Second Chance for Love

by April Zyon

  “I don’t think you ever get over losing the one you love, losing the one that means everything to you.” Mercy would be lost without Brant and knew it and they had only just spent a few days together. “So, yes, whatever it takes, we will ensure that your momma is always happy. I’m sure that this child coming along will make her insane as well.” She grinned. “And I like it.”

  “You do know she’ll make us insane with this baby coming along, right?” Facing her again, he shook his head. “She’s going to go ape shit. The first of her babies to have a baby. The first of her grandchildren—with more to come, I’m sure she’ll mention to all those of us with women in our lives. She’ll be wanting to babysit often, just for the opportunity to show off said child to everyone.”

  “Yes, I know that she will be crazy about this child and I can’t wait. And she can babysit sometimes. I don’t think that I will be ready to give our child up for a long period of time at all for a while. Hope you don’t mind.”

  “Who the hell are you kidding, woman? I’ll have wherever we live armed to the max to repel those that think to make off with our child before we’re ready. I will shoot trespassers. That isn’t an idle threat either, I’ll damn well shoot them. Not to kill, but they will be hurting for a long time coming.”

  That had her grinning. “I’m sure we will have a whole ranch full of hands more than willing to help us keep intruders away. As long as they will get to see the baby as well.” She laughed. “Those men have known Megs and I all our lives, so that would be good.”

  “I should really talk to them, find out some stories on you,” he said. Smiling when she went wide-eyed, he shrugged. “Why not? I think they might have some really good ones. Ones that I will definitely want to hear all about, in great and gory detail.”

  “I’m sure that they have some really juicy stories about me. Those men have been telling those stories for a while, so they are old. Now if you want some good stories, you will have to get those from Megs, if she will ever talk to you.”

  “Good point, your twin would likely know some of the more interesting ones. Ones that maybe even your parents never knew about. I’ll have to corner her the next time I see her, I think.” He looked down at her bowl and lifted his hand. “Let’s get out of here, sweetheart. We have a bit of shopping to do and then you need your nap.” Standing as Donna came up with the check, he pulled out some cash and handed it to her. Then Brant leaned in and whispered something to the woman, who smiled and nodded.

  “You’re a good egg, Brant. Have a good day, you two,” she called before bustling off to other parts of the diner.

  Mercy smiled and shook her head. “She’s right. You are a good egg. I’m glad that you’re mine.” She wrapped her arm around his middle. “I think that we are going to figure out how to have a great life together. Somehow and some way.”

  “Of course we will,” he said. Hugging her to his side, he led her out of the diner. As they walked past the front windows, she saw more than a few heads craning to watch where they were heading to. If she didn’t know for a fact it was impossible, she’d have claimed to hear the scrape of chairs as everyone moved to get a better view. “Crackers, mint tea, more ginger ale from the grocery. Then lube from the pharmacy, and we can head back to the ranch. We should get your prenatals too, maybe stop at the pharmacy first to get that going then swing back around after to pick up everything there.”

  She had to grin. “At least you recalled the lube.” Because she wanted to try everything with him. “And yes. Let’s go with your game plan. We should hurry, though, so we can get home before I fall asleep on you again.”

  “Right you are,” he said. Squeezing her closer to his side, he got them moving. It actually didn’t take them all that long. The pharmacy had the vitamins ready for her, even recommended a few other natural items to try for the nausea that wouldn’t react with the vitamins in any negative manner. Just over half an hour later, they were on their way back to the ranch, and a nice long nap.

  Mercy looked over at Brant as they drove along and yawned. Reaching out, she put her hand over his and smiled happily.

  “Me too, sweetheart. The happy part, I mean.” He chuckled, turning his hand over to lace their fingers together. “I don’t know what the future will bring, Mercy, but I know that if we’re together, it’s going to be amazing. Well, well, well, looks like your sister is home, finally,” he commented. There in the little parking area in front of their house was indeed her sister’s vehicle.

  “Let’s hope that she’s not going to go all big sister on me and junk. I think that would be bad.” Especially since, technically, Mercy was the older of the two of them.

