Her hand slid up to his shoulder. "How did she take it when you told her to get out?"

Unsure he'd heard right, Denver flashed a glance at her and saw she was dead serious. No doubts in her big brown eyes. No recriminations.

He heard himself say, "You sure I did?"

She said softly, "Yes."

Ah, fuck that felt great. Awesome enough that some of the suffocating pressure eased off of his chest, allowing him to take two big, cleansing breaths. "Thank you."

"I trust you, Denver. Completely." Her smile felt like a balm, but the words felt even better. "I'm sure at that age you were different, with a younger man's perspectives and priorities. But you would never sleep with your father's wife. That's just ridiculous."

"You can't know me that well." Could she?

"Maybe there are some things I still don't know. But you don't exactly hide the real you."

"The real me, huh?" By the second he felt better, as if he'd just shrugged off several years' worth of turmoil.

She nodded. "You can be really hardheaded. And God knows you're sexist. Big-time sexist." She scrunched her nose. "But in a nice way, like you want to take care of women."

"I-"

"And in bed you're a dominant force." She shivered. "Combined with how you look, and yes, your size, it's pretty hot."

She'd totally sidetracked him. "Cherry..."

"You're also pushy and way too autocratic, an alpha who always wants to run the show."

"Go ahead. Don't spare me."

"No, I won't. You can take the truth, and somehow I think you need to hear it."

Funny, but the string of insults really did make him feel better. If Cherry knew his faults, then maybe she also knew of the loyalty that would keep him from ever betraying someone he loved.

Even though his father hadn't known.

She wasn't done yet. "As much as you might deny it, you have a temper. I felt the sting of it today."

"We're back to that?" Shit. He hated that he'd made her feel so bad. "If I could redo it, I would. There's no good excuse, I know, but it was a totally fucked-up day, and with Pamela there and Armie with you and-"

She waved that off. "You're usually fair, proven by your willingness to apologize."

The praise was a little harder to take than the criticism. "Maybe I just want to get laid."

"There's that, I'm sure. You're the most over-sexed person I've ever known."

"No such thing." He couldn't get the smile off his face. "And if you weren't so sexy-"

"But," she interrupted, "it's also that you have a lot of honor. When you're wrong, you admit it." She took a deep breath. "So I know if you'd done anything with Pamela, you'd take half the blame. Instead, you seem to hate her."

He resented her more than anything, but didn't want to argue semantics.

Cherry's voice, her posture, her expression all softened. "So what happened?"

The complete and total faith humbled him. In that moment, he knew the truth. He more than adored Cherry Peyton, more than lusted for her.

He loved her.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

"DENVER?" HE WAS so quiet, so still, it worried Cherry. "You okay?"

Looking a little dazed, he nodded. "Yeah."

Did his voice sound funny? She leaned closer. "You're sure?"

"Positive."

Then why were his biceps bunched under her hand? Why did he keep swallowing? Hoping to soothe him, she rubbed his shoulder-and gave herself a thrill. She couldn't touch Denver without reacting.

Get your mind off sex, she ordered herself-a very tall order when it came to Denver. She licked her lips and made a magnanimous offer. "If you'd rather not talk about it right now, I can wait."

He checked the rearview mirror, the side mirror, then turned a corner. "It's okay. I was just thinking."

"About?"

His eyes narrowed. "How special you are."

"Oh." A little flustered, she sat back. "Really?"

"You don't know? Because girl, you are seriously a cut above the rest."

The flattery almost made her forget what they were talking about. But Denver hadn't forgotten.

"Pamela tried to kiss me on the mouth, but I dodged her. When I told her to stop, she said no one would ever know." He rubbed the bridge of his nose, the back of his neck. "When I reminded her that she was married to my father, she guaranteed me that Dad wouldn't find out, so how could he be hurt if we played just a little?"

"She missed the point that you'd know."

He drew in a shaky breath. "She figured I'd be all over it, like she was somehow irresistible or something."

"She misjudged you."

"I shoved her away, not to hurt her or anything, but I was so damned shocked I just reacted. She landed on the floor, buck naked, sprawled. Swear, I tried not to look. But she started scrambling, grabbing for me while I was just trying to get away. She made a lot of...promises." He glanced at her uncomfortably. "Things she'd do and stuff. Like she thought that would sway me."

There wasn't a single thing funny about what he described, but Cherry could almost see it as a comedy sketch. A young superhunk, a desperate woman offering herself. Nakedness. Rejection and confusion.

And to think she'd been embarrassed over how she'd looked when meeting Pamela for the first time. She wasn't one to judge, but God knew, Pamela wasn't in a position to be judging anyone, either.

Though she was curious about the kinky things Pamela offered, Cherry decided not to ask. Encouraging Denver, she said, "Go on."

"She trapped me by the damned door and at that point, with me being pretty blunt, she went from hoping to convince me to begging me not to say anything."

