As everyone began to file out of the room, he managed to make it to Cherry’s side and put a restraining hand on her arm before she could disappear once again. Jonah, one of Daisy’s husbands, stopped and frowned at the two of them, looking from his face to Cherry’s.
“Is everything all right, Cherry?” Jonah asked.
“Yes, it’s fine,” she said with a pleasant smile. Why was he so sure that the smile was a lie? “This will only take a minute.”
As soon as the door closed behind everyone, she snatched her arm out of his grip. He could easily have restrained her, but he didn’t want to force her to do anything other than to listen to him.
“You didn’t give me a chance to tell you how sorry I am.”
For a second, her face softened.
“I know you are. We all say stupid things occasionally, and you’re certainly not the worst.”
“Then I can see you again?” He stepped closer, longing to touch her soft skin once more. To his dismay, she moved away.
“I can’t, Wyatt. I mean, W-246.”
The use of his designation sounded so wrong on her lips.
“Why not?”
“We were… acquainted. Before.”
“I don’t believe it. I know I would have remembered you.” Despite his protest, he was not quite as sure as he would have liked. He didn’t remember her, and yet… she didn’t feel like a stranger.
“I believe that you don’t remember me.” Her face lost its usual composure and for a minute he caught a glimpse of pain so deep that his own heart ached. “But maybe it’s for the best. We’re very different people now.”
“Can’t we get to know each other again?”
“I can’t!”
The intensity in her cry shook him and he instinctively took a step forward, wanting to comfort her. But instead, she turned away and when she looked at him again, all traces of emotion had been wiped from her face.
“I think that ship has sailed. Now, I’ve got a wedding to attend. You’re… welcome to join us.”
“I don’t think so. But thank you for the invitation,” he added, recognizing her reluctance.
She gave a swift nod and whisked herself out the door without another word. Why did he feel as if he had lost something critical? Sure, she was beautiful, and yes, it had been a long time, but this felt like more. He rubbed his chest and sighed.
If there was one thing he had learned as a cyborg, it was how to live with pain.
One month later…
“You can’t throw me out of here,” the skinny man snarled at Cherry.
“I most certainly can. This is my establishment, and I say who can visit and who cannot.”
“But I’m a regular,” he whined.
Cherry barely refrained from rolling her eyes. To the best of her excellent recollection, Nicky had come in exactly once before after a rare win at cards. Usually, he was broke and bumming drinks anywhere he could find them. It was a shame, really—she could see the remnants of a handsome man beneath the ruins—but she had long ago learned that the present was what counted.
“Even if that were true, I still wouldn’t put up with your attitude,” she said briskly.
“What attitude?”
“You know that the cyborgs are now welcome in my establishment.” They had originally been forbidden because of the tension between human and cyborg but if they were to work together to establish a new government, then the humans had to learn to accept them. It had been easier than she expected. Most of the settlers had already become accustomed to the cyborg rangers and, aside from some initial grumbling, they had accepted the change. The man in front of her was one of the exceptions. When he saw the girl he had his eye on leaving with one of the cyborgs, he had objected. Loudly and profanely.
“So I don’t like the fucking machines. That doesn’t give you the right to—”
“I’m not going to ask you again. Leave.”
“You can’t make me.”
“I most certainly can. Now go.”
As she turned away dismissively, Nicky snarled again and drew back his fist.
“You fucking bitch.”
The blow caught her across her cheekbone. It wasn’t the first time she had been hit there but the pain never lessened. Refusing to acknowledge the blow, she pulled a small pistol from her corset and dug it beneath his waistband.
“You leave now or you’ll be missing a small—” she pressed the gun lower “—part of your anatomy.”
He paled and the fight died out of his face. Raising his hands, he stepped backwards until he had passed through the wide double doors. Unfortunately, he regained his courage once he was on the other side and started yelling threats.
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Mary said. A big, jolly woman with a kind face, she was one of the most popular women in the Pleasure Palace. She was the one who had come to find Cherry once Nicky became abusive.
“He’s all talk,” she said dismissively.
“That bruise on your cheek argues otherwise,” Mary said dryly. “You need to let Judge W know.”
Her initial emotion was an overwhelming agreement. Even though she had been the one to establish the boundaries between them, she desperately wanted to see him. During the day, she could keep busy enough to push him out of her mind, but at night, alone in her bed, he haunted her. But her very eagerness to see him reminded her why she should not. He wasn’t her Wyatt anymore.
“I really don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Listen, Cherry, I know you think you can take care of yourself, but think about the girls. What if Nicky goes after one of them? You know his kind—he’s not going to believe a woman is a threat. Let the judge deal with him.”
She nodded reluctantly, knowing Mary was right.
“All right. I’ll go see him in the morning.”
“Good,” Mary said briskly. “I don’t suppose you’d consider going home and getting some rest, would you?” Shrewd eyes studied Cherry’s face.
Another night lying awake thinking about Wyatt? She shook her head.
