“I screamed,” she reminded him. “You yelled. Different reactions to the same upset.”
Now he frowned. “I wasn’t upset.”
“Is that word somehow insulting?”
Damn straight. “I was pissed, girl. Not upset.”
Patting his chest, she said, “Okay, sure.”
Denver rolled his eyes in disbelief. “Now you’re placating me.”
“Yes. Because you’re being silly.”
“Silly?”
That made her outright laugh. And once she did, Denver’s lips twitched, too. Seeing how quickly she regrouped again made him proud.
God, the things she made him feel, most of them nice, some of them disturbing as shit. But he wouldn’t trade any of it. In fact, the feelings were growing on him.
In direct contrast to the humor, he said, “When I get hold of Carver, I’m going to rip him apart.” He needed her to know that.
Instead of replying, she gestured at the door. “I can’t go back out there just yet.”
Denver held her to him. “You don’t have to.”
Merissa opened the door and stepped in with Armie right behind her, his arm around her shoulders, the two of them in low, intimate conversation.
Together, Denver and Cherry stared.
With a sigh, Merissa stepped away from Armie, but immediately wrapped her arms around herself. Her gaze sought Cherry’s. “I am soooo creeped out.”
Cherry nodded. “Me, too.”
“I’m going to put on coffee.” Merissa started for the kitchen. “Then I’m going to pack. Until that jerk is gone, I’ll be staying somewhere else.”
Denver leaned down to whisper to Cherry, “She’ll be staying with Cannon. He insisted.”
Looking even more shamefaced, she joined her friend. “Rissy, I am so sorry.”
“Why?” Merissa got the coffee from the cabinet. “You didn’t invite him here.”
“But it’s because of me—”
“No, it’s because he’s a certifiable lunatic.” Merissa looked at Armie, then pulled Cherry close to whisper. The two women stayed like that, huddled in close conversation, occasionally glancing at the men.
Denver nudged a mesmerized Armie toward the door. “Let’s go.”
With a lagging step, Armie went. “I’m fucked,” he muttered low enough that the women wouldn’t hear.
“Or,” Denver said, “you could just go with it.”
But Armie wasn’t listening. He was too busy trying to ignore what he felt. Denver could have told him that wouldn’t work, but he figured it was something Armie would have to work out for himself—hopefully before it was too late.
* * *
HOURS LATER, DENVER and Cherry finally got to bed. Neither of them said anything for the longest time. The evening had been grueling. The animal control specialist agreed it’d be safer to have the car towed before inspecting it for other pests, especially since, as Armie had said, at least one of the snakes had been venomous. Given the ability to hide up under seats and other nooks and crannies, it was determined that the interior might need to be dismantled to some degree.
Denver had already decided she needed to replace it. Somehow he’d talk her into selling it, and letting him help with a new ride. That was a topic for another day, though.
The cop had tried suggesting an elaborate prank, but he didn’t sound convinced, especially when they explained about Cherry’s foster brothers being in town. It helped that Cannon gave Lieutenant Peterson a call.
Surprising Denver, the lieutenant showed up and then stuck around to talk to everyone. Cherry promised her that she’d let her know if any of them contacted her again.
They couldn’t prove the brothers had anything to do with the latest harassment, but the lieutenant was more than willing to call it probable. Knowing she was on the case offered a little more reassurance. But since no one knew where to find the bastards, there was only so much the cops could do.
Once they were stretched out in the bed, Cherry asked, “How’s your head?”
“Fine. Don’t worry about it.” He wanted her, but he also wanted her to know it wasn’t just about sex. “You?”
She tipped her face up to see him. “I’m okay.”
“You’re beautiful.”
A smile flickered over her lips. Lifting up to one elbow, she inadvertently left her bare breasts close enough for him to lick.
He fought temptation.
Stroking her fingers through his hair, she tortured him. “Thank you for asking me to stay with you.”