Mercenary’s Conquest

Mercenary’s Conquest by Lietha Wards


Chapter One

It was the last day of school and the first day of summer holidays for the students of Scott Springs High School. With graduation ceremonies ending the week prior to the final exams, Mia had already taken everything from her locker with the exception of her exam supplies which she was taking home now. Lisa, her best friend was waiting for her outside on the steps with at least a dozen other people from her graduating class. They just finished writing their biology exams and Lisa was usually done earlier than her, but Mia’s marks were always higher. Watching her, Mia thought Lisa was one of the prettiest girls she knew with long blonde hair and blue eyes.

Just then Lisa saw her and lifted her hand in greeting.

"Mia, how do you think you did?" Lisa broke away from the group and walked up to her with a stunning smile while tossing her long hair over her shoulder.

She shrugged, "I don’t know." Of course she knew, but Lisa’s grades weren’t as good as hers and she didn’t like to sound like she was bragging. However Lisa was smart enough to know that.

"You lie," she laughed, "You’re a straight A student. I think you’re just trying to make me feel better as usual because you’re smarter than I am."

"If you actually studied Lisa, you’d beat me." She offered knowing that it was true.

"Maybe, but that means I’ll have less time for boys." She wiggled her eyebrows causing Mia to giggle. Then she studied her friend for a moment, "Which reminds me, you need to come over to the police station and see the new deputy Mia. He’s been here almost three months and you haven’t even seen him," Said Lisa as her blue eyes glittered, "He’s so dreamy. It seems as if he should be in Esquire, not handing out traffic Lietha Wards 4

tickets. I mean if I wasn’t dating Charlie, I’d be all over him like dew on grass."

Mia slanted an amused gaze on her friend, "Yes I know, you’ve mentioned him before." About a hundred times, she thought with amusement.

"Did I mention how big he was? I mean the way those uniforms fit, it’s like he’s got muscles everywhere."

"Yes, I believe you mentioned that too." She laughed.

"And he’s got that look about him like he knows exactly what to do with a woman." She made a purring sound. "I wish the boys at the station would do one of those man calendars! Wouldn’t that be a treat? He could be Mr. December and wear nothing but a Santa hat. What a thing to find under your tree."

"Now you’re just getting crude." She said wincing at the bluntness her friend was known for. However she still couldn’t take the smile off her face.

Lisa’s dad was the local police chief in Scott springs, and she was very popular. Of course it didn’t help that she was really pretty and was the head cheerleader on the squad. Mia and her had been friends since Kindergarten and although Mia wasn’t popular like Lisa, they were still good friends. Lisa was dating Charlie Hingley, the Captain of the football team. His older brother Liam was a policeman and had been after Mia for her to go out with him. Mia liked Liam but didn’t feel about him in that way. Like Lisa, Mia had known the Hingleys since kindergarten and thought of Charlie and Liam as more of friends. When he started asking her out, she thought he was teasing, but then the flowers came to the diner one day and she finally had to tell him how she felt. Her father thought Liam would be good for her, but she didn’t agree. Even Lisa tried to push her into dating Liam because they could double date the brothers, but still Mia needed something more. She wanted that ‘spark’ that she’d heard can happen when you finally meet someone that’s meant Mercenary’s Conquest 5

to be. Her mother used to tell her about it when she and her father first met. Maybe she was living in a fantasy world, but if she was being honest with herself, Liam really wasn’t her type. Not that she knew what her type was, but she was sure she would know when she met him. "Speaking of Policemen, didn’t Charlie get accepted to the academy?" Mia said trying to get her to change the subject. If her social life was left up to Lisa, Mia would be in bending or breaking a lot of the morals she was raised with. Lisa may be her best friend but she did things that Mia didn’t agree with. However, she never judged her. Mia supposed that maybe if she had Lisa’s privileges she’d behave the same way—maybe not, but she still wasn’t going to judge her.

"Yes." Lisa said with a pout, "he’s leaving in the fall, so I’ll probably be spending most of the summer with him," she gave her friend an apologetic look. "Although, I’ll still try and make time for you. Now back to the subject you keep avoiding. He’s still single from what Charlie says. He’s a little older than our group, but who cares. A mature man means he knows what to do with a woman." Lisa wiggled her eyebrows again causing Mia to laugh.

