Page 15 of Shades of Mercy
“Ma’am, he helped me through tough days as well.”
She nodded, staring down into her tea. “If you don’t already know, my husband is a stubborn man. He doesn’t like to talk about his feelings.”
“It’s par for the course, sometimes.”
“Although we’ve been married for a long time, I’m still learning about this new Puma. Do you want to be married one day?”
Jag almost choked on his coffee. “I don’t believe marriage is in the cards for me.”
“You don’t believe or youknowit isn’t?” She looked at him through the unfurling steam of her cup.
“The same.”
“Is that coming from a place of heartbreak?”
“From a place of reality. Not everyone’s as lucky as you and Puma.”
She cradled her tea in her hands. “Trust me, there was nothing lucky about Puma and me. After he and I lost our child, we drifted apart. It took ten years for us to find each other again. And that first meeting after so long wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. Yet, love…is magical. It can heal the broken and mend the wounded.” She pushed her chair back and stood. “Thanks for the tea. I’m going in search of my husband. Moving is exhausting, and I need his input on some things.”
Jag finished his coffee, then went to pack his bag at the bunkhouse. He felt a sense of guilt that he didn’t have to stay there with the crew, but the feeling only lasted a few minutes. Once he walked into the cottage and heard nothing but silence, a smile crossed his face. He hurled his bag onto the floor and collapsed onto the mattress, stretching out on the full-size bed. After months of sleeping on a twin, it felt fantastic not to have his feet dangling off the edge.
He nearly dozed off when his phone vibrated. He pulled it from his pocket and read a text from his longtime friend, Mateo Sams.
The sight of his friend's name caused a heaviness in Jag’s chest. He’d kept a secret from Mateo. One that felt like betrayal.
At Mateo’s wedding, Jag let things spiral out of control with Mercy. From the time he first met her, he’d been infatuated, but he’d kept his feelings under wraps, hiding behind a wall of indifference. So when the morning sunlight came into the room, so did the shame of having slept with his best friend’s sister. He'd broken the silent vow between the men never to cross those boundaries.
Like any shamed man, before Mercy woke, Jag snuck away so he wouldn’t have to face her. He felt no pride in having slept with her and then sneaking out, but he understood that if he’d stayed, he wouldn’t have been able to resist temptation. Things would have been messy—messier. Mateo would have never forgiven Jag, their lifelong friendship would have been ruined, all because Jag couldn’t keep his dick in his pants.
Big mistake.
He’d wanted to confess to Mateo about that one night of weakness, but then he would’ve also admitted that he’d enjoyed himself and still wanted her. At every holiday and gathering when Jag visited home, he saw Mercy and found that the attraction still existed. Yet, she’d made it clear that she hated him…withred-burningpassion.
She’d regretted that one night, too.
He read the message from Mateo…
Calling in a big favor. I need your help. Please meet me, and I’ll explain everything.
The second message contained an address an hour from Shades Cove.
This surprised Jag. The last he knew, Mateo was involved in risky undercover operations. He wouldn’t ask for help unless he was in a critical situation.
Regardless of the circumstances, they always supported one another. The team shared matching tattoos that read, “Brothers until death.” They had fought through numerous battles together and would continue to face many more if needed.
Pushing himself off the bed, he stretched the kinks out of his back. Any plans for enjoying his first night in the cottage without being surrounded by the crew flew out the window.
But duty to his friend took priority.
Once everyone was settled in bed, the ranch transformed completely. A unique tranquility enveloped the land, and even the livestock seemed more at ease. Jag felt a twinge of guilt for interrupting the stillness by starting his truck and driving down the narrow gravel lane to merge onto the country road.
By the time he arrived at his destination, his curiosity was nearly overwhelming. The lot of the abandoned warehouse was vacant when Jag parked and turned off the engine.
Twenty minutes later, headlights turned into the parking lot. The truck parked, and Mateo climbed out. The tall, muscular man’s figure looked warrior-like in Jag’s low beams. A second silhouette remained in the passenger seat.
Jag jumped out of the driver’s seat and met Mateo between the trucks. They gave each other a firm handshake and a quick hug.
“It’s been too long, buddy,” Mateo said. In the poor lighting, he looked drained and stressed. “Look who traded in his uniform for Wranglers and a Stetson. It suits you.”