  “A little,” he agreed. After parking, and grabbing the bags of their purchases, he came around to open her door for her. “That’s all assuming of course she’s awake. Given her gig, she might be asleep, assuming we were out for the day.”

  “Nope, she’s not asleep.” She looked to her twin and smiled. She had changed her hair again. Great. “Hey, Megs. How you doing?”

  “Great.” She let the door shut behind her and approached Mercy. “How you doing, sis?” She put her hands on Mercy’s upper arms. “You look tired.” She shot Brant a nasty look. “She needs some rest. Come on.”

  “Megs. Heavens, stop dragging me,” Mercy grumbled. “And yes, I am tired, but that happens, you know. I’m starting to grow a baby and that takes a lot of energy out of you.” Mercy looked at Brant and shook her head. “How about I head upstairs and wait for you?”

  “That’s a good idea. Go on upstairs. I will help Brant put the groceries away,” Megan said quickly.

  Mercy gave her sister a hug and winked at Brant, then walked away from them so that she could go up and get ready for her nap, one she knew that Brant would join her for.

  Chapter Ten

  Megan waited until Mercy was around the corner and whirled to look at Brant. “First off, congrats on the baby, but seriously, my sister? You ass.” She punched his shoulder. “You be good to her or I will shoot you. I mean it. That douchebag of an ex of hers did a number on her and I won’t have her hurt like that again.” She moved and took a bag from Brant. “For now, we need to talk. Shit is not looking good right now, B.” She leaned her hip to the counter. “At all. And what’s worse is I’m scared shitless that Mercy is soon going to learn how you and I are connected.”

  “You need to tell her what’s really going on, Megs,” he said. He was unloading items, one of which he pocketed with a smirk her way. “Seriously, talk to her. She’s not happy with what you’re doing, so be honest. If you don’t tell her how we know one another, I will. I think it should come from you.”

  “Yeah, but then she will be pissed because I didn’t tell her before now.” Megan sighed and rubbed her temples. “There is more,” she said quietly, and moved in closer to Brant, reaching out to touch his forearm. “I think I’ve found part of the issue in this town. A distributor has been a regular of mine for the last month and he’s finally talking. I think that I know who the main player in the game is and if I am right, Mercy is in a lot more trouble than I am.” She waited for him to look at her. When he did, she dropped her voice and whispered, “I’m positive that Malcolm is behind the major players. I’m not just saying that because I think he’s a sleazy son of a bitch, but because of fact. If I am right, he was hoping to use the Jenkins fortune and ranch to further operations.”

  “Which he can’t do without Mercy,” he muttered, his voice as low as hers. “Shit! No wonder he’s so pissed we’re together.” When she squeezed his arm, he sighed. “We ran into him outside Doc Billings’ offices. He overheard us teasing one another about being a mommy and daddy. He was fit to be tied. I think he’s going to cause us trouble, if you’re right. I need to see the evidence, Megs. We can’t go after him without a leg to stand on, especially out here. We don’t have the manpower here.” It was just her and him in Massey for the DEA.

  “Guy Pierce is supposed to come in tomorrow n
ight. He was bragging to me that he was going to bring me along so that I can learn what it was to be the prime bitch of his corral.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s wanting to show off, and you know what that means.” Megan looked up at the ceiling and shook her head. “But yes, it’s just us, Brant, and that’s not good. You have to keep Mercy safe, and I need to find these bastards. I hope that we can work together to put that ass away. And no, he can’t do shit without Mercy because, technically, she’s the oldest and has the full control of the property and monies. Not that either of us give a shit about it. Yes, it’s nice to have that behind us, but you know how it is.” Megan sighed and rubbed her eyes. “I am going to hit the bed. I will talk to Mercy later. You are going to take care of her, right?”

  “Of course I am,” he said. He frowned. “Megs, make sure you’re really careful with Pierce. He’s a big talker, showy, but he’s like a rattle snake. Just when you think it’s all for show, he turns on you and strikes. If you get yourself in trouble you nine-one-one me right fast, we clear?”

