I swallow down my emotions because I feel everything seeing Mercer right now. His face is scanning the crowd and I know I only have a few moments before he spots me. The anger ebbs as the bond I have with this man takes over. The bond has its own life form. His energy calls out in a Clover Wellsley catcall, a siren song, in a manner impossible for me to ignore.
After all this time has passed, I’m still affected by him in earnest. My heart rattles against my chest, I can’t catch my breath and my skin tingles. Running my hands up my bare arms, I try to make the goosebumps go away. A shiver runs up my spine when Mercer’s gaze locks on mine. A sly smile pulls one side of his mouth and his eyelids lower a fraction.
I blow out a noisy breath. My friend nudges me. She saw the look. Everyone else must have read into it, too because I feel the stares on my face. I can’t look away. Not after all of the nights I spent using my memory to form his beautiful, strong features. Even my imagination didn’t paint him handsome enough. The spotlights beaming on the stage give him an ethereal quality. I’d have a doctor check my pulse if I didn’t feel my dad’s hand on my arm.
“Strapping lad, huh?” Daddy says, squeezing my forearm to get my attention.
That breaks the haze. “You know we’re on the outs,” I whisper.
He chuckles under his breath, a real off-putting sound coming out of a Wellsley’s body, honestly. “Clover, honey, that look says everything but on the outs. I gave you a hard time at first because I wanted the best for you and didn’t want to see you get hurt.” He swallows and turns his gaze to the stage as Mr. Ballentine settles into his speech and Mercer and Mrs. Ballentine take a seat in the metal folding chairs behind the microphone stand.
“Well, you were right. I got hurt,” I say.
He shakes his head and looks back at me. “Back then, I didn’t know what was good for anyone. Including myself. A man like Mercer who puts God and his nation above all else is a risk, but that doesn’t mean he’s not best for you. You have a tender heart and I think, quite possibly, I was wrong.”
I choke on my next breath. “Did you just admit you were wrong?” I taunt under my breath, keeping my eyes forward so it doesn’t appear as if we aren’t paying attention to the stage. “The sky is going to fall at any second.”
Daddy smiles widely and wraps an arm around my shoulder. “It’s rude to carry on like this. Focus on the stage, Clover,” he replies, eyes narrowing in a way that looks like he’s listening intently.
Mr. Ballentine is confident, his suit crisp, and his eyes bright. He clutches the microphone and walks as he concludes his brief speech. “We are a strong community and I want to thank you for giving me a chance. I’ve been behind the scenes for a long time lobbying for our people. Things are settling in our country, but Greenton won’t stay stagnant. We will move forward with Southern grace, tenacity, and grit. I want to thank the former Mayor Wellsley for being a worthy friend, colleague, and opponent.”
My daddy tips his imaginary hat toward Mr. Ballentine and wears his work smile. Eyes are on me as well, so I flash the pageant grin, avoiding Mercer’s searing gaze.
Mr. Ballentine turns to look at his family and then back at the crowd, at me. “My family wants to thank everyone and start off this season with a bang. Mercer will be serving drinks at the Dizzy Rocket and there will be a catered meal, family-style. Please walk over there with us and accept our thanks. Here’s to the future, to passion, and to a community I’m fortunate to be part of.” The crowd erupts with applause.
I turn on the picnic table to face Goldie. “Mercer serving drinks, huh? Might have to check this out for myself.”
The smirk she gives in reply is devious. Tannie inserts her opinion on the tactic we need to deploy, and I agree. Daddy kisses me on the cheek. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Please,” I say, rolling my eyes. “You can’t use that line anymore.”
He drops his hands into his pants pockets. “Giving second chances isn’t something you should think about. Everyone deserves one or two.” Then he leans over, kisses the top of my head like he did when I was a child and saunters over to where my mama is chatting with a group of her friends.
The look she gives my father when he reaches down to hold her hand is swoon-worthy, real love story sort of stuff and I think for the thousandth time tonight how much better life will be because my daddy didn’t get what he thought he wanted.
