by Laurie Roma
“I don’t mess around when it comes to pie.”
“So you said. Well, then...” She pushed the bag of goodies toward him and their fingers brushed as he reached for it. Her head came up and their gazes locked.
Damn.
Dare felt a visceral connection with her that made him want to yank her across the counter and seal his lips over hers. He bet she’d taste just as sweet as the pie. That thought made him frown. “Nope. Not going to do it.”
She blinked. “What?”
“This—” He pointed a finger back and forth between her and his own chest. “We have a problem.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Oh, I think you do. It’s not good. For either of us. I’m not looking for a relationship right now.” Dare slowly got up from his seat. He saw the way her blue eyes iced over and one of her eyebrows lifted, making her disdainful glare almost regal. She had the fuck you stare down perfectly. He had to admire that even if he was the focus of that nonverbal bitch-slap.
“I don’t recall asking you for one. Take your food, Dr. Nyght. Thank you for your help today. I’ll see you out.”
She moved with economical grace, and Dare could tell that he had fucked up. Again.
Big time.
He’d only wanted to be honest, but perhaps saying that to a woman hadn’t been the best move. Shit, was he really that out of practice when it came to women?
Apparently, he was.
Chapter Four
The next day Dare considered avoiding Evie and the rescue center completely, but the idea made him feel like a coward.
After she had all but shoved him out the door of her home yesterday, Dare had fought the urge to slam his head against something hard on his walk back to the boarding house. What the hell had been wrong with him? He knew better than to blurt something like that out...especially to a woman. It was a surefire way to get her back up, telling her that he didn’t want a relationship, like it was a foregone conclusion that she wanted one.
And with a woman like Evie, of course she had felt insulted.
Hell, he would have been offended, too.
Dare wondered about his unusual reaction to Evie all last night, trying not to feel guilty as he ate the food she had given him. It was as if he lost his mind every time he was around her. He was usually good with women. In the past, he had never had a problem getting any woman that had caught his eye. He could be charming, courteous. But with Evie, he turned into a brooding Neanderthal with a raging hard-on. It’s like he stopped being able to think clearly around her.
It was getting damned annoying.
He steeled himself for another round of her censured looks when he showed up at the rescue center, only to feel something he tried to convince himself wasn’t disappointment when he was told she was out on a search and rescue with Hunter and a few other team members. He should have been relieved that she was gone, but he only felt bereft at not being able to see her spectacular face, even if she was shooting daggers at him.
Dare spent most of the day helping out around the center again, feeding the dogs and cleaning the kennels. He liked the work. It felt good using his muscles, and he also liked not having to speak to anyone while doing the jobs he was given.
Or so he had hoped.
The problem was that no matter how much he tried to put off a leave me the fuck alone vibe, people kept trying to talk to him. Staff members and even the volunteers started chatting to him about anything and everything whenever they were near. And his silence seemed to only encourage them to keep talking. One woman even commented about what a good listener he was. He just gritted his teeth and tried to continue working, until he couldn’t stand it any longer.
It was mid-afternoon when he decided to take off, leaving the rescue center to head into town. When he arrived, Dare parked his bike on the street near the gym and sat there for a moment. On the drive he had thought to stop into Fight Hard and work off some of his aggression, but seeing the two buildings across the street made him change his mind.
He got off his bike and headed over to the Sinfully Sweet bakery. Despite his need for the past few days of self-imposed exile, he felt horrible that he’d been in town for a few days and still hadn’t met Hammer’s fiancée, Kali. He had been unforgivably rude, and it was time he did something to rectify that.
Pushing the door to the bakery open, the scent of sugar and spices hit him immediately and made his mouth water. He breathed deep, enjoying the smell of the baked goods that were displayed behind large glass cases. In his periphery Dare saw that there were a few women sitting at small tables set up in the front of the bakery, but he ignored them as he walked toward the counter. A pretty older woman wearing a pink apron smiled at him in welcome.
“Hi! Welcome to Sinfully Sweet. What can I get you?”
“I was looking for Kali.” The woman’s smile changed to wary confusion, making Dare quickly add, “I’m Hammer’s friend, Daryk Nyght. I just wanted to stop by to introduce myself.”
“Oh my! I’ve heard all about you! I’m Anna. Nate and Shane are my nephews. You helped their friend’s little sister the other day at the rescue center.”
Dare fought the urge to shift on his feet at the starry-eyed expression she was beaming at him. “Yeah...how’s Carly doing?”
“She’s fine. That little one is always getting scrapped up,” she said with a little laugh. “Hold on one minute, I’ll go get Kali for you. She’s in the back experimenting.”
“I don’t want to bother...”
Dare’s voice trailed off as Anna disappeared behind a swinging door that led to the back of the bakery. A few seconds later a petite woman with bright, green eyes and short red hair with gold highlights pushed the door back open and hurried around the counter to join him. Just like Anna, she was wearing a light pink apron with the name of the bakery stitched onto the front in black thread. Before he could say anything, she beamed a smile at him and grabbed his hand, pulling him with her.
“Dare! Hi! You have perfect timing.”
“Ah...”
