LITMIR.BIZ

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in this very house, prepared for a night out.

      Cannon would no doubt go to Rowdy’s bar, where he used to work. She’d find him there, and she’d show him that she wasn’t a frightened little girl anymore. She wasn’t pathetic. And she wouldn’t fawn over him. She’d convince him that she was a different person now.

      And then maybe she’d be able to convince herself, too.

      * * *

      THE SECOND CANNON got his signature on all the papers, the lawyer stood and grabbed up an overflowing briefcase. “I’m sorry, but I’m running late for court. I hope you understand.”

      “Sure.” He had no reason to hang around for small talk, especially when he had so much to think about.

      “Tipton was a good man.” Friendly, sincere, Whitaker shook his hand. “If you need anything more, anything at all, please call Mindi and she can put you through.”

      “Thanks.” With everything now in a big padded envelope, Cannon followed him to the door.

      Before he could head out with the lawyer, Mindi reappeared. “You’re not rushing off, are you?”

      That Whitaker took note, and then ignored his assistant to continue on his way, left Cannon wondering even more about their relationship.

      Her body language, the way she looked at him and her tilt of her lips all invited him to stay. But if she and the lawyer were involved...yeah, he had no interest in getting mired in that sinkhole.

      “Sorry. I have a dozen things to do yet today.”

      Pretending to pout, she came closer. “But we have the office to ourselves.” Deliberately crowding his space, she reached around him and turned the lock on the front door. “Did I tell you that I’m a huge fan?”

      Her breasts brushed against his chest; he could feel her breath on his throat. “Appreciate that. Thanks.” He kept his hands at his sides and tried not to breathe too deeply of her perfume. “Maybe another time, though.”

      She teased a fingertip up and down her cleavage, and, damn it, he looked.

      Encouraged, she moved that teasing finger to his chest, up and over his collarbone to twine an arm around his neck.

      Temptation pulled at him. He glanced back and saw no one outside the office. After reading Tipton’s letter, he felt strung so tight that release would be welcome.

      “He won’t be back,” Mindi said. Boldly she leaned into him...and stroked his crotch. “Don’t worry about him.”

      God, he needed the distraction. And his body liked her touch well enough.

      But his head wasn’t in it.

      He got the definite vibe that she and the lawyer had a thing. Plus he figured Yvette would have dealt with Mindi, too, might even have to deal with her again. He would never do anything to make this new transition harder on her than it’d already be.

      And then there was the fact that he hoped to finally have Yvette... Yeah, to his brain, cozying up with Mindi seemed like a very bad idea. “Sorry, honey, but I’m just not up for it.”

      “Fibber,” Mindi whispered. Her eyes grew heavy, her breathing shallower as she stroked him. “You are most definitely up.”

      Her twist of his words only marginally amused him. “Let’s just say parts of me have no sense.” Especially with her small hand expertly working him. “But the rest of me is shot, I swear.” The rest of me, he admitted to himself, wants Yvette, and only Yvette.

      She pressed her lower body against his thigh. “I’d only need ten minutes.”

      “Ah, now what fun would that be?” Gently, because he hated to insult any woman, Cannon tried to ease her back. “I’m sure you deserve more than ten minutes.”

      “Later,” she whispered while nuzzling his neck, “when you have more time, you can make it up to me.”

      Her sharp little teeth grazed his throat. Damn it, he was started to feel molested. “Listen—”

      She opened her mouth on him and Cannon knew he had to get control of things before she added a hickey to his other many bruises. Catching her shoulders, he physically moved her away, saying with firm insistence, “Not today.”

      Hurt overshadowed her lust, and she turned away from him. Hands to her face, she gave a nervous laugh. “Wow, this is embarrassing.”

      Even annoyed, Cannon sympathized with her. “Don’t be embarrassed. I’m flattered.”

      She shook her head. “And not at all interested.”

      Stepping up behind her, he cupped her shoulders. “You had your hands on me, so you know that’s not true.” She’d felt his semierection. His dick liked her just fine. “But my last fight took it out of me, I just got into town and now I have a load of legal responsibilities to take care of.”

      “That’s all it is?” She looked at him with hope. “Seriously?”

      Not about to commit himself, he shrugged. “All I know is that it’s not happening now.” Ready to make his getaway, he turned and unlocked the door. He got as far as his truck when she called to him.

      Looking back, he saw her poised in the doorway.

      “I’ll take a rain check then, give you some time to get settled, but I’m not giving up.”

      He couldn’t help but grin at her. Since he doubted they ran in the same circles, he wasn’t worried about seeing her again. With a salute, he got behind the wheel, started the engine and drove away from the building.

      No matter how many times it happened, it was still a nice thing to be wanted. Didn’t matter that part of the appeal was his status in the SBC.

      One thought led to another, and he had to wonder, would Yvette be as impressed? Even before he’d been picked up by the elite fight organization, she’d looked at him with idol worship, as if he had the answer to every question.

      But that was years ago. For all he knew she could be engaged, even married now. He pictured her as he remembered her: young and innocent. Just coming into her own. Shapely and sweet.

      Ripe.

      Unsettled with conflicting emotions, Cannon drove by Tipton’s house, but when he knocked, no one answered. He had a key, but it didn’t seem right to go in before talking to Yvette. He went by the pawnshop next, but it remained locked up, dark and empty. Like him, Yvette had probably found a motel room.

      He’d track her down soon enough, and then they could get reacquainted all over again.

      Damn, but he could hardly wait.

CHAPTER TWO

      SHE’D BEEN GONE for hours. After making a very brief stop at the pawnshop, disappointed to see the shape it was in, Yvette had shopped for basic groceries she knew she’d need. After that, she’d bought a few new security devices, preparing the best she could for her stay at the house.

      Anxiety still churned inside her, but it didn’t matter. She had outgrown that embarrassingly timid girl who’d allowed herself to be a sniveling victim.

      Never again.

      She concentrated on presenting herself as a proper, poised woman, using that facade to hide the truth. So many dreams had died, but no one else needed to know that.

      Preparing to see Cannon, she made herself as polished as possible and then set off.

      Because of the mid-August heat wave, she wore a white tank top with her skinny jeans and sandals. She’d pulled her freshly washed hair in a high ponytail that hung down between her shoulder blades.

      On the walkway outside Rowdy’s bar, she hesitated. Judging by the noise alone, the

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