by Sylvie Kaye
Mercy would be leaving the state soon to fly back home. Spence decided to wait her out. Seeing her was too painful. She made him ache, physically. His gut clenched, along with his balls at the sight of her. She made him long for would-have-beens when there was only room in his life for right now.
He tried to sleep but tossed most of the night, remembering her luscious body. Velvety and touchable, not distant, with Parker between them, like now.
Giving up, he brewed a pot of coffee around four a.m. and sat drinking, waiting for the sun to come up, waiting for Parker to show up, waiting for closure so he could begin his life anew.
He was getting fed up with waiting.
He heard the vehicle drive up and then the knock. Flicking the porch light on, he glanced through the filmy sidelight window before cracking the front door open.
"What do you want?” he asked none too sociably.
"To help you."
Spence jammed his hands into his pockets, glanced down at his bare feet, before sizing up Lenny, the muscle-toned bartender, with suspicion. “How?"
"I know someone who knows where Parker docks his boat."
Spence figured he'd hear the man out. Hell, he had nothing to lose but time.
"Come on in.” He held the door open, nodding his head toward the kitchen, signaling Lenny to go on back. “Coffee's on.” He clicked the lock on the door, in case Lenny wasn't alone, before he followed the man down the dim hallway toward the fluorescent-lighted kitchen.
Lenny took a vinyl-seated chair at the chipped Formica table while Spence poured mugs of coffee. After handing him one, Spence held out the milk carton.
He shook his head. “Black's fine."
Spence remained standing, leaning against the nicked porcelain sink, his coffee cup cooling beside him. “What's on your mind?"
"You're down on your luck, and I'm feeling generous.” He blew on the hot coffee, the aromatic steam waning into a thin vapor.
"Parker wouldn't be backing your generosity, would he?” Spence asked outright. He was too exhausted for mind games and no amount of coffee was going to perk him up.
"Nope. He hightailed when you showed up so I figure he's guilty of something. His signature on my paycheck doesn't buy my loyalty. I can bartend anywhere along the river."
Spence scratched at his stubble, two days worth. Mourning over a woman sure took its toll on a man's appearance.
Lenny, on the other hand, looked well groomed.
"Ever been in love, Lenny?"
"Don't believe in the percentages.” He sipped from his mug.
Spence nodded. “There aren't any."
Lenny chuckled. “Sounds as if love's made you a cynic."
He didn't answer. Discussing his love life, or lack of one, with Lenny wasn't part of his agenda. Finding out if Lenny was setting him up for Parker was though.
"The whole situation with Parker's a bummer.” Lenny shook his head. “Mercy's a nice lady. So's her friend, Cindy. Hate to see everyone fucked over by some old fart and his dying friend."
"You sound like a smart man, and I'm a desperate one. So I'm inclined to take your charity. Where's the boat?"
"One of our bouncers noticed the address on an envelope when the bookkeeper sent him to the post office. Hugo was instructed to make sure the bill for the docking fee got mailed pronto, before it became past due."
"Your bookkeeper is a talkative man. Isn't there some kind of accountant/client privilege he should honor?"
"Guess not. Anyway, Hugo mentioned the incident to me. Everybody spills their guts to their bartender."
"And loose lips sink ships. That's a Doriaism. Ever heard of her?” he asked. “She's a philosopher."
Lenny tugged at his ear, thinking. “Can't say that I have. She some kind of female Confucius?"
"Exactly.” Spence wished Mercy was here to share the conversation. She loved a good platitude. She'd grin, her lips pink and lively and kissable. He swallowed a groan, set his mind back on Lenny's deal. “The boat you're talking about is the Mermaid, right?"
"Yes.” Lenny nodded. “That's her name. Hugo has a friend works in the marina. He's going to call him, see what he knows."
"How do I repay you for your kindness?” Spence asked, with a touch of sarcasm. He still wasn't sure how trustworthy Lenny was.
"Tip big. Hugo needs the money. Has a sick kid.” Lenny stood up to go and dropped his cup in the sink. “Stop in at the club around ten-thirty tonight. That's when he takes his break. I'll hook you up."
"I'll be there."
