Operation Swift Mercy by Karlene Blakemore-Mowle

muttered. It was like he was part cat or something. Her slight irritation at being surprised soon vanished as she took in the fact he was naked from the waist up, looking sexily rumpled as he stood in the open doorway watching her. How did men do that? She wondered briefly. Wh en she woke up she just looked plain old rumpled and her hair looked like a bird had made a nest in it…she never looked …well, like sex! That’s exactly what he looked like—sleepy-eyed, wake you up with a raging hard on , morning sex.
    As though he could read her thoughts, a slow grin broke out over his face and he reached out a hand to her wordlessly.
    Oh sure, like I’m that easy, I’ll just follow you back to bed and let you ravish me, she thought—for all of a millisecond, before she took his hand and did exactly that.
    ****
    The morning was as hectic as the previous few days had been, with last minute errands and running around, but by afternoon, everything had taken on a calm, almost laidback atmosphere. The actual wedding itself was held on the beach and it was gorgeous. Little Emily was a flower girl, fulfilling her duties faultlessly while her parents looked on proudly.
    Mercy held her breath when it came time to say the vows, but Del out did himself by keeping it simple, to the point and from the heart, doing what Mercy wouldn’t have thought possible and making Willow cry tears of happiness as she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him—even before the celebrant had reached the you may kiss the bride part!
    The reception was held in a small hall overlooking the beach . The decorations were simple, but elegant and the hall had been transformed , combining rustic charm with the graceful beauty of white and red roses, candles and a gorgeous towering wedding cake as a centre piece.
    “Having fun?” Summer asked later, coming over to sit beside her when Chase got up to find some drinks.
    “I am. It was a beautiful wedding,” she smiled. It felt more than a little odd, when she thought about it, that here she was sitting at a wedding of people she hadn’t even know a few days earlier, and yet she felt as though she’d known them for a lifetime.
    “We’re leaving first thing in the morning, so I wanted to make sure I got to say goodbye,” Summer said quietly.
    Mercy was truly sad to hear the news. It seemed hard to believe she’d never be seeing this woman again . “Thank you for including me in all this,” Mercy smiled.
    “Thank you for making Chase happy. I don’t know anything about your relationship, or how serious it is, but I will tell you this… you’re different. He’s different when he’s with you—in a good way,” she hurried to add. “I know it seems impossible to have a relationship with someone in Chase’s occupation, but if you feel the same way about him as he obviously does about you—then I recommend you give it a go. It was the best decision I ever made , ” she said a s her gaze fell on her husband across the room. A gentle smile , so full of love appeared o n her face that it caused a small sting of tears behind Mercy’s eyes. “Anyway, I hope we see you around again someday,” she said leaning in to hug her.
    “Thank you,” Mercy choked out, and had to clear her throat quickly.
    When Chase came back he did a double take of her expression, and she quickly smiled to reassure him she was okay. “Do you want to leave?”
    “I think I might, b ut why don’t you stay longer?” S he said, hating that she’d be taking him away from a good friend’s wedding while it was still fairly early.
    “Nah, it’s wrapping up soon anyway,” he shrugged.
    They said their goodbyes and Mercy felt that same melancholy feeling when she realised this was probably the last time she’d be seeing these people.
    As they pulled into the underground car park , Mercy waited while Chase locked the car before joining her. T he squeal of tyres nearby snapped her head up in alarm and saw a dark coloured sedan