Oh no. Cherry's heart broke for him. She remembered conversations they'd had, how he hadn't wanted to talk about his family. "You told your father anyway?"

"Not at first. Dad was so damned happy with her, and other than sending me pleading looks Pamela acted like nothing had happened."

"But you couldn't?"

His jaw tightened. "I didn't want to talk to her. Hell, I couldn't even bear to look at her. Things got...tense. I tried to hide it, but I know Dad noticed."

Cherry watched him check the mirrors again, impressed that even while dredging up an ugly part of his past he remained vigilant. Such a remarkable man, even more so than she'd ever realized.

"Waiting to tell him what happened was a mistake." Disgusted, he said, "She told Dad that I hated her, that I'd been mean and disrespectful. She claimed I would do anything to get rid of her."

Disbelief widened her eyes. "He believed her?"

"He said he'd been watching me, that he could see the animosity every time I looked at her. I knew..." He squeezed the wheel, drank in a deep breath. "I knew it'd be useless but I tried telling him the truth anyway."

"Oh God, Denver, I'm so sorry."

"He kicked me out. Told me he wouldn't believe my lies. He said I should stay gone until I'd grown up enough to apologize to Pamela."

Cherry gasped, getting angry on his behalf. "Of course you can't do that!"

"No," he agreed. "We haven't spoken since and now Pamela wants me to just show up for a family party like the past isn't there between us."

Cherry wanted to make suggestions, but this was important-not just to Denver's feelings or for his relationship with his dad, but maybe for his entire outlook on life.

Did he worry so much about her teasing with other guys because of how Pamela had betrayed both him and his father? She wasn't a therapist, but it seemed pretty obvious to her.

Just as obvious was the fact that he needed to have as much faith in her as she had in him.

"You need to accept her invitation."

His gaze cut her way, then returned to the road. "I don't think-"

"You need to go, and you need to be nice."

His jaw worked. Probably trying to placate her, he drew a breath, then asked mildly, "Why's that?"

"You need to prove that you've moved beyond it." Though they both knew he hadn't, she felt that once he confronted his father and Pamela again-this time as a grown, confident man-he'd hopefully find some closure. "You need to show that Pamela doesn't affect you, that you've never wanted her that way. Not then and not now."

"I don't care what Pamela thinks."

"You wouldn't be doing it for her. Not for your dad, either. And definitely not for me."

His brows pinched down, but he listened.

"You need to prove it to you."

"Shit." He rubbed his mouth but he didn't disagree. The seconds ticked by, and then a full minute before he said, "You'll go with me?"

That was such an enormous sign of trust that her heart seemed to leap in her chest. She tried to tamp down the elation so he'd know she took it all very seriously. "Yes, if that's what you want."

He reached out for her hand, and when she put it in his, he gave her a squeeze. "It won't be pleasant."

"You might be surprised. But either way, I'd be happy to go with you."

He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. "Thank you."

"You'll call her tonight to let her know to expect us?"

"Tomorrow is soon enough." He flashed a mean grin. "If I time it right, I can just talk with the housekeeper and she can give Pamela the message."

Cherry laughed. "Good plan." Sensing he could use a detour after the seriousness of their discussion, she said, "So then, you know what I'd like to do tonight?"

Without missing a beat, he said, "Head to bed where I can make you scream and groan and show you how sorry I am for insulting you earlier?"

It took a second for her to reply after he painted that particular, enticing picture. Trying for cavalier detachment, she quipped, "Really, Denver? That's the best you've got?"

"I'm horny as hell. How creative did you want me to be?"

Damn, she loved him. Someday maybe she'd get to tell him. "Know what? Yes, I want to do that."

He almost drove the car off the road. He slowed, straightened in his seat, and sent her a sizzling look of encouragement.

Not that she needed any. "Tonight in fact, even though I already forgave you. And then this Friday, I'd like us to just have a date."

Tense now that they'd discussed sex, he repeated, "A date?"

"Yeah, you know that unique concept where we actually go out together? And for a change I could look my best instead of like a train wreck." As an example she lifted the hem of Armie's too-big-for-her shirt, still inside out. "I deliberately put on a very cute outfit for you this morning, not that you can tell now. It seems ever since we got together, I've had one physical catastrophe after another. I want to look pretty for you."

"Damn, girl." He tugged at the leg of his jeans. "You're always pretty."

Aw, so sweet. "You know what I'm talking about."

Slowing the car, he turned and pulled into a driveway. "Sure. Girls like to doll up. I get that. But I'm serious. You need to know that never, not for a single second, not while you were sick and sure as shit not while you were soaking wet with clothes glued to your body, have I ever thought you didn't look amazing."

A bubble of happiness expanded inside her. "You are such a sweet talker."

"Lust inspires me."

"I agree to sex-which should be a given by now-and you go all poetic?"