Following a short silence, Austin said, "Sorry I haven't called before now."And chuckling, he added "If you want the truth, I forgot who was supposed to call whom." Mercy loved the sound of his laugh—deep and hearty and wholly masculine. A smart woman would figure out how to inspire more of it. "No problem. I figured you were busy. Or working some off-beat shift. Or both." "So, when's it convenient to have that dinner I promised?" If she'd been talking to any other man, Mercy would have put him off a day or two, to ensure he wouldn't get the idea she'd kept all her nights free, in case he called. But she could hardly call Austin "any other man." "I guess that depends." "On . . . ?" "Whether or not you've stocked up on the ingredients to make that dinner you promised." He paused only slightly before saying "I guess that depends." All her life, people had been telling her she needed to play more, work less.
