Holding Strong
Page 118

Actually, now that he’d said it, he liked the idea. “Move in with me.”
“I—” She stopped. Shook her head and strode to the kitchen. “I can’t do this. I can’t let Carver twist your arm and make you do things you don’t want to do.”
Still running on angry adrenaline, Denver followed close behind her. He wanted to deny that Carver had any influence, but they’d both see the lie in that. Instead he reiterated more harshly than he intended, “You’re moving in.”
Indignation stiffened her neck while she dampened paper towels in the sink. “I can barely afford this place. No way can I afford both.”
Jesus, he wanted to shout. “What the hell does that mean?”
Going on tiptoe, she carefully cleaned the blood away from his face and temple, being especially gentle near the cut. “I split costs with Rissy, already.”
He caught her wrist. “I don’t want your money!”
Righteous with her own anger, she jerked free. “I don’t freeload!”
From bad to worse. Denver ran a hand over his face. “I never said—”
She pushed his hand aside and went back to cleaning on him, this time not so gently. “I don’t make enough to add anything else to my already strained budget. After being sick and missing work, things are tight already.”
Now that really pissed him off. He stared at her, willing her to meet his gaze instead of focusing on a superficial injury. “If you need money, why didn’t you tell me?”
She gasped so hard he felt it on his face. The wet towels got tossed at him. “I would never come to you for money!”
He drew back from her vehemence. They stared at each other, her heaving, him reevaluating. He had to get a grip. Fast.
It took an effort but he took charge of himself and the situation. “There are some facts we can’t overlook, number one being that Carver is getting bolder. You’re smart, Cherry. You know it’s not safe for you to be alone.”
She rubbed her forehead, saying nothing.
Denver drew her hand down, then held it. “I want you, not your money. Number two, staying with me doesn’t obligate you to invest.”
“I pay my own way.”
The desperation in that statement helped him to relent. Her pride was important to her, and right now so many things were out of her control. She needed to know she still had the final say over her life. “If it makes you feel better, you could pitch in on groceries and stuff. Whatever it takes, I want you safe, with me.”
When she continued to scrutinize him, he had to swallow back a growl.
“Call it temporary if that’ll make you feel better. But stay with me.” Always.
And still she waffled. Denver had the awful suspicion that she tried to think of alternatives.
“Should I go to my knees?”
At his tone, confusion filled her expression. “You’re angry?”
Damn. He picked up the discarded towels, finished the cleaning himself, and strode to the trash can to throw them away. He took a second to collect himself, then faced her again. “I’m sorry. It’s just...”
She nodded stiffly. “Me, too.”
“I care for you, Cherry.”
Her gaze shot up to his.
He drew a slow breath, wishing he could say more, but damn, given how she’d reacted to his invitation he didn’t dare start declaring himself. “If you’re not with me, I’ll be distracted when I should be focusing on my training.”
She covered her mouth.
He hated laying on the guilt when she already had too much of that, but he’d do whatever it took to see her secure. “So please, will you move in with me?”
She stared up at him so long he started to sweat.
Then she took his hands—and he realized he was shaking.
She realized it, too. “Okay. For a little while.”
Forever, if he had his way. But for now that’d do. Drawing her into his chest, he carefully crushed her close. “I’m sorry I shouted.” He held her back again. “You know I would never hurt you.”
“Of course I do.”
But she looked so emotionally brittle, so stoic. “I should be horsewhipped for losing my temper.”
“Denver.” She smoothed her hands over his chest, then hugged him tight. “You had reason to get angry.”
“I wasn’t angry with you.”
She gave a shaky smile. “I know that.”
He wasn’t convinced. He’d already hurt her once, shouting at the gym, embarrassing her. He was determined to never do it again.