With no encouragement from her, Mindi continued, "You have to be realistic, honey. You know he has a life to get back to. A big and very demanding career."

True.

"He lives in Harmony, Kentucky, now."

"I know that." Just as she knew eventually he'd have to return there.

"If you know it, then why are you creating a life here-a life I know you want with Cannon? That's just setting yourself up for heartache."

Unable to help herself, she sought him with her gaze. Cannon sat on a bar stool, laughing with two men, surrounded by more fans, all of them admiring him.

If he knew Mindi was repeating everything to her, he'd come to her rescue. Again.

As Mindi had just explained, he still saw her as that immature, needy girl incapable of caring for herself.

"I know we got off on the wrong foot," Mindi continued. "Mostly because we both want him. The difference is that I'm realistic." She touched Yvette's arm. "And you're not."

She needed to go. She had to go. Right now.

She'd ridden there with Cannon, but she wouldn't disturb him. Not for this.

Maybe because she watched him, he looked up and their gazes clashed. Though he smiled at the man talking to him, she still felt his scrutiny. Her stiff lips formed a smile and she managed a nod.

Unfortunately, that only sharpened his attention. He stepped away from the crowd, and Mary blocked him.

It was far too much. Anxiety burned her eyes, left her pulse tripping. "I'm touched by your concern, Mindi, truly I am. But I can take care of myself."

"That's not what Cannon told me."

She sucked in a breath, leveled by that betrayal.

"He's convinced that you need him. Why do you think he moved in with you?"

"My life is my own. Do me a favor and b.u.t.t out." Blind with hurt, she looked around, considering her options.

Mary held Cannon's attention.

And now Armie was bearing down on them.

"Goodbye, Mindi."

"You're leaving?" Mindi asked with barely veiled triumph.

Yvette didn't answer.

"You go on, honey." Mindi readjusted the V of her dress over her cleavage. "I'll let Cannon know."

There was nothing Yvette could add to that, so she turned and began pushing her way through the crowd. She heard Denver call out to her. Saw Stack watching her.

They were all worried for her and, d.a.m.n it, she did not want that.

She stepped outside, dragged in a calming breath of evening air and pulled herself together.

She wouldn't leave. If she did, she'd only ruin Cannon's fun. She'd be fleeing, when she'd promised herself she'd never do that again.

Others milled about outside, some drinking, most talking, a few smoking. Traffic went by, headlights bouncing off the surrounding buildings. Across the street, a group of youths laughed too loudly.

Overhead, a million stars and a crescent moon rested against the inky blanket of the night sky.

Yvette looked away from two men who eyed her. Going to the wall nearest the door, she rested back, her palms flat against the rough brick. Five minutes, that was all she needed. Five minutes to clear her head and regain her poise.

Then she'd go back in and show everyone...what? That she wasn't hurt, wasn't affected by Cannon's betrayal?

Yes. She'd be cool and polite and, d.a.m.n it, she'd laugh and have fun. Or at least pretend to.

Deciding that already made her feel better. She could deal with this, and she would.

Armie shoved the door open, searching.

Yvette said from behind him, "Looking for someone?"

He jerked around, scoured his gaze over her and quickly concealed his anger. "Hi, Yvette."

Smiling, a sincere smile, she said, "Hi, Armie."

"So." He again checked the area. "What are we doing?"

"I was taking a breather away from your date. You were charging out to save me from myself."

"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck, a telltale sign of his discomfort. "Figured you were running off."

"Nope." No more running for her. "Just taking a quick break."

"Mindi that tedious?"

"You have no idea."

"Yeah, well. Wasn't planning to talk much with her anyway."

She shook her head at him. "I promise I'll be back in very soon."

With grave suspicion, he asked, "How soon is very soon?"

Her smile widened, morphed into a small laugh. Armie was so funny.

And Cannon... He was the love of her life. She wouldn't run. Not from him.

Not ever again.

If they had problems to overcome, well, then, she'd been working on problems most of her life. At the very least, they would be friends. But hopefully lovers, too.

"I told myself five minutes. So maybe two or three more?" He opened his mouth and she said, "Alone. Please."

He didn't want to leave her.

