in her situation, but he wasn’t ready to walk away. Not yet.
She glanced down at the card. “I went to high school with a Cameron Avis.”
“Did you date?” That would be far too amusing.
“Oh, God no.” She laughed. “He was a year older than me, popular, and would never give a girl like me a second glance. I was from the wrong side of the tracks.” She rolled her eyes.
“Hmm.” Jack began to get a clearer picture of who Lilli was.
“I was shy and kept to myself,” she said. “He was gorgeous, smart, and came from money. Definitely not my type."
“Really?” Jack grinned as he got up from the table. “It seems to me I’ll have to have a talk with my son about not recognizing a good thing when he sees it.”
“Oh.”
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About Ella…
Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can't be stopped.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.
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