Clarabel Wilder. Sage Wilder.
God, that made me wonder what it would be like to be part of this family, formeto be called Sage Wilder. They were an amazing family. Loving. Friendly.
But not mine.
I flicked my gaze around the room one last time, my eyes catching Buck’s briefly, then quietly slipped out. They may have given their daughter my name,but that was all this was. A nice name used in a pinch.
I took a deep breath, let it out.
There couldn’t have been any greater push for me to get on with what I wanted than having a baby named after me.
I’d left New York to get away from the wreckage of my life. To come here and give myself room to figure out what I wanted, without a man stringing me along or a job I couldn’t return to or overbearing parents who had expectations I was currently not meeting.
My want hadn’t changed. I was just going to put me first, for the first time ever.
It was time. Now, the only thing stopping me from my baby dream was me.
I pulled out my phone, swiped until I got to the number of the sperm bank I’d called three times this week, but hung up before anyone answered. This time, I let it ring.
“Cyrobank of the Rockies, how can I help you?” the woman’s voice asked when she answered.
A thrill of panic and excitement shot through me. This could work. Itwouldwork. “Hi, yes, I’d like to make an appointment to purchase donor sperm.”
I spoke with the receptionist for a minute or two sharing my information and picking a time when the diner wasn’t usually busy but I could close for a few hours so I could go in for an appointment, then hung up.
I couldn’t help but smile at the idea that this might actually happen. That it might be me on this floor in a year or so. For the first time in a while, I was excited about the future.
Tucking my cell back into my purse, I spun around to head for the elevators.
And bumped into a hard body.
A tall one.
Wide.
Solid.
One that smelled like winter landscapes and leather.
His hands wrapped around my biceps, warm and gentle.
“Oh, I’m so–”
My words dried up when I tipped my chin back and saw who it was.
It was Buck. Gorgeous Buck. My heart pitterpattered.
Beneath his Stetson, his dark eyes raked over me, as if he were looking for something.
“You want a baby?” he asked, his voice deeper than the few times I’d heard it.
I blinked, then swallowed hard. “Yes.”
“You’re gonna get one from asperm bank?”
5
BUCK
