UNDERCOVER {Competed} 😌

chapter 25

Mercy

Better let the sleeping dog lie. The cliché popped bidden into my head as I snuggled against Joshua's shoulder. Ignoring the rule about mixing metaphors, I decided to bite the bullet.

"Joshua,"I called softly.
" uh-oh." I saw he'd been awake all along,and knew exactly what was on my mind.
"We can't put off forever."
"Why not?" He blew out a heavy breath of air along with rhetorical question and reached out for my hand. "I sure wish we could. There's so much at stake here and I don't know if we can survive it."

He turned my hand over and kissed the palm.

"Joshua,I can't concentrate."
"I was hoping for that." But he released my hand anyway and rolled to his side. "Will you clear up something that's been driving me crazy?"

"Uh-huh,if I can."
"I found a micro in David's room."
"So it was you!"
"Thank God there's not three of us running around."
I signed. "It might be better if there were. We could let the third one have the story and leave all this behind"
"You would do that for me?"

"Since there isn't a third person,its a moot point." I rolled to a sitting position. Was it too dangerous to speak my mind? But if I did and sacrificed my dream for him,would I grow bitter as we get old?
.

"I've waited so long for this,Joshua. Its my first big story." I looked over at him,loving him so much that it hurt. Yet was love enough? "I may never get another chance. I'll be thirty next March and –"

"You think time's running out." He readjusted his position in the bed. "I thought women at your age are only worried about biological clocks."

"That's the point. If I don't get my career started now,I might not be established by the time I want a baby."
"Would that be so bad?"
"Its just –oh Joshua, I have so much to prove."

"To whom? I love you just the way you are."

How could I answer that? His love meant everything to me. So did the respect I'd been chasing all my life,and I'd never get it unless I did something spectacular. I laid back down and took Joshua's hands. Then finger intertwined.

"I love you," I said,tightening the grip.
"I love you,too."
"Tell you what." Joshua kissed my forehead. "We can do this story together with a dual byline in both magazines "

"Really?"

"For an aggravating brown eyed blond who gas a razors sharp tongue ,hot temper and the cutest little buns I've ever seen?" He smiled devilishly, "you bet."

I nipped him playfully on his chin.
"See what I mean?"

I laughed,then disentangled on of my hands and laid on my back. "The trouble is my boss will never go for it."

"He won't? Isn't it semi exclusive better than nothing!"
"Nothing?" I raised my eyebrow, not liking the fact hidden behind his statement.

" I have ten years' experience. You are just starting." He hesitated. ". Be realistic Mercy,do you think you'll scoop me?"

I yanked away my other hand and shot upright. "Let me get this straight. You think I can't beat you to the story right!"

"Uh,no that isn't what I'm thinking."

"Yes you do! That's exactly what you think! You are just throwing me a bone." I moved my fingers through my hair, frustrated, annoyed,enraged almost. This was one more person who believed that I didn't have what it took. Not that this should surprise me.

"Mercy..." Joshua rolled up and tried to pull me into his arms. I pushed them away

"Be honest for a change Joshua!"

"For a ch- you shouldn't talk " he shook his head,sending his dark sheet of hair flying around his shoulders,"look,I'm willing to share,okay? If you don't want in,say so."

"That just proves it! You don't believe I can do it!" I poked his chest, "we'll see about that. I know who you are! You know who I am. So do your job,I'll do mine!"

I jumped off bed and yanked on my pajamas. " I'm going to get the story to the media before you even figure it out. Count on it!

The sounds coming from Joshua's mouth puzzled me at first. Then,suddenly realizing it was laughter,my fury exploded.

"You are impossible,Joshua Dick- Donaldson, whatever you are!"

I snatched a blanker from the bed, then stomped to the easy chair and flopped down.

Fuming, I curled up,wrapped myself with the blanket and gritted my teeth, listening to rhythmic rocking of the bed. I've heard him turn rolled over and guessed that he had buried his face on the pillow.

The jerk was still laughing.

What's next?
What will happen when Jim learn Mercy's name? Will she give him the bedtime tango?...
Wait till I tell it all
Please vote and let me know what you think!
Love
AlycBee