“To DR,” I proclaim, taking Goldie’s beer and finishing it. I fish out my cell phone and tell Jack and Preston to meet us there. What is it Mercer said? You do it right the first time or you do it again.
Chapter Twenty
___________________________________
Mercer
I’M SLINGING DRINKS, wearing my uniform, and not only have I earned Glenda’s favor, the town is eating it up. I have no clue if Clover is going to show up. When she looked at me while I was up on stage during my dad’s speech, the spark was still there. It was alive and buzzing. She might not want to talk in public, so I need to settle in for a long night and the possibility that I’ll make a house call after this party is over. Moods are jubilant, everyone soaring high. Free alcohol and dinner paired with nothing but positive things in the news is really something to behold. The world is happy. Greenton is no exception.
I slide a drink to Billy-Jo, and she winks at me, her heavy makeup cracking as her eye wrinkles fold. I’m trying to make a Miami Vice when I hear Clover’s voice. I look up, and my stomach slides up to my throat. “Clover,” I say, stopping the blender.
“You,” she says, neck working as she swallows. Goldie and Tannie are next to her, followed by Jack and Preston. Jack’s shiner makes me cringe. Five seats clear as Goldie gives the current patrons the evil eye.
“My friends and I would like a drink,” Clover says. I blend the last part to the drink I’m working on and pour it for the customer. “White wine if you have it,” she adds. I nod at the others in the group, my token of greeting, and to Jack another apology. I also plead with Preston to forgive me for my atrocious behavior. He merely winks.
Walking to stand in front of her, I place my hands on the bar. “That it then? You here for drinks only?” I take out a house bottle of white and pour them all glasses and slide them down.
She folds her arms under her chest, gaze as potent as stormy skies. “What else would we be here for?” She takes in my uniform, a subtle appraisal.
“Me,” I say simply. “I don’t know about you, but kissing you is the only thing on my mind right now. It’s been quite some time since I’ve tasted those lips.”
She looks away, to her friend. “You don’t get to do that,” she returns. “Not before you grovel to Jack for your hideous behavior. And apologize to…”
“You,” I supply, helpfully, setting my hand on hers. Her nails are painted a light pink. Clover pulls her hand away and tucks her hair behind one ear. She’s wearing the earrings I bought her. “I’m sorry, Clover. If you’re going to make me do this right here in front of everyone. I’m sorry. A million stinky ponds sorry.” I look at Jack and Preston. “I’m really sorry for that,” I say. Turning my eyes back to Clover, I add, “It takes two for a misunderstanding, though.”
Tannie elbows Clover. “I’m sorry for what you saw. Jack was my closest friend in Cape Cod aside from Goldie. I promise you, me kissing him was like me kissing a grandparent.”
Jack scoffs. “That’s so distasteful,” he says, drawing out the word.
Preston laughs, rubbing Jack’s arm. “I don’t think about my grandma when I kiss you.”
Jack smiles with his eyes. “I guess that makes me feel better,” he says, leaning over to plant a kiss square on Preston’s mouth.
Goldie groans and tells them to get a room. Tannie elbows Clover again. “And? What else? Keep going,” Tannie prompts before she drains her glass of wine.
“I forgive you, Mercer,” Clover drawls.
I swallow hard. “That mean I can kiss my girl now?”
&nb
sp; Clover shakes her head. “Pour some shots. We need to play opossum or panda first.”
I take a step back, confused. “Seriously? The game we played in high school?”
She nods once. “Maybe not with Fireball this time. Get out the good stuff. We are in our thirties now. Let’s do this the refined way.” The other bartender covers the rest of the bar when he sees me preoccupied. I offer him a grateful nod.
Reaching under the counter, I pull out six shot glasses and line them up, and pour a mid-level whiskey into them carefully. Preston makes a joke that I have a career in bartending if my military career washes up now that the war is done. I make his shot a double.
Clover clears her throat. “Rules. One person says a statement. We all guess true or false and whoever is wrong, takes a shot.” She pulls a shot glass in front of her exposed chest and watches my face as I stare.
