"Muscle memory," Stack said, still watching the boys. "You do drills often enough, you practice moves, spar a lot, and it becomes automatic. Or at least it should."

"Does that mean the guy who loses didn't do enough practice?"

"Not necessarily." Girding himself, he turned to her-and damn, the sight of her looking up at him with interest hit like a wild haymaker. Did she know the effect her getup had on him?

Probably. Vanity Baker was not an obtuse girl.

Not all women looked good in clinging workout clothes. Vanity could be a walking ad for them.

"Some guys just have more heart and more innate ability. You have to be able to take the pain and keep your head, and you need to be able to adjust. If a move goes wrong, if the guy you're fighting is especially proficient at something, switching gears can help." His gaze dipped to her chest, but only for a second. She watched him so closely, she'd know if he started thinking lewd, awesome things. "And sometimes you just get caught. Happens to the best of them. You do one thing wrong, no matter how small, and it can change the entire fight."

"Wrong, like what?"

"A punch you don't dodge. A submission setup you miss. Hell, occasionally you can trip, or slip on sweat or blood. Break a hand or pop a joint." He shrugged. "Anything."

Nose wrinkled over that last comment, she asked, "Have you ever been caught?"

Big-time. The night she'd asked him to take her to the wedding would count. The second she'd mentioned having sex, all his better sense had flown the coop.

"Stack?"

He locked his jaw and tried to clear his mind of smoldering carnal images. Luckily Denver, who'd finished while they were talking, saved his ass by asking, "What's up?"

Redirecting his focus, he said, "I think your stepmama might've made nice with Cherry's wayward foster brothers."

Vanity said, "What?"

Before Stack could explain about the trinity of troublemaking brothers, Harper jogged over carrying the phone for Denver. "It's Cannon. He said he called your cell and when you didn't answer, he figured you were still in the middle of the class." She handed over the phone and then went back to the front desk where she often helped out.

Stack sensed plenty of things going awry. When Denver took the phone, he didn't excuse himself so Stack and Vanity were privy to the convo. From what Stack could tell given the one-sided dialogue, Armie had gotten a call from the brothers confirming they were in town.

Not good.

Soon as Denver ended the call, he said to Vanity, "Tell me what you saw."

She didn't ask any questions, didn't need clarification. She repeated to Denver almost exactly what she'd told Stack, but with more detail.

"Shit." Denver rubbed the back of his neck. "Carver claims he's here. He threatened Armie again, says he wants to see Cherry..."

"So it probably was him with your stepmama then, right?"

"Call her Pamela, okay? I don't claim any relationship."

Stack agreed, although given the hostility between her and Denver, he had no plans to call the woman anything at all. "If he was just outside, that means-"

"He's aware of the rec center." Denver's gaze went to Vanity and then back again. "And everyone coming or going from here."

Understanding just how risky that made things, Stack frowned at Vanity.

She lifted her brows in query.

"You'll take care of it?" Denver asked.

Meaning would he take care of Vanity? Stack inhaled. "Got it covered."

"Good. Cannon's going to set up a network to keep an eye on things, but it'll take at least a few hours, if not a day to get that in motion."

Nodding, he said, "Doesn't hurt to be extra careful." Especially with the ladies.

"I have to go find Cherry."

"She's in the restroom," Vanity offered. "Repairing her makeup and hair, I think."

Denver checked the clock and frowned. "Still?"

Vanity shrugged. "Not easy to do in a standard restroom without her usual...accessories."

He nodded acceptance of that, saying, "Thanks," as he strode away.

As soon as Denver was gone, Stack turned to her and asked, "Why are you here?"

"Sorry. I didn't think you would be."

How the hell was that an answer? With his hair nearly standing on end, he asked, "What's that supposed to mean, Vanity?" Was she dodging him now?

Hooking her arm through his, Vanity started them both across the floor. Given her skimpy outfit and his short-sleeved T-shirt, he felt skin on skin.

Their arms, he reminded himself, not that his brain or his dick seemed to care how innocuous the touch might be.

"That came out wrong," Vanity explained with a smile. "I just didn't want you to think I was chasing after you because we have an agreement for the future. I was surprised when I got here and saw you."

"Denver's stepmother..." He started to explain again.

"I understand. Sounds like it's been a hectic day." She hugged his arm just enough to make his muscles clench, especially when he felt the side of her breast against his biceps. "It was nice of you to stick around and lend a hand."

"Yeah," he said, not really hearing himself since Vanity led them to a quiet corner alone. This time of night, the place was clearing out. They'd close up soon and only a few of those in the inner circle might still hang around and use the equipment.

She paused by a heavyweight bag. "I came by to sign up for the self-defense classes and then figured I'd stick around and exercise."

Damn. He'd be taking a turn teaching the class to women.

Stepping around the heavyweight bag, she examined a rack of weights. "I used to go to the gym all the time back in California. Surfed a lot, too. But so far around here, I've been a complete slug. I don't want to get out of shape."

Propping a shoulder on the wall, Stack gave her body a lingering look. "Yeah, no worry on that."