“I’ll just cover up the damage.”
Mary studied her face, then nodded. “All right, hon. I’ll take care of things for you until then.”
Cherry gave her hand a grateful squeeze and went to repair the damage, refusing to acknowledge the flutter of excitement in her heart at the thought of seeing Wyatt again.
Despite her exhaustion, she found it hard to sleep. When she finally fell into a troubled doze just before dawn, she dreamed of the first time she had met Wyatt.
The party guests were the usual mix of socialites and minor celebrities, but this time, there were several ranking military officers present as well. The party was a fundraiser for wounded veterans, and the officers were there to show their appreciation. The two she had met so far had not impressed her—an elderly general with roving hands and a pompous junior officer.
About halfway through the evening, she had her fill of insincere smiles and forced conversation and escaped to a small enclosed balcony overlooking the towers of the city. Lights twinkled through the constant layers of smog that hung in the air, turning the night into a dark fantasy. She had turned off the lights when she entered, hoping to be undisturbed, and a flash of light as the door opened behind her made her sigh. Hopefully, it wasn’t one of her more aggressive admirers.
Life with her second husband hadn’t been all peaches and roses, but no one would have dared cross him and go so far as to proposition her. How strange that she would end up missing that aspect of their life together.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t realize anyone was in here.”
The slow southern drawl of a deep, pleasant voice caused an unexpected spark of interest.
“I just wanted to get away for a few minutes,” she said.
“I can’t say that I blame you. Too many people with too little to say— not that that stops them.”
She laughed and turned to face him, and her breath caught
. Dressed in a formal military uniform, this officer was entirely different from the ones she had met previously. Even in the dim light, she could see broad shoulders, a trim waist, and long, muscular legs. His face was more difficult to see but she caught a flash of pale gray eyes and short cropped blonde hair.
“I must admit I agree with your assessment of the situation.” Without her conscious bidding, her voice had dropped to the low, sultry note that men appreciated.
“Do you want me to leave you to your solitude?”
She shrugged, fully aware that it made her breasts move enticingly beneath her dress. “I don’t mind a little company.”
He joined her at the window, and she caught a hint of crisp, masculine scent. No overpowering fragrance, just the enticing aroma of clean male. Her nipples tightened and she felt a stirring of almost forgotten desire. She had thought any genuine interest in the opposite sex had been eliminated long ago.
“It looks different at night, doesn’t it? Mysterious and fantastic.” The words emerged before she could second-guess them, another unusual reaction. She was used to judging everything she said. To her relief, he didn’t laugh at her romantic speculation.
“I know what you mean. I just wish we could still see the stars.”
“You like the stars?”
“I like the possibilities they represent. Our planet needs to expand.”
“They say we’ll be settling on Mars within the decade.” She had followed the news with great interest—the idea of the new planet, a new start, appealing to something deep inside her.
“Sooner, I believe. The cyborg program has made great strides in advancing the terraforming process.”
“And when it does open for settlement? Are you going to apply?”
“Yes, ma’am. I think it’s time for a fresh start.”
His words echoed her own thoughts and she gave in to a sudden foolish impulse. She sighed gently, her breasts lifting with her breath.
“I don’t particularly want to return to the party but I suppose we must,” she murmured.
“May I escort you?”
“I think I’d like that.”
As she turned to put her hand on his arm, her heel caught on the flooring and she tripped forward. He caught her, as she knew he would, her body landing against the length of his, her breasts cradled by a hard, firm chest. It had been so long.
“Careful there, darlin’.”
His voice had gone husky, and she could feel his erection against her stomach. When she looked up at him, his face was dark and intense.
“If you don’t want this, I’ll let you go.”
Very deliberately, she wet her lips and leaned further into him.
“I’m taking that as a yes.”
Then his head descended and there was no more conversation.
They had left the party together and she had taken him back to her apartment, the only man that had been there since she bought it. They spent the weekend together, and he had proven to be a creative, demanding lover. But in between, they had watched old movies and he had cooked for her and told her about his dreams. In return, she ended up telling him more about her past then she had ever thought to tell another living soul. When Monday rolled around, he had applied for emergency leave and whisked her off to the Vegas Metro area for a whirlwind wedding. Two weeks later, he had returned to work. That evening he had sent her a message saying that he was detained.
It was the last time she ever heard from him.
She had contacted every resource she had and, in the process, found out just how little she had known about him. In reality, her search had ended with two men in uniform on her doorstep. In her dream, the frantic search to find out what happened to him became a nightmare of endless calls and stonewalls, and she woke with tears on her cheek.
Chapter Six
When Cherry went to get dressed, her appearance horrified her, the strain of the past month and the sleepless nights clearly apparent on her face. Last night’s blow had bloomed into an ugly bruise. Damned if she was going to let him see her like that.
