The Nine-Month Bride. Judy Christenberry

Doesn’t matter for a boy, he assured himself. Dark hair, like his. Beth had had pale blond hair, spun gold, an angelic halo. And a beautiful smile.

      This lady wasn’t smiling.

      Of course not. Having a baby was serious business. He cleared his throat. “I assume you have no health problems.”

      She stiffened and then frowned. Dark brows rose and she tilted her head as she stared at him. “No. Do you?”

      “None.”

      Tense silence fell, and Lucas tried to think of what he needed to say. “You understand that afterward… I mean, there’ll be no contact between us?”

      Her reaction was curious. A sigh of relief moved through her and a hopeful smile formed on her lips. Even that half smile made him reevaluate his impression of her. Her brown eyes warmed and a touch of color enlivened her pale cheeks. The severe style of her hair, pulled back into a bun low on her neck, didn’t change, but she looked younger somehow.

      “How old are you?”

      She blinked several times. “Thirty-two. And you?”

      “Thirty-three.” He studied her. Yes, she looked that old. He might even have said a year or two older. “You’re sure you’re young enough?”

      “I don’t think that’s any of your business,” she replied, her jaw squaring.

      One eyebrow slipped up in surprise as he stared at her. Not any of his business? She was going to have his son. “I want this…our agreement to be successful.”

      “My age is not a problem,” she said firmly, looking away.

      “Okay.” He’d take her word for it since Doc had sent her. What would be the point of sending someone who couldn’t have a baby? “Do you have any questions?”

      “I—I know why I’m doing this, Mr. Boyd, but I don’t understand…what are your reasons? Is compensation involved?” As she finished, she looked around the room, as if evaluating his worth.

      “Didn’t Doc explain the terms?”

      She shook her head. “He said it would be a breach of confidentiality.”

      “Well, it’s pretty simple. I want you to have my son, and I’m willing to pay.” He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, waiting for her response.

      “You’ll pay? But—but why?”

      His eyes narrowed as he studied her. She was willing to go through the pregnancy gratis? Something wasn’t right. Was she some kind of freak?

      “I’d expect to. I’m asking a lot.”

      “I assure you, Mr. Boyd, payment isn’t necessary on your part. I’m even willing to pay you.” She raised her chin, as if expecting him to take her up on her offer.

      He stood and shoved his hands into his back pockets. “Let me get this straight, Miss Langston. You’re willing to get pregnant, have my son and then disappear, for free?”

      “If you feel that my leaving the community is necessary, yes, I’m even willing to do that. The baby and I will find another home.”

      “You and the baby?” he gasped before responding to her in hardened tones. “The baby stays here, Miss Langston. We’re agreed on that.” He glared at her, wondering what her game was.

      She rose, alarm on her face. “No, of course not, Mr. Boyd. The baby is mine.”

      “Damn it! What would be the point? I want my son! Why else would I go through the embarrassment of—”

      “You thought I would give you the baby?” she demanded, her features tightening.

      “Isn’t that what a surrogate mother is? Someone who gives birth to the baby and then hands it over?”

      “But you’re supposed to be a sperm donor. Not a—you can’t keep the baby.”

      “You think I would allow anyone, anyone,” he repeated for emphasis, “to take my child away? I’ve already lost one son. I’m not about to lose another one.”

      They were almost nose to nose now, his hands on his hips as he challenged her. She was even taller than he’d thought, only a few inches shorter than he was. Beth had been a petite doll, not even as high as his shoulders.

      His visitor reached down behind her for the large shoulder bag she’d left on the sofa. “Clearly we have both— I have made a mistake. Dr. Grable suggested you as a sperm donor for my pregnancy. I apologize for wasting your time.”

      “You mean you’re not willing to be a surrogate mother?” Lucas demanded.

      “No.”

      Again she didn’t waste any words. As she moved to step around him, he caught her arm. “I’m offering a lot of money.”

      Tugging at his hold on her arm, she didn’t meet his gaze. “That’s wonderful. Now, if you’ll excuse me?”

      “You’re not interested?”

      Her brown-eyed gaze flew to his eyes briefly before she stared at his hand clutching her arm. “No.”

      “You haven’t even asked how much.”

      Again she stared at him. “Which should tell you I have no interest in your…intentions.”

      “Then why did Doc send you?” he demanded in frustration. From the moment he’d gotten Doc’s message, he thought his problem had been solved. He’d almost imagined himself holding his child.

      “You’ll have to ask Dr. Grable that question, Mr. Boyd. I also have some questions for the good doctor.” Her lips tightened, and he noticed their fullness for the first time.

      Again she tugged at his hold, and this time he released her, stepping back, his cheeks flushing in embarrassment. “You can name your terms, Miss Langston. I’ll be generous.” His jaw tightened as he waited for her to ask for some outrageous sum. But he was so close to having his dream. He was willing to pay.

      Her response wasn’t what he’d expected. Instead of a calculating stare, he received a soft smile, gentle almost, as she said, “My dream is just as important to me as yours is to you, Mr. Boyd. I can’t do what you’re asking, for any amount of money. I’m sorry I took up your time.”

      Without waiting for an answer, she walked out of the room, taking his dream with her.

      Chapter Two

      Someone had to bear the brunt of his anger, and it seemed only fair to Lucas that that someone be the doctor.

      “Doc, what the hell game are you playing?” he demanded over the phone.

      “Now, Luke, calm down. Did you talk to Miss Langston?”

      “Yeah, I talked to her. But she wasn’t willing to be a surrogate mother. She intended to keep the baby!” He couldn’t have sounded more horror-stricken if he’d been talking about infanticide. “Why did you send her here?”

      “It seems crazy, I know, but with both of you wanting a baby, I thought—hell, I’m sorry, Luke, but I don’t like either of your choices. I was hoping to kind of jolt the two of you, if nothing else.”

      “Well, you succeeded. I’ve never had such an embarrassing conversation in my life. Who is the woman? I’ve never seen her before.”

      “You might’ve seen her if you’d stop living like a hermit. You don’t even come to church anymore, much less the few social occasions we have around here.”

      “Who is she?” he repeated, ignoring the other comments.

      “She’s the librarian…hired six months ago.”

      “Why doesn’t she get pregnant