Theirs to Keep (Tangled Hearts Trilogy #1)(20)

“You going to be okay with Cathy?” Dallas asked. “I’ll go back to the hotel with you if you want.”

Elle shook her head. “Go and have fun. Enjoy the moment, and make sure Merrick does too. And please don’t let them worry about me. Catherine has been nice enough to ride back to the hotel with me, and I’m going to curl up and get some sleep. I’ll be fine.”

Dallas smiled and then ruffled her hair. “Okay, will do. You two be careful.”

“See ya, Dallas,” Catherine said.

Dakota walked over then with the two mountains who’d escorted her to her seat earlier.

“Elle, this is Carl and Steven, and they’ll be escorting you back to the hotel.”

“I’m going to ride with her, babe,” Catherine spoke up.

Dakota’s brow furrowed. “You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m tired. You guys go and celebrate.”

Dakota pulled her into his arms and kissed her. It was clear the couple cared a lot for each other, and Dakota wasn’t hesitant at all about demonstrating that love for his wife regardless of who was watching.

“See you later then,” he said. Then he nodded at Elle. “They’ll take you out now.”

Elle followed behind Carl while Steven fell in behind her and Catherine. As they walked toward the door, Merrick came out of the shower, his hair still damp. Elle stopped a moment to absorb the image of him standing in the dressing room wearing a T-shirt advertising his training facilities and a pair of jeans that hugged his body in all the right places.

Cade walked over to where she stood, his stance casual. Merrick came up behind him until both men were mere inches away.

“You okay?” Cade asked softly.

She nodded and smiled. “Yep. Congratulations, Merrick. It was an awesome fight.”

The corner of Merrick’s mouth lifted. “You watched? Or did you hide your eyes the entire time?”

She huffed indignantly. “You submitted him with a rear naked choke hold.”

Both men laughed. Cade started to put his hand out to touch her but pulled it back at the last minute.

“We’ll see you later, okay? If you need anything at all, call my cell. I’ll be checking it.”

Elle nodded, and after one last lingering glance, she turned and walked away with the two bodyguards.

Chapter Twelve

ELLE WAS IN A VERY modest pair of pajamas when she heard the slide of a keycard in the door. A moment later, it opened, admitting Cade and Merrick into the suite.

She glanced up from her perch on the couch as they trudged inside.

The room was dark, with only a corner lamp burning. She’d been sitting by the window staring at the Las Vegas strip and the dazzling array of lights that cascaded up and down the boulevard.

“Hey,” Cade said softly. “Why are you still awake?”

“I wanted to wait up for you guys,” she said. “I didn’t get to talk to you earlier. It was frustrating.”

Merrick scowled and then plopped onto the couch beside her, extolling a weary sigh that worried her.

“It was damn frustrating,” he agreed in a low growl. “I didn’t want to go to a f**king party. I just wanted to come back to the room where it was quiet, pop a few pain pills and…see you.”

She got a giddy thrill from the admission, but she latched onto the pain in his voice and the comment about pain medication.

“What’s wrong?” she asked sharply.

She turned, hovering over him on her knees, examining him for some sign of injury.

Cade went to the bar and pulled out a bottle of water. Then he went to the pack on the countertop, pulled out a bottle of pills and shook out two. He carried them and the water over to Merrick and handed them to him.

“What’s wrong with him?” Elle asked anxiously.

Cade settled on her other side, his hand sliding soothingly down her back.

“Fighting’s rough, honey. Just because he isn’t bleeding or cut open doesn’t mean he isn’t sore as hell. His ribs took a beating, and he got clocked a few times in the head.”

“Do you need to go to the hospital?” Elle demanded, her hands automatically going to Merrick’s body.

“Dallas has already had a look at me,” Merrick mumbled. “I’ll take it easy for the next few days, heal up, and then I’ll start all over again.”

Elle gasped. “So soon?”

“The title fight will be in a few months,” Cade said. “They’ll give him time to train, make sure Lash is healthy, and then they’ll set a date. Then they’ll start promoting. Things will get a little crazier for this. This is the big time, Elle. This is what Merrick’s been working for.”

Was it a warning to her that she would be in the way? Would she be a hindrance to Merrick and his concentration? She hated the uncertainty of her position. That she wasn’t in any position of equality. She had…nothing. She was nothing.

She lowered her head, not looking at either man.

“Elle?”

Merrick’s soft inquiry reached her ears, but she didn’t look up.

He reached for her then, cautiously touching the side of her arm. He and Cade were both careful like that. As if they feared startling her.

“Elle, he wasn’t saying that for any other reason than he wanted you to know what you were in for.”