Part 33 (2/2)
He shook his head. ”Got it covered, thanks.”
Miles and Brand crowded in, too. Cannon almost laughed. Yvette had an entire army at her disposal, whether she realized it or not.
”Just keep an eye out,” Cannon told them, already knowing they would. They did it for the entire neighborhood.
They'd sure as h.e.l.l be extra vigilant for one of their own.
And she was. Yvette might not realize it yet, but she'd been accepted into the inner circle, even if that hadn't been her intention.
He found her seated at the table, spine straight, shoulders back, pose as proud as she could make it.
For a few seconds he just stood there looking at her, taking in her features, that long hair, the trim body. In so many ways, more than just the physical, she turned him on.
She hadn't bothered with a drink. Her hands rested, calm and still, on the tabletop, but he saw the pulse beating in her throat, the way she breathed too deeply.
Now that he'd met Heath, he better understood why she thought she had a problem. In a dozen different ways, as soon as humanly possible, he'd show her-again- that she didn't.
Not with him.
”Hey.”
At his soft voice, she looked up. Their gazes held. ”He's gone?”
”Yeah.” Cannon came on in, but he didn't sit. Instead he pulled her up and out of her chair and into his arms.
She resisted. ”You asked where he was staying so you could check up on him, didn't you?”
He nodded.
”You won't actually meet with him, will you?”
”I doubt he'll agree to it, but if he does, sure.” With one finger, he traced her mouth. ”What better way to make things clear to him.”
She ducked her head. ”We need to talk.”
”Okay.” He loosened his arms, and when she tipped her face up, he took her mouth, kissing her with all the possessive protectiveness churning inside him.
At first she went still, but when she finally gave in, sinking against him, he held her face and gentled the kiss, then put his forehead to hers.
All the anger he'd held at bay sounded in his tone now. ”I wanted to kill him. You know that, right?”
Eyes closed, she swallowed and gave a small nod.
”But I would never deliberately embarra.s.s you. You need to know that, too.”
”Thank you.” She started to turn away, but he caught her waist and sat her on the table, then flattened his hands at either side of her hips.
”Understand, Yvette. The second I saw you, I knew what you were feeling.”
Her green eyes stared into his. ”Shame?”
That made him frown. ”Worry.”
”I was feeling both, actually.”
”You hid it well. I'm proud of you.”
Now she frowned.
”You can confide in me. Lean on me. You know that, right?”
”I know.” Her smile flicked with sadness. ”But I don't want to be that person anymore.”
”The person who needs me?” Because, d.a.m.n it, he wanted her to be that and more.
”The girl who burdens you.”
He let out a sigh. ”Now you're just trying to p.i.s.s me off.” Before she could be offended by that, he kissed her again.
She put a hand to his jaw, gentled him and his anger. ”Everyone out there was looking.”
”They knew what was going on, yes. That's on Heath, not you.”
”I don't want them all thinking I'm pathetic.”
He shook his head. She'd been hurt so badly, and no matter how she covered it up, how determined she was to soldier on, the wounds hadn't yet healed. ”Don't be silly, okay? No one here is judging you. In fact, any woman in your position would get the same consideration and concern from the guys.”
Getting her gumption back, she pushed off the table. ”I don't want it.”
”Really?” He caught her hand and held it. ”Fine. You go tell a bunch of fighters that they don't need to notice when some a.s.shole comes in ha.s.sling a woman half his size. Go ahead. See the reaction you get.”
This time real humor teased her mouth. ”Stop it.” She dropped against him with a groan. ”You know I'm not going back out there yet.”
He rubbed her back to soothe her. ”In about two minutes you are, because we'll be heading out.” This was his world, his family. He wanted her comfortable in it, under any circ.u.mstances. He wanted his family to be her family.
”You're still working with the kids,” she pointed out. ”And you haven't yet showered.”
Given the way she cuddled into him, she didn't mind that he was a little sweaty. ”Armie's finis.h.i.+ng up with the kids and I can shower at home. In fact, I was thinking maybe-”
Armie cleared his throat.
They both turned to the doorway.
Beside Armie was a big guy who topped even Cannon by a few inches. His nose had been broken multiple times, his right ear thickened from too many hits. Both his goatee and his Mohawk needed a good trim.
Yvette eased back, but Cannon put an arm around her, keeping her at his side. ”Justice. What's up?” He leaned forward for a handshake.
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