Back to that again, she thought. "I don’t have time for a man in my life Lisa. Since mom died, dad needs me more than ever to help with the diner."

Lisa felt terrible for reminding Mia of her recent loss, but she also knew that her friend always put everyone before herself and needed to be a teenager at some time in her life. Mia kept her grounded at times because Lisa knew she was spoiled and it was Mia who kept reminding her that not everyone had it as easy as she did. The words were never said, but Mia’s hard work said plenty. Whatever Lisa asked for her father gave her and Mia had to work for everything she wanted. Sometimes she may have seemed pushy where Mia was concerned but she only Lietha Wards 6

wanted her to have fun and maybe if she hooked her up with the new stud at the station, she would. She sighed heavily, "Can’t you at least just take Saturday off. Charlie said Liam and half the squad are going swimming out at Craigan’s Gully. Even though we’re not invited, I could get Charlie to make an excuse and take us out there so you could meet him. I mean, who could possibly pass up men in uniforms out of uniform?"

Just then the school bus pulled up. Shaking her head, Mia stepped up to it, "I really can’t, I’ve got to help my dad in the diner all summer. Joan and Al are there, but they’re taking tomorrow off to go to her nephew’s wedding, so I told dad I would cover it. So I’ll probably be too tired to do Saturday." Joan was the other waitress her father employed. She was an older lady, who was very kind and never had any kids of her own, but she was a good friend to both of them when her mom died. Allan, her husband cooked for them and they lived above the diner. Mia and her father lived several kilometres out of town in a house they inherited from her father’s grandparents. It used to be an old chicken farm many years ago, but they didn’t have any animals now, because they didn’t’ have the time to look after them.

Lisa gave her a look of surprise. "Aren’t you going to College? You got accepted at three out of five of the top colleges in the state."

"I can’t. Now that Mom’s gone, Dad needs me. Maybe next year." She said trying to hide the enormous disappointment she felt at that statement.

Lisa looked incredulous, "Can’t he hire anyone to help? Mia—"

"No, Mom’s medical bills were too much for us to handle." She laid a hand on her friends forearm, "It’s okay Lisa. I wouldn’t trade the time I had with her in the world. Maybe next year things will be better." Mercenary’s Conquest 7

Lisa gave her a sympathetic look, "I didn’t know things were so hard for you. I wish you told me about this sooner."

"It’s really not that bad. Don’t worry." She reassured her, "And besides, it’s not like I would let you raid your piggy bank."

"Get in Mia." Said Betty the bus driver, "I’ve got other stops to make."

Mia smiled at the gruff woman who’d been driving her route since she started grade one. She may seem annoyed but Mia knew deep down the woman had a heart of gold. Once when she was little, she picked her flowers from a nearby meadow while waiting for the bus and gave them to her. The woman nearly burst into tears. Ever since then when she spoke, she may have sounded gruff but it was always followed by a glimmer of warmth in her dark eyes. "I’m coming. See you Lisa!" She hopped up the steps while Betty closed the doors smothering Lisa’s view of her best friend.

"Sit down honey." Said Betty in a softer tone. Her expression was still harsh but her eyes completely contradicted it. Like everyone else who knew Mia, she loved her too. It was when as a little girl she picked flowers from a field for her. The stems were bent and the flowers a little ratty from the fidgety hands of an eager little girl, but it was the gesture itself that nearly made Betty burst into tears. She had just lost her husband several weeks to a heart attack, and had no family to help her through it but when that little girl gave her flowers she felt that things were going to be okay.

Through the years of driving and watching her grow, Betty realized that the young woman still possessed those qualities. Every time she saw her, she asked her how she was and somehow she never forgot her birthday. How she found out when it was she’d never know, but Betty considered Mia to be the closest person to her. No one else ever gave her that consideration and because of that Betty had a soft spot for her. Lietha Wards 8

There wasn’t one mean bone in that young woman’s body.