Lenny stretched and yawned. “I need my zzz's.” He started down the hall to leave.
Spence didn't stop him. The only way to find out if he was walking into a trap was to meet Lenny and Hugo tonight. It sure as hell beat sitting around waiting.
"Lock up when you leave,” Spence called after him.
"Got you covered, man."
Spence dumped his coffee down the drain. His stomach revolted at the idea of drinking any more of the strong, black brew. Or maybe his gut was sending him a reflexive warning.
On a second thought, he strode toward the hallway, figuring it wouldn't hurt to deadbolt the door after Lenny.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Twenty-eight
After a spritz of a spicy cologne, which happened to be one of Spence's favorites, Mercy dressed to go out for the evening. But she had no intention of spicing up her life with him again.
Go home, he'd told her two nights ago, and it still stung.
She'd show him. She couldn't leave Texas fast enough, even if sex with him had been the greatest event in her life to date. Even if his savory attention to every inch of her naked flesh made her feel special, glorious, desirable.
With a purring moan, she admitted to herself how much she missed him.
She'd missed his smoldering presence at the club last night, too, which at least assured her that he was nearby and okay. Could his absence mean he finally believed in her and had given up hunting down her uncle?
Her heartbeat surged. Abandoning his search for her sake meant he had feelings for her, deep ones. A thrill throbbed her pulse. She wanted to shout out the news, but Cindy hadn't arrived home from the office yet.
Needing to talk, she settled for dialing Pennsylvania to inquire about her uncle, expecting her mom's happy voice to say she'd finally heard from him and he was fine.
By the time she finished her conversation, a dullness replaced her joy.
"No,” her mother had said, “Parker hasn't gotten in touch with me yet."
Looked like love wasn't Spence's motive for not showing up at the club. After hanging up, she crossed her fingers that he hadn't caught up to her uncle.
Her trouble-free spirit had crashed, fast. Where was Cindy?
She glanced at her watch. It was almost ten o'clock. Cindy had left word on the answering machine that she was working late, but this went beyond her usual sense of duty. Mercy pushed the speed dial on her cell, but Cindy didn't answer. She left a voice message and called a cab. The quiet in the condo was driving her wild. She needed to do something, go somewhere, talk to someone, and soon.
When she arrived at the Starry Night there was no Spence, no uncle, no Cindy, no Jay. No one she knew at all, only Lenny.
"Where's your pretty friend tonight?” the good-looking bartender asked, serving her a sparkling water with lime, and busying himself wiping down the bar elsewhere once she replied, “I don't know."
Only the lingering smell of Lenny's expensive aftershave kept her company while she sat with nothing to do but stress out.
She kept watch in the smoke-stained mirror behind the bar, wondering what was keeping Cindy. After many glances, she spied the tall, hunky, familiar physique of Spence as his shadow darkened the entrance. Her breath caught. Dressed in black, her fantasy man incarnate looked sexy and hot. Her heart thumped, hungering for his love, while her pussy quivered, aching to be satisfied.
A glimmer of emotion sparked in his eye
s when he first caught sight of her. But he averted his head and sauntered toward the other end of the bar.
What had she seen in his dark eyes? Anger. Doubt. Did he still insist she'd betrayed him?
At a loss to work things out with him, she tapped her nails against her water glass and went back to worrying. Mercy didn't know where her uncle was, and obviously neither did Spence or he wouldn't be here. If she did know, she wouldn't tell him. Not in his state of mind. Her uncle's safety and her own peace of mind were both at stake.
Down the bar from her, Spence leaned his magnificent body against the railing. Heck, even his elbow was sexy. One look at his large hands and long fingers stirred her sensual longings. She chewed on the ice chips in her glass to cool her ardor.
Spence said something to Lenny and shook his hand. She hadn't known the two men were friendly aside from a bartender/patron association, which didn't require handshaking.
Lenny motioned Spence into the backroom and closed the door behind him. The bartender went about his duties, avoiding Mercy and her curious looks. From the corner of her eye, she continued to scrutinize the backroom door. She couldn't fathom what was going on in there.
She shifted on her seat and strained her ear toward the room. No ruckus that she could hear. She relaxed, confident that Spence's brain and brawn would protect him if a need arose.