Goldie admonishes Tannie for whining about never winning this game and Jack offers an apology to me for that morning even though he didn’t need to. I hate myself a little more for what his face looks like.
“Start it up, darlin’,” I order.
“Mercer loves Clover,” she proclaims, then adds, “Panda.”
Everyone chimes in at the same time, “Panda.”
I grin. “You really are taking it back old school, aren’t you?”
She shrugs. “Wouldn’t want it to get inappropriate in a public venue.”
“Panda,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “My turn.”
“Clover kisses all her friends on the mouth,” I say.
Goldie and Tannie, in unison, “Opossum.”
Preston looks up in thought before he says opossum. Jack looks scared, but he agrees with the group. Clover is last with a deadpan, “Opossum.” No one drinks.
I take a shot. “I was panda,” I proclaim, hissing out the sting on my tongue. “I have one more, though.”
“Go on,” Tannie says, grinning. Jack and Preston are wrapped up in their own conversation at this point and we all know this is Clover’s game of fishing.
“This is the story where the guy gets the girl in the end,” I proclaim, leaning my elbows on the bar. “And I won’t leave you in suspense, I’m going with panda.”
Clover’s eyes go big and round, my reflection shining back at me. Clear as a sun-filled morning and as earnest as a hard day’s work. She leans in sliding the shot glass away with her elbow. “I’m thinking that’s probably panda.”
“Probably?” I counter.
Her lips brush mine when she says, “Opossum.”
I pull back, confused. “Huh?”
“Not probably, Mercer. Definitely panda.”
My lips sink into hers and they taste like magic—home. Everything I dared to dream for. It only takes a few seconds to realize the bar separating us is the only thing stopping me from taking her clothes off and having her in all ways. Her tongue tentatively probes against mine and I greet it with my own. My whole body ignites and I pull away before I get carried away.
Leaning my forehead against hers, I whisper, “I need to take you somewhere and show you something. What do you say?” I’m aware that everyone is looking at us, that we’re in a bar filled with people who just saw a kiss that wasn’t just a kiss.
“We still playing a game?” Clover asks. “Is what you have to show me X-Rated?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. That’s later on.”
“Okay, that’s enough of that,” Tannie exclaims, rising from her stool. “You guys want to go get something to eat and let these lovebirds get…reacquainted?” She hikes her thumb over her shoulder to the long table with food set out. The group agrees.
Clover laughs and bids her friends goodbye. I check with Glenda back in the kitchen and maybe it’s the uniform, but she agrees to let me go with a smile. I offer to come back to help her with the chores around the kitchen another day and apologize again for my drunken tirade.
When I exit, Clover is waiting for me, arms wrapped around her bare shoulders. The moon hits her skin and gives her a dewy glow. This is the part where we’re finally alone and I’ll have to use willpower alone to get through this without breaking down or just pushing her against a wall and kissing four months of missing her away.
“Where you taking me?”
“There’s something I want to show you.” My voice shakes and Clover hears it. “It’s a surprise,” I admit, opening my arms to the side.
“I missed you, Mercer,” Clover drawls, tears forming in her eyes. “Seeing you tonight up on that stage made me realize how much everything else doesn’t matter. You’re home safe and time didn’t touch my feelings for you.”
My heart rate picks up as we walk back to town square. This is going just as I hoped it would. “You don’t know how happy I am to hear you say that. This is sort of the surprise I was trying to pull back in Cape Cod.” I stop when we’re in front of the screen that still has an American flag projected. “I should have known it wasn’t clever enough and I’d have to Clover-ize the plan to fit.”
Clover quirks one brow and looks at me, her eyes shining. “I’m listening,” she says, taking both my hands in hers.
“Okay,” I say, stepping out of her grasp. “Stay here and watch the screen. Give me a few minutes.”
She nods, a coy smile playing on her lips.
