Part 40 (2/2)
”Oh.” She actually believed Yvette would leave Cannon for Armie? Absurd. ”No, I'm not... That is...”
”I'm a mutual friend,” Armie drawled. ”No more.”
Hearing that smooth, seductive tone, Yvette slowly pivoted around to look at Armie. Right before her eyes he transformed into a man on the make.
Fascinated, Yvette stood there, her eyes wide. Was this because Mindi turned him on, or because Merissa was watching? She glanced to the side, caught the hurt on Merissa's face.
”I totally get what you're putting out there,” Armie murmured, ”and I approve.”
His seductive words recaptured Yvette's attention.
Mindi preened.
”Tell me you came here alone.”
Yvette wanted to gag. Actually, she might have, given how Armie smiled at her and rubbed her shoulder.
Interest quickened Mindi's breath. ”I'm alone, yes.”
He somehow got between Yvette and Mindi without his movements being noticeable. ”You won't leave alone.”
”I won't?”
Firm, confident, he stated, ”You'll be coming home with me.”
”Oh.” Hand to her chest, Mindi leaned toward him, then caught herself. ”But I came to see Cannon.”
”Look at him all you want, honey, I don't mind. But that's as far as it'll go.” He touched her collarbone, and both Mindi and Yvette held their breath. But he just drifted his fingers over her shoulder-in a pretense of moving her hair back.
Good Lord. This was worse than watching a p.o.r.no, because it was up close and personal. Yvette needed to get away from them before she saw more than she wanted to.
”What do you say?” Armie asked her.
Mindi's gaze went from Armie to Yvette and back again. ”You've convinced me.”
”Was there any doubt?”
So c.o.c.ky. Yvette shook her head. It was going to take a very strong woman to get Armie in line. And thinking that... She searched for Merissa and finally located her at the table in back with the other fighters. She faced away from Armie.
”There's such a crush up front,” Mindi purred. ”Would you mind getting me a gla.s.s of wine? Then we can get better acquainted.”
”Let's seal the deal first.” Armie dipped in and took her mouth-not touching her anywhere else-and Mindi sank like a stone. She leaned into him, clutched at his shoulders, went on tiptoe- Armie eased her away with a smile. ”Don't go anywhere, now.” As he started off toward the bar, Yvette tried to high-five him.
He laughed, squeezed her hand instead and strode away.
Well, whether he celebrated with her or not, she appreciated how he'd given Mindi a new focus.
A focus that wasn't Cannon.
Mindi seemed to be trying to regroup, which Yvette took as a good time to escape.
Until Mindi stalled her by saying, ”I wanted to talk to you about Cannon.” Nudging Yvette toward a quieter corner, she added, ”More specifically, you and Cannon.”
”I can't imagine why.” They had to step around Cannon's line. He was now serving drinks to ladies who waved their money in the air.
His gaze touched on her and he frowned.
Summoning up her brightest smile, Yvette wiggled her fingers in a wave and did her best to let him know everything was fine. The last thing she wanted to do was put a cloud on his fun.
”So you're still with him?”
She pulled away from Mindi and leaned back on the wall. Not that she needed the support, but she definitely felt the buzz. ”How is that any of your business?”
Mindi put on her pitying face. ”Oh, honey, how long do you think it can possibly last?”
”I repeat, it's not your concern, Ms. Jarrett.”
”It's just that I'd hate to see you hurt again.” She smoothed Yvette's arm, sort of petting her with compa.s.sion.
Yvette's skin crawled.
”You poor thing, you've already been through so, so much.”
The ice going down Yvette's spine did a lot to clear her head. ”Everyone eventually loses a family member.”
”Yes, but that's not what I'm talking about.” Finally withdrawing, Mindi folded her hands together in front of her. She continued with the mask of pity, as if she cared only about protecting Yvette. ”Cannon told me everything.”
Like a giant fist clenching her heart, pain expanded in Yvette's diaphragm. Pride helped her to keep her tone cool. ”Everything?”
Mindi nodded, looked around and pushed closer. ”He's a great guy, everyone knows that. But-” she bit her lip with uncharacteristic hesitation ”-he's still a guy.”
The idea that Cannon might have confided in this woman devastated her-not that she'd ever show it, definitely not to Mindi. Neck stiff, throat tight and eyes burning, she asked, ”Your point?”
”I understand you were sweethearts before you moved away?”
Hardly. Cannon had dodged her at every turn. That was, until she'd almost been killed.
”He saved you, I know.” Mindi's words were soft and gentle. ”He said that because you were so young, you adored him for it.”
Each word cut deeper. She'd been infatuated with him long before that. But yes, having him come to her rescue had meant he'd forever stolen her heart.
”Men love being macho,” Mindi told her. ”A man like Cannon more than most. Now that you're back, he's drawn by all that sweet hero wors.h.i.+p.”
Yvette wanted to throw up.
Or at least get out of the crowded bar so she could sort through her heartache alone.
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