Operation Swift Mercy Read Online Free Page B

medic with the Navy.”
    Well that explained his overbearing attitude and why he took her health so seriously .
    “You’ve been tossing and turning for a while now. You sure you don’t want something to help you with the pain?”
    “I’m fine. I can’t sleep , ” she said easing herself up against the headboard .
    “You want to talk about it?”
    “You don’t give up do you? ”
    “No ma’am. ” A grin touched his lips as he helped adjust the pillows behind her back.
    She liked his smile. She liked his voice, hell she liked him and that was just plain dumb. She had no right liking some stranger when she was running from a previous relationship. Pulling at the nondescript material of the motel quilt beneath her fingers, the enormity of what she’d done fell heavily upon her shoulders, reminding her just how dangerous her situation really was.
    “Let me help,” he said pulling a chair over to sit by the bed.
    “You can’t help.”
    “Try me.”
    “What part of this is none of your business don’t you get?” S he asked exasperated by his unrelenting attempt to barge his way into her problems.
    “The part where I found you beaten and left for dead.”
    “I wasn’t beaten. I fell ,” s he snapped and almost groaned as she saw his eyes narrow as he latched onto this new information.
    “Fell…from where?”
    “A bridge up near the lookout.”
    “What w ere you doing out there?”
    “Hiking.”
    “Can’t say I’ve ever seen a woman hike in high heels before,” he shot back dryly. “Come on Mercy, just tell me what happened.”
    “It was a disagreement okay? I had an argument with my…ex-boyfriend and I slipped and fell.”
    Chase stared at h er steadily, clearly not believing it and waiting her out until she cracked and came clean. Well, you just keep up that tough guy stare all you want, I’m not saying another word , she thought to herself stubbornly.
    “So your ex - boyfriend sees you slip off a bridge and float away and he’s not freaking out? Shouldn’t you have called him from the hospital to let him know you’re all right?” H e asked without trying to hide his obvious sarcasm.
    “God you’re annoying! Look, just leave it alone! I don’t want to talk about it.”
    “I think we need to call the police and tell them about the bridge. They’re going to want to take a look around up there.”
    “No!”
    “You didn’t slip. That bastard had something to do with you ending up almost dead . If you’re frighten ed of having to face him—then don’t be. I’ll go with you to the police and stay as long as you need me.”
    “It’s not…look, you can’t get involved in this okay? Trust me when I say you need to just walk away and forget all about today.”
    “ I can guarantee that isn’t going to happen.”
    “You have no idea who you’re dealing with . ”
    “Enlighten me.”
    Mercy stared at him silently. She didn’t need this now. She had enough problems trying to keep herself alive, she didn’t need the responsibility of someone else’s safety on her conscience as well . Wordlessly she eased back down and closed her eyes, hoping he’d take the hint and leave her alone. She had no idea how she was going to shake this Sir Galahad, but somehow she was going to have to do it. She just needed to think.

Chapter Five
     
    Mercy opened her eyes and realised she must have fallen back to sleep at some point, and gently tested her body to see how she felt. After tentatively moving her limbs she discovered that although everything still hurt to move, it wasn’t enough to keep her in bed all day.
    “How are you feeling?” Chase’s deep voice came from the doorway to the bathroom.
    “I could run a marathon,” she told him, withholding a moan as she eased her legs off the side of the bed. Taking a closer look at him, she noticed he was wearing a different shirt from yesterday and frowned.
    “I picked up some clean clothes and while I was out I got you something to wear