Holding Strong
Page 97
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“Always.” He hesitated. “Negotiate a good deal for me.”
Cannon cracked a smile. “Plan to.”
Once, years ago, Cannon had saved his ass. If he wanted Armie in the SBC, then that’s where he’d go, and he’d face the consequences, whatever they might be, head-on. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Pushing me.” Everything. “Not letting me be content.”
“Hey, what good are friends if they don’t shove you into uncomfortable situations?” After a brief, commiserating grip on Armie’s shoulder, Cannon pulled out his cell and headed to a quiet corner of the entrance to call Denver.
He had a lot of shit on his plate, but Armie realized he was smiling as he headed out. Maybe things weren’t so bad after all.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
STACK MEANT TO leave as soon as Denver reclaimed the class.
Instead, when Vanity strolled in looking damp and appealingly windblown from the weather, he decided to hang around a little longer. He’d watched her shed a trendy raincoat and matching umbrella, then watched her make herself at home at the rec center.
Now he was late for his date—not that it was really much of a date. More like a mutual agreement to get laid, but still... Somehow the idea of heading out for “the sure thing” no longer appealed.
He got out his cell and went into the hall to make a call and cancel the plans. After explaining that he’d gotten held up and promising that he’d make it up to her soon, he realized he wasn’t alone.
Without even knowing why, he felt guilty as he jerked around and found Vanity eavesdropping. She watched him without a single sign of remorse.
Keeping his gaze locked on hers, he said his goodbyes and calmly tucked his phone, and his guilt, away.
Her blue eyes bright, she said, “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.” Tonight she had her long hair in some sort of intricate braid that arrowed down her back as if pointing to that stellar ass. In stretchy running shorts and a matching tank, she couldn’t hide a flaw—not that she had any.
His mouth went dry. This woman wanted to sleep with him.
But not until the wedding.
“I’m curious, Stack.”
“Me, too.” Like half hard with curiosity.
Her patented teasing smile played over her lips, making him nuts and showing a smidge of confusion. “What?”
He shook his head. “You first.”
“I was just going to ask why you’re still here if you had a date.”
Oh. He cast about for an excuse, and settled on the obvious. “We had some drama, that’s all. Denver’s stepmother stopped in.”
“Why is that drama?”
Shrugging, he said, “I haven’t had a chance to find out, but trust me, it was not a friendly meeting.” Rather than detail how badly Vanity had occupied his thoughts, he dug in on the topic of Denver and domestic issues. “Shocked me when I met her. She looks nothing like a stepmother.”
“Oh? How should a stepmother look?”
“Like a mother? At least old enough to be a mother. This woman looked damn near Denver’s age. And she was...” How should he put it? “Overdressed for the gym, that’s for sure. Young and sexy, too. Long red hair, killer dress and body, bold attitude.”
Her smile stayed in place. “You admired her. How...nice.”
“Said I was shocked already, right?” He frowned. She had no reason—and no right—to act put out over his observations. “You don’t think I’d hit on Denver’s stepmother, do you? Because that’d seriously be out of line.”
“So the fact that she’s obviously married isn’t what held you back? It was just her relationship to Denver?”
“No!” How did she always steer him down these awkward verbal paths? “Don’t put words in my mouth.”
Her smile widened. “Okay, sorry. You know what? I think I saw her, and yes, she’s beautiful.”
“She was gone before you got here.”
“Well, there was a woman who fit that description hanging around outside.”
Curious, Stack asked, “Doing what?”
“I don’t know. Just talking with a guy. I noticed her because of her dress. Usually women who are dressed up don’t linger in the rain.”
Curiosity turned to misgivings. “What guy?”
“I don’t know him. Dark hair and eyes. He held a jacket over her head while they huddled together under an overhang. Her hair—which was definitely red—kept blowing out with the wind.”
Cannon cracked a smile. “Plan to.”
Once, years ago, Cannon had saved his ass. If he wanted Armie in the SBC, then that’s where he’d go, and he’d face the consequences, whatever they might be, head-on. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Pushing me.” Everything. “Not letting me be content.”
“Hey, what good are friends if they don’t shove you into uncomfortable situations?” After a brief, commiserating grip on Armie’s shoulder, Cannon pulled out his cell and headed to a quiet corner of the entrance to call Denver.
He had a lot of shit on his plate, but Armie realized he was smiling as he headed out. Maybe things weren’t so bad after all.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
STACK MEANT TO leave as soon as Denver reclaimed the class.
Instead, when Vanity strolled in looking damp and appealingly windblown from the weather, he decided to hang around a little longer. He’d watched her shed a trendy raincoat and matching umbrella, then watched her make herself at home at the rec center.
Now he was late for his date—not that it was really much of a date. More like a mutual agreement to get laid, but still... Somehow the idea of heading out for “the sure thing” no longer appealed.
He got out his cell and went into the hall to make a call and cancel the plans. After explaining that he’d gotten held up and promising that he’d make it up to her soon, he realized he wasn’t alone.
Without even knowing why, he felt guilty as he jerked around and found Vanity eavesdropping. She watched him without a single sign of remorse.
Keeping his gaze locked on hers, he said his goodbyes and calmly tucked his phone, and his guilt, away.
Her blue eyes bright, she said, “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.” Tonight she had her long hair in some sort of intricate braid that arrowed down her back as if pointing to that stellar ass. In stretchy running shorts and a matching tank, she couldn’t hide a flaw—not that she had any.
His mouth went dry. This woman wanted to sleep with him.
But not until the wedding.
“I’m curious, Stack.”
“Me, too.” Like half hard with curiosity.
Her patented teasing smile played over her lips, making him nuts and showing a smidge of confusion. “What?”
He shook his head. “You first.”
“I was just going to ask why you’re still here if you had a date.”
Oh. He cast about for an excuse, and settled on the obvious. “We had some drama, that’s all. Denver’s stepmother stopped in.”
“Why is that drama?”
Shrugging, he said, “I haven’t had a chance to find out, but trust me, it was not a friendly meeting.” Rather than detail how badly Vanity had occupied his thoughts, he dug in on the topic of Denver and domestic issues. “Shocked me when I met her. She looks nothing like a stepmother.”
“Oh? How should a stepmother look?”
“Like a mother? At least old enough to be a mother. This woman looked damn near Denver’s age. And she was...” How should he put it? “Overdressed for the gym, that’s for sure. Young and sexy, too. Long red hair, killer dress and body, bold attitude.”
Her smile stayed in place. “You admired her. How...nice.”
“Said I was shocked already, right?” He frowned. She had no reason—and no right—to act put out over his observations. “You don’t think I’d hit on Denver’s stepmother, do you? Because that’d seriously be out of line.”
“So the fact that she’s obviously married isn’t what held you back? It was just her relationship to Denver?”
“No!” How did she always steer him down these awkward verbal paths? “Don’t put words in my mouth.”
Her smile widened. “Okay, sorry. You know what? I think I saw her, and yes, she’s beautiful.”
“She was gone before you got here.”
“Well, there was a woman who fit that description hanging around outside.”
Curious, Stack asked, “Doing what?”
“I don’t know. Just talking with a guy. I noticed her because of her dress. Usually women who are dressed up don’t linger in the rain.”
Curiosity turned to misgivings. “What guy?”
“I don’t know him. Dark hair and eyes. He held a jacket over her head while they huddled together under an overhang. Her hair—which was definitely red—kept blowing out with the wind.”