Mia gave her a genuine smile before she took a seat at the back of the bus reflecting on what Lisa had said. She was a good friend, but there was nothing she could have done to ease their hardship. The truth was, she missed her mother terribly and so did her father. However, they tightened up as a family through the tragedy, but she would give anything to have her mother back. So what if she couldn’t go to college this year? Maybe things would improve for the next year and she could go then. As for her best friend and her boy crazy ways, she found it refreshing. Lisa was honest and she loved that about her. She could have any man she wanted with her looks and bubbly personality. She was sure that if she wanted this new deputy, she wouldn’t have a problem getting him, only she would have to get rid of Charlie, and Mia doubted very much that she would. She was sure that Lisa loved Charlie even though she never admitted it. Not only that, Charlie was very handsome and charming even if he was in that football jock stage. He did seem to genuinely care about Lisa.

Mia on the other hand, just couldn’t seem to find that attractive. Maybe it was because her father and mother always treated her as an equal not a child and because of that she always felt that the boys in high school weren’t that appealing to her. Although Liam was older than her and more mature, but she always felt as if he were a male friend, and could never see him in the boyfriend role. Regardless, it wasn’t as if she had any spare time on her hands for a relationship anyway.

The next day she discovered that Lisa wasn’t lying about the new deputy sheriff. Lisa’s dad had phoned over an order from the diner for the guys and her father asked her to deliver it. Normally Joan would do the deliveries because she loved to visit with everyone, but since this was her day off it was Mia’s job. Mercenary’s Conquest 9

"Hi honey," Said Eleanor, the clerk as Lisa came in the front door, "Ted said he ordered lunch for the men. Did Joan go to her nephew’s wedding?" She slung the phone over her shoulder. Obviously she was in the middle of a call when Mia came in and just interrupted it to talk to her.

She grinned looking at the receiver on her shoulder, "Hi Ellie. Yes, she did. Aren’t you on the phone?"

Ellie shook her head, "It’s just old Mrs Herman thinking the neighbour is spying on her and her poodle again."

That made Mia laugh because Mrs. Herman’s neighbour was at least ten years older than her and she was in her mid seventies, "Maybe you should set them up on a date. They’re both widows."

"I’m tempted, maybe then she would quit calling me to talk about her haemorrhoids." She said as she rolled her eyes. Then she lifted the receiver and listened for a second before setting it back on her shoulder, "Now it’s psoriasis."

Mia burst into another fit of giggles and shook her head at her, "Where did you want this?" She lifted the box of sandwiches in her hands.

‘If you don’t mind hun, I’ll just let you through and you can take it in the back, I’m a little busy." She grinned as she pointed to the receiver before reaching under the counter and pressed a button causing a distinct buzz to sound.

"Thanks." Mia reached for the door while trying to balance the box of sandwiches. A chorus of greetings went off from the men and woman in the room when she walked in and she gave them a brief curtsy with a grin causing them to laugh, "A woman bearing food is always a welcome sight to a room full of hungry men."

"More than you know," said Liam practically jumping out of his chair to help her by taking the box from her hands, "By the way, when are you going to go out with me?" He flashed her a Lietha Wards 10

flattering grin as he tossed a wrapped sandwich to Merrill, who caught it easily, "Corned beef, yuck, how do you eat that?"

"All about the taste buds Liam." He said as he unwrapped it and took a healthy bite and groaned

"I already told you Liam—"

"That I was just a friend." He looked down at her, "Yeah, but I’m thinking we should change that." He gave her what he thought was his most charming grin, but it didn’t affect her at all. Liam never had a problem getting women, but for some reason Mia never fell for any of his tricks. It was unfortunate, because he really liked her, but she’d made it clear that she only saw him as a friend.

She gave him a warm smile, "Not today, and don’t hold your breath" she teased and waved, "See you all later."

Numerous, ‘bye Mia—honey’ came from the group as she turned to leave just to bump into a wall. At least she thought it was, but walls didn’t grunt.

Slowly she guided her eyes up a thick chest contained within the familiar deputy uniform to the tan skin at his neck, stubble dusted jaw and onto one of the most handsome rugged faces she’d ever seen including striking green eyes with gold flecks contained within. "I—I’m so sorry." She stuttered.

It was odd that neither one of them moved after that impact, but just stood there toe to toe. Suddenly she became more occupied with the warmth of his body and his distinct masculine odour. Yet, both of their eyes remained locked on one another. Then she felt it. Although she had to admit, a ‘spark’ didn’t quite cut it. It was more of a flash fire and when he spoke the warmth spread quickly through her whole body. Oh my.

