Page 3 of Damaged Billionaire Daddy (The Lanes Series #1)

Chapter three

Kandis

“Kandis!” Mila exclaimed as she stepped into the house. She was not much different from how I remembered her, except she’d grown into her looks a lot more.

She was tall and thin as a model with black hair cut into a luxurious bob and kind, brown eyes. She looked decked out in designer clothes and shades on her forehead which meant she must have been doing well for herself since I saw her last.

“Don’t you look gorgeous?” She gestured with her finger for me to twirl, and I did so with a little laugh. “You’ve grown up so much since we were thirteen! The last time I saw you was a decade ago. Can you believe that?”

Mila talked so fast that I was barely able to get a word in, which reminded me exactly of when we were children, so much so that I couldn’t help but to smile.

Before there was ever Cali, there was Mila, and if there was one person who I knew wouldn’t betray me, it was her.

She’d always had such a kind heart which was why it didn’t surprise me that she’d been happy to hear from me and eager to see me when I called her out of the blue to let her know I was coming back to town.

“No, I can’t.”

She touched my hair. “It used to be red. You dyed it?”

After all of the teasing and bullying I suffered? “Yes.”

“I loved your natural hair!”

“When it grows out this time, I think I’m going to keep it.”

“You’ll have to keep me updated and not lose contact.” She rolled her eyes. “Why did you stop coming here? I thought you loved your grandparents’ place.”

“I did…I mean, I do. I had a lot of stuff come up with my mom.”

“Oh.” She knew all about my mother and didn’t even bother to ask more questions than that. “Well, are you still straight?”

“Huh?” I frowned, laughing out of confusion, sure that I heard her wrong.

“Heterosexual. Still in love with the men.”

“While I’d like to stay far away from them right now, yes, I am.”

She sighed and leaned against the doorway.

“That’s a shame. A woman could do you right.

They’re better than men. I learned that a long time ago.

Anyway…” Mila bounced back up. Nothing could keep her down for long.

It was hard not to be happy in her bubbly presence.

“I was thinking that the two of us could have some fun at the bar.”

“The bar?” I repeated, and my face scrunched up. “I don’t think so, Mila. Honestly, I was going to have dinner with my grandparents and call it a night. I’ve had a long three or four days.”

“And what would make it better than some tequila?” she offered as if that was supposed to solve everything.

“From my experience, tequila often makes it worse.”

“Yeah, well, that’s the day after, not while you’re drinking it.”

I laughed. “You are something else.”

She smirked. That was something she’d known all of her life, but the difference between me and her was that she embraced it. Mila was completely content not being like everyone else. Maybe that was why I always enjoyed her company so much.

“Come on, you owe me. You fell off the face of the planet, and I couldn’t reach you. The least you can do is buy me a couple drinks. I won’t even force you to have one.”

“How kind of you,” I said sarcastically and shook my head, looking at her puppy dog eyes. “Fine, just a couple hours.”

* * *

“You know what, he sounds like a real douche, and you deserve way better than an asshole like that.” Mila gave me a sympathetic look, a drink in one hand while she rubs my shoulder with her free one.

She was already on her fourth drink while I was still working on my first. Mila’s always been able to out drink me. In fact, I don’t think there’s anyone that she can’t out drink.

“It’s not the first time, either.” I let out a breath.

“Elaborate.” She took another swig of her drink.

“Before we were official, we were in the talking phase for like three months. He ended up sleeping with another girl.”

Mila frowned. “Why did you get with him? You know cheaters never change. Everybody says that.”

She’s right. “Well, I reasoned that he wasn’t my boyfriend yet, so it was okay.”

“And did you actually feel that way?”

I snorted. “Of course not.”

She gestured the bartender over to get her another drink. “Do you want to know something that I’ve learned?”

“Hit me with it.”

“Always stay true to your feelings. I know that sounds cliche like something that would come out of a kids show, but, honestly, it makes life worthwhile. If I spent my time doing what I thought people wanted all of the time, I wouldn’t be me, and, more importantly, I wouldn’t be happy.

What you want and how you feel matters. Never sweep that under the rug because it always comes back and bites you in the ass. ”

That strangely made me feel better, and I smiled. “Who knew Mila Cochran could be so wise while she’s drunk?”

