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“Well, I don’t want six. I only said that to...to...”
“See how I’d react?” he helped.
“Yes.”
“How many do you really want?”
“Four, if you must know. That would be the ideal.” Her face drooped despondently as she looked off into the distance. “But I guess I’d make do with two if I had to. Probably lucky to have two, the way I’m going.”
“Never give up on a dream,” Matt advised, thinking four was really a more manageable number. Two boys and two girls would be just fine. A well-balanced family.
She sighed and resumed walking.
Matt figured he needed to correct her impression of him. The image of Tarzan was not to his liking. Though he had to admit the idea of carrying Peta Kelly off to a tree house and mating with her on the spot had a very strong appeal. She stirred quite a few primitive instincts. He’d like to punch out the guy who’d soured her on men. On the other hand, he suspected violence would not win her approval.
“I’m not an apeman,” he stated as a matter of fact. “I’m actually quite civilised. My mother house-trained me from a very young age. She’d vouch for that if you asked her.”
It earned a wisp of a smile. “You’re really worried about her, aren’t you?”
“Yes. She took my father’s death hard. It’s been almost two years now and she makes no effort to get over it.”
“She must have loved him very much.”
He heard the sympathy in her voice and frowned. Had she really loved the guy who’d done the dirty on her? Matt didn’t like that idea.
“Don’t give my mother sympathy. It’ll only make her worse,” he warned.
She glanced sharply at him. “You’re a hard man.”
“No. A practical one. Sympathy feeds her grief which she uses as an excuse to indulge herself in misery. And might I add, for your benefit, it’s a futile waste of time nursing a broken heart over a guy who wasn’t worth loving.”
r /> Her eyes whirled in confusion. “Your father wasn’t worth loving?”
“He was. I meant the scumbag who cheated on you.”
“Oh!” Resentment flared. “I’d take it kindly if you minded your own business, Matt Davis, and left me to mind my own.”
“You make it my business when you put me on the same level as him.”
“That’s it!” She wheeled on him and stamped her foot. Her blue eyes were laser bolts, searing him with fury. “I don’t have to take any more from you and I won’t.”
“I could be the father of your children,” he said blandly.
“What?” The laser bolts lost direction.
“Might be your best chance.”
Her mouth fell into a very sensual pout as she dragged in a deep breath. Matt was tempted to step forward and kiss her, get her mind moving on a positive path. He thought better of it, remembering the fierce stipulation of the wedding ring. He didn’t want to scare her off. He threw in another persuader for good measure.
“I think four’s an ideal number, too.”
Her breath whooshed out. She backed away, wagging a finger at him. “You...are making a fool of me.”
“Nope. Just being practical.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I’ve had a hard time finding a woman who wants to be a wife and mother.”