About fifteen minutes later, he emerged with Hugo, the bouncer. Neither looked worse for the wear. No bruises, no apparent punches thrown.
She scanned the room, wishing Cindy would hurry up and get here. Cindy always had an insight, however offbeat, into unusual situations.
Lenny handed Spence an icy longneck and asked, “Everything okay?"
Spence nodded and straddled a vacant stool within easier hearing distance. “Corpus Christi. At one a.m."
"That's a two-hour drive.” Lenny gave him a thumbs up. “You have just enough time."
"Want to go for a ride?"
A ride? They were much better acquainted than she suspected.
"My shift doesn't end until closing.” Lenny busied himself collecting empty glasses from the bar.
"I thought as much.” Spence tipped back his beer bottle and drank a thirsty mouthful.
She moistened her lips. She knew all too well the taste of his lusty mouth, warm, moist, and giving. As he tossed his head back further and exposed his throat, she craved to nip his flesh and make him groan with want for her.
Just to teach him a lesson, she assured herself.
"Don't want to drink and drive.” Spence handed Lenny the almost-full bottle when the bartender looked up. “I have to talk to someone on my way out."
Mercy crossed her legs and adjusted the neckline of her low-cut blouse. She was ready to hear him out this one last time.
As Spence vacated his seat, Lenny said, “Take care."
"If I don't see you again—” Spence never finished his sentence, just strode away, out toward the patio.
She uncrossed her legs and slumped her shoulders, wondering who he'd gone to talk to. But before she could puzzle over the odd goings-on she was smacked on the back.
"Hey, there.” Cindy had arrived at last, with Jay, Rita, and Bob, who she hadn't seen since he'd taken her sightseeing.
"A late meeting?” Mercy asked as Cindy slipped alongside of her, her coworkers in tow.
"A big meeting,” Cindy said. “Heads are going to roll tomorrow. Someone accessed the computer file for next year's brand new bath line. Tubs, sinks, toilets. The works."
"Probably some hacker.” Jay waved to Lenny and set drinks up for all of them.
"We're months ahead of schedule,” Bob said once Lenny took their orders. “How would a hacker know our newest line of bath fixtures was available already?"
"I wonder,” Rita purred, squeezing next to Jay, sliver-eyed and grinning.
Cindy crossed her eyes and made a face when Rita scrunched in closer to Jay. Mercy choked back a groan at the woman's obvious tactics.
"The company's going to enter and search everyone's computer system and files,” Cindy explained to Mercy. “That will exonerate all of us honest employees."
"Look.” Jay pointed across the room. “A table's available."
Everyone bustled off, except Cindy. “I'll see you later,” she called to her coworkers then turned to Mercy. “How are you doing tonight?"
"Never mind me. Are you okay? The crisis at the office sounds serious."
"Not to worry.” Cindy waved her hand. “I haven't used my computer for any unauthorized reasons."
Mercy stilled her hand. “What about the file you and Jay worked with?"
"I'm authorized to access that file."
"Good.” Mercy smiled, relieved, leaning in nearer to Cindy. “You missed some strange happenings in here tonight. Have you ever noticed that Lenny and Spence are friends?"
"No. Can't say that I have."
"Something went on between Spence, Lenny, and Hugo, the bouncer. Spence's driving to Corpus Christi for one a.m. Lenny couldn't go with him."
"Spence with your uncle's employees? Do you think it concerns your Uncle Parker's whereabouts? Should we tail him to Corpus Christi?” Cindy clunked one of her red platforms onto the bar's brass foot rail.
Mercy shrugged. “A cab to Corpus Christi would probably cost a fortune, and suppose Spence loses us."
"Jay wouldn't trust us with his Jag, but I could ask Bob to lend us his car.” They swiveled around on their barstools to check the table where Cindy's coworkers sat. Bob was still there.
That's when Mercy spied Spence in the shadows of the outdoor patio. He was head-to-head with a pudgy guy wearing baggy pants and thick glasses.
Spence glanced her way but kept nodding to whatever the guy was saying. Then in a flash, the man scurried off by way of the outside stairs leading to the river. Spence rambled toward Mercy.