"Mia." He said in a low deep voice, almost intimately and Mia blushed completely because it wasn’t question. He knew exactly who she was.

The buzz of the door sounded at that moment, "Coming Mercenary’s Conquest 11

through!" rang a masculine voice behind them.

Although she didn’t look at him, Mia recognized it belonging to Justin Lang as he pushed man through the door holding on to his arm. As it was she and the new deputy were standing in front of the door and when Justin spoke, he circled his long arm around her back and curled his fingers at her ribcage to pull her out of the way. His hold was so surprising that she near gasped. Then to her surprise she felt it tighten for an instant but he still didn’t release her. However he still didn’t move away from her and now she could feel her chest make contact with the warmth of his body sending shivers through her. She was so spellbound by the large man’s proximity that she barely heard the conversation behind her.

"What do you have there Justin," said Liam.

Oddly enough, the newcomer was making enough noise to draw attention from them, so no one seemed to notice the embrace the large deputy had on Mia.

"Sit down punk!" he shoved the guy into a seat before answering Liam, "this guy thought he could try and hide the bag of coke he had, then when I discovered it he had the balls to swing at me."

"Not to bright."

"Screw you." Said the guy and guided his eyes to Mia, "Well, yum, yum. Speaking of screwing—"

"Shut up," said Justin flicking his apologetic eyes to Mia who was wide-eyed.

"Come on, I’ll see you out." Said the man still holding on to her waist causing her to quiver from the sound of his voice. Again she felt his hand on her, but he’d taken her arm this time. "You don’t need to see this."

"Hey big guy," called the thug, "When you’re done with her bring her back in—I don’t mind used goods!"

"Shut the hell up!" Justin cuffed him hard across the side Lietha Wards 12

of the head this time and the man howled.

"Oh God." She said thoroughly embarrassed at his words as the Deputy led her outside.

"Don’t listen." He said beside her.

"I’m trying." She said softly. It was already forgotten as his hand tightened around her arm in reassurance. Mostly she was trying to calm her thudding heart at his touch.

Once outside he turned her gently to face him, "Since I already know your name, my name is Gage Hart." He said with a sensuous smile while tipping his hat.

"Hi." She managed. The man made her absolutely breathless, like she’d just run a marathon.

"I’ll be seeing you around Mia." He gave her a sinful grin before he turned and went back into the station.

Mia must’ve stood there for five minutes absolutely stunned. Never in her life could she imagine the type of feelings he instilled him her in only a few minutes of having him touch her. She started wondering if maybe it was because she was so vulnerable after her mother’s death and she felt so lonely since. Her father tried to comfort her, but it just wasn’t what she needed. However, was this man? Just that smile he gave her actually made her mouth water. My God, anything else he did would probably have her drooling. One thing was certain, that was a dangerous attraction which actually frightened her a little. Maybe it had something to do with not ever having a man touch her like that. He seemed to know that she wouldn’t protest. She’d seen it in his eyes and oh, what amazing eyes he had. Also when he’d held her about the waist, and she recalled the strength in that gesture. His arm was solid and hard. It was obvious that he was confident in his ability to handle a woman and not have her protest because that certainly was the last thing she would do. For once she wouldn’t disagree with Lisa’s opinion of a man. Everything she said was right on the nose. Mercenary’s Conquest 13

Sighing heavily she turned and went back to work thinking that he was a dangerous attraction and way out of her league.

Gage went back into the building but he turned and watched the woman with intelligent eyes through the glass of the doors. He made sure she couldn’t see him, just like he’d been doing for the past few months when he watched her. He’d heard the boys in the station talk about her, but it certainly didn’t do her justice and it if weren’t for his years of experience of keeping his expression unreadable, he probably would have let his jaw drop. He knew she was pretty because he’d been watching her, but up close she was stunning, almost in an exotic way. Her hair was black but under the sun he could see subtle streaks of red. She wore it in a braid but it went to her waist and he was sure it was a soft as it looked. She had a lovely oval face with high cheeks, a soft bow mouth, and large sapphire eyes surrounded by thick lashes. Her skin was nicely tanned, but not too much like she’d been spending time in a tanning booth but more of being outside under the sun.

