Married to a Dade County Bully

Chapter 1-3

Chapter 1

Kodi sat at The Rose Bar of The Delano South Beach hotel with her tanned and toned legs crossed, sipping on her favorite cocktail. Her make-up was done to perfection and her long, silky hair was pulled up in a tight bun at the top of her head. The sparkly sequined dress wrapped around her tall, slender frame made her feel sexy and attracted stares from men of all shades and various statuses, passing through at the prominent hotel. With the sensual lighting and smooth jazz flowing through the upscale bar, mixed with the light buzz from the alcohol, Kodi was feeling good and ready for an exciting night.

Checking the time on her diamond-studded wristwatch, her phone began to vibrate. Kodi glanced towards the entrance of the bar, hoping to see her longtime friend walking in to finally join her for a much-needed girls' night out. Sucking her teeth, annoyed, she turned back around, faced the bar, picked up her phone and opened the incoming text message.

Britney: Sorry babes I can't make it tonight. Maybe next weekend...

Kodi slammed her iPhone on the bar top. "Bitch," she quietly seethed, taking a sip of her drink. She was furious that her friend stood her up and annoyed that she waited thirty minutes after the time they agreed to meet up to tell her. But despite her anger, Kodi was mostly hurt. 

To anyone looking in from the outside, Kodi resembled a billionaire princess with the perfect life. From the expensive designer labels, luxurious car and condo, and access to events that were only made available to Miami's most prominent residents, her life was a fairytale. But the reality was, she was flat broke, facing eviction from her South Beach, ocean view condo and repossession of her Lamborghini. When her socialite friends caught wind of her hardships, they quickly began distancing themselves from Kodi and started treating her like a lower-class citizen.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

Kodi gulped down the last of her drink and set the glass roughly back on the counter. "Yes, so go..." her words trailed off when her gaze fell on a handsome Caucasian man, drowning in his beautiful, deep blue eyes. "Uh, I mean, no...no one is sitting here," she stuttered, softening her tone and body language.

​Removing her Michael Kors bag from the barstool next to her, Kodi became entranced by his good looks. Clean-shaven with his gelled sandy blonde hair, she took account of his Navy-blue Milano suit by Canali and the expensive, polished leather of the size eleven loafers on his feet...and no wedding band on his ring finger. She was impressed.

​"Another of what the beautiful lady is having and a Zacapa Rum, neat," he ordered from the bartender. "Ryan," he introduced himself, sliding onto the barstool next to her at the bar.

​"Kodi," she greeted, smiling modestly. "It's nice to meet you, Ryan."

"You sure I'm not taking someone's seat? You didn't seem too sure a few moments ago." Ryan smiled, exposing his perfectly white teeth.

"Yes, I'm sure," Kodi assured, her leg gently brushing against his knee as she seductively angled her body in his direction.

"So, are you from Miami or you visiting and staying at the hotel?" Ryan questioned as the bartender set his drink in front of him. Picking up the drink and bringing it to his lips, his eyes trailed the length of her body before landing on the soft mounds of her cleavage as he sipped his Rum.

"Born and raised," Kodi replied, attempting to hide her physical attraction toward Ryan. He stared intensely at Kodi with his icy blue eyes, making it difficult for her to look away.

"Then, what's a pretty girl like you doing sitting at a bar by herself on a Friday night?" he further probed.

Kodi looked away. The resentment and hurt she felt from the abandonment of her supposed best friend began to resurface. "My girlfriend was supposed to meet me here for drinks, but she just canceled on me," she responded with a hint of contempt in her tone. "I was just finishing up my drink and about to head back home."