Any Way You Want It (Brand Clan #2)(25)

Of course this was easier said than done with Remy just a few feet away, pumping more testosterone and aggression into the air than a feral lion staking his territory.

Setting down the coffee table book, Colin remarked offhandedly, “I thought this building had tighter security.”

Zandra sipped her wine. “What do you mean?”

“Isn’t the front desk supposed to call tenants when they have visitors?”

Zandra wished he hadn’t gone there. Instead of heeding her advice to ignore Remy, he seemed determined to needle him. “I’ve never had a problem with the front desk.” She paused. “That said, I think they’re, ah, intimidated by certain visitors. And that’s why they might give those visitors a pass.”

Colin frowned and looked over at Remy, who was sprawled insolently in the chair with his long legs stretched out as he flicked through TV channels.

Trying to redirect Colin’s attention, Zandra said cheerfully, “Since you’re new in town, I’ll choose the restaurant for dinner on Friday night.”

Meeting her gaze, Colin smiled. “Sounds good. I can’t wait.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Zandra could see images flashing rapidly across the LCD screen as Remy clicked faster through channels.

“Speaking of dinner,” Colin said conversationally, “what kind of foods do you like, Zandra?”

She laughed. “Oh, I eat everything.”

He gave her a slow, appreciative once-over. “I find that hard to believe.”

“It’s true,” Remy lazily confirmed. “She eats like a horse. Always has.”

As Zandra sputtered indignantly, he drawled with wicked satisfaction, “But that’s okay. I don’t mind helping her burn off all those calories.”

Her face flamed at the unmistakable implication.

Colin frowned, glancing from Zandra to Remy. “I thought you two were just friends.”

“Well, see, that’s the interesting thing—”

Zandra abruptly set her glass down on the table and blurted, “You know, it’s getting late, and I have an early appointment tomorrow. So we should probably call it a night.”

Ignoring the flash of triumph in Remy’s eyes, she got up and ushered Colin to the door, thanking him for the wine.

“Are we still on for Friday night?” he asked hopefully.

“Of course. I’m looking forward to it.”

He smiled. “Me, too. Good night.”

“Good night.” Closing the door, Zandra rounded furiously on Remy. “I can’t believe you just did that!”

He bounded to his feet. “And I can’t believe you expected me to sit here and watch you cozy up to that *!”

“You wouldn’t have had to ‘watch’ anything if you’d gotten the hell out like I told you to!”

“And leave you alone with loverboy?” Remy gave a harsh snort. “I don’t think so.”

Zandra glared at him, trembling with anger. “You just don’t get it, do you? It’s none of your damn business who I sleep with!”

“The hell it isn’t!”

Where the hell have you been, woman? Who you been screwing?

No one—

Don’t lie to me!

Not in front of Zandra. Please, Landis, not—

WHAP!

Lying whore!

Shaking off the painful memory, Zandra turned and yanked the door open. “Get out.”

Remy didn’t budge. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Get out!”

His eyes blazed. “So this is how it’s gonna be, Zandra? After everything we shared last week?”

She sneered. “We had sex, Remy. You weren’t my first. You won’t be my last.”

He scowled ferociously. “We didn’t just ‘have sex.’ We made love—”

“We f*cked,” Zandra spat crudely. “There’s a big difference.”

His face contorted with wounded outrage. “You little liar,” he snarled, advancing dangerously on her. “You know damn well it was more than that!”

Zandra stared at him, her insides quaking at the waves of heat and fury rolling off him. If she’d been in her right mind, she would have thought better of antagonizing someone his size. But her emotions were in turmoil. She was angry and hurting, so like a wounded animal cornered by a savage predator, all she could do was lash out at him and hope to inflict as much damage as possible before he devoured her.

Reaching her, Remy shoved the door shut, then seized her upper arms and hauled her roughly against him.

“Don’t manhandle me,” Zandra warned, trying to wrench herself free.

He tightened his hold. “Look—”

Something snapped inside her, and she roared into his face, “Did you hear what I just said? DON’T. FUCKING. MANHANDLE. ME!”

Taken aback by the force of her anger, Remy released her arms and stepped backward.

Chest heaving, nostrils flaring, Zandra glared at him.

After such an outburst, she expected him to leave, to slam out of her apartment without a backward glance.

What he did was something she never would have expected.

Holding her gaze, he slowly dropped to his knees.

Zandra stared, stunned speechless by the sight of this big, brawny, domineering male kneeling before her.