Chapter Two
Shane Blake
I rarely drink but I do need a drink tonight. After grabbing a shower to wash off the sweat, anger, and lust, I jump on my Harley and head straight over to Blake’s. My brother bought the bar a few years ago and now he runs it with Karmen, his fiancée, and the love of his life. It is also the only bar in town so it’s not like I have many options.
I do love my brothers, and we are always in each other’s business, both personal and professional. Each of us helps wherever we are needed but we mostly have our own shit to do. I opened the only real estate agency in fifty miles with my best friend Kalum. Our youngest brother Adam does the books for both businesses. He’s some kind of mathematical genius, the little fucker. Even though he chooses to act like an idiot most of the time.
We have always been close and even though we have grown up, we still are. Mercy used to be part of that dynamic. But then she grew up and wasn’t just another playmate. She became my greatest fantasy. The girl that turned me inside out if I just thought of her. And being a kid, I didn’t know how to cope with that, so I pushed her away, and as a result, so did my brothers.
One day we were all laughing and joking in the backyard and in the blink of an eye we were helping her load a moving truck after her mother passed. I never forgave myself for not taking a chance and trying to get the girl of my dreams.
She is never far from my mind, though, and I almost thought I was hallucinating earlier when she was in my arms. One thing is for sure, she isn’t the girl of my dreams anymore. She is all woman now.
She is all I have ever wanted but I fear I will never get the chance. My drive over to the bar is filled with thoughts of Mercy, trying to figure out how to get her to give me the time of day. My life is a fucking mess, and I don’t think she would want to be drawn into my bullshit.
You also have to consider how Charlotte will react to me being with Mercy. The night our child was conceived was a Halloween party and I was drunk off my ass. Somehow, I convinced myself that Charlotte was Mercy. Hence the not drinking part. Not that it matters now, I’ve already fucked up lives in irreparable ways.
When I pull up, the parking lot is filled to the brim. But what else would you expect when we are the only bar in town? Shutting down my bike, I take a deep breath before slinging my leg over my Harley, walking around the building, and entering from the back. Wesley is probably going to need some help behind the bar tonight.
Coming in through the back door, the last thing I’m expecting is to find Mercy behind the bar when I walk in. She is slinging drinks just like she did when we were younger.
“What the fuck?” I ask loudly.
Both Mercy and Drew, the bartender, turn to look at me.
“It was busy,” she says, returning to the guy in front of her. “Drew was slammed, and Wesley is locked up in his office.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Drew gag. “Karmen’s here,” he says by way of explanation. “Supposedly to help me out but they’ve been gone for the better part of an hour.”
Shit. Since my oldest brother finally gave in and got the girl he has always loved, this has been an issue. He can’t keep his hands off her. I can’t begrudge him, though. If I could get my hands on Mercy, I would probably never let her go.
“Well, I’m here now,” I grumble.
I have no idea why I am acting like an asshole. This is exactly what I wanted—the opportunity to talk to her again. Everything about her knocks me on my ass and suddenly I feel like a hormonal teenager all over again. And the cycle continues.
“And you can watch the door,” Mercy throws over her shoulder. “Luca’s kid fell and needs stitches. He just left. So, there is no bouncer tonight.”
“Since when do you order me around?” I challenge.
“Since I was about six and broke your nose,” she sasses. “Want me to do it again?’
Drew bursts out laughing along with some customers. Mercy and I stare at each other for long moments before I shake my head. I want to say something in return, but a fight breaks out at that moment and I have to jump the bar to separate two drunk assholes before they tear the place apart.
****
Mercy West
Goddamn. That man is seriously fine. I can feel myself getting all heated just watching him manhandle the two men that were fighting. I never thought violence would turn me on but for the second time tonight, seeing Shane use his body to dominate another man has me hot under the collar.
If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed that straitlaced Shane Blake was hiding tattoos and a serious violent streak. I mean, he’s a goddamned real estate agent for crying out loud. The man is always wearing jeans and a button-up shirt with a tie. I sure as shit wasn’t expecting to find him in an underground cage fight earlier tonight.
“Can I get a beer?”
Dragging my attention away from Shane, I face my latest customer. The voice suits the man. Big, bulky, probably around thirty. But also, another fine-looking man. What the hell is in the water up here? I don’t remember there being so many gorgeous men in Severn. Now I see one every time I turn around.
“I haven’t seen you here before,” the man says and smiles, showing his dimples when I hand him his drink.
“I’ve been gone for a couple of years.” I extend my hand toward him. “I’m Mercy.”
He takes my hand but doesn’t shake it. Instead, he places a kiss on my knuckles, and I giggle like a damn schoolgirl.
“Zane.”
“Nice to meet you.” I nod toward another customer down the bar. “But we are slammed, as you can see.”
“Do your thing, pretty lady,” Zane drawls before taking a sip of his beer. “I’ll be right here when you’re done.”
The rest of the night is a blur of booze and laughter. I forgot how much fun it can be working behind the bar at Blake’s even if my feet hurt like a motherfucker. At some point, Wesley emerges from his office with Karmen Jones tucked under his arm.
“Finally!” I call out, causing Karmen to blush.
“We weren’t gone that long,” she mumbles.
“That’s not what I meant. I’m just happy to see you two finally together. You’ve been mooning over each other for years,” I say, hugging her tightly. “And you were gone for over an hour,” I murmur in her ear.
Wesley smiles at me fondly and a pang of longing hits my chest. He has always been a big brother figure to me. Growing up as an only child can be hard but I always had the Blake brothers, so I was never truly alone. I mean, Wesley taught me how to ride a bike when we were kids and drive a car when I was old enough.
“Are you staying or just passing through?” he asks.
“Not sure yet,” I call over my shoulder as I hand a couple of tipsy ladies another round of cocktails. “But I’m here now.”
“I need a bar lady. Think about it.”
Just as suddenly as they appeared, they are gone again. I am planning on staying in Severn but that’s because I want to start a business, not be a bar lady. But it’ll take a month or more to get everything up and running and this could keep me busy for the time being.
“What time do you get off?” Zane asks.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him whenever he has the time, but my attention is diverted by Shane, angrily frowning behind Zane.
“Zane,” he says lowly as he leans against the bar. “I thought I made it perfectly clear you aren’t welcome here.”
“And I told you to eat shit and die.” Zane doesn’t even glance in Shane’s direction, keeping his attention focused solely on me.
“Finish your beer and get the fuck out.”
“I’m having a conversation here.” Zane gestures to me.
Shane turns his burning gaze my way. Immediately I lift my hands, palms out. There is tension, something burning between the two of them, and I don’t want to get in the middle of that.
“Just being friendly with the customers.” I chuckle, trying to alleviate the tension.
His gaze scans my face searching for any signs of deception.
“Mercy isn’t interested in your bullshit either. So, move it the fuck along.”
He grabs the half-empty beer in front of Zane, leans over the bar, and dumps it in the bin. Shane looks at me like he has more to say but turns and walks away. From the corner of my eye, I see movement.
“Shane,” I yell, hoping he can hear me before it’s too late.