“Need a ride?”
Denver shook his head. “I’ll finish up my jog, but thanks.”
Cannon nodded. “You’ll let me know if there’s anything I can do to help with Cherry, right? You’ll keep all of us updated?”
“Count on it.” Denver knew the value of help from a well-trained, disciplined, capable fighter—even if Cherry didn’t.
* * *
AFTER SHOWERING AND fixing her hair and makeup, Cherry dressed in a long, summery, floral skirt and pink tank top with sandals. To finish off the look, she slipped in hoop earrings and headed for the kitchen upstairs. She had her own small kitchenette in her living area, but overall she and Merissa shared the storage space in the main kitchen.
Merissa was just rinsing out her coffee cup, but the second she spotted Cherry, she abandoned the task to rush her. “Oh my God, you hussy!”
Freezing in her tracks, Cherry tried to look innocent. “What do you mean?”
“You molested that lucky man through half the night.” Merissa beamed at her. “Woke me up twice and I am soooo jealous.”
In wholehearted support, she offered Cherry a high-five.
Given that Merissa stood just shy of six feet, and Cherry was several inches shorter, she had to stand on tiptoe to smack her palm.
“You really heard us?”
“My brother probably heard you—and he’s on the other side of town!” Not appearing bothered by the inconvenience, Merissa pulled her into a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you.” Shoving Cherry back the length of her arms, Merissa gushed, “So spill the beans. Denver is a certified hunk, yes? I mean, not just what he’s packing, but how he’s dishing it out. Tell me everything so I can live vicariously.”
Dodging her, Cherry went to the coffeepot and poured some liquid energy. Last night...well, she hadn’t gotten much sleep, but she sure wouldn’t complain. Poor Denver, though, had crawled out of bed before sunup. “I feel guilty.”
“For waking me?” A chair scraped across the floor and Merissa said, “I have five minutes. Tell me everything.”
“Not for waking you, no.” Cherry turned to see Merissa settled in her seat, her elbows on the table, her chin in her hands, her attention rapt. “Though I am sorry about that.”
“Don’t be.” Using her foot under the table, she pushed out another chair. “Sit. Spill.” Bobbing her eyebrows, she added, “Tell me all the nasty things you have to feel guilty about.”
Laughing, Cherry added sugar and creamer to her coffee, then took the offered seat. “I knew Denver had to get up superearly this morning and I still... Well...”
Eyes going round, Merissa supplied, “Gave him superhot sex?”
The sigh came out softly. “Oh, Rissy, it really was hot. Like supernova hot.”
“Pfft. Then ten to one he’s not complaining.”
“No, he wouldn’t.” She bit her lip, but it couldn’t hold back her very satisfied smile. “He’s the most wonderful guy ever. And in bed he’s...” She couldn’t find an adjective good enough.
“No words, huh? Wow. Now I really am jealous.”
Given the smile Merissa wore, she didn’t harbor any hard feelings. “I’ll try to dial it down from now on.”
“Don’t you dare!” Merissa winked. “I’ll turn on the sound machine when I sleep. Someone in this house ought to be making profound whoopee, and it sure isn’t me.”
Since breaking things off with Steve, Rissy seemed to have given up dating, but she didn’t appear all that sad about it. Mostly she’d just thrown herself into her work.
Cherry knew she was truly blessed for having such a terrific friend in her life. “Can I tell you something?”
“Something juicy?” Anxious, Merissa leaned in. “Heck yeah. Lay it on me.”
Merissa’s continued upbeat encouragement almost made her laugh again. “No, it’s nothing like that.” Desperate to clear her thoughts, Cherry gulped down half the cup of coffee, crossed her arms on the table, and admitted, “I want Denver to want to be with me.”
One of Merissa’s brows went up. “So...are you saying you kept him here under duress? Kinky. Were ropes and chains involved?”
“Sometimes you’re worse than Armie!”
Feigning affront, she drew back. “You take that back.”
“Sorry.”
“Okay then.” Merissa got serious, even taking one of Cherry’s hands. “So tell me what you meant about Denver. Why do you think he’s here?”