Sweet Mercy - Lynn Hagen Page 0,32

wasn’t like he hadn’t seen them in years. It had been a week and a half. But that just told him how much they meant to him.

“The apartment came furnished.” Mercy flipped his pancake, noting to himself to make more for Lincoln and Red. “No, I haven’t even thought of a website.”

Why hadn’t he thought of a website? There had been so much to do, so many workers coming in and out of the shop, things being delivered, permits he’d had to fill out and file. Ingredients, equipment, choices to be made.

Mercy had no idea opening his own bakery could be so overwhelming. The floor guy was coming today to lay down tile in the shop. It had driven Ford nuts the way Mercy had hemmed and hawed about what kind of tile he’d wanted.

Mercy had finally thrown his arms up and walked out, refusing to choose. Ford had done it for him, which meant Mercy had no idea what the flooring would look like.

“Why don’t you give me a tour of what you guys have done so far downstairs?” Lincoln said to Ford when Mercy’s mate appeared in the kitchen doorway.

“Sure.” Ford smiled at Mercy before the two walked out.

Red leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “How’re you holding up?”

Mercy wanted to tell Red about Vladimir, about how Lloyd had shown up at the ranch, about the nervous breakdown that was seconds away because the bakery project entailed more than he’d thought it would.

Red grabbed the tongs and flipped the bacon as Mercy removed the pancake and added another.

“That’s one thing I miss,” Red said. “Your cooking. We get by just fine, but you make the best pancakes.”

“I miss cooking for you guys,” Mercy admitted.

“Soon you’ll be baking for the whole town.” Red grinned. “I’m gonna do whatever I can to make sure your business is successful.” He bumped arms with Mercy. “Ford called us. He thought maybe you could use some family. What’s going on, buddy?”

Mercy bit his lip, unsure if he should or could talk about the pressure he felt building inside him. Ford had asked him not to say anything about Vladimir, and Mercy wanted to honor that, but damn it, he had to talk to someone about it.

Instead, he told Red about Lloyd’s visit and how he thought his ex might not leave him alone.

“You can’t tell Lincoln or Ford,” Mercy whispered, afraid either shifter would hear him from the bakery. “Lloyd isn’t worth going to jail for.” Mercy actually smiled. “And I don’t think he has good enough credit for you to ruin.”

Mercy remembered how Red had threatened to ruin Jason’s when Jason had attacked him. It had been the oddest threat Mercy had ever heard.

“We could make sure no one found the body. Problem solved,” Red said.

Mercy loved that Red was willing to plot Lloyd’s demise with him, but in truth, he didn’t want anyone hurt. He just wanted his ex to leave him alone.

Well, he wanted Vladimir hurt. He was the biggest threat, and showing up to say he would kill Ford and Mercy, and then disappear, left Mercy on edge, wondering when Vladimir would show up again.

Mercy looked toward the entryway. “Can I tell you something without you repeating it?”

“You can tell me anything.” Red removed the bacon from the pan. “You can even tell me you’re going to make cinnamon rolls to go with this. The store-bought kind isn’t as good as yours.”

“You know how to charm a guy.” Mercy chuckled.

“That’s my goal today.” Red grabbed a piece of bacon and bit into the strip. “To make you feel as if I want your body.”

Mercy nearly dropped his spatula.

“Kidding!” Red laughed. “You should see how red you are. I was just teasing you. I can barely handle Lincoln. I don’t need any added men in my life.”

“And Lincoln would kill anyone who thought to go anywhere near you,” Mercy reminded him.

“Well, there’s that.” Red finished off his piece and tried to go for another, but Mercy smacked his hand. He made more batter so he could feed Lincoln and Red.

While he cooked, he told Red about Vladimir. Ford was just going to have to forgive him. Mercy wanted the weight off him, but he also wanted Red’s super brain to come up with a solution.

“Well, I would say you should get the Ultionem involved since he’s interfering with a mating, but they’re already involved. They paid Ford to hunt him down. I’m pretty sure they already have their hands