Dirty Alliance (Special Weapons & Tactics Book 4)
Page 19
“Well, he certainly has his eye on you.” Kay gently shoved her with her elbow.
“Whatever,” Candi muttered, busying herself by putting the top on the cup. Deep down inside, she knew she had a crush on Dallas, but she didn’t think she could act on it. She had too much baggage and couldn’t ask a man to take any of it on.
Dallas was a good guy. He moonlighted at The Commoner, but he worked full time for the Las Vegas police department. She’d heard some talk that he had been in the service which she could totally see by his demeanor.
“Don’t act like you don’t know it.” Kay pushed off the counter and walked past her toward the door that led out to the main room.
“I’m just taking a cup of coffee to my coworker.” Candi snorted. Her heart raced with the thought of seeing Dallas tonight. She smoothed down her long, dark hair and wiped her hands on her jeans.
“You look beautiful, as usual.” Kay smirked.
Candi ignored her friend and tried to will her heart to slow down.
She grabbed the cup and followed Kay out the door into the main area of the bar. The light was low, and the place was already filling up with customers. She only had a few minutes until her shift started. By the looks of it, she may be jumping in a little early.
Her gaze roamed the dark interior before landing on the familiar figure.
Everything faded away.
She had eyes only for him.
Gripping the cup tight, she separated from Kay and headed in his direction. Her breaths came fast as she took him in. Like the other bouncers, he wore a black shirt that had the word ‘security’ on the front. His biceps were on display when the short sleeves of the shirt slipped up.
Candi drank in the tattoos that lined his arms. She would give her left boob to be able to study them up close and personal.
His dark jeans hugged him perfectly. As if feeling her eyes on him, he turned away from the other bouncer, Tanner. His intense gaze slowly perused her body, and her breath escaped her.
She ignored the scream of her lungs. Her hips swayed a little more, she held in her tummy—not wanting to show off her slight pudge as much—and kept walking toward him.
Breathe! a voice screamed.
She inhaled deeply, and a slight shyness overcame her. What was her problem?
Biting her lip, she refused to look away. She was playing with fire. She wasn’t ready for anything with a man, but there was something about Dallas.
He was certainly different from her ex-husband. Just the thought of Lamont had her blinking, snapping her out of the trance Dallas wove over her. It was like having a cold splash of water being thrown on her. Her step faltered slightly, but she kept going.
What was it about men and their muscles that just drew her to them like a moth to a flame?
But Dallas was nothing like Lamont.
In her gut, she knew that.
Lamont was controlling. Liked to use his fists to show her he was more powerful than her. That he could make her do what he wanted with his fist.
But no more.
She’d finally got the nerve to leave.
It had taken a while, but she had done it.
The last time Lamont had put his hands on her, she’d ended up in the hospital with a broken arm.
That had been the final straw.
The nurses in the emergency room had been sympathetic and had stayed with her until the police had arrived. She had lost touch with who she was, and a reflection of herself in the bathroom at the hospital had changed everything. The person staring at back at her was a stranger.
She was tired of living her life in fear. Afraid that one small thing would set Lamont off. Scared that one day she’d be brought to the hospital in a body bag.
That night, her life had transformed.
She would take back control. One step at a time.
When the female police officer had approached her, Candi didn’t wait for her to ask questions.
“I want to press charges,” she’d whispered.
The woman had nodded and asked her the vital information she’d needed.
Snapping out of the past, Candi arrived at Dallas’s side, and all of the fear and worry she’d harbored just dissipated.
His dark stare took her breath away. His gaze dropped down to the cup in her hands, and his lips tilted up ever so slightly.
Her fear was completely gone.
Dallas was different.
“Hey, Dallas,” she murmured. She held the cup up to him.
He reached out and took it from her. Their fingers faintly brushed each other. She lingered for a brief second then pulled her hand back.
“Just the way you like it.”
“Thanks, Candi.” He took a sip of it, and his eyes fluttered shut for a second before opening again.
Her heart quivered at the look of contentment on his face.
“It’s perfect.”
“Where’s my coffee?” Tanner asked. He feigned as if he was hurt, clutching his chest.
“It’s still in the kitchen. You can go grab it when you want.” She playfully shrugged her shoulder. It wasn’t Tanner who had captured her eye. He was a nice guy and moonlighted at The Commoner like Dallas. He was handsome and always had women visiting the bar hanging off him.
“That’s just wrong. Dallas is the meanest son of a—”
“Watch it, Tanner,” Dallas’s deep voice rumbled, cutting Tanner off.
It washed over her in waves and sent goosebumps down her arms. His gaze cut to Tanner, who held up his hands in defeat.
“Did you work today?” she asked.
He nodded, taking another sip of the coffee. She made a mental note to keep it coming for him. He wasn’t a man of many words that she was aware of. He was more the silent, brooding type who dripped sex appeal.
“Candi!” a voice called out behind her.
She glanced over her shoulder. Her boss, Adam, waved her down.
“I guess duty calls,” she said, turning toward to Dallas and Tanner. She backed away and spun on her heel before she said something crazy.
Like ask Dallas out for coffee or something when the bar closed.
Walking toward Adam, she could feel Dallas’s gaze on her. Well, if he was going to watch her, she’d put on a show. She swung her wide hips and flipped her hair over her shoulder.
“Hey, can you clock in now?” Adam asked once she stopped in front of him. He was already looking frazzled, and the night had barely begun.
“Sure. I don’t mind,” she said.
“You’ll take your normal area. Tina called off, and I’m going to try to see if Kate can come in.” He patted her on her shoulder while walking away.
She glanced back to Dallas and met his gaze from across the room. Her lips curved up in a small smile. She quickly made her way to the bar and grabbed her apron from behind it.
“Looks like it’s going to be a busy night,” Tony, the bartender, said.
“Hey, Tony. Guess so. That means good tips.” She laughed, tying the ties of her apron around her. She took straws and stuffed them in the front pockets, preparing herself.
“It better be. Daddy got bills to pay.” He laughed, too, wiping the counter down. The bar only had a few seats open. The patrons’ attention was on the basketball game.
“Don’t we all.” She snickered. Grabbing a pen, she headed out into the busy atmosphere and walked toward the table that Jenny, the hostess, had just seated.
The familiar sensation of being watched filled her. She glanced over toward where Dallas stayed posted and met his gaze. He didn’t act like he was looking anywhere else. He nodded to her, and she knew they were going to have a good night.
“Hi, I’m Candi,” she greeted the couple at the table with a smile.
With Dallas there, she’d have no worries.
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About the Author
Peyton Banks is the alter ego of a city girl who is a romantic at heart. Her mornings consist of coffee and daydreaming up the next steamy romance book ideas. She loves spinning romantic tales of hot alpha males and the women they love. Make sure you check her out!
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