Then there was the way she reacted to his touch. He felt her stiffen and heard her breath pause when he wrapped his arm around her waist to move her out of Justin’s path. She was the type of woman he could have held all day. Then, when those soft beasts of hers pushed up against him, he felt the overwhelming urge to bend his head and kiss her. Somehow he didn’t think she’d protest. Gage knew women, because he had his fair share and he knew how he looked to them, but he actually reacted to this one completely surprising himself.

"she’s pretty, isn’t she?"

Gage had forgotten about Eleanor. He turned to look at the older woman who had a glint of knowledge in her eyes. "She is." He said honestly.

"She’s single honey."

Gage actually grinned, "I heard." Lietha Wards 14

Eleanor chuckled, "I suppose you have." She said leaning forward on the counter suddenly dropping her smile, "However, a big man like you is in his prime and if you start going after that sweet young thing, you be careful about not hurting her. Mia’s a doll and everyone loves her, I mean everyone. She just lost her mother too. So if you hurt her, you’ll have half the town wanting to string you up."

Gage had heard all of that too, but it wasn’t going to dissuade him. Not much could frighten him with his past and after that brief meeting he already knew he wanted her. "I hear you Ellie." He said as charming as he could followed by a rakish grin causing the older woman to blush. Something she never did.

After a long day and the Diner door was locked, Mia groaned and sat in a booth as her father flipped the closed sign on and turned out the lights. Then he turned to her.

"Come on baby girl, let’s go home." He walked over and smiled down at her while offering his hand.

"Actually dad, I think I need to walk."

"You’ve done enough walking today."

"No this is different. I just need to walk and sort my thoughts out."

He dropped his hand and stared down at her, "Are you okay honey?"

"Yeah dad I’m fine really." She smiled slightly.

"I’m sorry about college baby. I know how much that meant to you." He said thinking she was down because of it.

"Oh dad." She said standing up and hugging him, "It’s not about that." She tucked her head under his chin, "I just really miss mom."

"Do you want to talk?"

"No, not really." She lifted her head back to look at him, Mercenary’s Conquest 15

"Just know it’s not you okay."

He kissed her forehead, "You know, you were always one to keep your feelings bottled up as not to bother anyone. Honey, that’s admirable to a point, but you need to be able to let it out every now and then."

"I know." She gave him a reassuring smile.

"So you still want to walk home?"

"I do."

"All right then. Don’t take all night." He released her reluctantly. He’d give her an hour before he went looking for her.

"I won’t." Even though they lived two kilometres out of town, she actually did like to walk like she said. However, it wasn’t often she walked home after the diner closed at nine, but she did walk to work in the morning. Her father would usually open the diner and she would walk in before the noon rush. It was still light out and she knew it would last until she got home. If it was dark, she certainly wouldn’t be doing this.

She put her sweater on and locked the door of the diner behind her as her dad waved while he drove away. He tried again to convince her to take a ride with him, but she still refused. It wasn’t that long of a walk anyway.

As it was three people that she knew pulled over and asked her if she would like a ride which she refused and they went on the way. However, when the fourth car pulled over, she realized it was one of the police station’s vehicles, the Bronco. It sidled up beside her and the window rolled down to reveal the handsome face of the police station’s newest member.

"It’s a little late to be walking by yourself Mia."

That deep voice started a quivering down her spine again. Lord, she thought, is that normal? "I don’t mind it."

"Come on, I’ll give you a ride." Lietha Wards 16

"It’s okay. I can walk, I’m already halfway there." She said unable to meet his gaze.

"Get in honey, I don’t feel right about leaving you out here."

Oh my, that endearment made her trip, but she managed to stay upright. She stopped walking and turned to look at him, to try her best not to show how he affected her,"Gage, I know everyone in town. I’ve lived here since I was a baby. No one would hurt me." Oh heaven help me, there was that heart stopping grin again. He did it when she took the defensive tone of voice with him and her knees went weak as it slid across his handsome face. Obviously not much bothered him.

"It’s not the townsfolk I’m worried about. This is bear country and we have two reported attacks alone this road last week." He explained almost chuckling at her misunderstanding.

"Oh!" she said embarrassed, "Sorry."

He nodded toward the empty passenger seat without taking his eyes off her, "Get in."

