Part 30 (2/2)
Taking pity on him, Armie lightened his tone. ”Actually, I was kind of amused at the differences. I mean, with Rissy so d.a.m.ned tall.” So leggy. ”And Yvette so pet.i.te. Other than the long dark hair, they're as mismatched as can be.”
”Yeah.” Cannon ran both hands through his hair and paced away.
Crossing his arms and leaning back on the truck, Armie read his agitation. ”So what's really going on?” ”Her f.u.c.ked-up boyfriend might be in town.” ”No s.h.i.+t?”
”Her girlfriend called last night and said Heath had hopped a plane. He posted some nonsense on his Facebook about reclaiming what's his.”
”You think he's already here?” He nodded at the tires.
”You think he did this?”
”No idea, but I don't like it.”
”What can I do to help? Besides giving you a ride today, I mean.”
”Would you mind helping me put up that extra security here that you mentioned?”
Oh, h.e.l.l, no. He swallowed. ”Here?”
”Yeah.” Cannon watched the door. ”I don't want to alarm Rissy or Yvette, but I've got a bad feeling about things.”
”Her ex is that bad?”
”Maybe. From what Yvette's told me, he's the stalker type. But I swear, it feels like more than that.” Rissy worked during the day. He could get Stack or Miles to cover things at the rec center and come by then so that he didn't have to b.u.t.t heads with her.
So he didn't have to resist her.
”Yeah, sure. Glad to help out. You know that.” Armie figured they could wrap it up in just a few hours. Surely he could keep it together that long.
”Hey, guys.”
They both looked up to see a sleep-rumpled Cherry Peyton approach with two dewy cans of c.o.ke. Her dark blond hair bounced as she walked and mascara was smudged under her brown eyes.
”Cherry.” Now, there was a woman he could l.u.s.t after, Armie thought. ”Did we wake you?”
She wrinkled her nose. ”Rissy did. Slamming cabinets and cursing you.”
He drew back. ”Me? What'd I do?” But yeah, he knew. All teasing and flirting, she leaned in. ”Now, Armie, what haven't you done?”
The grin slipped in on him. ”You got me there.” He took a c.o.ke from her.
She handed the other to Cannon.
”Thanks.” Cannon popped the tab. ”Late night?” Covering a jaw-stretching yawn, she nodded. ”We got in late,” she said around her hand. ”Then I couldn't get to sleep. I tossed and turned and finally pa.s.sed out this morning.”
Charmed by her, Armie grinned. Yeah, he knew Denver was sweet on her so he wouldn't overstep. But he could have some fun all the same. ”A drink might've helped.”
”Tried that, actually, with a gla.s.s of wine.” ”Then maybe it was a man you needed.”
Cannon cautioned him with a scowl.
Laughing, Cherry smacked his arm, then admitted, ”Maybe,” before sauntering off again.
Her snug sleep shorts and a clingy tank top looked s.e.xy enough to keep his thoughts occupied watching her walk.
As she disappeared through the front door, Cannon opened his mouth-and Armie said, ”Save it. It's too late. I already have that fantasy locked away.” ”Armie,” he warned.
”f.u.c.k off, Cannon.” Without any real animosity, he said, ”She's not your sister, not your girlfriend, and my imagination is not under your purview. I can d.a.m.n well fantasize about her if I want to.”
”Listen to you talking all fancy.”
Armie froze, winced and turned to see Rissy standing there. Eyes narrowed. Arms crossed. One foot tapping. d.a.m.n, she was hot. ”Hey, Stretch. Way to sneak up on a guy.”
After a burning glare, she dismissed him. ”I have to take off,” she said to Cannon.
”You're working today?”
”No, I don't start back until Monday, but I got a call from Steve. He was supposed to pick me up last night and was a no-show. Took Cherry and me an hour to catch a cab.”
”Why didn't you call me?” Cannon asked. ”I did, remember? You didn't answer.” Grinning, she waved away his automatic apology. ”We made it home safe and sound, no biggie. Anyway, Steve just called.
He said he's laid up. Something about getting jumped and beat up.”
Wasn't easy, but Armie managed to keep his face blank, even when Cannon stared at him. Steve was a d.a.m.ned liar, but whatever.
Rissy didn't look real concerned over her boyfriend's plight, he noted. ”You're going to go play nurse, huh?
Sounds kinky.”
Cannon shoved him again.
But Rissy forestalled her brother's temper by saying, ”Actually, I'm mostly just going there to tell him we're over.”
While Armie staggered, at least figuratively, Cannon asked, ”Why? What happened?”
”Nothing, really. I just realized I didn't miss him while I was in j.a.pan. I had more fun with Cherry than I would have if Steve had gone along. That's pretty telling, don't you think?”
Always the supportive big brother, Cannon said, ”I think you're smart enough to know what you're doing.” She shrugged. ”Hope so, because there aren't any other prospects currently on the horizon.”
Armie worked his jaw. Was she hinting? For his benefit?
Ha. Not happening. He wasn't a dope. And she d.a.m.n well knew how he felt about- ”I hate to run off.” She fretted with her purse strap.
”Do you still have a key?”
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