Mercy

'Michelle, honey-'

'You're not paying attention, are you? I want to have sex with you. The bad kind,' she qualified. 'You know what I'm talking about. The hot, steamy, tear-our-clothes-off, mind-blowing, scream-out-loud sex. Like in the old song 'All Night Long,' that's

you and me, babe. All night long. You name the time and the place, and I'm there.'

She'd apparently rendered him speechless. That had to be a first. Maybe she wasn't so bad at this stuff after all. Theo just

stared at her with that lopsided grin in place. She suddenly felt as cocky as a rooster getting ready to crow.

She folded her arms across her waist and demanded, 'So? What have you got to say to that?'

He took a step toward her. 'Michelle, I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine, Noah Clayborne. Noah, this is Michelle Renard.'

He was bluffing. He had to be bluffing. She gave a tiny shake of her head. He nodded. She shook her head again, whispered, 'Oh, God,' and closed her eyes. This couldn't be happening.

She didn't want to turn around. She wanted to vanish into thin air. How long had he been standing there? Her face began to

burn. She swallowed, then forced herself to turn.

He was there, all right. Tall, blond, amazing blue eyes, and a killer smile.

'It's nice to meet you,' she stammered. Her voice sounded like she had laryngitis.

Until she'd turned, she hadn't thought it could get any worse. She was wrong about that. Her father was standing in the

doorway, just a few feet away from Noah, and he was definitely close enough to have overheard what she'd said to Theo.

Maybe he hadn't heard, though. Maybe he'd just gotten there. She gathered her courage and glanced at him. Daddy looked thunderstruck.

Michelle came up with a quick game plan. She would simply pretend it hadn't happened.

'Did you just get here?' she asked nonchalantly.

'Uh-huh,' Noah drawled. 'So, Theo, are all the pretty ladies in Bowen this friendly?'

The door slammed shut behind her father as he rushed forward. Now he appeared mortified. 'When I said 'put out the

welcome mat,' I thought you understood what I meant. There's friendly and then there's real friendly, and I raised you to

know the difference.'

'Daddy, Theo was flirting, and I was simply calling his bluff.'

'I wasn't bluffing.' Theo shrugged.

Her foot came down hard on top of his exactly one second later.

'Yes, you were,' she said. 'Honest, Daddy, I was just… teasing.'

'We'll be talking about this later, young lady,' Jake said as he turned and walked back inside.

Then Noah piped in. 'Theo was flirting? You're kidding about that, aren't you?'

'He was flirting.'

'We're talking about the guy standing behind you. Theo Buchanan?'

'Yes.'

'It's hard to believe. I don't think he knows how to flirt.'

'Oh, he's really good at it. Honest,' she insisted.

'Yeah? It must be you, then. I was telling Jake that this is the first time in over five years that I've seen Theo wearing anything

but a suit and a tie. He's always been a workaholic for as long as I've known him. Maybe you bring out the bad,' he. said, drawing the word out, 'in him.'

She took a step back and bumped into Theo. She wasn't thinking about running, but she didn't like knowing he blocked her exit. 'Could we please change the subject?' she asked.

Noah took pity on her. 'Sure we can. Theo told me you're a doctor.'

'Yes, that's right.' Good, she was back on safe ground. Maybe Noah had some kind of medical problem and wanted her advice. God, she hoped so.

'What kind of a doctor are you?'

'She's a surgeon,' Theo answered.

Noah grinned. 'Aren't you kind of young to be playing with knives?'

'She operated on me.'

Noah shrugged. Then he moved forward. 'Dance with me. We'll find a nice Willie Nelson song and get to know each other.'

He draped his arm around her shoulder and led her back inside. Theo stood there frowning as he watched the familiarity.

Noah was a blatant womanizer. He'd made more conquests than Genghis Khan, and Theo didn't like seeing him work his

charms on Michelle one bit.

She perked up. 'You like Willie Nelson?'

'Sure I do. Everyone likes Willie.'

She glanced back at Theo. 'Your friend has good taste.'

Then Noah drew her attention. 'Could I ask you a question?'

She was so thankful she'd gotten past her embarrassment, she said, 'You may ask me anything.'

'I-was just wondering…'

'Yes?'

'Is there any other kind of sex besides the bad kind?'

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Cameron knew he had screwed up, but he wasn't going to admit it. He leaned against the paneled wall of John's library, his

head bowed, as Dallas and Preston and John took turns tearing into him.

'How long do you think it will take the doctor to remember she saw you at Catherine's funeral?' Preston asked as he jumped

up from his chair. Slamming his powerful fist into the palm of his other hand, he paced back and forth across the room.

'She won't remember,' Cameron muttered. 'I was never anywhere near her at the funeral. Besides, I was sick of waiting, and

I think the risk was worth it.'

Dallas exploded. 'How could it be worth the risk, you ass? You didn't get the package, and now you've got people looking for it. You're a mess, Cameron. It's die booze. It's fried your brain.'

Preston stopped in front of him. 'Now you've put us all in jeopardy,' he shouted.

'Screw you,' Cameron shouted back.

'Calm down,' John ordered. 'Dallas, get Monk on the phone. You need to read him that report.'

Monk was sitting in his SUV waiting for the doctor and her lover to come out of The Swan. His vehicle was well concealed between two vans at the back of the parking lot. There were four cars in the next row in front of him. It was hot and muggy,

but he didn't turn on the air conditioner. All four windows were down, and he was being eaten alive by mosquitoes. Compared

to standing in the brush watching the doctor's house with bugs crawling up his legs, this watch was luxurious.