Twenty minutes later, her makeup was flawless, her hair becomingly arranged. However, she didn’t go as far as one of her usual slinky dresses. She didn’t want him to think that she was trying to seduce him—no matter how enticing the thought. The memory of her heartache after their last encounter was enough to dissuade her. Instead, she opted for jeans and a plain blue shirt. Could she help it if the jeans showed off the curve of her ass and the shirt brought out the color of her eyes?
Despite her armor, walking into his office was incredibly difficult, but she forced a practiced smile to her lips.
“Judge W-246, I need to report an incident.”
He looked up at her words and her heart twisted. His face also looked strained and tired and for a moment, her heart leapt. Was he missing her just as much? Had he remembered her at all?
“Yes, Madam Cherry?”
His harsh tone made her heart sink. Apparently, he wasn’t happy to see her. She straightened her shoulders and refused to let her disappointment show.
“I had to remove a man from my establishment last night—”
“What happened? Was anyone hurt?”
Her hand went to her cheek before she could stop it and his eyes blazed. He was around the desk and standing in front of her with unbelievable speed. Very gently, he cupped her cheek and smoothed a thumb across the bruise.
“Who was it?” He growled.
“His first name is Nicky. I don’t know his last—”
“Skinny guy? Drinks a lot?”
“Yes, that’s him.”
“He’s a worthless bastard. Why did you even let him into your place?”
“I let him in because he had the money to pay. I am running a business, you know.”
His face hardened and he stepped back. She immediately missed the warmth of his hand, but she refused to let it show. Instead, she lifted her chin.
“And I removed him as soon as he started to cause trouble.”
“You removed him? Goddamn it, Cherry. Don’t you have a bouncer?”
“I’m quite capable of taking care of myself and my girls.”
“Not capable enough to prevent yourself from being hit.”
She shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”
“You are not making me feel better.” He leaned closer and her pulse sped up. “I will take care of this Nicky, but you will provide security for your—”
The communicator in the corner of his office pinged and he gave it a frustrated look.
“I should get that.”
“Go right ahead. I’ll just get back to work.”
He growled again as he headed for the machine. “We are not through with this discussion. You stay right there.”
Her head knew she should take the opportunity to escape. Her heart kept her feet firmly planted on the ground.
“New Arcadia Territorial Office,” he said into the microphone.
“Judge… have a problem.”
The transmission was choppy, but Cherry had no difficulty recognizing Esme’s voice.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as she hurried to his side.
“Ma’am, I’m having a problem with the transmission,” Wyatt said patiently. “Can you repeat the issue?”
“Strange… husband…” A long, garbled statement. “Need h—”
The machine went dead.
“Something is wrong,” she said urgently. “Get her back.”
His fingers were already moving over the face of the machine, but there was no response.
“I’m sure everything’s fine. You know how these communicators operate—or fail to operate.” He tried for a reassuring smile, but she could see the worry in his eyes.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll keep trying to raise them. In the meantime…”
He pulled up a big holographic map in the air over his desk, then swore.
“What’s the matter?”
/> “I was going to send one of the Rangers to check on them but there’s no one close by right now. I’ll have to go myself. I’m sure everything is fine but if I can’t raise her in the next hour, I’ll ride out to their homestead. Just to check,” he added reassuringly.
“You don’t understand. They just got married.” Her knees shook as a thousand horrible scenarios floated through her mind, and he put a steadying hand under her arm. “I knew I shouldn’t have let her do it.”
“I admit I only came in at the end of the wedding, but I’m pretty sure you weren’t going to stop those two.”
“But it’s Esme! She’s special.” Determination gave her courage. She hadn’t abandoned Esme on Earth, and she wasn’t going to abandon her now. “I’m going with you.”
“You can’t do that. It might be dangerous.”
She gave him a horrified stare.
“You said it was probably nothing.”
“I did,” he admitted. “But I’m not going to take any chances with your safety.”
“If it’s nothing, then you aren’t. And if you won’t take me, I’ll go myself.”
“You would have to take a rover and I’ll be traveling by horse. I’ll be there and back before a rover even makes it one way.”
“Then you’ll pass me on the way.”
He gave a frustrated sigh. “If I take you with me, we’ll be riding on my horse together the whole way. I didn’t think you wanted to be that close to me.”
The thought of being pressed against his body for hours made her hesitate, but beneath the bitterness in his voice, she detected hurt, and her foolish heart melted. She had been trying to preserve herself and she hadn’t anticipated that her decision would upset him.
“I’m sure I can handle it,” she said softly. “Can you?”
He stared at her for a long moment, his face impossible for her to read, then nodded.
“One hour. If I haven’t made contact by then, I’ll head out. If you’re ready, you can come.”
“I’ll be ready.”
Before he could change his mind, she headed for the door. Concern for Esme filled her mind but beneath her worry, the thought of spending the time with Wyatt caused a small flicker of excitement, perhaps even hope. Maybe this would be what he needed to remember her.
The Magnificent Cyborg Page 4