Her throat went dry. Cindy nudged her in the side. “Here comes trouble."
Yes. His long, jean-encased legs were coming right at her. Her gaze strayed to his fly. A quiver pulsed between her thighs. Despite their differences—his ambition to ruin her uncle's life and upset her mother's, not to mention a possibly long delay to her own plans for the future—she couldn't stop her body from clenching with wet want for Spence. To have him deep inside her, throbbing, driving them to orgasm. Desire welled up, hot and fast. Her heart pounded.
But he passed her by for Lenny, again. After the two exchanged words, the bartender winked, and Spence exited by way of the front door. Where in the heck was he off to now? Had there been a change in plans about Corpus Christi? He was a torment, mentally as well as physically.
"You look worried,” Cindy said.
"I still want him, Cindy. After the threats to my uncle and the false claims he made about me.” She stared into her friend's stunned, rounded eyes. “And not just my body. My heart wants him, too. With sputtering beats, every time I see him."
"Sheesh,” Cindy said. “Talk about lovesick.” She pushed her glass of scotch and water into Mercy's free hand. “Try to hold yourself together till Saturday's flight. Okay?"
Mercy closed her eyes and swallowed a healthy swig of the strong alcohol. She smelled Lenny's expensive cologne before she saw him. Flicking her eyes open, she said, “I've been trying to talk to you all night."
He leaned across the bar, shifting his eyes between both her and Cindy. “Meet Spence outside. Take the metal steps down to the Riverwalk. It's important."
"I don't know.” Cindy drawled. When Lenny rested his manicured fingers on top of hers, Cindy's mouth stopped whining and started drooling.
"It's okay. Trust me. It concerns your company's computer glitch.” He met Cindy's gaping gaze. “Don't even breathe in your coworkers’ direction. Just go out through the front door and circle around. Now."
But Cindy didn't move. She let Lenny hold her hand and coax her a few more times, basking in the glow of his handsome, masculine attentions.
Until he finally caught on and r
eleased her hand. Even then, she still sat there, watching his tight ass walk away, whistling under her breath.
"I told you it was strange around here tonight,” Mercy said.
"Let's see what this is all about. I might end up with a monetary reward from the company if I come away with a valid tip on the computer crime.” Hopping down from her stool, she scurried toward the front exit as deftly as a woman in four-inch platforms could, while still avoiding detection by her coworkers on the other side of the room. Mercy trailed after her, watching the threesome from the corner of her eye.
Near the exit, Cindy pointed toward the restroom. “I have to pee.” Slipping through the restroom door, she disappeared while Mercy ducked behind a four-foot signboard of the night's food and drink specials.
When Cindy finally emerged, she hissed, “What took so long?"
"I had to comb my hair and freshen up my makeup, and then my cell rang. Jay wanted to know where I was, so I told him you were feeling ill and I was taking you home."
She grabbed Cindy's arm. “If we don't get out there soon, Spence might leave and we'll never find out what's going on."
Outside, they turned the corner of the building toward the unlit metal steps spiraling down to a section of the Riverwalk that had pretty much shut down for the night. Mercy blinked into the blackness.
"Let's wait for our eyes to adjust,” Cindy said, skidding to a stop.
"But only for a moment. We've wasted a lot of time already. It has to be after eleven. Spence may have given up on us."
"Lenny sounded like he was concerned about me,” Cindy said into the darkness. “And about my problem at the office. A viable lead could get me a bonus and Lenny a big tip, which I'll deliver in person."
Mercy wondered where Spence fit into the scenario. “I can see a little now. How about you?"
Cindy was already picking her way down the spiraling steps.
Mercy gripped the metal railing and groped her way along behind Cindy, slow and single file.
"Down here.” Mercy recognized Spence's low, rumbling voice. Her stomach flinched, sending wish-you-were-here contractions to her pussy and her heart.
Spence and the man she'd seen him with earlier were waiting beneath the shadowy, large branches of a sprawling tree alongside a deserted stretch of the river where the darkness was thickest. Mercy followed Cindy's wobbly footsteps to the bottom of the stairs.