"Okay." She walked around the passenger side as he bent over the console and opened the door for her. Once inside, she put on her seatbelt and brought her head up noticing his gaze was on her. "thanks." Even from the light of the dashboard there was no mistaking how handsome he was.

"Anytime." He grinned and shifted the Bronco into gear.

His smile was downright devastating to a woman, but she was sure he already knew that. A man like him surly knew his talents. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, for her anyway, he spoke

"How old are you?"

She turned to look at him not being able to hide her surprise, "Eighteen, why?"

He shrugged a thick shoulder, "Curiosity." He cast her a sideways glance, "I want to make sure I wasn’t robbing the Mercenary’s Conquest 17

cradle too much."

"What?" her eyes widened. Did she just imagine that?

"You heard me honey."

"Yes I guess I did." She couldn’t help but let herself smile that time as she watched him. She was right about him, he did know his talents, because he hadn’t even asked her if she was interested in him, he just assumed. Normally she would find that kind of conceit aversive, but Gage had a way of flattering a woman with it. Maybe it was because he was older than the men she was used to. It didn’t help that he was drop dead gorgeous either. Either way, she was attracted to him and the thrill that went through her when he asked that question just confirmed it.

"Better." He said, casting her another glance seeing her smile and dropping his eyes to her mouth.

This man is way to sinful she thought as he turned his attention back to the road. At that time she was thankful that he had the radio on because her heart was pounding so loud in her chest after that look that she was worried he might actually hear it.

"Is this your house here?" he said pulling into the driveway.

"Actually it is." She cast him a sly glance, "But obviously you knew."

"I did." He said with a clever smile as he put the vehicle in park, "Like you said, it’s a small town." He added bringing his eyes back to hers.

"Thanks for the ride," she turned to get out, but then his hand covered hers which caused her to stop breathing for a moment as and turned back to him with a questioning look.

"Mia, a bunch of us are going to Craigan’s Gully on Saturday. I’d like to take you."

Craigan’s Gully wasn’t really a Gully, it was more of a Lietha Wards 18

small valley and a fresh spring fed lake pooled in it. Everyone usually went fishing, swimming or camping there on their days off because it was absolutely beautiful. She had already known that they were going from Lisa earlier, but she sure didn’t expect the town’s most eligible bachelor to ask her. She was completely set back, and completely flattered according to the sensation of butterflies in her belly. "I—I have to work." She averted her gaze unsure on why he wanted to take her.

"I’ll talk to your dad. My sister will cover for you that day. She’ll only work for tips, so it won’t cost your father a thing, that way I can take you."

This time she let eyes guide back to his after that confession, "Pardon me?" her expression didn’t hold back the surprise she felt.

He misinterpreted it, "Unless someone’s asked you already."

"No, no one has. I’m just a little surprised you want to take me."

He raised his brows, "Why wouldn’t I, you’re beautiful." He said bluntly as if it was common knowledge.

Mia blushed, "Gage I—"

"And," he continued, "When you blush it only makes you prettier."

"Stop it." She breathed.

He chuckled keeping his eyes on hers, "So what do you say?"

"I have to talk to my father."

"That’s fine, but I won’t take no for an answer."

"You are pushy." She said feeling her humour return.

"Yes I am. Also, I know about your mother and how hard you work so I made sure all of the bases were covered so you couldn’t refuse me. News travels fast around here."

"Very true." She agreed and tilted her head slightly not Mercenary’s Conquest 19

surprised in the least that he knew everything about her because gossip was common in her small town, but she didn’t know anything about him, "Doesn’t your sister have something else to do on a Saturday."

He gave her a grin that was devastating to her senses, "No, she’s sixteen, but I asked her very nicely and she couldn’t say no to me."

Who the hell in their right mind would, she thought especially if he smiled at them like that! "When did you ask her, I mean, we just met this afternoon?"

"This morning."

This morning? He was going to ask her even before he’d run into her at the station today? No one knew that she was delivering the lunch so he would had to have found another way to run into her. Not only had that but he already made arrangements with his sister. She couldn’t stop the wave of excitement that went through her at the situation. This drop dead gorgeous man had actually planned to ask her out, "But—"

"I was going to come by the diner and introduce myself, but you’ve saved me a trip by coming to the station." He interrupted and answered her unspoken question."Then when I saw you walking home, I just couldn’t resist."

