Part 33 (1/2)
Unwilling to accept that, Heath leveled his most intimidating glare on her. ”You've gotten awfully lippy.”
Both men looked at her, Heath with anger, Cannon with support. ”I'm fed up, Heath. How else can I say it? We're done and there's nothing else to talk about.”
”You sure you want to take that tone?” He ignored Cannon and focused only at her. ”After everything?”
When Cannon tightened, she put a hand on him to let him know she could handle it. Sure, she was shaking. Mortified. Nervous. But she would not let Heath cow her. ”I'll take whatever tone is necessary for you to understand.”
Heath started to take a step closer and Cannon moved into his path. ”No.”
Around him, Heath said, ”I know you better than anyone else. I know you better than he ever could. You might want to remember that.”
Her lips felt stiff, her eyes burning. ”You couldn't be more wrong.”
”Yeah, right.” His mocking gaze went to Cannon. ”She tell you all about her hang-ups?”
”That's none of your business,” Yvette said.
”Far as I can tell,” Cannon added, ”she's perfect.”
Heath went red faced with rage-a rage he aimed at Yvette. ”So you're f.u.c.king him?”
She flinched at his raised voice. If she looked, would everyone in the place be staring at them?
”Whoa.” Cannon moved her behind him. ”That's enough.”
”f.u.c.k you, too!”
As she'd seen him do before, Heath went from zero to eighty in the blink of an eye.
”Here's the thing,” Cannon said, still calm with a quiet authority that unnerved Heath more than a shouting match ever could. ”You're not going to talk to her alone. Not today, not ever. If you want to talk to her at all, it'll be when you're calm, and I'll be there. Even then, it's only if Yvette agrees. Right now, she doesn't.”
”She never does!”
”With the way you're acting, can you blame her?” He let that sink in, then added, ”I know you don't want to upset any of the other nice people who are here, many of them kids.”
As if only then remembering the public locale, Heath's gaze scanned the room.
”We don't want anyone calling the cops, right? So how about you go cool down and think about things?”
Heath bunched and unbunched, but by some miracle he held himself in check.
”Where are you staying?” Cannon asked. ”Nearby? Close enough that we can get together later and talk?”
Understanding why he asked, Yvette stayed quiet.
Suspicion increased Heath's color. ”We?”
”You and me.”
He looked beyond Cannon to where Yvette stood, arms crossed, her face hot.
Cannon stepped into his line of vision. ”Look at me, Heath. Not her.”
”I'm at the Colonial.”
”I know where it is,” Cannon said. ”I've stayed there myself before when I visit town.”
”You don't live here?”
”Not full-time.” Cannon started edging him toward the front door. ”You have a card or anything? I'll give you a call and we can arrange a time to sit down and settle this. What do you think?”
With p.r.o.nounced longing, Heath looked back, trying to see her, but Cannon kept his attention with his hand on his shoulder. ”Breakfast, maybe? Or lunch?”
Outmaneuvered, Heath nodded. ”Sure, that'd be fine.” He dug a card from his wallet and handed it over, but then planted his feet at the door. ”Understand, though, I will talk with her.” He looked back at Yvette again. ”I gave you time. I tried to be understanding. You've dodged me long enough.”
And with that, he slammed out.
Frozen to the spot, Yvette admired how well Cannon had handled that. Unlike her, he hadn't gotten distraught. He hadn't gotten physical either, as Armie had wanted to do.
Maybe it was Cannon's extreme ability that kept him from needing to react. He could handle whatever Heath did and knew it, so why get riled up about it?
When Cannon stayed at the door, making sure Heath actually drove away, she ducked around the corner and headed for the break room. With every step she felt eyes on her, everyone watching, everyone speculating.
Again.
Keeping her head up and her gaze straight ahead, she tried not to race away. Cannon deserved so much more than the trouble she brought him. He deserved more than a spectacle.
d.a.m.n it, she was working on it. No way would she let Heath ruin her progress.
doing his best to hide his rage, Cannon watched Heath go to his car, noted the make and model, the plates, and waited until the b.a.s.t.a.r.d disappeared around the corner.
He turned and wasn't at all surprised to see Yvette gone and Armie there.
”She's in the break room,” Armie said low. ”She walked off like the queen, but she's upset. Makes me want to choke that b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
”Yeah, I know, but I'll handle it,” Cannon said.
”Anything I can do?”
”Call the Colonial and ask for Heath Nordan. See if you can leave a message for him. I want to make sure that's where he's at.”
”Sure thing.” Armie kept pace beside him. ”I'm betting he's the one who d.i.c.ked with your tires.”
”If it isn't, then I have more than one problem, don't I?” He left Armie at the reception desk to make the call and headed toward the break room.
Stack cut him off. ”She okay?”
”She will be.” After he rea.s.sured her-which he planned to do right now.
Denver blocked his way. ”You need anything?”