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She shook her head, firm. “No.”
“That’d be pride talking.”
Mouth pinched, she trudged on.
Rocks and weeds littered the walkway. “Watch your step then.” They were almost to the car when he spotted her supposed “brothers” in front of the bar across the street—in close conversation with Leese Phelps, the same idiot who’d hit on her yesterday.
The reservations were adding up.
And so were the men.
They all kept their eyes trained on the front of the hotel, probably hoping to hijack Cherry when she emerged. But why?
Had they pulled the fire alarm? It seemed possible and damn it, he didn’t like it, any of it.
An approaching fire engine, sirens and lights blazing, thankfully drew their attention and kept them from searching beyond the front of the hotel.
Cherry had her head down so she didn’t see them. Denver hustled her along a little more quickly and got her into the front seat before dumping the bags in the back.
“My purse.”
“I’ll get it in a minute.” He freed the keys from his pocket while circling the car, and got behind the wheel. “Buckle up, honey.” He was just pulling out when the men looked up and saw him. Leese shaded his eyes, just watching them go. The others straightened, cursed, and started off, presumably for their own transportation.
His sweaty T-shirt stuck to his back. He’d rather be wearing jeans than running shorts.
He would have loved a shower.
But he blocked those discomforts as he drove straight for the expressway, repeatedly checking the rearview mirror for anyone following. Cherry slumped in the corner of her seat, her eyes closed, shivering.
Working his jaw, Denver wondered when would be the best time to question her. His instinct was to coddle her, to make her as comfortable as possible.
But somehow she was embroiled in a whole bunch of brewing trouble. Even if the guys were her brothers, he recognized them as bad news. And that ominous phone message...
When he saw the second exit he took it, drove down to a small convenience store and pulled around back.
He didn’t think anyone had tailed them, not that it mattered much.
With Leese’s help, if Carver and the others wanted to track her down, it’d only be a matter of time before they showed up at her front door.
Even to Denver, his reaction to that was telling. Brothers or not, he didn’t like the guys and he didn’t want them anywhere near Cherry. How he’d keep them away, he wasn’t sure yet. Maybe, he decided, it’d be best if he just stuck close so he’d be with her when they finally showed up.
When he put the car in Park, she stirred. Soft, sick, trusting.
His.
No, he couldn’t think like that. Not yet. Contrary to the belief that athletes were all brawn and no brains, he wasn’t an idiot. He learned from his experiences, especially the experiences that altered life.
There were facets to Cherry that he might never be able to accept. But while he figured that out, he’d damn well see her safe.
“Why are we stopped?”
Her voice sounded raspy and rough, her eyes looked sleep-heavy. Being near her and not touching her proved impossible. Knowing his expression to be grave, he stroked her thigh through her jeans. “I wanted to get you better settled. It’s a long drive.”
“I’m okay.” Straightening, she unhooked her seatbelt and looked around before turning a quizzical gaze on him. “I just realized we didn’t officially check out.”
“The hotel has our info. I’ll call once we’re home.” He put the back of his hand to her forehead. Warm. Too warm. Snagging her purse from the backseat, he opened it between them and dug around for the medicine.
Cherry looked at him, then at his hands in her purse. “Sure,” she said, her gravelly tone dry, “help yourself.”
He moved aside the phone book. “Have anything to hide?”
“No. It’s just—” A big yawn took her by surprise. “Sorry.”
“It’s just what?”
“I don’t know.” She chewed her lower lip. “Personal?”
He handed her two aspirin, then reached back again for a bottle of water. “And having sex with me wasn’t?”
“It’s different and you know it.” She swallowed the pills without complaint, then eyed the store.
Denver took her hand. “These are odd circumstances, right? I don’t want you to think I’m just snooping through your stuff. But with you pretty much out of it, and—”
“The fire alarm at the hotel.” She leaned toward him and put her forehead on his shoulder. “The way we had to leave there.”
“Babe.” He levered her back. “I’m sweaty.”
“Because you didn’t have a chance to change.” She nestled up against him again. “You’re so warm.”
If she didn’t mind, he wouldn’t worry about it, either. He brushed his fingers through her hair. Usually she had soft curls, but now her hair was straighter, tangled. He tucked it behind her ears. “I was already in your purse once before.”
Stiffening, she tipped her head back to share her displeasure.
This close, her brown eyes looked bigger and softer. And damn, he wanted her bad, maybe even more now that he’d had her than before getting a taste.
Smiling, he touched her mouth, amused by the mulish set to her lips. “I had to find your key card.” He let his hand drop to her narrow shoulder. “Wanna tell me about that phone book?”
Her brows puckered. “I usually keep numbers stored in my phone, but if my phone dies—”
“Sure. But why are you carrying numbers for Armie, Stack or Miles in the first place?”
Very slowly she eased away from him, her breaths slow and shallow. The lack of makeup added to her wounded expression, and her cough-strained voice finished it off. “What are you accusing me of?”
