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He held her gaze. “I’d rather have their respect. But I’ll settle for the type of reputation that will make folks think twice about me when I walk into a room. Better their fear than mine.”
Mercy gave him a sad smile. There was clearly more to this story, but now wasn’t the time to push him for answers. “I’m sorry I pried.”
Jason shrugged. “I don’t mind. You can—”
The sound of hoofbeats entering the courtyard floated in through the open window. Only one set, as far as Mercy could tell.
Jason was immediately on his feet, his gun in his hand. “It’s probably the sheriff,” he said, but he waved her back to the other side of the hearth where she’d have some cover if it were someone else. Jason flattened himself against the wall by the door, ready to launch himself at whoever entered.
“Dammit, Birdie, that was my foot you almost stepped on.”
The tension in the room immediately evaporated, and Jason and Mercy exchanged relieved looks.
Jason opened the door, though he took care to keep his body behind the wall as he peeked out. Smart. Gray was definitely out there, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t someone else out there, too.
Whatever Jason saw must have reassured him, because he opened the door wider and stepped out. Mercy could hear them speaking, but she couldn’t quite make out what they were saying. Her heart started pounding again. Now that the initial rush of relief had faded, her anger was returning. He’d ridden away, into danger, without a word to her about it first. Told his men,her friends, to keep her from following. Left her to worry herself sick for hours.
She knew she was working herself into a lather, but she didn’t care. She and Gray were going to have it out, or she was going to explode.
A few minutes later, Jason rode off and Gray pushed open the door. He’d barely gotten two feet inside when she launched herself at him, fists swinging. She pummeled his chest.
“I can’t believe you just rode off like that! How dare you?”
She couldn’t stem the half-hysterical tide of words and barely noticed the tears streaming down her face. The fear and anger and uncertainty crashed over her in a wave that threatened to pull her under.
Gray caught her wrists and walked her backward enough that he could kick the door closed.
“Mercy,” he said, but she didn’t let him get another word out.
“You scared the hell out of me!” she screamed.
Then she launched herself into his arms, kissing him like her life depended on it. And may all the saints be praised, he kissed her back, meeting her urgency with his own.
He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her so he could spin them around and push her up against the door. He broke away, his chest heaving, and his hand came up to grip her face, pushing her head back against the door. He rested his forehead against hers as both of them fought for breath. Her hands moved over him, frantically checking to make sure he wasn’t hurt, though she knew he wasn’t.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
“Don’t you ever do that again, you hear me?”
She pulled off his jacket and yanked at his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against hers.
He shook his head, hiking up her skirts as she ripped his belt from its loops.
“I’m never going to be okay with you riding into danger.”
“I know. But I’m not always going to have a choice.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
“Not if it’ll putyouin danger, you won’t.”
“I don’t care.” She shoved his pants down around his hips.
She wouldn’t beg him to stay. Ever. She’d known that someday he’d probably ride out of her life. And she’d tried to convince herself she’d be okay with that. But that didn’t mean she had to sit idly by while he rode off alone to fight her battles for her, either.
His fingers found her and all thoughts of anything else fled her mind.
“Idocare,” he said.
