Holding Strong. Lori Foster

on the arm bar.”

      Armie tossed back the whiskey and asked for another. “Yeah, he must’ve been new or something.”

      More like Armie was that good, but Denver knew he wouldn’t admit it. For whatever reason, Armie shrugged off all opportunities to further his fight career. Because of that, Denver warned him, “Dean Connor was in the audience, scouting out the talent.”

      Only for a second did Armie react, but he shook off the stillness in less than a heartbeat. “Havoc was here?”

      “One and the same.” Dean “Havoc” Connor was a legend in the sport, and one of the most revered fighters ever. A while back, he’d switched gears from competing to training. Now, with another well-known veteran, Simon Evans, he ran one of the most successful and sought-after camps—the same camp where their buddy Cannon often trained.

      And Cannon had an upcoming title fight for light heavyweight, so clearly they were doing something right.

      Simon and Dean had the inside track with the SBC president and often recommended new recruits to bring under the SBC umbrella.

      Brows drawn, Armie scoffed. “This gig wasn’t exactly the upper echelon of talent. Why would Havoc waste his time with low-level competitions?”

      Succinct, Denver told him, “You.”

      “Bullshit.”

      “He took a ton of notes while watching you, and as soon as your fight ended he was on the phone making a call.”

      Armie flexed a shoulder. “He was probably here to see Cannon.”

      “He talked with Cannon. Merissa, too.”

      Armie almost fell off his stool. “What?” And then, with a quelling glare, “Why the hell would he talk to Rissy?”

      “She was cheering for you like crazy and I guess that got his attention.” Denver shrugged. Cannon’s sister often accompanied him to the fights. No big deal with that. “Given she was with Cannon...”

      “Yeah, maybe.” Armie tossed back the second whiskey and ordered up a third.

      Interesting. “Havoc’s still here, but Cannon already took off with Yvette and Merissa.” Since Denver hadn’t yet convinced himself to leave the club, he ordered a glass of lemon water. In two and a half months he’d have his second fight with the SBC, so he’d started watching his diet already. Not that he ever got too far off weight, and not that he couldn’t lose fifteen or even twenty pounds easily enough. But overall, he liked to stay healthy. He considered it part of his job requirements.

      “I knew Cannon was booking. We’d already talked.”

      “He didn’t mention Havoc?”

      “No, and I’ll give him hell for that later.” Armie relaxed enough to manage a grin. “Used to be, Cannon would have closed out the place with me. Now, with Yvette, he’s always in a hurry to get her alone. The wedding can’t happen fast enough for those two.”

      “A few weeks after his next fight,” Denver said. If it was up to Yvette, they would have already been married because she didn’t care about the fancy wedding.

      But Cannon considered the guys family and knew they’d want to celebrate with him, so they’d set up the wedding in a way that wouldn’t conflict with anyone’s competition schedule, most especially Cannon’s. “Looking forward to being best man?”

      Armie snorted. “You all expect me to balk at the sight of a tux, but what the hell, man, you’ll be wearing the same monkeysuit.”

      Watching Armie to gauge his reaction, Denver said, “Mostly I expect you to balk at the idea of being in the wedding with Merissa.”

      Looking past Denver, Armie narrowed his eyes. “Who’s that dude hitting on Cherry?”

      Twisting around, he forgot all about harassing his friend—which had probably been Armie’s intent. But damn, he hadn’t lied. Denver watched Cherry laughingly refuse an insistent guy bent on gaining her cooperation. The slow, thrumming music would have meant a different type of dance and Denver let out a breath when she didn’t give in.

      Seeing her body to body with another man, this time someone he didn’t know, would have made him nuts.

      Stack sat to one side of her, also watching the idiot who refused to take no for an answer.

      To her other side, Miles started to frown.

      Suddenly Cherry pushed back her chair and an ugly tension sank into Denver’s chest—until she grabbed up her purse and made a hasty getaway toward the restrooms.

      When the idiot started to follow, Miles blocked his way while Stack spoke close to his ear. Whatever he said made loverboy frown and search the bar.

      It wasn’t until his gaze clashed with Denver’s that he gave up and stalked away—in the opposite direction that Cherry had gone.

      Smiles quirking, Stack and Miles both saluted Denver, then went back to their table and the other women there.

      He was wondering what Stack had said when Armie shoved him, and Denver almost dropped off his seat. Righting himself, he muttered, “What the fuck?” and shoved Armie back. But since Armie wasn’t daydreaming as Denver had been, he barely budged.

      Snickering, Armie shook his head. “Damn man, get it together or go after her.”

      “No need. Stack got rid of him.”

      “Yeah,” Armie said, his tone mocking. “Stack handled it.”

      Sarcasm? “What’s that supposed to mean?”

      “We both know Stack just threatened that poor bozo with you.”

      “Me?”

      “Yeah, Predator, you.” After emphasizing Denver’s fight name, Armie sipped at his third drink. “You have a nasty death stare and you know it. That chump probably felt your evil intent all the way down to his balls.”

      “You are so—” Just then, Denver spotted Havoc scanning the crowd before a group of fans stopped him. “Think he’s looking for you?”

      Armie slunk lower in his seat. “No.”

      “You are so hopeless.”

      “Know what’s hopeless? This denial you have where Cherry Peyton is concerned. Give it up already.”

      Denver glared at him. Why the hell did everyone want to butt into his private business? “Why don’t you at least talk to the SBC? Maybe—”

      “Why don’t you talk to Cherry?” He tossed back his shot and asked for another. “Better yet, don’t talk. Take her straight to bed and work off some tension.”

      Armie fought hard, played hard, but usually didn’t drink hard. Denver eyed him. “This isn’t about Cherry and me.”

      “It’s about you trying to avoid talking about you and Cherry.” He grabbed a handful of peanuts while waiting for the next drink.

      Disgusted, Denver said, “Are you going to turn around everything I say?”

      “Know what I’d like to turn around?” Armie nodded at someone. “That.”

      When Denver looked up he saw a stacked redhead coming their way. Lips pursed, eyes big, expression coy.

      Definitely on the make.

      “She looks ripe to ride doggy style, doncha think?”

      At times Armie’s brazen outspokenness bordered on obnoxious. Often, actually. But in this instance, with that girl’s hips, Denver totally got his meaning and even had to grin in agreement.

      Seeing their humor, the lady narrowed her coal-lined eyes.

      Thank God it was Armie she’d zeroed in on. “You know her?”