Holding Strong

Most of the fight crowd had finally cleared out by the time he returned so he made it to their floor without getting stopped even once. Wearing a sweaty T-shirt and running shorts, his phone and the key card in a special carrier strapped with Velcro around his wrist, he headed to the door.

The sudden splitting noise of a fire alarm obliterated the calm he’d just achieved by the long run. Jogging the last few steps to the door, he jerked it open and found Cherry sitting up, groggy and confused.

“What happened?”

“Fire alarm.” In rapid order he went about shoving his things into his overnight bag, then started on her stuff, grabbing up discarded clothes, shoes, makeup she’d left in the bathroom...

“What are you doing?”

“We have to clear out,” he said while finding her a pair of jeans and her underwear, “and I figure we may as well head home.”

“Oh.” Little by little the sleepy daze cleared from her eyes.

Odds were the cough medicine had wiped her out as much as illness.

She started to leave the bed so he went to help her.

“I need the restroom.”

“Okay, but we have to hurry.” A voice came over an intercom of sorts in the room, directing guests to follow the guidelines on the backs of their entry doors. He led her to the bathroom, put the jeans and panties on the vanity, and stepped back. “Where’s your phone?”

“Nightstand,” she said, and shoved the door closed.

He saw she’d missed a call on her cell and on the room phone. Everything about this situation felt wrong, from the roughnecks claiming a relationship with her, to the sudden fire alarm and evacuation.

Damn it, he would not take chances with her.

He listened to the voice mail on the room phone first.

“Listen up, Cherry. You need to get in touch. I mean it. No more fucking around.”

Angry tension invaded every muscle in Denver’s body. When the caller, who he thought might be Carver, left a number, Denver held the phone between his shoulder and jaw and scrawled it down on a notepad. He tucked the paper into his wallet.

“Tonight, Cherry. You’ve caused enough trouble. Don’t make me chase you down.” And with that, the call ended.

He needed to know what the hell was going on. Now, before anything else happened. To be on the safe side, he glanced at her cell and saw that the missed call was from her roommate, Rissy. There was also a text that said only, Rissy was here. Typical MO for Merissa Colter. Under other circumstances, Denver might’ve smiled.

Right now he was as far from a smile as a man could get.

When he dropped the cell phone and charger into Cherry’s purse, he saw her car keys. He fished them out and stuffed them into his front pocket. He’d just finished gathering up the meds and putting them in her purse when the bathroom door opened.

Cherry more or less crept out, now in the jeans, pale with fatigue, exhaustion showing in every line of her body.

He grabbed up the bags and put an arm around her. “Come on, honey, we need to go.” He didn’t think there was a real fire, but he wouldn’t take any chances.

“My shoes.”

“Damn. Sorry, but I already packed them. I’ll find them for you in the car.” He got her out the door and then had to veer her away from the elevator. “Not with a fire alarm going off.”

“Oh, right.”

He took in her red eyes, her defeated posture, and shook his head as he transferred the bags and her purse into one fist. “Sorry.”

“Wha—” The word ended on a gasp when he dipped, caught her around the hips, and hoisted her up and over his shoulder. “Denver!”

“We’re on the sixth floor, girl. You can barely go six steps.”

To his surprise, she didn’t fight him. She just clutched at his shirt and said, “Don’t drop me!”

“Never.”

He tried not to jostle her as he went down several flights of stairs. On the second floor, they ran into other people so he lowered her back to her feet to keep from embarrassing her, but put an arm around her waist to help support her. Near her ear, he asked, “Okay?”

With the strain obvious on her face, she nodded. When they finally reached the lobby, guests congested the front entrance, so Denver detoured with her down a short hall and out a side door.

The storms had moved out even before his jog, leaving the air fresh and clean. A blinding sun shone in a cloudless blue sky.

“Come on. You’re parked this way, right?”

“Yes.” She stumbled, coughed, and righted herself.

Worry stopped him. “Need me to carry you again?”

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.”

By the second his mood improved. “You can say whatever you want to me.”

Her disbelieving laugh turned to a cough.

Denver waited until she’d caught her breath again. “Merissa and Vanity are wrong, okay? Just be honest with me, always, and things will work out better.”

She didn’t look convinced, but she agreed with a nod anyway.

“So, what’d you tell Rissy about us?”

Her gaze skittered away and she cleared her throat.

“Come on, Cherry.” Despite himself, he felt his mouth quirking. “What details did you share?”

Lacing her fingers together and again looking at her feet, she muttered, “Only that you’re amazing.”

Nice. But not for a second did he think that covered it all. “And?”

She lifted her shoulders, looked out the window. “That you’re—” she toyed with her hair, took time for a big swig of cola, and finally muttered low “—even bigger than we’d imagined.”

“What’s that?” Pretending he hadn’t heard her, Denver hitched a brow.

Wincing, she faced him again and said in a rush, “You said I could brag to my girlfriends, and Rissy is my best friend. She knew I wanted you forever and that you’d been dodging me and—”

“Slow down before you get yourself coughing again.”

“—she’d heard the same things I’d heard.”

Unbelievable. “About the size of my cock?”

Again her eyes flared and she inhaled so sharply that she coughed, then had to swill more cola before she could answer. “We’re close, Denver,” she explained, still wheezing. “We talk all the time.”

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