  “Don’t worry, I know his kind well. You forget just how you found me.” Megan moved to stand before Brant and leaned into him. “You also forget,” she whispered, “that I’m just as damn wiley as he is, but I have a family that needs me, so I’m even more dangerous. Especially if that fucker thinks to get my sister.” She was deadly when it came to Mercy. “And don’t worry. I will tell Merc. Eventually.” Megan just didn’t know how to tell her sister the fact that she had been a deep undercover DEA agent for the last eight years. Not something that you just blurted out, at all.

  Brant had his arm around her, his chin on her hair, and he sighed. She could feel the few stray hairs fluttering around from the breath he released. “Just tell her. I know you hate blurting shit out to her, but it’s best to just be straight, open, and honest. Quit hiding it, Megs.”

  “I guess I’m just worried that if I tell her now, she won’t be able to keep the secret. You know her. Well, not as well as I do, but you know she’s as open of a book as they come. That woman couldn’t hide a secret if she tried. Believe me, with Mercy, if she’s thinking or feeling it, you know it.”

  “So just tell her what you’re doing, not who you’re looking at. Tell her it’s still in progress and you don’t want her involved, so names are staying out of it. It’s important, so you wanted to tell her, but you can’t divulge anything until it’s over and done with.” Giving her a hug, Brant leaned back to look down at her, his hands cupping her cheeks. “Quit being an idiot and just tell her the truth.”

  “Yeah, well, you know,” Megan said with a sigh. “I will talk to her when she wakes. Promise.” She smirked. “Now go on up and be with her. I saw what you slipped into your pocket, so go and have fun. You just make sure that she doesn’t hurt, bub, or you and I are going to fight.”

  “In your dreams,” he muttered. Shaking his head at her, he pressed a kiss to her hair. “You’re okay for a bratty little sister, Megs. But remember something, will ya?” He stepped back and gave her a long look. “I’m an older brother, so I’ve been at this shit a lot longer than you could ever dream of. I know stuff that would make you curl up in a ball begging for mercy. No pun intended there.”

  “Well don’t you worry about that, buddy. I will make sure that we all are somehow on the same page. Now go. You be good to her, Brant. She loves you. I have no fucking clue when that happened, but I know that look, and she’s never worn it before for anyone other than family. I’m betting she loves you in a much more carnal way. Don't break her heart or I will show you why I was picked for this position over the most seasoned of officers.”

  He shot a look to the doorway before looking at her again. “My hand to God, Megan. I love her more than I thought possible. She’s everything,” he whispered. “I would gladly lay my life down to keep her from being hurt even one moment of one day. She’s my reason to breathe right now.”

  “Then you should tell her that,” Megan said with a smirk, and walked away from Brant. Over her shoulder, she said, “Sooner rather than later, mister. I think you telling her that before I tell her what I need to tell her would be a good thing. That way she won’t think you are giving her words just to make her feel better. Tell her. I think she would be grateful for that.”

  “You are a pain in the ass,” she heard him mutter behind her.

  ****

  The door to the bedroom opened and eased closed gently. “Mercy, you awake, sweetheart?” The bed dipped down next to her hip as Brant settled his weight on the mattress.

  Opening her eyes, Mercy smiled. “Hey, you.” She reached out and touched her fingers to his lips. “I’m awake. How are you doing?”

  “Good,” he said. Smiling at her, he shifted around until he could lean over her, brushing his lips to hers. “I wanted to tell you something very important and semi-top secret. Mercy Jenkins,” he whispered. With a light brush to her skin, his lips settled by her ear. “I love you more than life itself.”

  Mercy’s eyes went completely wide, huge even. “What?” She couldn’t have heard him right. “You? Me?” She was stunned. “Really?” She wasn’t giving him time to answer her rapid-fire questions and laughed. She moved so that she could wrap her arms around his neck and squeezed him tightly. “I love you too, Brant Carver. I have no flipping clue when it happened, but I do.” She was crying now. Dammit all to hell, she was crying. “I never thought love would happen so fast, but it did.”

