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wrapped the towel around herself and then finger-combed her damp hair. She heard the water running, and a few minutes later Brad walked back into the room. He’d rinsed his shorts off and now, at least, the wet cotton was all the same color.
    He walked up to Cherry, put his arms around her, and kissed her. “For what it’s worth,” he said, “that was a first for me. I have never, not once, come all over myself while making a woman orgasm.” He kissed her again. “Now, when I tell you that you’re hot and you turn me on, will you stop arguing with me?”
    She had no words, not one, so she dumbly nodded as Brad kissed her once again and opened the door.
    He paused there for a moment. “I almost forgot. I have a surprise for you tonight. Don’t make plans, okay?”
    She stared at him, still shaken from her climax. From the knowledge of his. “Okay.”
    He shut the door and just like that he was gone. Cherry stood there for a full minute, staring at the closed door, thinking of how he’d made her feel. Smiling over what she’d made him feel. It might have been a first for him, but it was definitely a first for her.
    A truly handsome guy, the sexiest guy she’d ever met, lost control because of her. Oh. My. She sat down on the edge of the bed and laughed.
    It was a long time before she stopped laughing.
    And then she wondered what kind of surprise he had for her tonight.

Chapter 7
    Cherry watched the small group sitting together at one end of the long table and wondered if she’d ever wipe the smile off her face. Steph was next to Wils, Christa had latched on to Ronan, and Brad hadn’t left Cherry’s side all evening. Just when she thought it couldn’t get any better, Cain walked in, grabbed a couple of plates at the buffet, loaded them with enough food for at least four people, and sat on Cherry’s opposite side.
    The moment he sat, she turned, practically bouncing in her seat, and asked, “How are the pups? Are they okay? Is the mother okay?”
    Cain paused, his fork filled with grilled salmon almost to his mouth. “Great, yes, and yes, and I’m starving. Give me a minute!”
    Cherry sat back, laughing, as he neatly shoveled in salmon and rice, roast beef and potatoes, a couple of pieces of French bread, and an entire plate of Caesar salad. Conversation went on around them as before, though Cherry was fascinated that a man as trim and slim as Cain could polish off so much food in such a hurry—and still manage to do it with impeccable manners.
    Finally, he pushed his plates away and sat back. “Okay, Cherry. Barring any unseemly belching, I can now give you an update.” He glanced toward Brad and both of them burst out laughing. “Hey,” Cain said, giving Brad and Cherry a look that said he was being terribly misunderstood and mistreated. “While you, Cherry, were out hiking through the woods with Wils and Ronan, with bounteous lunches, I’m sure, and Brad was here cooking and nibbling as he worked, I was watching over mama wolf and her pups. I haven’t eaten since around six this morning.”
    Brad held up both hands. “Did I say anything?”
    Cherry shook her head and looked at Brad. “No, you didn’t, but in defense of poor, mistreated Cain, here, I bet you were thinking of something horrible.” Then she turned toward Cain. “Okay, Cain. I defended you. Now I want to hear everything.”
    â€œWell…” He grinned and then carefully wiped his mouth with his napkin, making Cherry wait even after she’d so graciously defended him. She was ready to throttle him.
    â€œThe pups are really healthy and strong in spite of the fact that they were born so late in the year. Generally, the mothers give birth in early spring, and it’s almost June. The pack is healthy, so I imagine these little guys will do fine. The male brought Mama a couple of rabbits today,