Struck silent, he let the tiny woman drag him with her back into the kitchen, passed a chuckling Anna who walked back to the counter to take care of a customer that had entered the bakery behind him. Once they were alone in the back, Kali moved a stool next to the center work area and gestured for him to sit down. He did so, watching her warily. This wasn’t going like he’d thought their first meeting would, and it made him uneasy.
Were all the people in Breakers fucking nuts?
“I’ve been working on something new and need someone to try it. I hope you don’t mind being my taste tester.”
“You’re the pie fairy, right?”
Kali blinked those big, green eyes at him then burst into laughter. “I heard you and Hunter seemed to like my pies. It’s so funny you called me that. Did you know Jared calls me his fairy?”
Dare didn’t, but that didn’t surprise him in the least. There was something about Kali Redford that did remind him of a fairy. She just had that look about her. “Nope, but if whatever you want me to try is anything like your pie, I’m game.”
Kali smiled at him. “It’s not pie, but I think you’ll like it. Normally, Nate is my taste tester, but he won’t be done with school for a few hours still. You met Nate, right?”
“Yeah...briefly.”
“He’s such a good kid. He works here part-time after school.” Her eyes twinkled with mirth as she glanced up. “You’re lucky you didn’t stop by later or you would have run into his fan club. Every afternoon Nate is working we seem to have a barrage of female teenagers hanging around here. They like to ogle the men going into the gym and giggle every time Nate glances at one of them. I’m sure they would love to get a look at you.”
She laughed again as Dare shuddered in pure terror. He made a mental note to himself to avoid the bakery in the afternoon from now on. Kali moved around the kitchen with such ease, Dare thought she could probably find everything she needed blindfo
lded. He looked down as she put a plate in front of him with some sort of pastry he’d never seen before on it. The treat looked like a small cake, dusted with sugar on the outside. There was a small hole in the center that reminded him of a doughnut, but it didn’t look like any doughnut he’d ever seen before.
He glanced back up to see Kali’s amused expression. “What is this?”
“It’s my version of a Cronut.”
That had him frowning. “A what?”
“A Cronut. It’s a combination of a croissant and a doughnut. This one is made with a little chocolate and Chantilly cream inside. Go on, try it.”
Dare eyed the pastry skeptically, but picked it up and bit into it. The fried pastry was crispy on the outside, but soft and gooey on the inside. The flavors from the layers of chocolate and Chantilly cream exploded in his mouth, making him moan.
Kali shifted from foot to foot with barely restrained energy. “Is that good? Do you like it? What do you think?”
He took another bite, taking his time to chew, making her wait. After he swallowed, he said, “I think...you should ditch Hammer and marry me instead.”
She let out another tinkling laugh and clutched her hands to her chest in a comical gesture. “You just want me for my baked goods.”
“Relationships have started with less. Of course, Hammer might kill me, but I think I can outrun him...maybe.”
They grinned at each other and Dare felt himself relaxing. He found himself liking the small woman and could see why his friend had falling in love with the little pixie as Kali told him about how she and Hammer had gotten together. It would have been laughable to imagine this little woman with his friend who was as big as a tank, but Dare could see the love shining in her eyes as she spoke of Hammer. Or Jared as she called him. Dare had almost forgotten that Hammer’s real name was Jared, and it was strange hearing him addressed as such. It was obvious in the way she spoke of Hammer that she was crazy about him, and Dare knew that those feelings were mutual.
Dare didn’t know if he believed in love, at least not for him personally. It was as if being a doctor and doing what he did everyday had numbed his heart to the point he sometimes wondered if he even had one anymore. In the past, he had always been careful not to get too close to any woman he was seeing. He didn’t lie to them, and made sure they knew he wasn’t looking to get serious. Love was one of those things that worked for other people...not for him. Still, he liked the thought of his friend finding what he himself would never have.
If anyone deserved to be happy, it was Hammer.
Kali was a sweet woman and Dare was glad he’d made the impromptu trip into the bakery so he could meet her. After he finished the pastry, he spent a little more time with her, sipping a cup of fabulous coffee as she mixed ingredients together. She didn’t seem to mind that he didn’t say much, she just chatted away, seeming happy to have him for company. Kali was without artifice, and he enjoyed watching her work.
When he finished his coffee he stood, thanking Kali for feeding him once again. “I should be going. It’s a good thing Hammer owns a gym. If he eats like this all the time, he better keep working out.”
Kali snickered. “Oh, I think he won’t have a problem staying in shape. Why don’t you come by the house tomorrow night for dinner and I can try and fatten you up some, too?”
“I’m not about to pass up a home cooked meal, especially if you’re the one doing the cooking,” Dare agreed with a chuckle, then sobered as he took her hand in his. “I would love to have dinner with you and Hammer. He’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had, and I’m glad he has you in his life now, Kali.”
Tears sparkled in her eyes, making her irises shine like emeralds. She startled him when she threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tight. “I’m so glad you stopped by today, Dare. Hammer is so happy you’re here visiting us.” She pulled back and smiled up at him, her eyes bright with affection. “I really hope you stay.”
He shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah, well. I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”
As if she sensed his discomfort, Kali let go of him and patted his arm. “You have plenty of time to figure that out. Whatever you decide, you have to be here for our wedding in a few months.”
“That’s a promise.”
“Good. How does seven sound for tomorrow night?”
“I’ll be there.”
Dare left the bakery with lighter spirits. Hammer had once told him that everyone who came in contact with Kali felt the same way, except for her own family. It baffled him that anyone could be mean to a sweet little thing like Kali, but then again some people were just assholes.
Now that he’d gotten acquainted with Hammer’s fiancée, Dare decided to take care of the other thing on his list. He walked down the block until he reached the front door of another shop. A tattoo parlor a few doors down from a bakery, he thought with a shake of his head.
Only in Breakers.
The sign for Ink This was in bright red font on a black background, with a silver tribal scrolling design behind the script. Below it, the front windows were made of frosted glass that made it impossible to see inside. That was strange, since tat shops usually tried to get more business by letting people see inside. Intrigued, Dare pulled at the door handle.
He blinked as he entered the shop. There were four tattoo stations sectioned off, with the requisite black leather chairs, but beyond that, the shop looked nothing like he’d expected. The walls were a deep, crimson red, with large wooden panels set up against them that held various black edged frames of tattoo designs on display.
At the far end of the room, there was a wooden bar top that had been painted black, with a glass display case cut into its center. He could see a variety of body jewelry on display on shelves inside the case. Against the wall, there was a black leather couch and a few chairs with throw pillows of red and gold on them. The place reminded him of a bar he’d been to in Morocco, and it was a little disconcerting seeing this sort of setup when he’d been expecting...less.
A door behind the back counter opened, and a woman strode out wearing a black tank top with thin straps and dark-green cargo pants. Dare took a moment to admire the ink that covered both of her arms in full sleeves that went all the way up to her collar bone. She was fit and lean, with tight, compact muscles and ink-black hair that fell to her shoulders. His gaze met hers, and he froze as recognition hit.
Son of a bitch...
Dare knew her, but couldn’t place where he’d met her before. Her unusual violet eyes narrowed as she seemed to recognize him as well. Her smile of welcome changed into a fierce scowl, and she braced her hands on her hips. “Damn it. If you’re here to try and talk me into some mission, you might as well leave before I kick your ass and send you back to Sin in pieces.”
His eyes widened in shock. “What the hell are you talking about? I’m here for a tattoo.”
The woman’s body seemed to relax slightly, but Dare could tell she was still on guard “Well, then. I’m Nikita Nuria. Welcome to my shop.”
“Daryk Nyght. Dare.”
“Ah, Hammer’s friend.”
They shook hands and her smile made her face change from beautiful to absolutely stunning. She had an exotic look with golden skin and a killer body that would have made most men’s blood pressure rise, but strangely enough, Dare felt nothing. He would have been alarmed if his body hadn’t reacted every time he was around Evie, but knew everything was working right. It just seemed to be working for one woman in particular right now. Knowing he was interested in a woman that he should stay away from didn’t make him happy.
In fact, it pissed him off.
Trying not to think about that, Dare pulled his hand away from the woman watching him with eyes that seemed to see too much. Again, he was struck with how familiar she looked. Hers wasn’t a face that someone forgot easily. “Do I know you?”
Nikita took a moment, then sighed. “Russia. About six years ago. I think
it was on one of your first assignments.”
His jaw dropped as it came back to him. “Shit.”
“You’re telling me,” Nikita said wryly. “It’s a small-fucking-world.”
Dare agreed. He had indeed been sent to Russia on one of his first assignments with the taskforce, and Nikita had been one of the agents in charge. He hadn’t interacted with her much since he’d been at their temporary command center while she’d been out in the field, but he did remember her. “What the hell are you doing in Breakers?”
“Running my shop, living my life. I’m retired now, or as retired as I can be.”
“I’m done. Out.”
“Sure you are,” she said, her voice all but dripping with sarcasm. “You’re never really done with that group of misfits. Get used to that right now. But they mostly leave me alone now. It’s probably because they know I might shoot them if they keep bothering me.”
Dare wasn’t sure if she was kidding or not. “I told them I wanted out.”
“That doesn’t mean shit.” She waved a hand in the air absently as she leaned against the counter. “Just keep saying it if it makes you feel better, though. So, you’re Dr. Hottie.”
“What the hell?”
Nikita snickered as watched him. “That’s what they’re calling you at the rescue center, didn’t you know?”
Dare scowled at her. Damn it. No, he hadn’t known that. It irritated him that people were talking about him as though...wait a minute. Was Evie calling him that, too?
Nikita laughed as she punched him on the shoulder, making him wince. Damn it, the woman packed a punch, even if it was supposed to be playful. “I don’t even want to know where your mind just went. Come on, Doc. My station is over here.”
He followed her over to the chair closest to the back, fighting the urge to rub his arm. She sat on a stool and crossed her arms over her chest as she studied him, but he didn’t sit. “Do you know what you want or are you one of those annoying people who doesn’t know and needs help picking something?”
