Cannon nodded. "Don't sweat it, hon. We're taking off anyway."

"Well, if you do need to go back in, Cherry will be here, but I think she might be going back to bed." She pointed at Armie. "Not a word out of you."

Forgetting what he'd been about to say, something to do with Cherry and a bed and not sleeping, Armie closed his mouth.

Keeping a cautious eye on him, Rissy slowly moved her gaze back to Cannon. "If you find yourself with extra free time, give me a call."

Cannon hugged her close. "Will do."

She leaned her head against him. "I like her, Cannon.

Don't screw it up, okay?"

Laughing, Cannon mussed his sister's hair, kissed her forehead and let her go.

Armie made a point of not looking at her. h.e.l.l, he tried not to look at Cannon either. But Rissy had no sooner pulled away from the curb than Cannon stared him down.

Cannon was good at that, but then, so was Armie.

"What?"

"Why the h.e.l.l didn't you tell me it was Steve you fought with?"

Seeing no reason to deny it, Armie snorted. "There was no fight to it, that's why. He and his punk friends jumped me, got in a few licks and then ended up limping away. You heard Rissy. The wuss is still lazing in bed, no doubt milking it for her benefit." Disgruntled by the idea, he muttered, "b.a.s.t.a.r.d is probably hoping to appeal to her softer side."

"What do you know of my sister's softer side?" "Only that she hides it well." He clapped Cannon on the shoulder. "We going to call someone about the tires or what?"

"Roadside service is on the way. Soon as they get here we can take off. I just need you to drop Yvette and me off at home. We'll use her car to go to the rec center.

Stack wants me to meet some of the new kids. As it is, I'm cutting it close."

"Let's get to it, then."

"Right." Folding his arms over his chest, Cannon went all stern and insistent. "Soon as you tell me what happened with Steve."

"I already did."

"Not by a long shot."

Knowing Cannon well enough to see he wouldn't let it go, Armie shrugged. Why not? He'd censor appropriately and if anything, Cannon would thank him. "I heard him shooting off his mouth, that's all."

His expression went dark. "About Rissy?" Shaking his head, Armie said, "No." He'd have done more than knock him around for that. "About some other chick he's banging. As in, sleeping with while Rissy was in j.a.pan."

Cannon's arms dropped. "He was cheating on her?" Just the umbrage Armie had counted on. "Yeah, and from what he said, it's happened before. He went into a nauseating amount of detail about how the chick was desperate and easy-and finished off by saying with Merissa out of town, he had to take his pleasure where he could."

"So he did talk about her."

Rushing, Armie said, "You don't need to do anything." "Because you already did?"

"Uh..." Yeah, that about covered it. But he didn't want to give the wrong impression. "You heard Rissy. He's already a beaten dog. Why dirty your hands finishing him off?"

Cannon seemed to be considering things. "They weren't really locked down."

"Don't defend him."

"Wouldn't." He looked at Armie. "I'm just saying, Rissy doesn't like to get too tight with anyone. They might have had an understanding, I'm not sure on that.

But any guy who'd go bragging to his buddies is an a.s.shole anyway."

"Exactly." He'd followed the putz, not trusting him after he'd also made a few jokes about getting the woman high and needing to stock up his supply before Merissa got home.

Unfortunately, Steve was a paranoid putz, so when he felt he was being followed, he'd reacted by having his buddies circle around on Armie.

"How bad did you hurt him?"

"Bad enough."

"Details."

"I might've broken his jaw, probably a finger or two.

Possibly even his hand." Armie gave it some thought. "I wasn't exaggerating about him limping either, but his knee should be okay. Just sore for a few days." "Jesus." Cannon choked on a laugh. "Anything else?" Armie narrowed his eyes. How the h.e.l.l could Cannon find any humor in this? "I landed a nut shot, so even if Rissy makes up with him, he won't be any use to her for a while."

That wiped away all signs of humor. "I don't want to think about that."

"You're a wuss, too."

"Says the guy without a sister." Cannon started moving stuff from his truck to Armie's SUV. "I have to say, though, you play the big brother well. Thanks for looking out for her."

Yeah...brotherly thoughts had never occupied his mind, not where Merissa Colter was concerned. "My pleasure."

"I'm wondering now, though, if we should tell her before she sees him."

"Naw." Rissy was smart. She'd see through Steve's bulls.h.i.t, if she hadn't already. "If she suddenly makes up with him, then sure, we'll tell her." Or rather, Cannon could tell her. Because he'd be keeping his distance. By the time they finished jawing and moving stuff to Armie's ride, roadside service showed up. While Cannon talked with them, Armie went inside to get Yvette. He followed laughing female voices to the kitchen table. Yvette and Cherry sat together discussing fighters, and he listened in without a speck of remorse. Still giggling, Cherry said, "Guys just crack me up." "They do keep things interesting," Yvette agreed. Now, what was that about? Armie listened, but apparently he'd missed the joke.

"It's too bad you couldn't have gone to j.a.pan with us.

We had a great time."

"I bet. I've only ever seen one live fight."

Armie was fairly certain Cannon would change that.

If he knew his friend, and he did, Cannon would want her close by from now on.

"Hopefully Cannon will have some time off before he's offered another fight."