  He lifted her up so she was in his lap, his arms wrapped around her tightly. “Oh, sweetheart, love doesn’t have a fucking timetable. It happens like a bolt of lightning out of the blue. One minute you’re going along your everyday stuff, then you realize that the most perfect woman on earth is right there in front of you. You’re it for me, Mercy. The only woman I could ever truly see spending the rest of my days with.”

  “Well, that’s what happened.” She rubbed her cheek to his and smiled happily. “We are together. We will always be together, and I want that.” She pulled back and looked down into his eyes. “How about we do something to wear me out before we take that nap?”

  He grinned and nodded. “I think that’s a very good idea. How’s your stomach, though?” She was getting a pretty suspicious look as he leaned back a little further.

  “I’m good. I’m not going to throw up on you if that’s what you are asking.” She leaned closer and added, “I even brushed my teeth, so see, all good now.” She kissed him very lightly. “However, if you aren’t into making love with me…” She left the statement hanging there, knowing he would have something to say about that one.

  “Right, goad the guy into it. Real nice, lady.” Pressing a kiss to her lips, he chuckled and set her back onto the bed. He got rid of his boots before standing to strip out of the rest of his clothing.

  “Well, you know.” Mercy pulled her shirt off and then her pants. “A girl has to have options available.” She leaned back against the headboard and smiled. “I am happy. And horny. Oh sweet merciful heavens, I’m desperate here.”

  “Show me,” he said. “Show me just how desperate you are, Mercy. Are you wet?” He tossed something onto the bedside table, but his eyes never left hers, so she didn’t look away. “Is your pussy throbbing with the need to be filled up?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, and moved her hands down her front. “I’m very wet.” Her hand moved over her pussy and then she let her fingers slide over her slit. “Do you want to feel me? To taste me? Or do you want to see me touching myself? Sliding my fingers through my need for you?” She was needfully teasing him.

  “Spread your legs for me, nice and wide. I want to see your wet pussy with my own eyes. Keep touching yourself, Mercy. I like seeing you stroking your soft, ready pussy.” Brant moved to the end of the bed and got on. Sitting up on his knees, he smiled as he waited for her.

  Mercy spread her legs for him. She brushed her thumb over her clit and bit her lower lip. “Like this?” she asked, and slid a finger into her pussy, moving it in an
d out before pulling it out to rub the liquid heat over her mound.

  “Just like that, perfect. Play with your nipple with your other hand. Get it ready for me to suck on, baby. God, Mercy, you are beautiful,” he whispered. Leaning forward on his hands, he moved in closer, not quite enough to touch her, but close enough she could feel the heat of his body on her inner legs.

  “I love that look you have on your face right now,” she said, and pinched her nipple. Rolling the tight bud in between her finger and thumb, she moaned, her head falling back.

  “What look?” he asked her. His voice was ragged, rougher, almost a growl as it stroked over her senses. “Push that finger in deeper and feed me some of your juices, love. Nice and deep. Get it covered and then feed me.”

  Mercy gladly did just that. She rode her own finger for several minutes and then pulled it out to offer it up to him. “Taste,” she demanded, and wrapped her leg around his hip to pull him closer. “Come on, love, taste.”

  Slowly, Brant leaned in closer. Opening his mouth, he wrapped his lips around her digit and lapped at it. His tongue curled over her finger slowly, stroking it, teasing her skin before he slowly drew off. “I need more.” It was her only warning before he pressed his mouth to her pussy and lapped at her.

  Mercy’s whole body arched up and against him. Her hands moved to his head and she held him to her pussy where he feasted upon her like a man starving. Her toes curled as she lifted her feet to wrap up and around his shoulders, opening herself to him as much as she possibly could.

  He let out a fierce growl as he slid his hands under her ass and tugged her down on the bed. With a wiggle, he settled down on his stomach, his legs dangling off the end of the bed. His mouth was working her over furiously, sucking on her clit, nibbling on her slick flesh, dipping his tongue into her pussy to suck up her juices.