Excerpt from Causing Havoc
Excerpt Four
Roger gave a caustic laugh. "You don't even know his name? Now why doesn't that surprise me?"
They both ignored Roger.
Propping one shoulder against the wall, the hunk said, "Most people call me Havoc."
"Seriously?" How odd. Sure, he'd caused havoc to her system, but that couldn't be his given name. "Oh wait. Is that like a fighting label?"
Roger pushed himself closer. "I hope you're joking."
Havoc winked at her.
Fascinating, Eve thought. And somehow, the name suited him. "So how come Havoc? I mean, why not Mayhem? Why not Destruction?"
"I didn't choose it. You fight, you get dubbed. When a name sticks, it sticks."
"It's idiotic," Roger said.
Havoc's gaze flicked to him, dismissed him as insignificant, and came back to her. "How long will your meeting be?"
Their lack of attention didn't sit well with Roger. "It's going to take a while so you might as well forget it."
In the most emotionless voice imaginable, with no expression whatsoever, the hunk said to Roger, "I don't like you very much."
"Is that supposed to bother me?"
"Just stating a fact."
Roger bunched up. "Are you trying to pick a fight with me?"
Eve barely swallowed a groan. Roger was such a bully that he often egged some poor schmuck into throwing the first punch. Then he'd turn around and have the guy arrested for starting a brawl - a brawl that Roger usually finished.
But Havoc just said, "Nope."
That threw Roger, but only for a moment. "You're a fighter who's afraid to fight?"
Havoc laughed. "No."
"Then -"
Taking Eve's arm, Havoc pulled her a few steps away from Roger. After gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, he asked, "So how long will you be?"
Elation rose. Finally, someone who didn't give a fig what Roger thought. Someone rational who wouldn't be pulled into an idiotic pissing contest. Havoc could be her Knight in shining armor.
Was he moving to Harmony? She sure hoped so.
"Not long at all." She turned to face Roger. "I'll take the night we already discussed. The price you gave is fine. Seven hours, from eight P.M. to three A.M. Three private rooms. Exclusive use of the mechanical bull." She held out her hand. "Deal?"