Part 41 (2/2)

If they had problems to overcome, well, then, she'd been working on problems most of her life. At the very least, they would be friends. But hopefully lovers, too.

”I told myself five minutes. So maybe two or three more?” He opened his mouth and she said, ”Alone. Please.”

He didn't want to leave her.

”I'm fine, I promise. Please, tell Cannon so he doesn't desert his fans.” She touched Armie's wrist. ”I'll die if I throw a kink in the works.”

”All right.” Before he left, he pointed at her. ”If you let a b.i.t.c.h like Mindi bother you, I'm going to be very disappointed in you.”

Funny Armie.

Wonderful Cannon.

Ohio... Home.

So many thoughts, worries, emotions scurried around her mind. But the most prevalent of all was love. For Cannon.

When Mary stepped out of the bar, Yvette let out a long breath. Maybe she didn't need those three minutes anyway. All she really needed was Cannon.

She pushed away from the wall-and the lamppost sent a long shadow across her path.

With ominous dread, she looked up.

As if genuinely pleased to see her, as though they were old friends who'd just happened to run into each other instead of a stalker finding his prey, Heath smiled down at her. ”Yvette.”

So he hadn't left after all. Fear tried to intrude, but they were in public. People all around them. Lit buildings. Traffic.

Remembering what Margaret had said, Yvette shook her head. ”You shouldn't be here.”

”But I am.” He moved closer so that she was trapped between the brick wall and his big body.

Anxious about his mood, she tried to push past him.

His smile fading, he blocked her. ”Did you think I'd leave without us talking?”

”You checked out of the hotel!”

He searched her face. ”How do you know that?” Desperation darkened his eyes; yearning softened his voice. ”Did you come looking for me?”

”G.o.d, no. I sent a cop to talk to you, to tell you to leave me alone.”

A flash of rage mottled his complexion. Bunching up, he leaned down so close she felt his hot breath on her face. ”You think I'm a f.u.c.king idiot? Is that it?”

His voice was a low hiss, not overly perceptible to the others nearby. ”I think you should leave me alone.” She again tried to move past him but he caught her arm. It was the same unbreakable, bruising hold he'd used at the rec center. ”Stop it!”

”I thought about why your new boyfriend asked where I was staying. I knew what that b.a.s.t.a.r.d wanted.”

She strained away from the menace of his low tone, his big body. ”He wants you to leave me alone, same as I do.”

Comprehension had his eyes flinching. ”You're drunk.”

”I am not.” At the moment, she felt plenty clearheaded, and plenty worried. How could she defuse this situation without screaming b.l.o.o.d.y murder?

His hand tightened even more. ”Did that f.u.c.ker get you drunk?”

”Stop being an idiot!” It was bad enough this had happened at the rec center. To have it get repeated here, while Cannon entertained his fans- ”I smell it on your breath.”

”Get out of my s.p.a.ce and you won't.” She shoved hard against his chest, but with very little effort he jerked her in close to his body, squeezing her so forcefully she couldn't get breath.

”No,” she rasped, the only protest she could manage.

No one intervened. No one said a word.

As he tightened his hold, blackness edged in around her vision. She tried to fight it off, to fight him.

He hushed her, smoothing her hair, whispering, ”It's okay, honey, just relax.” Her toes barely touched the ground with the way he held her pinned to his side.

To observers, he probably looked like a concerned boyfriend helping a drunken girlfriend home. ”We need to talk.” He looked over his shoulder as he continued dragging her away. ”And it'll best be done in private.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

after rudelY pus.h.i.+ng her way to the front, Mary grabbed his arm. ”Cannon?”

Not again. He'd just fended her off as politely as he could, but she hadn't been gone two minutes before returning.

He'd already told her there'd be nothing between them. He didn't feel like rehas.h.i.+ng it again so soon.

Easily sidestepping her with the way others wanted his attention, he gave her his back.

But she tangled a hand in the back of his waistband and gave a tug. When he looked at her in disbelief, she said, ”I'm sorry,” then said it again to the young couple he'd been about to serve. ”I wouldn't interrupt, except that this is important. At least, I think it is.”

Something in her tone gave him pause, and that had him automatically scanning the bar for Yvette.

He didn't see her. Armie had claimed she was only getting air and would be right back in.

But then where was she?

Mary tugged at him again, and when he leaned closer, she whispered, ”I just want to help, I promise.”

Help with what? He handed the tray over the bar to Rowdy. ”I'm taking a break.”

”Sure.” He skipped his attention to Mary, but didn't comment. ”You're long overdue anyway.”

”Thanks.” Promising he'd be right back, he excused himself from the crowd. Seeking a modic.u.m of privacy, he pulled Mary slightly away. ”All right. What is it?”

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