"Actually, I've been halfway there ever since you handled Pamela so well at the gym. Strong, take-charge women are a big turn-on."

Quirking her mouth, she said, "That also describes Pamela."

"Not even close. She's weak and manipulative and needy. But you're..."

"What?"

His voice went soft and rough. "Strong, independent, loyal and sexy as hell because of it."

God, with the way he looked at her, she got entranced by his golden eyes.

Until he turned the car off and gestured. "My house."

"Oh." Given the turn of their conversation, she'd barely paid attention to him parking the car. Getting herself together, she peered through the windshield at a beautiful brick ranch. "Your house." Smiling, she tilted her head, taking it in, then opened her door and stepped out before he could do the gentlemanly thing and open it for her.

He joined her on the walkway to the front porch and took her hand. "What do you think?"

"It's wonderful."

That made him laugh. "It's just a house, not fancy or all that expensive."

"It's perfect for you." The house was simple in design but still looked welcoming, with just enough landscaping to feel homey, but not so much that it'd need a lot of upkeep. When she saw the rosebush, she stopped. "This is clearly a newly built house, so does that mean you planted the roses?"

He tugged at his ear. "Yeah, and the other bushes and stuff."

The garage opened on the side, but he hadn't driven into it, choosing to park in the driveway instead. Taking the cobbled walkway, they circled past the front of the double garage to the small porch.

Denver dug out a key, and as soon as they stepped inside he pushed numbers into a security keypad. "Come on, I'll take you on a quick tour then fix us something to eat."

Before he could whisk her off, she admired the higher ceilings and the rich hardwood floors. An enormous rug rested beneath two couches, with a big lounge chair that faced a massive flat-screen television. "I see you have your priorities in line."

Laughing, he said, "Most of my priorities are in the basement."

"Workout stuff?"

"For when I don't spend as much time at the rec center as I should."

Far as she could tell, that never happened. It seemed to her that Denver practically lived in the gym.

They walked toward a big kitchen, but Denver steered her down a short hall to the left and pushed open a door. "Guest bathroom."

Cherry poked her head inside. "Nice," she said, though that single word didn't feel adequate. "I love the tile and the fixtures."

"Thanks. It opens into both of the smaller bedrooms on either side, but they're mostly empty." They went back to the living room and he gestured at the kitchen. "The dining room and breakfast nook are attached. Then over here is my room."

She stepped inside to tall windows, high ceilings, more hardwood floors and heavy masculine furniture. "Wow, your bed is huge."

"It's custom-made, an extra-wide king."

Extra-wide so he'd have plenty of room for sexual acrobatics? The sting of jealousy made her scowl. "You must've felt cramped on my full-size mattress."

Looping his arms around her, he nuzzled her neck and whispered, "Wrapped around you? Not a chance. I'd sleep on a twin as long as I was sleeping with you."

Wow, he'd really turned on the charm tonight. She didn't quite know what to make of that. "That's a beautiful quilt."

Still holding her, he propped his chin atop her head. "My mother made it. It was for her and Dad's bed. When he remarried..."

"Pamela gave it to you?"

He released her and turned away. "She wanted to donate it along with everything else of Mom's, so I just took it-and a few other things." He moved to the dresser, opened the top drawer and got out a jewelry box. "I don't really know what to do with it," he said as he lifted the lid, showing some pricey pieces along with casual jewelry. "But it didn't seem right to just ditch it."

Cherry snuggled up next to him, admiring the tasteful designs. She touched one delicate silver chain that held an onyx teardrop pendant. "Beautiful."

He smiled. "That was Mom's favorite. She almost never took it off."

"Maybe someday you'll have a daughter and you could give it to her." Saying it made her think about it, picturing an adorable little girl with Denver's rich brown hair and intense golden eyes. One thought led to another and she also imagined a baby with her blond hair... Dangerous. Pushing away from the dresser, she pasted on a smile. "Wouldn't that be nice?"

He watched her closely, then carefully closed the jewelry box and put it back in the drawer. "Maybe." He laced his fingers with hers and led the way to the master bath.

As he pushed the door open wide, Cherry smiled at his Jacuzzi tub. "Big enough for two."

"Armie swears three could fit, but I'm the only one to ever use it."

"Really?" She had a hard time believing he hadn't broken in the tub already. "No bubbly bathtub sex?"

Smiling, he shook his head. "I only got the house a year ago and you're the first woman I've brought here."

"No way." Her heart tried to make that significant while her head said to slow it down and think it through.

"Way." He cupped her face, tipped it up, and kissed her. Against her parted lips, he whispered, "Maybe tonight we can try it out."

When she continued to stare up him, her expression dazed, he traced her mouth with one fingertip, gave a low rumbling growl, and gently turned her. "Come on, girl. Let's go to the kitchen and we can figure out dinner."

"Wait." He'd rushed her through the house so quickly, she barely had time to appreciate it all. "Where does that door go?"

"Just a closet." He opened it to show her a room as big as his bathroom but stacked with his clothes, a few random weights, sneakers and a laundry hamper.

Agog, she stared at all the available space. "This is an amazing closet."

He grinned. "Yeah, I figured a woman would like it."

Cherry stalled again. Had he bought the house with the thought of marriage in mind? Before they'd finally gotten together-before she'd finally convinced him-he'd seemed like the model bachelor, happy in his single life with no inclinations of settling down anytime soon.

