Have Mercy: Carson City Saints

By Katie Kenyhercz

Mercy Scott has always been self-sufficient to a fault, but when she sets her sights on leaving behind apartment living to own a home, she isn't above taking a part-time job as an event planner to supplement her bartending income. How hard could it be? When her new boss tricks her into a speed dating misadventure to ensure a certain hockey player comes to the party, Mercy's carefully compartmentalized life is turned upside down by the man who's been right in front of her the entire time.

 

Connor Lucas looks at life the same as hockey: with focus, commitment, and big-time dedication. That's how he'd always pursued Mercy, too, but with no success. A speed dating surprise turns into a dream come true. Or does it? Could it be that after all these years, she feels the same way? Everything to gain means everything to lose. He's never wanted anyone else or anyone more, and Mercy's always been worth the wait. Could the wait really be over?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Katie Kenyhercz
• Release date: Mar 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201837440

Book preview

Chapter 1

Sunday, October 31

Mercy Scott idled her bike in front of the beautiful, two-story brick home for something like the tenth time since it’d gone on the market. Large trees loomed in the front and back yards, brimming with gold and rust fall color that shone in the evening sun. White trim, picket fence. It looked like a gingerbread house. It was perfect. And it was out of her price range, if only just. She sighed. The owner was firm on the number. She’d triple-checked. Her loan officer at the bank was even firmer. She could almost swing it. But not quite. Why did she torture herself like this? Because ever since her father left when she was six, she and her mother had lived in apartments. Nice places, not slums. But not home, either. This place felt like home. She’d been saving up for something like it since she’d started working back in her teens. So close, but so … not.

She revved up her bike and grudgingly moved on, down the street and around the corner into town. Her shift at Gold Rush was about to start, and Halloween usually meant extra tips. Her black leather bustier, purple tutu, and knee-high boots ought to guarantee it. She parked by the employee’s entrance to the bar and clocked in, high-fiving Tessa the day manager on her way out. Six o’clock, and the families eating in the booths were finishing up, but the night crowd hadn’t yet started to trickle in. That was fine. Gave her time to wipe down the bar, refill the cherries, olives, and most popular liquors.

Even working as bartender and night manager didn’t put her in the Peach Street tax bracket. And there weren’t many side jobs she could take on, given her vampire hours. Countless passes through the help-wanted section in the Carson City Gazette made it clear that businesses wanted people who could work mornings and evenings and weekends. And the idea of leaving Gold Rush? It didn’t feel right. She’d worked hard to move up to manager, and she loved it here. The staff, the atmosphere, even the regulars. It was like a family, and she didn’t have much of that.

When you get a chance, I’ll take a devilish daiquiri and rum and Coke.

The warm baritone voice made her heart skip and then gallop the way it had for the last decade. An inadvertent smile curled her lips as she made the drinks, the strawberry daiquiri getting its devilish spin from a red sugar rim and a plastic pitchfork stir stick. Since when do you order girly— She stopped short as she turned and was greeted not only by Connor Lucas but his date. His date who looked like a former Playmate in a naughty nurse costume with a neckline that nearly plunged down to her belly button. She was sex personified, and Mercy had never been insecure about her own looks, but this woman made her … jealous? Was that what this feeling was? Since childhood, Connor had only ever had eyes for Mercy and everyone knew it, even her. Especially her. He’d made it clear more times than she could count. She’d always turned him down, and though he’d go on the occasional date with someone else, she’d never felt this weird spark of possessiveness. Until now.

That was wrong on so many levels, so she shoved it away, set their drinks down on the bar top, and licked her lips. Um, hi.

Mercy, this is Randi.

I’ll bet she is. Mercy cringed at her own ridiculousness. What is wrong with me? Nice to meet you.

Randi, Mercy and I grew up together. She’s one of my oldest friends, and she runs this place.

Randi glanced between Mercy and Connor with a strange curiosity pinching her perfectly plucked brows, but she smiled and nodded. Nice to meet you, too. I’ll be right back. Going to the little ghoul’s room. She squeezed Connor’s thigh on her way around him.

After she was gone, Connor looked a little sheepish, which was funny considering his werewolf costume. Is this weird, us coming here?

Of course not. Why would it be?

Because when she touched me, I thought you might vault the bar and deck her. He leaned over the counter and glanced down.

Mercy followed his gaze to her clenched fists, and her lips parted in surprise. Huh. She flattened her palms against her skirt and tried her best at nonchalant. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

His green eyes sparked with amusement and clear disbelief, but he shrugged. Okay, cool. The Saints Halloween party starts at eight at the arena, but I thought we’d grab a drink first before the song and dance.

You complain about team functions, but you love them.

"Wrong. I tolerate them because to a certain extent, my contract requires me to. If I show face at this one, I can beg off the next one. No way in hell am I doing that."

Oh yeah? What is—

Randi returned, recapturing Connor’s attention, and down the counter, another patron raised his hand to get Mercy’s.