Yvette sat back in the chair, long legs crossed, one arm folded under her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, the other hand playing with the ends of her hair.

It was one of those feminine habits that Armie adored.

Women like Yvette could be so d.a.m.ned s.e.xy without even realizing it. He enjoyed seeing a woman fuss with her nails, reapply her lipstick, smooth a tight skirt...

Course, he never saw any of that with Rissy and he was d.a.m.n near blind with l.u.s.t for her.

"Should be at least a few months," Yvette said, "but so far it never seems to work out that way for him." "Rissy says he's quick to take every opportunity to fight."

"And he's a fan favorite." Yvette smiled. "He loves the sport. But then, so do I. I started watching because of Cannon, but now I'm hooked."

"I like the fighters, and their hot bodies," Cherry admitted with a grin. "But the actual sport confuses me.

The weight cla.s.ses, the rules, the moves. Sometimes it'll look as if a guy's losing and then somehow he wins. Or a guy who looks really tough isn't, and vice versa." "It's more heart than physique." Yvette let out a dramatic sigh. "Luckily Cannon has both."

"Denver's body..." Cherry shivered. "He's pretty hot, don't you think?"

"Heck, they all are."

"I'm curious if they look that delicious all over." "Probably. I haven't seen a dud in the bunch." As if in deep thought, Yvette rearranged her cold drink. "They all seem pretty nice, too. But Cannon is special." Cherry teased her, saying, "You'd know, since you get the up-close-and-personal view."

"Maybe," Yvette teased back.

"I love Denver's shoulders. And his thighs." Armie was about to laugh.

Then she added, "And Armie's arms. And Stack's chest. They're all so s.e.xy."

Poor Denver. Not quite stealing the show yet. Though he'd have loved to listen in a little longer, Armie announced himself by tapping on the wall. "Knock, knock." Both women swiveled around to stare at him, surprise quickly morphing into guilt.

He put on his wickedest grin. "Caught you gossiping, didn't I? And about superficial stuff like a guy's body."

Putting a hand over his heart, he tsked. "I'm crushed.

I thought women were more enlightened, caring only about feelings and s.h.i.t like that."

Mortified heat bloomed in Cherry's face, turning her cheeks bright red.

Yvette shook a finger at him. "You have a bad habit of showing up at inopportune times."

"And here I thought my timing was perfect when I found you at the local po-"

"Armie!"

Grinning, he relented. Oh, he'd tease her about the p.o.r.n store from now until eternity, might even buy her a few p.o.r.nos for her birthday, but in front of others he'd curb it.

He liked to tease, but he didn't really want to embarra.s.s her.

"Next thing," Armie teased, taking a different route, "you'll be telling me size does matter."

Regaining her aplomb, Cherry slowly rose from her seat. "Oh, I dunno. Like with b.o.o.bs, bigger is better."

She put her shoulders back, which made Armie's attention drop to her chest. "But I say it's more about how you use it."

"Yeah? Tell me more, and don't leave out any details." With a strained smile, Yvette pushed back her chair and stood. "I'm going to see if Cannon needs any help." So the casual flirting bothered her? Armie watched her leave the kitchen, unsure what he could say to put her more at ease.

He turned back to Cherry. "You want to see a fighter's physique up close and personal, huh?"

She faltered, her teasing used up. "Just how long were you snooping?"

"Long enough to hear about your curiosity. And I have a solution." Just to unsettle her, he touched the snap on his jeans.

Her reaction was priceless.

He couldn't wait to tell Denver about it.

"Relax." Touching her chin to close her mouth, he said, "I'm not planning to strip for you."

"Wow." She went limp with relief, but said, "Truthfully, I'm a little disappointed."

"Don't be." Cherry had wit, he'd give her that. Wit and guts, blond hair, big brown eyes and definitely a nice rack. No wonder Denver was smitten. "I have it on good authority that Denver would happily give you a show-and he's the best-hung one in the bunch." He winked and headed out.

Leaving Ms. Cherry Peyton speechless behind him. When he glanced back, he saw her drop into her seat, eyes closed, one hand on her chest, the other fanning her face.

If she took the bait, Denver would owe him big time.

overall, Yvette felt like the day had gotten back on track.

She liked Cannon's sister a lot. Not once did Rissy bring up the past, though of course she was aware of everything that had happened. Her brother had played a major role in her rescue after all. But Rissy was warm and welcoming, focused on the present instead of the past and openly anxious to get to know Yvette all over again.

They talked mostly about fighting. Cannon's sister knew nearly as much about it as Cannon himself. And since Yvette understood quite a bit, she'd enjoyed every word.

Amid his protests, Rissy gave insight into Cannon's home life. Though they'd all been laughing, Yvette had to admit he seemed like the quintessential big brother. Capable and protective and loving.

They'd all agreed to get together again soon.

After Armie took them to get her car, they headed to the rec center.

Along the way, Cannon seemed distracted, alternately watching the road and...touching her. Her hand, her knee.

Other, more tantalizing places.

He was attentive to her, but not as focused as usual.

She understood that he was concerned about the damage to his truck, and she prayed that Heath hadn't had anything to do with it. When she'd mentioned paying for the damage, just in case, Cannon flatly refused, then changed the subject.

"Did you enjoy yourself?"

"Your sister is terrific."

He smiled. "Yeah."