The Daddy Plan. Karen Smith Rose

the house now, thanks to him.

      After she unlocked the dead bolt and the doorknob, she pulled open the door. Patches sat beside Sam’s leg, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. She only had a glance for the dog. Sam looked serious but oh, so handsome. His hair had seen a day of disheveling. He often ran his fingers through it when he was working.

      “How are you feeling?” he asked.

      Instead of fighting against his concern, she answered honestly, “Like I want to curl up in a ball until I can face the world again feeling better.”

      At that he smiled. “I thought I’d check on you before I settled in for the night. I can take Jasper for a short walk.”

      “You don’t have to—” She stopped herself. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that and I’m sure Jasper would, too. Come on in. Have you been at the clinic until now?”

      As he followed her into the living room, she was aware of everything about him, from his hair dipping over his brow to his terrifically broad shoulders to his slim hips in jeans to his black-booted feet, which were very big. This was Sam and she didn’t know why she felt so awkward around him, but she did. Maybe because he’d seen her in a hospital gown!

      She sank down onto the sofa trying not to jar her ribs.

      Sam frowned as he watched her. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay by yourself here tonight?”

      “I’m not by myself. I have Jasper.”

      He gave her a get-real look.

      “I can sack out on your couch,” he offered.

      That offer was tempting. On one hand, she’d like to have him around. Yet, on the other, she’d probably rest a lot better if he wasn’t here.

      “Not necessary.”

      Opening his jacket, sitting down beside her on the sofa, he rested his palms on his jeans-clad thighs.

      “You might want to get used to having me around,” he quipped. Then, more seriously, he added, “Because I’ve decided to be your sperm donor. I want to be a dad to your baby.”

       Chapter Four

      “Have you told anyone yet?” Corrie broke the silence between her and Sam as they sat in her obstetrician’s office early Thursday morning.

      On Monday night Sam had agreed to help her have a baby. Yesterday she’d gone back to work. But ever since he’d given her his answer, there’d been an awkwardness between them. Because they were entering uncharted territory? Because Sam might be having second thoughts? Because she couldn’t sleep at night, considering the fact that if she used a stranger’s sperm, the process could be a whole lot easier?

      After a glance at a pregnant woman who seemed to be engrossed reading a magazine, and a look toward the receptionist behind the glass window who was busy typing on a keyboard, Sam leaned closer to Corrie. “I told Nathan I was considering donating my sperm.”

      “Let me guess,” Corrie returned in the same low voice. “He didn’t approve.”

      Sam’s brows arched. “It wasn’t that he didn’t approve. He just wanted me to understand how complicated this could be. Even he and Sara don’t always agree on what’s best for Kyle.”

      “Nathan and Colleen tried in vitro, didn’t they?”

      Scuttlebutt in a town the size of Rapid Creek echoed from one end to the other. Even before Nathan had moved back to Rapid Creek with Kyle, the rumor that he and his first wife had wanted children badly but had had problems conceiving had made the rounds. Whether Galen, Nathan’s dad, had told a friend and that friend had told someone else, it was common knowledge that Nathan and Colleen had used an egg donor.