"Stack." She trailed her fingertips over the equipment. "Have you thought about it much?"

"It?"

"Us. Having sex."

Jesus, the way she threw things out there kept him off-kilter. "Round the clock," he admitted. He thought about it to the point that hooking up with other women just seemed like a bother. That, he didn't admit. "You?"

"Yes." Staring at his mouth, she took a step closer. "I don't want us to jump the gun on that timeframe because it leaves the possibility that we might hit a conflict and then I'd be dateless for the wedding again."

His heart pounded hard-with lust. But he kept his tone expressionless. "Given what you're offering, you think I'd do that?"

Her gaze lifted to his. "If you did anything bad enough to irritate me, I might be the one backing out. Either way would still leave me trying to figure out my plus one."

Incredible. So she didn't want to fuck him yet because if she did, he might somehow piss her off to the point that she wouldn't want to be stuck with him at a wedding?

Keeping his narrowed gaze on her face, he said, "I think I'm insulted."

"Please don't be." The blue of her eyes turned smoky. "Especially not right now because..."

Charged chemistry drew him closer. "Because?"

"Well, while I don't think we should spoil the suspense, I really need at least a small taste."

His eyes widened. His dick said a hearty hello.

She inched closer, too. "Would that be okay, you think?"

"Define taste." Because seriously, just the word turned him on.

"A kiss," she breathed.

Okay, he could work with that. "Where?" he whispered.

She misunderstood and said, "Your mouth, for starters."

Much more of that and he'd be hard. "I meant where, as in here, at the rec center?" In front of everyone.

Not that anyone should be paying them any attention, but...

"If you don't mind." She licked her lips while looking at his. "Now that I've decided on it, I don't want to wait."

How surreal to be standing there with her in the gym, talking about a kiss, discussing sex that wouldn't yet happen, while being insulted-and still wanting that damn kiss so bad he needed it more than his next breath.

Not sure he could stop at one kiss, he said, "I'll be following you home." She tried to refute that, but Stack bent and took her mouth in a frustratingly brief touch. "I am," he insisted, while watching her lick her lips again.

Damn, but he wanted her soft pink tongue on him.

"You don't know the whole story," he explained gruffly, "but there's a threat so I need to see you get home safe and sound."

Rather than argue, she nodded. "I picked up on some of that, but didn't want to pry."

Amazing. No other woman he knew could have refrained from prying. "I'm sure you'll hear it all eventually." He didn't want to go into it now. "But do me a favor and be extra careful, okay?"

"Okay." She swallowed. "That kiss didn't count."

He loved the shaky way she said that. "No, it didn't."

"And I won't let you kiss me at home. It'd be too easy for me to get carried away."

He groaned. "You can't tell me things like that, Vanity."

Her smile teased before finally lifting into a grin. "A big, strong fighter like you can keep it under wraps."

"But you can't?"

Going serious, she sighed. "With you, I honestly don't know." She lifted both hands to his chest, stroked lightly and then leaned into him. Her head tipped back and her eyes grew heavy. "Now kiss me for real."

Hell yeah. Hooking one arm around her narrow waist and sliding his other hand around her nape, he drew her in tighter, aligning their bodies in a smoldering way. He took her mouth exactly as he'd been thinking about taking it since the day he'd first laid eyes on her.

And damn, it was even better than he'd imagined.

"You two charging tickets for this porno show?"

Groaning, Vanity pulled away and glared at Armie. "That was so mean. And here I thought you were my friend."

He teased her, saying, "C'mon, Vee. You know you don't want to be a spectacle."

Stack glanced around and realized Armie was right. Gage and Harper both grinned at them, two boys watched by the door, and Denver and Cherry were now glancing their way while also having what appeared to be a serious discussion.

Not that Stack cared who watched, but- Sighing again, Vanity said, "I think it might've been worth it." After that bit of sweet talk, she hugged up to his arm again. "I'm ready to leave if you are."

"Seeing her home?" Armie asked without too much innuendo.

"He's my personal protection while I'm in transit. Isn't that sweet?"

"Downright syrupy," Armie agreed. When Denver called him over, he said, "Carry on, kids," before leaving them.

Stack hadn't said a single word. Caught in the vise-like grip of red-hot lust, he wasn't sure he could.

"After that kiss," Vanity confided, "it's going to be even harder to wait."

Screw that. The wedding was too far off; he'd never make it. But warning her now would steal his advantage, so he just smiled at her.

And for once she looked more confused than he felt.

STREET LAMPS HAD already kicked on by the time they left the rec center. The heavy storms left a bite in the evening air. Not a single star showed in the black sky.

If he'd known Carver and his fucked-up brothers would show up so soon, he would have parked closer to the rec center in the lot normally reserved for guests, instead of on the street farther away.

Keeping Cherry close to his side, Denver glanced back and saw Armie leaning in the doorway. If it was just Denver leaving, Armie wouldn't have bothered. Since he had Cherry with him, no one wanted to take a chance on an ambush that could leave her unprotected.