“I needed the break.” He tugged a cobweb out of her hair. “Why are you hiding in here anyway?”
“I’m not hiding.” Not exactly. But to keep him from digging, she lifted a brow and asked, “Why are you in here hiding?”
He started to answer, but clammed up when Merissa walked in, muttering, “Coward.”
She, too, went for the iced tea.
Like a deer caught in the headlights, Armie froze, only his eyes moving as he tracked her approach. As soon as she stepped past him, Yvette saw his attention drop southward—to her backside showcased in snug shorts.
His nostrils flared.
Whoa. Did Cannon know his best friend had a major case for his sister? Doubtful.
Armie shoved his glass toward Yvette. “Thanks, doll. Better get back to it.” And with that he literally fled the kitchen.
Trying to hide her smile, Yvette said, “So what was that all about?”
To her surprise, Merissa slumped. “He despises me for some reason, though for the life of me, I have no idea why.”
Yvette could only stare. Seriously? That was what Merissa thought?
If so, she was even more clueless about guys than Yvette.
“I don’t think—”
Cannon stepped in. “You want to ride along to the shop, maybe give some direction on where to put the rest of the boxes? Or do you just want the guys to drop them off and you and I can arrange things when we get a chance?”
“I’ll go.” She needed more time to get it together anyway. Tonight they were going to Rowdy’s bar and would probably be there late.
Meaning she still wouldn’t get a chance to explore that exciting intimacy with Cannon. It’d be better if she stayed busy instead of dwelling on missed opportunities.
Merissa said, “Who all’s going?”
“Denver will stay and help me finish up the door, but the rest are heading over there.”
She finished off her drink. “I’ll go along, too, then.” Hooking her arm through Yvette’s, she said, “Happy to lend a hand.”
Cannon caught Yvette before she could leave. His attention took in her disheveled hair, her flushed cheeks. He brushed dust off the end of her nose. “Be careful.”
She found it difficult to tease with her awareness of him so keen. “Afraid one of the guys will drop something on me?”
Using utmost care, he smoothed her hair. “Let them do the heavy lifting.”
“Hey, I’m not a complete wimp.”
“You’re not a fighter either.” He drew her up and against his chest and his mouth touched hers, featherlight, as stirring as a storm.
When he released her, she touched her lips.
Which prompted him to kiss her again. “We have to leave for Rowdy’s at six.” He held her chin up with two fingers beneath, his gaze warm and admiring. “Give yourself plenty of time to do whatever you want to do to get ready.”
“You don’t want me to go like this?”
Giving a small shake of his head, he whispered, “You’d start a riot.”
Now, what did that mean? She was a complete mess and knew it. She wrinkled her nose. “It’s going to take me at least an hour, so I won’t be gone long.”
Still keeping her close, he studied her face, slipped his warm palm around her nape.
Oh, she knew that look....
Sure enough, right there with Merissa protesting, he kissed her again, this time longer and hotter. Just what she didn’t need, since they couldn’t follow through.
Although she had to admit, she would never turn down the opportunity to taste him.
“PDAs,” Merissa griped, “especially in front of your sister, are so very uncool.”
Cannon grinned as he let her go. “Around Yvette, I can’t help the occasional public display of affection.”
“I like her,” Merissa said, “so you’re forgiven.”
Yvette wondered if they both meant it. If Cannon did feel any real affection for her, would Rissy be okay with it?
After Merissa got in the car with Yvette, Armie tried to trade places with Denver. But Cherry had decided to stay behind, so Denver wouldn’t budge.
It was all pretty hilarious, and definitely distracting.
At the shop, they all pitched in, and not only did they get the boxes unloaded from the truck, they got many of them emptied into the glass cases and shelves that she’d already arranged around the shop.
Now that she’d scrubbed the floors clean and put out area rugs it all looked amazing, if she did say so herself.
As soon as she got her business license, hopefully within the next two weeks, she’d be able to do a grand opening.
Just as they finished up, she noticed some girls—probably high school age—staring in the big front window. When she looked behind her, Yvette saw both Stack and Armie as the girls probably saw them.
Big, built and shirtless.
She grinned and nudged Merissa.
“What?” Merissa asked as she broke down an empty box.
Yvette nodded at the window.
Snorting a laugh, Merissa also looked at the guys. Or more specifically, at Armie. Unaware of his audience, mostly because he’d been doing his best to ignore Merissa, he reached his arms up, hands locked together and stretched.
Merissa sighed.
The girls outside knocked on the window and waved. When Armie glanced at them, they twittered and flirted and one looked to be adjusting her shirt to show more cle**age.
Smiling crookedly, Armie shook his head, and as he went to look away, his gaze caught on Merissa. The smile faded under a frown.