“Found him in Rowdy’s bar.” Hoping his casual attitude would calm her, he remained lounged back, relaxed. “He knows I go to the rec center, but it was closed by the time he got to town. It was just happenstance that we ran into each other at the bar.”
“Wait.” She pulled away from him and shifted so he could better see her frown. “What were you doing at Rowdy’s?”
Cute, how she looked so suspicious. If she knew how much he wanted her, how badly he’d wanted her all day, she wouldn’t give it another thought. “I wasn’t there looking for a hookup, so don’t get riled.”
Typical for women, his reassurance only riled her more.
With her so disgruntled, he sat up, too. He propped his elbows on his knees and let his hands hang between. “I finished up my workouts and training and wanted to talk to Stack before I came back here.”
She chewed that over. “And Leese was there?”
“Worked over pretty good.” Watching for her reaction, he told her what he knew. “Carver and the others took him drinking, drugged him, beat a few answers out of him and then dropped him unconscious at his doorstep.”
Anger shadowed her expression. “He’s okay?”
Denver saw no surprise, leading him to believe she expected no less from the brothers. “Mostly he’s sorry. Asked me to tell you he never meant to hurt you.”
In a faint voice, her thoughts already elsewhere, she whispered, “No, I’m sure he didn’t.” She drew in a single deep breath, as if bracing herself for the inevitable.
He wanted her to know he’d keep her safe, and to do that, she had to level with him completely. “They drugged him, Cherry. Drugged him, questioned him about you, beat him up and discarded him.”
“Yes.” She tried to hide it, but she was shaken, and somehow shamed.
So she expected no better from them? She knew their violent tendencies extended well beyond punking out a young girl? And yet she wanted him to step aside and let her handle it alone?
Like hell.
For her benefit, so she’d know Leese’s remorse, Denver shared the conversation. “He said that once he realized how dangerous they could be, he wouldn’t have talked if he hadn’t been drugged, even with a beating. And I believe him.”
He hadn’t much liked Leese when he first met him. But after talking with him more, seeing his remorse, his shame, he better understood him.
Leese wasn’t succeeding in MMA as much as he’d like. He covered with more cocky confidence than actual talent and heart. Good training could change that, but not every fighter could afford it. Inviting him to the rec center might help remedy his situation.
Denver felt indebted to him for coming forward and sharing what he could about Cherry’s foster brothers. He’d stepped up, and he wanted to do what he could to make amends.Denver had to respect that.
“Soon as he woke up this morning, he came to find me, to let me know.”
“He should have come to me.”
Denver carefully tempered the surge of anger; she didn’t completely trust him yet, but he’d work on that. “Finding me was easier.”
Leese had stared at him with blackened eyes and a swollen nose. “Thing is,” he’d said, “if I can find you, they can find her.”
Denver wasn’t going to let anything happen to her. Now he just needed to convince Cherry.
Standing, he took her hand and pulled her to her feet. After chasing him down and finally getting him, she now wanted to retreat, to cut him out. He wouldn’t let her. “Come on. I’m beat and you could use another good night’s sleep.”
Her uncertain gaze lifted to his. “You’re leaving?”
He retrieved his case, tugged her through the door, closed and locked it, then shook his head. “Tonight, I’m staying.”
* * *
CHERRY SAT AT the foot of her bed, listening as Denver brushed his teeth. He’d waited for her to go first, and while she’d been in there he’d folded down her bed.
What a novel thing to have not just any guy, but this guy, staying the night with her. It didn’t escape her notice that Denver hadn’t exactly asked, either, had instead just informed her.
He was protective, autocratic, capable, bossy, sexy, insistent and sweet, and she loved him. So, so much.
She should protest his pushiness, but tonight...she just couldn’t.
She’d never brought another man to this place, much less to sleep over. Since meeting Denver, there hadn’t been any other men for her.
Did he stay because he suddenly cared for her, or because he worried for her safety?