The Mommy Makeover. Bonnie Winn K.

Newsweek, Time and the Wall Street Journal, her attention wandered toward the bridal magazines. Katelyn wasn’t sure why she had been so drawn to them in the last few weeks, but she picked up nearly half a dozen different ones. After paying for them, she stuffed the magazines in her briefcase, not wanting anyone to see them.

      Certainly not her driver. Malloy would get too much enjoyment out of watching her moon over bridal magazines. She could tell he wasn’t accustomed to women like her—women who valued their careers. She suspected most of his dates were the type who wanted to step in and mother his children. At that thought she felt an unexpected pang. She’d been thinking more and more about children lately, wondering what she was missing out on. It had begun with that unexpectedly frank talk with Malloy after the helicopter episode. But now she didn’t know why her feelings seemed so out of control.

      Oh, it was probably a full moon, she told herself.

      That, or the alarm had been activated on her biological clock.

      Strolling outside, she met Malloy’s level stare as he leaned against the limo fender. She wished he wouldn’t always look at her. It was as though he saw right through her skin and into her mind. She wasn’t sure just what was going through her mind these days and she didn’t need any thought-voyeurs examining her uncertainties.

      As she approached him, he whisked open the door and perversely she wished he wasn’t so efficient. Realizing how ridiculous the thought was, she slid inside.

      “Ready for your dinner meeting?” Finn asked as he took his place behind the wheel.

      “I’d like to go home and put on something else.”

      She’d been doing more of that lately—changing her schedule unexpectedly. “Right.” He concentrated on navigating into the traffic, then glanced into the rearview mirror. “Something special tonight?”

      Katelyn glanced up, her eyes a golden green this evening “It’s a work meeting, but I don’t have to look as though I’ve worked all day.”

      He wasn’t sure there was a logical or tactful reply to that. “Uh-huh. You expect to be late tonight?”

      “I expect to be climbing the walls by nine.” She sighed wistfully. “But unfortunately I don’t expect to be rescued from the clutches of boredom by a white knight.”

      Finn glanced cautiously at her. Maybe even corporate types gave into feminine whimsy. She had been acting softer lately. Finn thought she’d just become accustomed to him.

      Wondering how long she expected the dinner meeting to last, Finn glanced in the rearview mirror as he started to ask. But what he saw halted his words. He blinked to make sure he was seeing straight.

      Katelyn was reading, but not the expected stack of paperwork. Instead she was immersed in a bridal magazine. So immersed she didn’t even notice him watching her.

      What was going on with her? Briefly Finn remembered the tape label he’d found. As quickly, he dismissed it. For all he knew, the tape had been one about using femininity for corporate power. Or it could have been exactly what she’d said—one to help her stop smoking.

      “So, how’s quitting smoking going?” Finn asked, curious why she was behaving in such a different manner.

      “What? Oh, okay I guess,” she replied. “I haven’t really thought about it that much.”

      He glanced back in the mirror, seeing the unexpectedly wistful expression on her face. “Something else on your mind?”

      She hesitated. “It probably would sound silly.”

      “Try me.”

      “Well, ever since we talked about children, I’ve just had this nagging feeling…” Katelyn paused. “I keep wondering what it must be like—to have these miniature people—ones so much like yourself.” Her words ended on a deprecating laugh. “I guess I sound crazy.”

      “Not in my opinion,” Finn replied steadily as he stopped for a red light. Their eyes met in the rearview mirror. “Would you rather ignore those feelings and spend the rest of your life regretting what could have been?”

      Her gaze remained connected with his. “Do you have any? Regrets, I mean.”

      “Of course. But not about my kids. But I would regret it like hell if I’d decided against having them.”

      “I want that, too,” Katelyn replied, surprising them both. “The certainty, I mean. I want to be absolutely sure I’m doing the right thing.”

      Surprised, Finn studied the woman he’d thought was totally certain about everything. “And you’re not sure now?”

      She shook her head. “I thought I was, but now things aren’t as clear. My feelings seem muddled. Like about having children. I was so sure about my decision. And now…”

      “You have doubts?”

      “More than just doubts.” Katelyn’s voice changed, infused with a tone Finn had never heard her use. “Something inside tells me you’re right. I don’t want to wake up someday and wish I’d done things differently.”

      The light changed and the car behind them honked impatiently. Finn tore his gaze from the rearview mirror, breaking their connection. But his thoughts remained on her words. Was it possible Katelyn not only wanted children, but could possibly even be good with them? He hadn’t considered her in this light. Briefly he remembered the vulnerability she had exhibited while sleeping. He had dismissed that for the most part. But could he be wrong? Was the barracuda really a woman beneath her prickly surface?

      Glancing again in the rearview mirror, Finn decided it was worth consideration.

      DANIEL USED his key to enter Katelyn’s condo. He often housesat for her, watering the plants and picking up her mail when she was out of town. But his mission today was different.

      While the last tape he’d given Katelyn had accelerated the process, it still wasn’t working as quickly as he expected. Realistically, Daniel knew he couldn’t expect her to listen to the tapes indefinitely. Happy in his own relationship with Mary, he wanted Katelyn to find a potential mate as well.

      Not only would she be happier, so would he. He sensed that it was her frustration in recent months that had made her edgy, unusually testy. Even though her behavior wore on his nerves, he was genuinely concerned about Katelyn. Having climbed to an enviable position of power, she would find it difficult to relinquish her career for a husband and children. Daniel knew that without outside intervention, Katelyn would grow more frustrated and unhappy.

      Again, Daniel thought of his sister, the bitterness she couldn’t escape. He intended to make sure Katelyn had a different choice.

      Although the last tape he’d purchased had advocated marriage, this one practically guaranteed that it would push the listener into holy wedlock. It worked primarily on a woman’s natural desire to procreate. Katelyn should soon be brimming with desire for a husband and children.

      Daniel had exchanged this newest tape for the one in her cassette recorder, but he wasn’t certain she would listen to it enough for it to work. So, he’d purchased a second tape.

      Walking into her bedroom, he spotted the stereo system. It was a separate unit that Katelyn had bought to bring an air of romance to the room. However, she had confessed that the unit hadn’t been used in a long time.

      But Daniel had a better use for the neglected stereo.

      He slipped the tape in the proper slot, adjusted the volume and then for the pièce de résistance, set the timer. Every night the stereo would turn on at a predetermined time. As she slept, the tape would play repeatedly.

      Grinning, Daniel realized Katelyn would be after her perfect mate in a flash. He just hoped the man she chose was ready. Because a determined Katelyn could put a steamroller to shame. And after listening hundreds of times to the tape, she was going to be one determined hunter.

      IT