"I don’t know really know you Gage."

"You already know my name. I’m a cop, I’m staying old Evan Parson’s place out on Tower Road" He offered, "I look after my sister, who, God help me, is driving me nuts with all her teenage wiles." This got a round of laughter from her, "I’m twenty-six, and single." He added that last bit with a husky tone.

"Isn’t Evan Parson’s place a ranch?" she said changing the subject.

"Yes." He said with a glint of amusement knowing that she did.

"You live at Mr. Parson’s?" she said in bewilderment. Lietha Wards 20

"that place is huge." Evan Parson was in his early seventies and usually only showed up during the spring. Most times he was in Europe, but everyone knew that he kept the place fully staffed to manage the livestock.

"He is a friend of my family’s and when he heard I was moving here he offered me his house while he was away. He told me it just sits empty most times."

"It does." She said, "I heard you could get practically lost in the house."

He chuckled, "it’s not that big, but yeah, pretty large. My sister and I are quite content, but give me a log cabin in the woods and I’ll be happy."

"Really?"

"I like feeling normal." He explained, "And I’ve never spent a cent I didn’t earn through sweat and blood."

"—and tears." She added.

"Pardon?" He said arching his brows.

"That’s the saying. How it goes—" she explained, "sweat, blood and tears."

"There were no tears, trust me." He chuckled.

"Oh, you meant literally!" she corrected.

"I did." He said with smiling.

"I’m such an idiot." She blushed.

"No honey, you’re just very truthful." His eyes lowered to her mouth again, "I find it very appealing, among other things." He added deeply guiding his eyes back to hers.

Oh my, she thought.

"Now about Saturday," he said getting back on the subject while sitting straight in his seat finally releasing her hand. "We’ll be with other people you know, so there’s no pressure here." He reached up and tipped his hat, "I’ll pick you up around noon. Bring your swimsuit."

"My, you are pushy." She teased. "I never said yes." Mercenary’s Conquest 21

"You have no idea how pushy I can be when I see something I like," he said huskily causing her to blush again. "And try and say no to me." He raised a single dark brow daring her to do just that.

She studied his expression knowing damn well no one probably ever did. He was very self assured and it just added to his mouth watering charisma. Then he gave her a lopsided smile and her heart started galloping again. Problem was, he knew exactly how he affected her and the addition of the smile told her as much, "I see your point." She breathed not even trying to deny it.

He laughed, "Good. Now get in the house, your father’s been pacing on the porch for the last five minutes." He said nodding toward the house.

She twisted her head toward the house, "Oh how embarrassing." She said noticing him standing with his hands on the rail and looking at the vehicle with a dark expression.

"Not so much," came deep his voice, "Daddy’s just worried about his little girl." He resisted the urge to reach up and brush a stray lock of that ebony hair off her face just so he could touch her. The woman was that enticing. Behave yourself Gage, he said to himself, there’ll be time for that.

"Shush," she said blushing again, "I’m not a little girl anymore, and you behave. Don’t give him reason to come off the porch. He has guns." She said with laughter in her tone causing him to laugh himself.

She got that right about not being a little girl. She was all woman, and a gorgeous one at that. "I’ll see you Saturday honey." He said with a chuckle.

She gave him a dazzling smile, "Good luck with that." She nodded her head toward her father, "He’s pacing the porch, when a cop brings me home. How do you think he’ll react to a date?" Lietha Wards 22

"I can be very convincing." He added with a deep drawl and a sensual smile.

No doubt, she thought as her eyes were drawn to his perfectly chiselled lips. He could probably talk the Pope into changing religion with the charm he possessed.

"Sleep tight." He said as she closed the door.

Mia watched him pull out of the driveway and drive off. It wasn’t like she was even considering saying no to him at all and obviously he knew that. The man gave off the sense that no one refused him anything very often and in fact, she didn’t want to. Lisa was right, he was handsome but why did he seemed interested in her? There were prettier girls in town and from what Lisa told him, chased the man like a pack of wolves, but he’d asked—no told her he was taking her out. She couldn’t suppress the thrill that went through her and grinned for what seemed to be the first time in months.

She turned and went up on the porch.

"Is that the new deputy chief?" her father said as he watched the taillights of the vehicle recede down the road.

