and you haven’t missed a single day of work. You have a kind and generous nature—everyone who knows you said so. And you’re suitably built.”
“Suitably built?”
She sounded as though she were strangling, and his gaze dropped to her legs. “Attractively built,” he explained, allowing his gaze to linger for a moment. “Your legs are shapely, your shoulders squared, your back straight. You’re large boned, not overly frail, but still very feminine. You’re not prone to excess weight, but you are…sturdy. If I had a daughter, I wouldn’t have to worry about her being too tiny, something I abhor in women. But she would make a very nice appearance. You always do.”
Without his mind’s permission, his gaze moved to her breasts, outlined so nicely by the black knit dress she wore. Tony heard her say, “I’m small busted.”
He managed a shrug when at the moment he felt far from indifferent, then had to force himself to look up at her face. Her look was challenging, and he grinned at her small show of vanity. “Not at all. You’re…fine. Besides, if I have a son, it certainly won’t matter, and if I have a daughter, I won’t have to worry about all the young men chasing after her before I’m prepared to deal with it.”
She gave an uncertain smile at his wit, then looked away, as if considering all he’d said. He felt his stomach cramping in anxiety. And something more. It was so damn ridiculous, but the more he talked with her, the more he liked her. She hadn’t reacted as most women would have, she hadn’t reeled in shock or shouted in dismay. She hadn’t looked particularly insulted, either. She did look a bit disoriented, though. And somewhat contemplative.
He didn’t want to, but he said, “Why don’t you think about it? Take the weekend, and get back to me on Monday. If you agree, we can contact the doctor I’ve spoken with and have everything taken care of well before my birthday.”
She winced. “A clinical procedure, you said?”
“Yes.” He hastened to reassure her. “But from what I understand, it’s not bad. I deliver my sperm—”
One slim eyebrow quirked. “Deliver your sperm?”
“Yes.” He knew his face was heating and felt like a fool.
“How exactly is that accomplished?”
“Never mind.” The order was ground out from between his teeth, and she chuckled. He’d never before seen her sense of humor; usually it was her determination to get ahead that she presented at a business meeting. He felt a touch of warmth at the sound of her laughter, then gave her an exasperated look and continued. “I deliver my sperm and they…well, I suppose it’s much like visiting your gynecologist. Only instead of doing whatever it is they usually do, my sperm will be artificially planted—inseminated, it’s called—and then we’ll wait to see if it takes.”
Olivia chewed her lips, then said slowly, “It sounds rather distasteful.”
“I’ll admit it isn’t quite the way nature intended a woman to be impregnated, but it is certainly less personal, which is the main objective.”
“Why?”
Her pointed look and bald question confused him. “Why what?”
“Why does it have to be so impersonal? Why can’t you just…do it?”
“Do it?”
She made a sound of disgust. “Just impregnate the woman of your choice by nature’s design.”
He knew what she was asking, and felt an instant, unwanted tightening in his loins. Lust, damnable lust. He swallowed. “I want this to be as much of a business dealing as possible. Getting naked…” He felt himself harden and had to clear his throat. “Making love to a woman isn’t at all a business proposition. It’s very personal.”
Olivia seemed relaxed now, arrogantly so, and somehow determined. Tony knew she was aware of his unease, and planned to take advantage of it—as any good businesswoman would do. She nodded, a pseudo show of understanding. Then she smiled. “I see.”
He felt a twinge of anger at her for prodding him. “I should hope so.”
“I believe I’ll take your advice and think all this over. You said you don’t want to hear from me until Monday?”
“I…” He had no idea what had come over her. She wasn’t acting the way he’d expected, she wasn’t even acting in a way he could have guessed or anticipated. He felt stymied. “You don’t have to wait if you come to a decision before then.”
“I think I probably will make up my mind before then. How about if I give you my decision tomorrow evening?”
He nodded, stiff-backed now, and forced a smile. He knew by her amused expression that she wasn’t fooled, and that she was thoroughly enjoying his discomfort. “I’ll give you my home number.”
“No. I got the feeling you didn’t want the fertile woman who would serve your needs to intrude on your life.” He started to speak, but she forestalled him, her tone not nearly so sarcastic now. “Why don’t I just give you my number instead—my privacy isn’t nearly as threatened as your own. You can call me. Say, seven o’clock tomorrow?”
With her small chin raised, her straight nose in the air, she looked as proud and gutsy and almost as arrogant as he. She looked magnificent to him, and he merely nodded, distracted by thoughts of her feminine body rounded by his babe. They would make a beautiful, healthy child together. He reached out and touched her chin. “I wouldn’t mind if the baby was a boy or a girl. I don’t remember if I told you that.”
She smiled, and seemed to relax again despite herself. “You didn’t. But I had the impression it wouldn’t matter.” Then she went to his desk and picked up the gold pen from the marble holder and scrawled her home number across the desk pad.
“I had your number in my files.”
“This way, you won’t have to look it up.”
He felt awkward now, but Olivia didn’t seem to be suffering any such problems. She gave him a small salute.
“I’ll be going home now. It’s getting late, and I do have quite a bit to think over.”
“I’ll be a good father, Olivia.” He hadn’t meant to say that. He hadn’t planned on trying to convince her what a good person he was. But he wanted the baby so badly, now, before he got any older, before he was left all alone in the world.
Again, she didn’t mock him.
“I never doubted it.” She looked almost sad, which didn’t make any sense. “Tomorrow at seven, Tony.” And then she was gone.
CHAPTER TWO
OLIVIA LAY IN BED that night, despising herself. She was a fraud and a manipulator and the worst kind of person for taking advantage of another. Tony had no idea the type of woman he was dealing with.
She’d known since she was sixteen that she would never have children. For her, it was physically impossible.
In the hospital, only hours before Olivia’s mother had slipped
