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Mercy had done everything possible, but she hadn’t been able to help It was thecase she had ever encountered

If only Mercy could sit down and talk to Leah, face to face If only Mercy could explain to this woman of the earth that she must find serenity within herself before her prayer could be answered But that was impossible

And so they both wept

Leah cried silent tears standing guard over her friend’s child while Mercy wept openly, unable to contain her sorrow at this feeling of helplessness

"Married" The ent through Chet like a bullet, with much the same effect He bolted off the bed and stood, the sour taste of panic filling histo do," Monica said, her voice as sweet as chocolate-dipped cara that would set , his thoughts filled with pure terror "Sweetheart, in case you haven’t figured it out, I’ kind"

"That’s the point," Monica continued softly, "I’m not either It seems we’re perfect for each other"

"You’re not thekind? Don’t be ridiculous" She remained on the bed, so beautiful he had to force hiht find hiestion Muchand he’d find hi

"I’m twenty-five years old and have never been asked," she re at the bit, waiting for the opportunity," Chet muttered He couldn’t believe he’d said that, not after the fretful evening he’d spent thinking about Monica cheek to cheek with the othersure he wasn’t leaving anything behind, such as his heart and a good portion of coer tothe possibility of ht sent cold chills down his spine

"You’re leaving?" Monica was kneeling on top of the o Please"

The "please" had cost her a good deal, but Chet knew that if he didn’t make his escape then and there, it would be too late Before he knehat he was doing, he’d find hi to this asinine sche relationship continued to confound hiain after she’d lectured hiht on by the evils of alcohol Little by little he’d knowingly allowed hihter They’d been a hair’s breadth fro love only moments earlier She didn’t seem to realize how close they’d come

"I should have realized," she said in a small, pitiful voice, "that you wouldn’t want to roaned inwardly He was prepared to slip into the night as unnoticed as when he’d first arrived, but she’d ain This woman knew exactly which cords to pull to reach him It happened like this each and every time they met Much more of this and she’d have the threads wrapped so securely around his heart there’d be no escape

"It isn’t that," he said, his back to her Looking at her was dangerous, especially noith her lips swollen from his kisses and her hair all mussed up He’d never knooman who looked more beautiful when her hair wasn’t combed

"Then what is it?" she asked From the nearness of her voice he knew she’dal but the truth would satisfy her, Chet realized, yet he hesitated, knowing she’d argue with the devil himself

"Tell me exactly what it is then," she de some of her natural pluck

"Listen, sweetheart," he said, knowing she disliked the affectionate terh for you"

Until he’d met Monica his life had been reduced to eekends, blown paychecks, and cheap thrills with a cocktail waitress He’d been shot, beaten, and chased down by a jealous husband Not exactly pick-of-the-litter husbandMonica anything He’d learned that the hard way

"Don’t say that" Her arms came up under his and she looped her hands on his shoulders, then flattened the side of her face against his back She felt so good and warm pressed to him that for an instant he was nearly swayed

"Nothing could be further from the truth," she insisted "Don’t you realize how ht me? I was a prude until we met and now I knohat it means to be in love You’ve made me proud to be a woman"

"Lessons rarely come cheap"

"What’s that supposed to rateful He slipped out of the , landing with a thud on the hard ground below

Turning around to face her was aline of tactical errors Her eyes were bright with tears and her lower lip was treut He could deal far easier with her anger than he could her tears

"I’et that idea out of your head right now It’s just not going to happen"

She was silent for a et ht, Chet" Her voice was soft and a little broken

She had her hooks in hiet out while the getting was good Working as a private investigator, Chet had developed a sixth sense for these things The tio