"It is."

"What’s he doing driving you home? I thought you wanted to walk."

She stopped and gave her father a smile hearing the suspicion in his voice, "Apparently this is bear season."

"Oh. I forgot." He said with surprise, then his expression changed to genuine concern, "I should have insisted that you come home with me."

"I’m fine dad," she smiled and shrugged, "Then Gage came along and reminded me, so he gave me a ride."

Gage, is it? "What did you talk about?"

She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, "Goodnight dad."

"Mia?" His brows shot up. Mercenary’s Conquest 23

"Good night." She repeated, "And quit worrying." Mia went into the house and up to her room where she undressed for bed.

The next day Lisa picked her up in the morning in her little red convertible. They had plans to go shopping in the city four hours away and make a day of it. Lisa’s nineteenth birthday was in a few weeks and her father gave her some cash to go shopping for a few new outfits before the celebration.

"Is your dad okay with you going?" She shot her a comical look as she put the car in gear and squealed off down the road. "He’s so protective."

"Yes, but he was reluctant—about your driving." She laughed grabbing the dash.

"Whoops, sorry." She gave her a sheepish smile and levelled out at the speed limit. "So, are you going to bring a date to my party?"

"Lisa." Mia sighed.

"Come on Mia, Liam is really nice looking, and if he has a body like Charlie’s, you’re in for a treat. Not only that Charlie has this incredible amount of stamina that—"

"Oh Gosh! Lisa!" Mia slapped her hands over her ears.

Lisa threw back her head and laughed, "God, you are so na?ve!"

"I told you, I don’t feel about Liam that way."

"Okay fine, then what about the new guy. Liam says you were at the precinct yesterday, so you must’ve seen him." She said knowing perfectly well she did. Liam said that he’d walked her out and didn’t come back at least ten minutes later. So they must’ve talked about something.

"I did."

"Oh! So what did you think?" she said with a sly prying look, "Was I wrong?" Lietha Wards 24

Mia shrugged.

"Mia, come on!"

"Nothing," she finally said, "He just introduced himself."

"But he’s hot, right?"

Mia didn’t want to tell her about Craigan’s gully, because she wasn’t sure exactly what Gage wanted from her and she certainly didn’t want to be barraged with questions when she didn’t know anything herself.

"Mia you are killing me." Lisa said when her friend didn’t answer.

"Yes—he’s very handsome."

"He’s a stud! Handsome? Give me a break." She rolled her eyes, "He’s got that air about him that vibrates sex appeal. I bet he’s really hung—have you seen the size of his feet? Why I bet he really does know how to please a woman—"

"Lisa—please!"

Lisa laughed, "Mia, you really need to get laid. You are completely missing out—"

Lisa continued talking but Mia somehow blocked her out and concentrated on the passing scenery. However, bits and pieces still reached her ears and when she started to talk about how his ‘package’ looked in his uniform pants, she just groaned. She loved Lisa like a sister, but she could be very crude. As far as Mia was concerned, intimacy like that shouldn’t be talked about in such a way. It was a private matter, and when she finally decided to give herself to someone, she wanted to be in love with them and hopefully the moment would be very special.

Lisa had lost her virginity in eleventh grade under the bleachers of a baseball field while there was a game and Mia was in complete shock when she told her because the boy she’d lost it to wasn’t her boyfriend. He was one of the players from another school that she’d flirted with several hours before. Charlie wasn’t Lisa’s first, but she really seemed to like him and Mercenary’s Conquest 25

more often than not she heard about the things they did behind closed doors. Lisa talked about oral sex, positions, and to Mia’s complete mortification, the size of Charlie’s privates.

Of course Mia was curious about things like that, but not enough to hear the juicy details especially when Lisa had a way of describing things that could give a clear and concise picture of the overall event. It was hard to even look at Charlie without blushing sometimes. If he knew Lisa talked about him in such a way, it didn’t show, but she doubted very much he would care. After all, he was a jock and could be quite crude himself.

Regardless of Lisa’s initial conversation, the trip to the city for her clothes shopping was fun. Mia was so tired when she got home that she just went straight to bed and slept like a rock. Thankfully Lisa left the subject of Gage alone after she got it in her head that she didn’t want to hear about it and they spent a good day together.