“I’m just asking.” Because you’re mine. Damn it.
Her eyes searched his. “No, I think it’s more than that.”
Right. It was the near-savage need to stake a claim. Knowing he couldn’t say anything that over-the-top, he said instead, “I think you and I need to come to an understanding.”
“What kind of understanding?”
“Several actually, but let’s start with exclusivity.”
Uncertain, she slicked her tongue over her bottom lip. “So...you won’t be seeing anyone but me?”
Hell, since meeting her no other woman had appealed anyway. “And vice versa.”
Her chin lifted. “For how long?”
She’d come around in one hell of a mood. His jaw ticked, but he wasn’t about to say how much it mattered to him. “As long as it lasts.”
Looking like that answer bothered her, she deflated, closing her arms around herself and putting her head back on the seat. “Cannon insisted I have the numbers. I live with Rissy and you know how he is.” She lifted a hand, flapped the air. “Two women, all alone. He wants me able to reach him—or one of you—if anything happens.”
Yeah, that made sense. And now, seeing her so closed off, he felt like a damned bully. He tugged on a lock of her hair. “If there ever is reason to make that call, call me first.”
She flashed him a weary smile. “Funny, but Cannon insisted the same thing.”
Denver held silent. Cannon had rights that he didn’t have—yet.
Saving him from coming up with a reply, Cherry put a hand to her stomach. “You know, I think I’m actually a little hungry.”
A good sign. “Perfect timing, since we’re at a quickie mart.”
She looked down at her bare feet, touched her mussed hair. “I’ll need my sandals.”
“I can run in for you.”
Relief showed, though she tried to hide it. “You wouldn’t mind?”
How could he not kiss her? Drawing her close, he touched his mouth to the bridge of her nose. It wasn’t enough. Not even close. Soon as she was well, he planned to taste her again. All over. “Glad to do it. What would you like?”
“Maybe...pretzels? And a cola?”
It’d be better if he let her eat before grilling her more. He should have talked with her about her damned relatives instead of the phone book anyway. “You got a call from Merissa while you were sleeping. Why don’t you text her back while I’m in the store. And Cherry? Stay in the car with the doors locked, okay?”
Busy digging out her phone, she said, “I don’t suppose you’d let me pay—”
“No.” He caught her chin and turned her face toward his. “I’m serious, girl. Promise me you’ll stay in the car, doors locked.”
Confusion tweaked her brows, but she nodded. “All right.”
“I’ll only be a minute.” He took the keys with him, pressed the automatic door locks, and closed the door behind him.
There were only a few teenagers in the lot, an older man walking with a cane and a mother with two kids. Still, he rushed through buying her things and was back out to the car in under three minutes.
With the phone to her ear, Cherry smiled and nodded, but when she saw him, she hastily ended the call.
As he got in, he asked, “Merissa?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
Something in the way she acted, avoiding his gaze, her cheeks flushed, got his attention. “You told her you were sick?”
“Yup.”
“Cherry.” When she looked up, he cocked his head. “What else did you talk about?”
A darker rush of color stained her cheeks, but it wasn’t from fever this time. “She, um, wanted details.”
“About?” Able to guess and entertained by it, Denver opened her cola and handed it to her. “Us?”
In a rush she said, “Everyone knows I’ve been hung up on you forever.”
Hung up on him, so not just looking for some fun? Nice. And if true, it gave him plenty to think about.
She gulped, and her voice faded. “I probably shouldn’t have said that.”
“You don’t want me to know you care about me?”
Making a rude sound, she asked, “How could you not know? I’ve been so obvious.”
True, but he hadn’t realized anyone else was paying that much attention—especially with the easy way she teased with every man who got near her. “Others picked up on it?”
Nodding, she shifted nervously. “Rissy said I should stop chasing you so hard. She said I made it too easy for you.”
“Rissy was wrong.” His feelings for her had never been easy. Had Merissa warned her off flirting with other men, as well? Or had he been singled out?
Confused, she chewed her lower lip. “She and Vanity both told me I should accept a few other dates.”
Jesus, he hated the games some women played. “Other guys asked you out?”
“Well...” She looked at him like he was nuts. “Yeah.”
Of course they had. He knew how badly he’d wanted her, so it stood to reason other men reacted to her the same way.
Her smile flickered and she teased him, saying, “You know, Denver, I don’t always look like this.”
No, she usually looked hot as hell. “First, you don’t look bad, so stop saying that. Actually, if you were up to it, I’d be all over you right now.”
She blinked in surprise. “You would?”
He let his attention drift over her face, her throat, her body. “You look soft and mellow and extremely fuckable.”
“Oh.”
“Second, these other guys sniffing around—you refused them?”
“After meeting you, why would I want anyone else?” The second she said it, her eyes widened and she fell back in her seat with a dramatic groan. Given her thin, raspy voice, that groan held a lot of effect. “I probably shouldn’t have said that to you, either.”
