Chapter Twelve
Mercy was stripped down to her bra and panties when she heard the front door open and close so loudly it rattled the windows.
Great, Mr. Grumpy Pants has arrived.
She could barely contain her inner eye roll. She didn’t want to deal with him tonight, but she should have known better. He wouldn’t allow her space.
The hard knock came on the door.
“Go away, Jag.”
“Not happening. We’re going to talk about your little scene tonight.”
Anger zinged through her like electricity shooting down the line. Who did he think he was?
“Go away.”
“Open the door,” he demanded.
Frustrated, she whipped open the door and looked him square in the eye. “You always need things your way, don’t you?”
His gaze traveled over her, and his jaw tightened. “Where are your clothes?”
“Not on me. You demanded that I open the door, so here I am. If you can’t handle the heat, then get out of the bedroom.”
“I didn’t bring you here for you to star in a Hallmark romance movie,” he said bitterly.
“Excuse me?” She crossed her arms. “No one asked me if I wanted to be here in the first place. I might have to be here, but I don’t have to follow your rules. I haven’t done anything to put myself or anyone in danger. I was having a good time. It’s not my fault that you wouldn’t know a good time if it bit you in the ass.”
“You like to push my buttons, don’t you?”
“You wear your buttons so close to your sleeve.”
“You agreed that you’d listen to me while you’re here. It’s for everybody’s safety,” he said through pinched lips.
“Where in your rules did it say that I can’t be friends with the crew? You want me to cook for them but I’m not allowed to form a friendship? What is the logic in that?”
“Friendship? Is that what you call hanging all over Bones? I practically had to use soap and water to unglue you and Bones.”
Things were starting to clear up for her. “You’re jealous.”
He chuckled. “Why would I be jealous?”
“You tell me.”
“I’m just doing what Mateo asked me to do.”
“Oh? Did my brother ask you to monitor who I’m friends with?” Things were escalating, but she didn’t care.
“Getting involved with any of these men would only make things more complicated.”
“Complicated for who? You?”
He exhaled and shook his head. “Why can’t you just lay low and make things easier?”
“Why can't you just admit that you're jealous?”
“I would if I were. You’re just trying to turn this around, and it won’t happen.”
“I’m starting to get it. You don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me either.” She cocked a brow in challenge.
“Bullshit,” he said in a menacing tone.
“Call it bullshit but a snake is a snake. You and I have danced around the tension between us for years. When we finally gave in and followed the feeling, you were into it as much as I was, if not more. I’m still trying to figure out if you’re using Mateo as an excuse or if you’re afraid of me.”
“Afraid of you?” he scoffed. “Ridiculous.”
“Really? Since that night two years ago, you have dodged me like a bullet.”
“Wrong. And I’m not scared of you.”
She took a step, leaving only a foot’s distance between them. She lifted her chin so she could look up at him. “You’re not afraid of losing control, huh?”
“Mercy, we’ve been through this. I’m not the man for anyone.”
“I think you’re hiding behind that facade. I think you felt something for me, and you don’t know how to respond to those emotions.” She could be testing the waters, but she wasn’t going to dance around the elephant in the room any longer.
“I won’t deny that our time together was incredible, but the next morning I felt guilty because I should never have allowed myself to succumb.”
“To what? Emotion? Sensation? You’re not a robot, Jag. I completely understand because I’ve witnessed it with my brother and his wife, but stop using it as a safety net. To succeed in your job for years, you’ve had to keep all your emotions bottled up inside because showing emotion reveals weakness. Well, you’re home now.”
He was quiet for a moment, then said, “You don’t know me, Mercy. What you’ve seen of me is Jag at holiday gatherings. I carry a lot of demons and as much as I want to say that I’m healed, I still have a few miles to go.”
“Everyone is always evolving and growing. You can’t keep putting walls up and keeping everyone at arm’s length.”
He shrugged. “It’s a long story.”
She sighed. “I respect that you're self-aware enough to know you've more healing to do, but I can’t just sit here and keep waiting. You’re not oblivious to the fact that I’ve carried feelings for you for a long time, long before we slept together. In my heart, I think you have feelings for me too. If seeing me connecting with a man bothers you, then I suggest you do something about it or don’t look.” She gave him a tiny push, and he stepped back into the hallway. “I will respect that I’m not here to search for romance, but should it happen, then so be it. I’m going to bed now.” She closed the door on him.
She waited to see if he would demand that she open the door again, but he didn’t. After a few seconds, she heard his footsteps fade down the hallway.
Crawling into bed, she lay there staring at the shadows on the ceiling.
Perhaps she should have told Jag that she wasn’t interested in Bones. While he was handsome, kind, and interesting, she had to admit that she only wanted Jag. She couldn’t recall a time when she hadn’t.
The first time she met him, there had been an instant attraction. But once he realized she was Mateo’s sister, Jag’s distance had only frustrated her. Feeling restless, she rolled onto her stomach.
Then onto her side.
She couldn’t find a comfortable position if her life depended on it.
It was going to be a long night.