Page 15 of Mercer

“Me too. Thanks, Mercer.”

The call ended, and he put his phone in his pocket and grinned.

“You look like that cat with the cream, dude,” Javan said, leaning against the counter. “She’s happy, yeah?”

“Definitely.”

“Good luck tonight.” Javan headed for the door. “I’m off to patrol. I heard we’re going to switch jobs tomorrow.”

“Hell, yes. I want to be able to stop in and say hi to Rhomi during the day.”

“Have fun. But don’t blame me when it’s cold enough to freeze your dick and you still have to hoof it around the park.”

“I won’t, I promise.”

After Javan left, Mercer turned to face the smaller office where Jupiter was staring at a bank of monitors with security camera feeds. “If you don’t get busy with work, the day will drag and you’ll never get to your date.”

Mercer snorted. “Good point. Hey, if I didn’t say thanks for everything you did for me today, thanks.”

“You did, but you’re welcome.” Jupiter turned to look at him. “Having a human soulmate isn’t necessarily easy, especially when they have to deal with family issues and keeping secrets from people they love. But it’s so fucking worth it. If you need any pointers, let me know.”

Jupiter turned back to the monitors, and Mercer busied himself at the counter with the work that he’d abandoned while he’d been spending time with Rhomi.

He hoped the next few hours flew by. He couldn’t wait to see her again.

ChapterSeven

“Ajob and employee housing?” Rhomi’s mom said over her cell’s speaker, her voice filled with suspicion. “Just where is the housing? Is it safe?”

“It’s at the back of the park, and yes, it’s safe. The park is surrounded by huge stone walls and the apartments are private so park patrons can’t get back to them. Why do you sound so suspicious?”

“Because it’s unusual for a business to offer free housing to their employees, especially new ones low on the totem pole,” her dad said.

“Well, it’s just fate.” Rhomi set down her cell and looked at her closet. Her stomach flipped as she thought about spending time with Mercer. She was one hundred percent smitten.

Her dad made a disapproving sound, and she rolled her eyes.

“Is this about a boy?” her mom asked.

Rhomi groaned. “Mom, seriously. I do have a date tonight with a really wonderful guy named Mercer, and he does happen to work at the park. But I got the job on my own merits, and they happened to have some openings for housing since some of their staff recently got married and moved off-site. You guys sound so suspicious. I’m an adult and I can make good choices, with my job and my love life.”

She pulled a few hangers forward on the bar, then selected a short black dress with spaghetti straps and a denim jacket, pairing the outfit with her favorite black peep-toe booties.

“Well, we wanted you to come stay with us in Philly,” her mom said after a long pause.

“For what purpose?”

“Because it’s a great area and you could easily get a job, since you didn’t want the one your dad offered.”

Rhomi pointed out she had just gotten a job, but they ignored her statement.

“Think about it,” her mom said. “We really would prefer you to be close to us.”

“I’m going to go,” she said, without commenting on her mom’s statement. She hadn’t ever really thought of them as being controlling, but they were sure pushing for her to move with them. She didn’t want or need them watching over her like she couldn’t handle her own life.

Plus, she wasn’t about to jeopardize her situation with Mercer. She wanted to see where things went with him. Her super sexy security guard.

“Be careful,” her mom said, sighing.

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