“Tipsy not drunk,” she corrected and laughed. “By the way, it looks like a handsome hunk is coming your way.”

I turned around, and Mila was right. There was a man coming straight over to me. He was short and chubby with a beer belly that shows what he liked to do in his free time. He had a scummy face and big hands.

“Hey ladies…” he greeted in what he thought was a charming voice although I could attest it was far from it. “How do you two feel about having the best night of your lives?”

Mila looked straight at him and laughed. “I’m sure your penis isn’t even big enough to find the g-spot, let alone know what to do with it if you did. Now, run along. We’re not interested.”

A bit harsh, but the man seemed to get the point. “Bitches,” he drawled underneath his breath and turned on his heel to walk away quickly. The tips of his ears were red from embarrassment.

I looked at Mila. “That was mean, don’t you think?”

She rolled her eyes. “You know what’s mean? Promising a girl the time of her life when you know you can’t last more than two minutes. Been there, done that, and, quite frankly, it’s just cruel.”

She downed the rest of her drink before gesturing for another.

“Man, this is going to be one hell of a night! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go find a cute girl to make out with. And you know what, you should too!”

I shook my head and watched as she grabbed the last drink the bartender offered and threw it to the back of her throat before letting out a little, confident scream and disappearing through the crowd of the bar.

For a split second, I debated calling it a night. The only reason I came out here was because of Mila, but if she planned on hooking up with someone, then she wouldn’t need me.

On the other hand, my luck was so bad that she’d end up needing me just because I left. I drank the rest of my drink before asking for another one, deciding that two would be my cap for the night.

Just as the bartender handed it to me, a stranger sat in Mila’s seat. I’d thought Justin was the hottest man I’d ever laid eyes on, but he had nothing on Mr. tall, dark, and sexy beside me.

I looked at him from the side, so he wouldn’t notice and had to stop myself from swooning. I was not the type to get riled up simply because a guy was attractive, but my panties were getting damp at the thought of this man getting into them.

He had a mysterious bad boy aura around him. His hair was so dark that it was almost black, and it was damn near impossible not to notice those intense, dark blue eyes. His skin was a shade underneath tan, and he was dressed exceptionally well which wasn’t something I was used to guys my age doing.

It was clear that he was not a guy my age.

“Take a picture. It’ll last longer.” His words took me by surprise, and I turned my head to get a look at him fully.

“Excuse me?”

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “You’re staring at me. If you want me to take you to the bathroom and bend you over the counter, baby girl, all you have to do is ask.” His face was smug, and I wondered how often that line worked for him.

Not this time.

Before I could give it a second thought, I tossed my drink straight in his face. “Not in your wildest dreams.” He was shocked at first before his face contorted in pure anger. His eyes darkened as they narrowed at me.

Looks like it was time to go. I jumped from my barstool but didn’t get the chance to make a single step before his arm was around my waist, pulling me right up against his body. He smelled like alcohol, thanks to me, but even that was not enough to make him stop being attractive.

“This suit cost me over ten grand. How do you expect to pay me back?” His tone was serious, and he looked like he wanted to pop my head off.

Ten thousand dollars for a suit?! That’s insane! “I paid you back by teaching you some manners.”

“Your friends at home must find your humor irresistible.”

I smiled. “What? You don’t?” I didn’t have to look around to realize that everyone was staring at us. I could feel their eyes on me, and I knew it was because of the sexy man holding me, wet and irresistible. I started squirming to get away from him.

His arm tightened. “You are infuriating.”

“Sounds like you’re not used to meeting women who don’t fall onto their knees for you.”

He stared at me hard. “No, I don’t.”

“Let me go.”

“Oh, I’m hardly finished with you.”

Before I could ask what that was supposed to mean, he leaned down and pressed his lips against mine. I fought at first, but the feeling of his tongue along my bottom lip was enough to make me melt against him even if my mind was screaming at me to ‘get a grip’.

Seventy-two hours ago, I caught my boyfriend with my best friend.

And now I was making out with some stranger that I met in a bar.

And enjoying every damn minute of it.