mention a few of her friends during their time together—when they had come up for air and talked—and searched his mind for the names.
Liv’s description of a tough-as-nails and goddess-like beauty filled his mind. She was a model with a stupid name.
Brandy… Cocoa …Cherry…
No, Candy. What kind of parents named their daughter such a ridiculous name? It made him think of cotton candy and bubble-headed cheerleaders from high school.
He stepped back a little and exhaled. “You must be Candy. Livvy told me a lot about you.”
Hands on her hips, she scrutinized him up and down. Her gaze lingered over the crotch of his jeans and made him want to cover himself, but the smartass smirk on her face had him standing his ground.
He’d be damned if he’d be intimidated by this little bit of a woman who he suspected had a bigger bark than bite. At least he hoped so.
“Where’s Olivia?” He crossed the threshold of the condo, not caring that his broad shoulder bumped hers a little harder than was his normal practice around women. He needed to see Olivia and no watchdog would deny him access.
“Ahh, you must be the douche, Darren. Or should I say, Dare ?” She slammed the door behind her. “Your friends must not like you much to give you such an idiotic name.”
Dare followed her into the living room, grinning. What a little spitfire. “You know, that’s kinda calling the kettle black, isn’t it? I mean, how does someone get over the fact that her own parents had issues by giving her a name like Candy? Makes one stop and think, doesn’t it?”
A wave of pride washed over him when her eyes lit with fire and brimstone. She gave as good as she got; so did he. If his relationship with Olivia progressed as he hoped, this woman needed to know the ground rules. He didn’t take kindly to anyone telling him what to do or interfering in his life. And he wouldn’t tolerate any of Olivia’s friends getting between them.
“My, my, Olivia mentioned you were the strong, domineering type—obviously in a delicious kind of way—but I’m still impressed.”
“I’m sure you are.” He chuckled and gave her a respectful nod. “I doubt many men stand toe-to-toe with you often. You’re definitely one woman that any man wouldn’t want to get into a battle with.”
Satisfaction filled her gaze. “Yes, well, you’ll do well to remember that. Now, what the hell are you doing here? Don’t you think you’ve done enough damage?”
Dare gaped at her then his gaze quickly swept the room. He eyed the empty bottles of vodka and orange juice, as well as the puddle of—whatever the hell that green slop was—and understanding dawned.
“Drank a bit too much, did you, ladies?” He moved toward the kitchen after picking up a few bottles, needing something to do with himself until Olivia surfaced. He didn’t want to face her after she’d spent a long night of drinking and probably suffering with a hangover. He wanted her completely present and accounted for when they talked.
“That’s none of your damn business. Gimme those.” Candy snatched the bottles from his hands and put them carefully in the sink. He would have laughed if he thought she wouldn’t slug him for it.
“Olivia isn’t going to be in the mood to see you today. Or any day for that matter. Why don’t you just cut your losses and go back to those weasels you work for? We’ll take care of her from here. Just like always.”
Her smoldering gaze burned into his. He had no doubt she would take care of Olivia, but it was time that someone else managed the job from here.
“Cut my losses? I don’t know what Livvy told you about me, but there’s one thing you need to understand. I do not plan on going anywhere.”
Candy laughed, then quickly sobered and put a finger to her temple. He hoped the pain in her head was as bad as the pain in the ass she was being for him.
“You’ve all hurt her enough. What kind of fuckin’ idiots are you
Liv’s description of a tough-as-nails and goddess-like beauty filled his mind. She was a model with a stupid name.
Brandy… Cocoa …Cherry…
No, Candy. What kind of parents named their daughter such a ridiculous name? It made him think of cotton candy and bubble-headed cheerleaders from high school.
He stepped back a little and exhaled. “You must be Candy. Livvy told me a lot about you.”
Hands on her hips, she scrutinized him up and down. Her gaze lingered over the crotch of his jeans and made him want to cover himself, but the smartass smirk on her face had him standing his ground.
He’d be damned if he’d be intimidated by this little bit of a woman who he suspected had a bigger bark than bite. At least he hoped so.
“Where’s Olivia?” He crossed the threshold of the condo, not caring that his broad shoulder bumped hers a little harder than was his normal practice around women. He needed to see Olivia and no watchdog would deny him access.
“Ahh, you must be the douche, Darren. Or should I say, Dare ?” She slammed the door behind her. “Your friends must not like you much to give you such an idiotic name.”
Dare followed her into the living room, grinning. What a little spitfire. “You know, that’s kinda calling the kettle black, isn’t it? I mean, how does someone get over the fact that her own parents had issues by giving her a name like Candy? Makes one stop and think, doesn’t it?”
A wave of pride washed over him when her eyes lit with fire and brimstone. She gave as good as she got; so did he. If his relationship with Olivia progressed as he hoped, this woman needed to know the ground rules. He didn’t take kindly to anyone telling him what to do or interfering in his life. And he wouldn’t tolerate any of Olivia’s friends getting between them.
“My, my, Olivia mentioned you were the strong, domineering type—obviously in a delicious kind of way—but I’m still impressed.”
“I’m sure you are.” He chuckled and gave her a respectful nod. “I doubt many men stand toe-to-toe with you often. You’re definitely one woman that any man wouldn’t want to get into a battle with.”
Satisfaction filled her gaze. “Yes, well, you’ll do well to remember that. Now, what the hell are you doing here? Don’t you think you’ve done enough damage?”
Dare gaped at her then his gaze quickly swept the room. He eyed the empty bottles of vodka and orange juice, as well as the puddle of—whatever the hell that green slop was—and understanding dawned.
“Drank a bit too much, did you, ladies?” He moved toward the kitchen after picking up a few bottles, needing something to do with himself until Olivia surfaced. He didn’t want to face her after she’d spent a long night of drinking and probably suffering with a hangover. He wanted her completely present and accounted for when they talked.
“That’s none of your damn business. Gimme those.” Candy snatched the bottles from his hands and put them carefully in the sink. He would have laughed if he thought she wouldn’t slug him for it.
“Olivia isn’t going to be in the mood to see you today. Or any day for that matter. Why don’t you just cut your losses and go back to those weasels you work for? We’ll take care of her from here. Just like always.”
Her smoldering gaze burned into his. He had no doubt she would take care of Olivia, but it was time that someone else managed the job from here.
“Cut my losses? I don’t know what Livvy told you about me, but there’s one thing you need to understand. I do not plan on going anywhere.”
Candy laughed, then quickly sobered and put a finger to her temple. He hoped the pain in her head was as bad as the pain in the ass she was being for him.
“You’ve all hurt her enough. What kind of fuckin’ idiots are you
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