“Duh, both. What a stupid question. And you are so not changing the subject. I want details about you and Hammer.”
Kalista turned to the refrigerator to give herself a moment to think. Details? It would be easier to explain things if she knew what was going on herself. She pulled out a cupcake, setting it on a plate, then took two cookies from the cooling rack and set it down in front of Zoe. “I just don’t understand him.”
“What’s there to understand? You’re a beautiful woman, he’s a hot guy. You practically melt into a puddle whenever he’s around, and he looks at you like he wants to tie you to his bed and fuck you for a week. So, did you let him?”
That had Kalista shaking her head. “You have such a potty mouth, Zoe. Maybe I should rethink feeding you that soap.”
Zoe shrugged her delicate shoulders as she ate her cupcake. She had a slim figure for her five foot seven frame, but regardless how fragile she looked, she still packed a punch. “I’ve spent too much of my life being proper. Someone was always telling me what to do, what to say … even how to feel. I’m done with that shit. I like being able to say whatever naughty thoughts are in my head.” Her expression brightened. “Speaking of naughty, this cupcake is like sex in my mouth and these cookies are to die for.”
Despite the smile on Zoe’s face, Kalista knew that the memories of the past weighed heavily on her friend and a wave of sympathy swept through her. Since Zoe had moved into town three months ago the two of them had become good friends. Usually, Zoe was pretty tight lipped about her past, but there had been a couple of nights they had shared a few bottles of wine and swapped stories about what haunted them both. Kalista was glad her friend had found sanctuary in Breakers, just like she had.
“I’ll pack a few in a box so you can take it to work with you tonight,” Kalista promised as she got a small box from a rack off to the side and started filling it with cookies. “And no, I didn’t sleep with him, but he did kiss me.”
“Oooh, was it good? He seems like he would be a good kisser.”
“Good is too tame a word for what that man can do. My God, Zoe…I felt like my brains leaked out of my ears. I was so embarrassed I almost had an orgasm right there in front of my building!”
Zoe huffed. “Now you’re just bragging. So, what are you confused about? Hammer is a nice guy. He’s not one of those assholes who comes into the bar and flirts with anything with tits.”
Kalista’s brow rose. “You mean like Dante?”
“Dante is a man-whore,” Zoe groused as she wound her long black hair up in a bun on the top of her head and secured it using two chopsticks.
“But you like him,” Kalista insisted. “And he likes you. I can see it in the way he looks at you.”
Zoe’s feelings for Dante were…complicated, and not something she wanted to delve into at the moment. If ever. “It doesn’t matter. I could never be with a man who sleeps around like that. I don’t care how good looking he is. Plus, he’s my boss. It would totally be wrong to get involved with him. That is to say, if he actually wanted something more than one night. You know how he is. I don’t want to be just another in his string of random hookups.”
Kalista set the box of cookies in front of Zoe, then leaned against the counter and sighed. “You’re probably right since he is your boss, but I don’t think Dante looks at you like those other women he’s been with. I think he really cares about you.”
Zoe waved a hand in the air. “I don’t want to talk about him. Tell me, what are you planning to do about Hammer.”
“I have no idea.” Kalista sighed. “I just don’t know how to handle this with Jared. I mean, I’ve known him for months, but we’ve never really spoken until last night. Then he goes and offers to be my date for my cousin’s wedding and—”
“Really?” Zoe laughed evilly. “David will shit his pants when you show up with Hammer.”
Kalista smiled as she thought about it. “Yesterday, I went over to his gym and asked if he would give me self-defense lessons because I want to lose some weight before the wedding. Jared got mad when I mentioned why I wanted the lessons.”
Zoe glared at her. “You don’t need to lose any weight. What you need to do is stop listening to your asshole ex and your stupid mother. Tell you what, if you talk Hammer into setting up a self-defense class for women, I’ll go with you.”
“You will? But you already know karate, don’t you?”
“I know tai chi not karate, but it’s been a long time since I’ve really practiced. I just signed up at Fight Hard last week to work out on the machines. I wouldn’t mind taking a class to learn some new moves. I bet Becca would go with us, too?”