promo. In fact, it would be better if we used my set.”
Nick shrugged and admitted, “I’ve got the time to put into this project. Nothing else and nobody on my schedule. If Mercy says we can get it done, then I’m willing to try.”
Smiling, Mercy said, “All right then. It looks like we have a fund-raiser to put together. I’ll set up a meeting with Dan for next Monday afternoon.”
Mercy heard the rumble of Nick’s Chevelle through the open window of the office she’d converted from a spare bedroom. Although her heart was already skipping beats, it wasn’t until the car door shut that the black Labrador picked up her head and paid attention.
The engine rumble had meant nothing to her dog, but Witch associated the slamming of car doors with the weekly delivery of videotape from the station. Since the young Zip Transit driver always had an extra minute to scratch her chin, Mercy wasn’t surprised when Witch jumped off the roomy sofa. With a welcoming woof, the dog joyously dashed out of the room and down the stairs.
Briefly, Mercy considered ignoring the sharp buzz of the doorbell, only to discard the idea. Pulling off a pair of designer tortoiseshell and wire-rim glasses, Mercy sighed and slowly leaned over to place themon a shelving unit full of movie trivia books. Resigned, she reached for the remote control and switched off the VCR machine. Her home office served as more than a place to put a desk and a file cabinet.
Across from the comfortable sofa placed along one wall was the big-screen TV she used to preview each week’s horror movie as she prepared her monologue and comments for the show. She’d been just about to watch next week’s movie, but work would have to wait until after she’d dealt with Nick’s invasion.
She hadn’t been alone with Nick since the kiss. Lady Luck had delivered a small reprieve at the end of their meeting. Nick had been paged to Emergency. Before he left the room, his eyes let her know that the reprieve was only temporary and she could expect him to come calling. In fact, she had expected him long before Sunday afternoon.
The doorbell rang again, sounding more impatient this time, although she knew it was technically impossible for a doorbell to have feelings. As she left the room Mercy placed the remote on top of the television. Witch met her at the landing, thumping her tail against the stair rail and encouraging Mercy to hurry. As the dog raced back down the steps Mercy told her, “Settle down. It’s not who you think it is.”
Witch didn’t seem to care. To a friendly dog, any visitor was cause for celebration. Uncharitably, Mercy hoped that Nick hated dogs—or at least that dogs hated him. As soon as she opened the door, her hopes were dashed. Nick stood on her porch bouncing a pink neon tennis ball obviously intended as a bribe for Witch. The doctor’s grin advertised the fact that he was quite pleased with himself forremembering that her dog was probably home by now.
“I suppose you think that’s going to be enough to get you in the door?” Mercy asked as she grabbed the Lab’s collar to stop her bouncing in unison with the tennis ball.
“Of course not.” Nick caught the ball as it sprang up off the wooden porch and held it, drawing her attention to the flex of his arm muscles as they strained against the sleeve of his black T-shirt. With his other hand, he grasped something draped over his shoulder. Slowly, he pulled a pair of black silk stockings free. “I brought a toy for you too.”
Only a man as brazenly confident as Nick would arrive on a woman’s doorstep, unannounced and bearing lingerie. Mercy’s mouth dried out, and she had to lick her lips and swallow before she could say anything. When she finally found her voice, she confessed a secret, “Then you wasted your money, because neither Midnight Mercy nor I own a garter belt.”
“Ah,
chère
, I was afraid of that. So I bought one of those too. It’s in my back pocket.” He turned
Nick shrugged and admitted, “I’ve got the time to put into this project. Nothing else and nobody on my schedule. If Mercy says we can get it done, then I’m willing to try.”
Smiling, Mercy said, “All right then. It looks like we have a fund-raiser to put together. I’ll set up a meeting with Dan for next Monday afternoon.”
Mercy heard the rumble of Nick’s Chevelle through the open window of the office she’d converted from a spare bedroom. Although her heart was already skipping beats, it wasn’t until the car door shut that the black Labrador picked up her head and paid attention.
The engine rumble had meant nothing to her dog, but Witch associated the slamming of car doors with the weekly delivery of videotape from the station. Since the young Zip Transit driver always had an extra minute to scratch her chin, Mercy wasn’t surprised when Witch jumped off the roomy sofa. With a welcoming woof, the dog joyously dashed out of the room and down the stairs.
Briefly, Mercy considered ignoring the sharp buzz of the doorbell, only to discard the idea. Pulling off a pair of designer tortoiseshell and wire-rim glasses, Mercy sighed and slowly leaned over to place themon a shelving unit full of movie trivia books. Resigned, she reached for the remote control and switched off the VCR machine. Her home office served as more than a place to put a desk and a file cabinet.
Across from the comfortable sofa placed along one wall was the big-screen TV she used to preview each week’s horror movie as she prepared her monologue and comments for the show. She’d been just about to watch next week’s movie, but work would have to wait until after she’d dealt with Nick’s invasion.
She hadn’t been alone with Nick since the kiss. Lady Luck had delivered a small reprieve at the end of their meeting. Nick had been paged to Emergency. Before he left the room, his eyes let her know that the reprieve was only temporary and she could expect him to come calling. In fact, she had expected him long before Sunday afternoon.
The doorbell rang again, sounding more impatient this time, although she knew it was technically impossible for a doorbell to have feelings. As she left the room Mercy placed the remote on top of the television. Witch met her at the landing, thumping her tail against the stair rail and encouraging Mercy to hurry. As the dog raced back down the steps Mercy told her, “Settle down. It’s not who you think it is.”
Witch didn’t seem to care. To a friendly dog, any visitor was cause for celebration. Uncharitably, Mercy hoped that Nick hated dogs—or at least that dogs hated him. As soon as she opened the door, her hopes were dashed. Nick stood on her porch bouncing a pink neon tennis ball obviously intended as a bribe for Witch. The doctor’s grin advertised the fact that he was quite pleased with himself forremembering that her dog was probably home by now.
“I suppose you think that’s going to be enough to get you in the door?” Mercy asked as she grabbed the Lab’s collar to stop her bouncing in unison with the tennis ball.
“Of course not.” Nick caught the ball as it sprang up off the wooden porch and held it, drawing her attention to the flex of his arm muscles as they strained against the sleeve of his black T-shirt. With his other hand, he grasped something draped over his shoulder. Slowly, he pulled a pair of black silk stockings free. “I brought a toy for you too.”
Only a man as brazenly confident as Nick would arrive on a woman’s doorstep, unannounced and bearing lingerie. Mercy’s mouth dried out, and she had to lick her lips and swallow before she could say anything. When she finally found her voice, she confessed a secret, “Then you wasted your money, because neither Midnight Mercy nor I own a garter belt.”
“Ah,
chère
, I was afraid of that. So I bought one of those too. It’s in my back pocket.” He turned
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