“So c’mon, buddy,” Miles said, placating. “Tell us all about your worries.”
Armie had no idea how to explain, so he decided not to. “Fuck you both.” He was just glad that, according to them, most wouldn’t have noticed. Because it was definitely the outsiders that concerned him.
Denver was gearing up to rib him more when a knock sounded on the front door. They all three turned to see a hulk of a guy, brown haired with three days of beard scruff, a crooked nose and a neck tattoo, staring through the glass door toward them.
Miles was the first to speak. “Huh. It’s the guy you’re fighting.”
“Carter Fletcher,” Armie said, recognizing him right off.
“Chaos,” Denver said at almost the same time.
Wondering at the visit, they all three walked to the door. Denver had the keys, Armie assumed Carter wanted to see him, and Miles was probably just nosy.
Carter stepped in, hand extended. “Denver. Good to see you.”
Looking more than a little bemused, Denver accepted the greeting. “Carter.”
He nodded next to Miles. “Miles Dartman, right? The Legend?”
“Trying to live up to that.” Laughing, Miles also took Carter’s hand in greeting.
“All right,” Armie said, “if you ladies are done with the pleasantries, maybe Carter can tell me why he’s here.”
Carter rubbed at the bridge of his nose, glanced at each man, then settled on Armie. “Jacobson. I was hoping to talk. In private, I mean.”
What now? Seeing no alternative, Armie shrugged. “Sure.” He didn’t want to stay at the rec center. Closing time had come and gone. And Rissy might be at his place, so he couldn’t invite Carter there. “I was on my way out, but we can talk in my truck if you want.”
“That’s fine. I won’t keep you long.”
Armie shared a look with his friends. “Looks like you guys are going to finish up without me after all.” He pulled his cell from his pocket. “Give me two minutes, and I’ll be right with you.”
* * *
RISSY HAD ALMOST reached Armie’s apartment when he called to tell her he’d be pretty late. He didn’t say why, and she hesitated to question him. She wanted to be one of those “no pressure” girlfriends who didn’t smother him with lack of trust or clinging need.
Girlfriend. Oh, how she loved the thought. Armie had never designated her as such, but she was all the same. She knew it. And despite how he tried to keep things private, all their friends knew she was staying with him at his apartment.
Warfield, Ohio, was small, their neighborhood smaller, and their group of friends tight.
Since all the women knew, that meant their significant others also knew. No one seemed to think anything of it. Heck, she’d even caught her brother smiling at her every so often. Whenever she’d ask Cannon why, he’d just shake his head—and go on smiling.
She was pretty sure those smiles were about her and Armie. Her brother had never liked Steve, but of course he loved Armie. Everyone did.
Her, most especially.
It thrilled her to know they were exclusive.
Armie had a very busy life as a fighter, but he always checked in with her to let her know if he’d be late or away from the rec center. He put in grueling hours on his career, and now, with the upcoming fight closing in, it seemed various promotions also sucked up a lot of his time. And still, he somehow managed to be there for anyone and everyone whenever they needed him. He ran nonstop and yet never tired.
His energy level astounded her, especially in bed.
She knew Yvette, Cherry, Harper and Vanity loved him as a friend. And the guys—well, they could only be described as family.
The family Armie had never had.
Since he’d given her a key, Merissa had done her utmost to show him how important he was to her. She loved having sex with him. Armie wasn’t crude, but he was up-front and very plainspoken about what he wanted, what he liked, how he liked it.
How often he wanted it.
She also loved sleeping with him, being held against his solid body, carved with muscle and always so warm. Thinking about snuggling up to his chest, how his chest hair felt on her cheek, how indescribably delicious he always smelled, sent a curl of sizzling sensation from her heart downward, until she shifted on the car seat.
Most of all, she loved Armie’s playful nature. Around her he’d always been so cautious that she hadn’t realized exactly how the other women had seen him. He had a wicked sense of humor, an intimate way of teasing and a genuine caring about him that melted her bones, turned her on and softened her heart.
Now that he’d opened up, now that she experienced his warmth every day, she couldn’t imagine ever giving that up.
Despite all he’d endured, despite how his mother had abandoned him and how his father had turned on him, Armie was beyond special.
It amazed her that the other women hadn’t fallen madly in love with him. Denver, Stack, Gage—they were all awesome. Really terrific guys. And sure, as ripped fighters, they were total eye candy.
But they weren’t Armie.
Pulling into a shopping lot and turning around, Merissa decided to go to her house to grab a few more things. Little by little, she’d set herself up at Armie’s apartment—which, okay, didn’t make sense.
If anything, he should move in with her. Her house was a lot more spacious than his apartment, and far more private.
Except that when she’d been at home, everyone had forever dropped in. She’d loved that.
She missed that.
Maybe Armie would soon stop keeping their relationship secret and instead would let her shout it to the world. She’d give him a little more time before bringing it up.
The sun sank in the sky, turning the horizon shades of gold, mauve and purple by the time she pulled into her driveway. With the weather so mild, the air fresh, she breathed deeply as she left her car and started up the walkway to the front door.
A lazy breeze stirred the air—and suddenly she felt edgy.
Ridiculous. Her house was totally secure; Cannon had seen to that. Looking around, Merissa tried to find the source of her disquiet, but she saw only the usual porch lights on her neighbors’ houses and a few cars parked at the curb. Nothing out of the ordinary. Somewhere in the distance, kids laughed. A few doors down, headlights cut through the dusk as a neighbor pulled into his driveway.
For reasons she didn’t understand, the unease amplified. Retrieving her key and, feeling ridiculously jumpy, Merissa unlocked the door and stepped in.
Damn, why hadn’t she left a few lights on? She hit the wall switch, blinked at the sudden blinding glare and quickly hit the keypad to keep her alarms from going off.
New alertness made her pulse race.
Standing in the foyer of her bi-level home, she looked up the short stairs to the kitchen, then down to the living area below. Cherry used to be there, and now more than ever she missed her best friend.
“Stop being a goof.” Going up the steps she hit more light switches until her house glowed. With the bathroom door locked she showered, changed into jeggings and a roomy sweatshirt, then braided her hair. She’d see Armie soon, but she didn’t bother putting on more makeup. He’d now seen her fresh from her shower, heck, in the shower, as well as when she’d first awakened.