boss and employee to sleeping together,” she tried to explain, pulling on his shirt. The delicious masculine scent surrounding her as she buttoned the garment caused Haley to feel warm all over. “We only went on one date—if you want to call it that—and that was the night before we got married.”
When he picked up the breakfast tray from the dresser and turned to face her, his expression was thoughtful. “So what you’re saying is, you don’t switch gears quite that fast.”
“Something like that.” Maybe he was beginning to understand how she felt.
“I guess that makes sense,” he said absently as he set the tray over her lap, then lowered himself to sit on the mattress beside her. He looked pensive for a moment. “Since we’re discussing your inhibitions, were they the reason you were still a virgin?”
She knew he’d be curious and ask about it. “It’s quite simple, really. I went to a very strict, private high school for girls. In our Freshman year, we were encouraged to take a pledge to stay pure until we married. I promised that I would.” Reaching for a slice of crispy bacon, she shrugged. “Besides, I never met a man that I cared enough about to be intimate with.”
“Never?”
“Oh, I was tempted a couple of times in college with one or two of the guys I dated.” She shook her head. “But I always found a reason not to break my vow. Probably because it just didn’t feel right with them.”
“Do you always keep your word, Haley?” His question was casual enough, but she could tell he was extremely interested in her answer.
Swallowing the bacon she’d been nibbling on, she nodded. “It’s not always easy, but if I tell someone that I’ll do something, I try my best to do it.” She smiled. “I have had to break my promises a few times, but I’ve never made a habit of it.”
“So that’s why you followed through when I called your bluff about having to be married,” he proclaimed, capturing her gaze with his. “You gave me your word.”
Haley nodded again. She wasn’t overly surprised that he’d figured out that she was discouraging him when she laid down the terms to have his baby. He was very perceptive and it was one of the many reasons he was such a highly successful businessman.
“Knowing how you feel about relationships, I thought mentioning marriage would dissuade you,” she admitted. “If I’d tried to back out when you said you were agreeable, you wouldn’t have given me a minute’s peace until I honored my word.”
“That’s true, but why didn’t you just reject my request outright?” he asked, obviously trying to figure out what made her tick as he took a big bite of his scrambled eggs.
“Because I know you well enough that when you set your sights on something, you don’t give up. You’re like a dog with a juicy bone.” Picking up her glass of orange juice, she gazed at him over the rim. “Would you have abandoned the idea of me having your child if I’d said no right away?”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “Not a chance in hell, sweetheart.”
“My point exactly.”
“So, if you know me so well,” he argued as he placed his fork on his empty plate, “why do you keep insisting that we need to get to know each other further?”
How could she explain that it was the little everyday things that she wanted to know?
“Do you have any idea why my hair is straight when I’m at the office, but when I’m at home it’s curly?” she finally asked.
His expression clearly stated he thought she’d lost her mind.
“Bear with me for a minute.”
He gave her a dubious look. “Okay. I assume you’re like my sister and use a curling iron when you want to make your hair curly.”
“Just the opposite.” She couldn’t help but laugh. “I use a flat iron to take the curl out.”
“Your hair is naturally curly?” He shook his head. “I wasn’t aware of that.”
“That’s what I meant about knowing each other. Don’t you think that’s something a man would know about the woman he has a child with?”
He looked thoughtful. “I suppose it might be since it’s a trait that could be passed on to my son.” Grinning, he winked at her. “But it’s certainly not a requirement for having sex.”
Luke wasn’t going to concede easily. But neither was she.
“I know how you take your coffee. Do you know how I prefer mine?”
He was silent for several seconds before he finally answered. “No.”
“That’s something else most couples know about each other by the time they walk down the aisle or have a baby.” She smiled. “And just for the record, I don’t drink coffee because I don’t like the taste of it.”
“I never noticed,” he acknowledged as he picked up the tray. “But I think I have an excellent way of remedying this little problem you think we have while learning each others’ likes and dislikes.”
“Really? What would that be?”
“We’re going to take a drive across the mountains over into North Carolina. And while we’re traveling, we’ll take turns asking questions about the little everyday things.” He looked quite pleased with himself. “It won’t take any time at all and we’ll know each other quite well.”
“But I thought you had plans to stay here for the rest of the weekend,” she reminded him, fascinated by the play of muscles in his broad back as he balanced the tray and walked to the door.
Stopping, he turned. “That was before I took your virginity.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” she asked, getting out of bed to find her clothes and take a shower.
Luke suddenly groaned, closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath.
Alarmed by his uncharacteristic behavior, she went to him. “Are you all right?”
When he opened his eyes, the intensity in his incredible blue gaze warmed her. “Do you have any idea how sexy you look wearing nothing but my shirt? Or what a turn-on it is for me just knowing that you don’t have anything on underneath it?”
“Not really.” She wondered if he knew how sexy he looked without a shirt.
“The reason we need to go for a drive is because if we don’t, I’m going to put down this tray, carry you back to bed and make love to you until we both collapse from exhaustion.” He glanced away. “And that wouldn’t be a good idea right now.”
Had he changed his mind about wanting her to become pregnant immediately?
“Why not? Isn’t that a prerequisite for making a baby the old-fashioned way?”
“Sweetheart, nothing would make me happier than making love to you all day and all night.” He gazed at her and shook his head.
