Read Mercy for the Damned for Free Online Page A

ass, but in the next moment he let me go.
    “Relax, darlin’,” he grinned, dropping his voice to whisper at my ear as he hugged me close.  “Cop at the bar, don’t look.  Come on, we’re selling this thing, right?”  All at once comprehension sank in, and I got what he was going for.
    “I know, but…”  Christ, everyone at work would think we really were an item.  Not that dating Parker would be anything to be ashamed of, but there was a stigma involved in sleeping with your boss, and I wasn’t overly fond of the idea.  I had managed to live down the suggestion that Parker and I once had a fling when he was dating Sharona, but I could feel the disapproval coming off of Walter in waves.  The old fashioned bouncer always had a soft spot for me, and I hated to see the disappointment in his eyes. 
    Maybe it was all in my head, but I couldn’t help but feel like everyone’s eyes were upon us as we walked back towards the bar arm in arm.  Detective Santiago made no attempt to hide her interest in the least, openly staring. 
    “Hello, Detective, what brings you down to Eden?” I asked, with a tight smile. 
    “I thought I’d get a first hand look at this great love of yours,” she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 
    “Great love?” Parker’s surprise registered at the word and I hurried to cover it.
    “It’s still a little new… we haven’t exactly professed our undying love for each other.”
    “Really?  I could have sworn you said something about not being able to control who you fell in love with,” Santiago’s eyes narrowed.
    “You’ve got that right,” Parker muttered.  “No, she’s right,” he said a little louder.  “Maybe I haven’t said it before, but you know I love you, sweetheart,” he reached up to caress the side of my cheek, turning my face to his.  “Don’t you?”
    “I… um, yeah.  Of course I do.  I love you too, Parker.” Not a lie , just not the way he meant. 
    “I’ve always loved you,” he smiled, that sweet smile with no trace of mockery or sarcasm.  The smile that transformed his entire face from roguish charm to sincere, leading man, good looks.  As I blinked over the transformation, he leaned in close, his lips brushing over mine in a tender kiss. 
    “Parker…” I murmured, at a loss for words. 
    “I know, this wasn’t where I planned on doing this but… sometimes I get carried away.   You know how it is, don’t you, Detective?” he winked at her, his arm snaking around my waist to haul me up against his side. 
    “That’s my Parker, always doing impulsive things,” I gave a shaky laugh.  “I never know what he’ll do next.”
    Detective Santiago’s expression remained unchanged, her dark eyes flicking between us.  “Mr. Davies, Miss Renault,” she nodded, rising from her seat without another word. 
    I wriggled out of his grasp the moment she was gone.  “You can’t do that!” I hissed, and he followed me back to his office.
    “I thought you wanted to convince her we’re dating?”
    “I did… I do…”  I couldn’t lay a finger on exactly what bothered me the most, being blindsided like that, or the fact that it was Parker who kissed me.  Again.   I had to make sure I wasn’t sending him mixed signals.  “Parker, you know it’s just for show, right?”  Lately with him I wasn’t sure if the usual flirtatious nature of our friendship was turning into something else.
    “Of course I do,” his brows drew together.  “Oh, come on, it was a couple of kisses.   Don’t you think you’re blowing things out of proportion?”
    “What about all that love stuff?”
    “You’re the one who brought that up to her, I was just going with the flow.”
    “You know everyone out there thinks we’re an item now, right?”
    “Isn’t that the idea?  You don’t think Detective Stick-up-her-ass won’t think of asking anyone else if they’ve seen us together like that before?” 
    He had a point.  It