I jog up to the little control station that houses the projector. There’s a feeling that comes with the thrill of a chase, or when action meets preparation. I feel it during missions, and I feel it now. I hit the play button, and make sure the video is focused and centered. My face pops up on the screen. It’s a little blurry because I used my older laptop to record the video.
My stomach flips when Clover steps closer to the screen to get a better look. The video plays.
“Clover Wellsley. It’s me.” I cover my mouth to cover a cough. “I just got here in London. There should be a little date stamp proving that.” There is. Clover steps even closer. The urge to walk over and pull her into my arms wars with my need for this to be as perfect as I can make it.
“Leaving you was harder than anything I’ve ever done before. It’s how I know that you are the person for me. Not just the person for me at this stage of life, but the person I want to be with for the rest of time. No matter what happens, I wanted you to know that I choose you.”
Clover turns to seek me out, but I move quickly, making my way around the control station toward the stage—hidden from view.
“When people talk about soul mates, I never thought mine would be someone I knew my whole life. Or that I’d find you on the side of the road covered in mud talking about lying to the world. It was then that I knew I was lying to the world too.” I pause on the video, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I wasn’t happy. I was fulfilled with my career, but my life needed more. You stumbled into me, literally, and I knew that life was about more than just my duty. Sometimes it’s about helping the person you thought needed help least. Or falling for a woman who doesn’t fall for anyone or anything. Here I sit in a small tin room in London feeling that ‘Bama sun on my face and that Camelia love in my chest because I love a woman more than I love my own life. Some people you have to let haunt you because they brought you to life, and if you didn’t allow it, they’d kill you completely. That’s where I’m at, Clover Wellsley. I’m letting you haunt my soul because it belongs to you. You’re home. You’re my love. My life. I want you to be mine forever. So, I’m asking for your hand in marriage. I’m asking you to be mine.”
Just as I hoped, Clover is so wrapped up in the video that she didn’t notice me walk up the stage in the dark right corner.
“Will you marry me, Clover?”
I get down on one knee, my mom’s small engagement ring in between my forefinger and thumb. “Marry me,” I ask.
Clover stumbles toward the front stairs of the stage, tears pouring down her face. When she gets to the top stair, she drops to her knees in front of me.
“I know it’s crazy to feel th
is way after such a short time, darlin’. There’s no one else for me. Not in the entire world. You are my definition of perfection. However you accept, just accept, I’ll do anything to make you happy for the rest of your life.”
She puts her finger on my mouth, takes the ring from my hand and slides it on her left ring finger. “Mercer Ballentine, I love you so, so much.”
“That’s a yes?” I ask, taking her cheeks in my hand, wiping her tears with my thumbs.
“Panda,” Clover says, throwing her hands around my neck, making me fall backward on the stage. We kiss for what seems like forever, her tiny body on top of mine, the cool sting of the ring metal on my face. She’s mine. The happiness is so complete and satisfying that I know nothing will ever compare to this moment.
We’re broken from the moment when we hear cheers and whistles. I sit up, Clover staying on my lap as I turn to see our friends watching us. Clover is a little tousled, and I’m a lot turned on, but she stands in front of me and throws her left hand in the air.
“I got the man!” she says. “We’re gettin’ hitched!”
Swooping her into my arms, I carry her off the stage and into the waiting truck I had Preston arrange earlier in the day. She claps her hands and squeals as she examines her hand. “I love you so much.”
“Ma’am,” I say, using a firmer tone. “I love you, too, but we have a couple i’s to dot and t’s to cross.”
Her gaze flicks up to mine and when she knows immediately what I mean and her eyes melt into a longing, ache-filled possession.
I swallow hard and throw the truck into drive. “Buckle up.”
_______________
Clover spins once she’s in the middle of the room at the bed and breakfast we just checked into. I close the door without taking my eyes off her. “Define best sex of your life as it pertains to a virgin,” she replies to the statement I just made.
I pull off my uniform and toss it over a chair before saying, “You already fucked my cock. This is just a formality.”
Clover takes a deep breath. “You’ve been planning this for far longer than I imagined. The taking of my virginity, that is.”
Almost Had You Page 22