"I'm fine, I promise. Please, tell Cannon so he doesn't desert his fans." She touched Armie's wrist. "I'll die if I throw a kink in the works."

"All right." Before he left, he pointed at her. "If you let a b.i.t.c.h like Mindi bother you, I'm going to be very disappointed in you."

Funny Armie.

Wonderful Cannon.

Ohio... Home.

So many thoughts, worries, emotions scurried around her mind. But the most prevalent of all was love. For Cannon.

When Mary stepped out of the bar, Yvette let out a long breath. Maybe she didn't need those three minutes anyway. All she really needed was Cannon.

She pushed away from the wall-and the lamppost sent a long shadow across her path.

With ominous dread, she looked up.

As if genuinely pleased to see her, as though they were old friends who'd just happened to run into each other instead of a stalker finding his prey, Heath smiled down at her. "Yvette."

So he hadn't left after all. Fear tried to intrude, but they were in public. People all around them. Lit buildings. Traffic.

Remembering what Margaret had said, Yvette shook her head. "You shouldn't be here."

"But I am." He moved closer so that she was trapped between the brick wall and his big body.

Anxious about his mood, she tried to push past him.

His smile fading, he blocked her. "Did you think I'd leave without us talking?"

"You checked out of the hotel!"

He searched her face. "How do you know that?" Desperation darkened his eyes; yearning softened his voice. "Did you come looking for me?"

"G.o.d, no. I sent a cop to talk to you, to tell you to leave me alone."

A flash of rage mottled his complexion. Bunching up, he leaned down so close she felt his hot breath on her face. "You think I'm a f.u.c.king idiot? Is that it?"

His voice was a low hiss, not overly perceptible to the others nearby. "I think you should leave me alone." She again tried to move past him but he caught her arm. It was the same unbreakable, bruising hold he'd used at the rec center. "Stop it!"

"I thought about why your new boyfriend asked where I was staying. I knew what that b.a.s.t.a.r.d wanted."

She strained away from the menace of his low tone, his big body. "He wants you to leave me alone, same as I do."

Comprehension had his eyes flinching. "You're drunk."

"I am not." At the moment, she felt plenty clearheaded, and plenty worried. How could she defuse this situation without screaming b.l.o.o.d.y murder?

His hand tightened even more. "Did that f.u.c.ker get you drunk?"

"Stop being an idiot!" It was bad enough this had happened at the rec center. To have it get repeated here, while Cannon entertained his fans- "I smell it on your breath."

"Get out of my s.p.a.ce and you won't." She shoved hard against his chest, but with very little effort he jerked her in close to his body, squeezing her so forcefully she couldn't get breath.

"No," she rasped, the only protest she could manage.

No one intervened. No one said a word.

As he tightened his hold, blackness edged in around her vision. She tried to fight it off, to fight him.

He hushed her, smoothing her hair, whispering, "It's okay, honey, just relax." Her toes barely touched the ground with the way he held her pinned to his side.

To observers, he probably looked like a concerned boyfriend helping a drunken girlfriend home. "We need to talk." He looked over his shoulder as he continued dragging her away. "And it'll best be done in private."

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

after rudelY pushing her way to the front, Mary grabbed his arm. "Cannon?"

Not again. He'd just fended her off as politely as he could, but she hadn't been gone two minutes before returning.

He'd already told her there'd be nothing between them. He didn't feel like rehashing it again so soon.

Easily sidestepping her with the way others wanted his attention, he gave her his back.

But she tangled a hand in the back of his waistband and gave a tug. When he looked at her in disbelief, she said, "I'm sorry," then said it again to the young couple he'd been about to serve. "I wouldn't interrupt, except that this is important. At least, I think it is."

Something in her tone gave him pause, and that had him automatically scanning the bar for Yvette.

He didn't see her. Armie had claimed she was only getting air and would be right back in.

But then where was she?

Mary tugged at him again, and when he leaned closer, she whispered, "I just want to help, I promise."

Help with what? He handed the tray over the bar to Rowdy. "I'm taking a break."

"Sure." He skipped his attention to Mary, but didn't comment. "You're long overdue anyway."

"Thanks." Promising he'd be right back, he excused himself from the crowd. Seeking a modic.u.m of privacy, he pulled Mary slightly away. "All right. What is it?"