Near her ear, Denver whispered, "Don't overthink it." With his arm around her, he urged her back out of the bedroom and into the kitchen where he pulled out a chair for her at the booth in the breakfast nook. "So what do you feel like eating?"

You.

"Girl," he groaned. "Don't look at me like that. I need to feed you, and much as I'd like to head straight to bed afterward, I really do need to soak my shoulder a bit."

Cherry popped right back out of the seat. "Sorry, I'm..." In love. "It's been a long day. How about you go take your bath and I'll fix dinner?"

He eyed her up and down. "You cook?"

Insulted, she crossed her arms under her breasts and cocked out a hip. "Do I look like I'm starving?"

Brows up, he said, "No."

So maybe he just found her so damned helpless he thought she couldn't do anything right.

"You look like a fuckable angel. Like a wet dream." He closed the space between them, brushed her cheek with the back of his knuckles. "If you can cook, too, I'm sunk."

Oh God, she hoped that was true because she'd gone under a long time ago. Shakily, she stated, "I'm adequate in the kitchen."

His hand went down her cheek to her jaw, then her collarbone. "Damn." With visible effort he stepped back from her. "Scrounge around, fix whatever you want, but nothing fancy. I'll be in the tub."

"Okay."

"And Cherry?"

"Hmm?"

"You should know that I'm sinking with a continual hard-on-and a smile on my face." With that he turned and left the room.

And Cherry, feeling her knees go weak, dropped back into the seat. Was that Denver's way of telling her their relationship was more than just physical? For her it always had been.

For him...so darned hard to tell.

She needed several deep breaths before she felt capable of hunting through his kitchen cabinets. She discovered the man was entirely too organized.

Keeping his restricted diet in mind, she found skinless chicken fillets, brown rice and broccoli. He had it all on hand so she assumed he liked it, but to be sure she went to the bathroom and tapped on the door. "Denver?"

"Come on in."

She stepped into steam-and a carnal treat. Eyes flaring wide, she said, "Oh, umm..."

Keeping one shoulder submerged, Denver left exposed one thick shoulder and a long muscular arm, his lean waist, a paler hip and a strong hairy thigh. When she just stood there gawking, he said, "You've seen me before."

Yes, she had. But not like this. And seriously, every view proved inspirational. Right now, with the way his arm rested against his side, his biceps bulged.

Sexy personified, she thought.

She cleared her throat, watching the bubbling water move against his skin and slide over his muscles.

"At the rec center," he told her, "we have a hot tub that's deep enough for me to sit in and still soak my shoulder."

Guilt tripped over her. "We could have skipped tonight so you could-"

"No." His voice roughened, his gaze piercing. "I need you tonight."

Because of his stepmother and a past that had caused him a lot of pain. Wanting to be whatever he needed, she gave a small smile. "Then I'm glad I'm here."

"Me, too." He continued to watch her, waiting.

Oh. Right. She'd come in for a reason. "Chicken and brown rice okay?"

Visually stroking her body, he nodded. "Perfect."

Still hesitating, she asked, "Do you, ah, need anything?"

"Other than you? I'm good." He shifted, sending the water to slosh in the big tub and giving her a peek at the goods. Settling his head against the back of the tub, he said, "I feel like a hedonist. A hot soak, a hotter babe and dinner served. Doesn't get any better than that."

While she tried to think of something to say to that, his cell rang. They both looked at where he'd left it beside the sink.

"Want me to hand it to you?"

"Yeah, if you don't mind." Sitting up, he dried his hands on a towel hung over the edge of the tub.

Without really meaning to, Cherry saw Stack's name on the caller ID. "Here you go." She gave him the phone, then excused herself, pulling the door shut behind her.

He had her in his house and the last thing she wanted to do was make him regret it by eavesdropping.

Besides, she could already guess what the call was about. The big bad defenders probably wanted to coordinate their plans. She shook her head while tenderizing the chicken. It was a little annoying, and a whole lot endearing, how protective they all were.

Denver didn't emerge until half an hour later when the dinner was done. Wearing only loose shorts, his damp hair finger-combed back, he came in sniffing the air. "Smells good."

She glanced at him, all over him, while dishing up two plates. "Your shoulder feels better now?"

"It's fine." He came up behind her and kissed the side of her neck. "What can I do to help?"

"Everything is ready. Just take a seat and I'll serve you."

"I'll serve, you sit." He pulled out a chair for her and then scooted her in before fetching the plates. After sitting across from her, he picked up a fork and said, "Let's eat. Stack and Armie are stopping by in a few."

She had a bite halfway to her mouth but that announcement threw her. "Wait, what?" She'd had her heart all set on sex!

"Yeah, we have some plans to configure. Keep your motor running because it won't take too long. But they're both moochers and will steal part of my meal if I don't eat it fast enough."

"Oh." Her motor would definitely stay running. "Dig in, then." With her bottom lip caught in her teeth, she watched as he cut into the tender, seasoned chicken.

Two seconds after he got the first big bite into his mouth, his eyes closed and he gave a low growl of pleasure. "So good."

She beamed. "You like it?"

"Love it." In rapid order he tried the fragrant rice and then the steamed broccoli, making his appreciation known. "Damn, girl, you do know how to cook."

"Told you."

He nodded at her plate. "Better get to eating. The guys aren't above stealing from you, either."