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She exhaled a long breath, rolled her eyes, and blushed. "I said I want you to be a sperm donor for me!"
CHAPTER TWO
Disbelief and outrage shot through Nick. Surely he hadn't heard right. Did the lady say . . . sperm? He finally found his voice. "What? Are you crazy?" He stood up. "You don't go around asking a total stranger something like that." He flailed his hands in the air dramatically. "It's crazy! You're crazy! It's—indecent."
"You're shocked. I expected a reaction. At least you haven't made a run for the door."
"I can't. My legs are in shock, too."
But his eyes found hers, and a strange compassion filled him again. He didn't know why. Something about her expression held more than words. Poor woman, she probably couldn't get a man of her own. But this—
"I know that sounds blunt. But I've learned it's always best to state your goal. I'm a woman, and I run a multi-million dollar business. My branch alone brings in twenty-five million a year. It's taken some time to establish myself as a corporate executive. In my line of work a woman has to push hard to be respected, especially if she's the boss. I've worked like the devil. I'm a success because of it. I've always known exactly what I've wanted and I've gotten it. This is no different."
Compassion and outrage warred. "And now you want a sperm donation? Just like that? As though we were talking about salt and pepper passed across the table. It ain't decent."
"I've shocked you?" She picked up the rattle and tapped it against her palm. "Come, come, Mr. Leonetti, I thought you'd be hard to shock, a big tough guy like you. Your application reads like a refugee from a war zone. You've attacked every job from truck driving to mud wrestling. How can something like this throw you?"
Big, maybe from her point of view, he was probably a half foot taller than her. Tough sure. But crazy, not. He tilted his head, pulled at his tie again, cleared his throat and waited for the right answer to come. It didn't.
"You've got the wrong man." He finally forced the words from his mouth.
Kelsey firmed her lips, narrowed her gaze and crossed her arms over her chest. Raw determination glared at him. His words hadn't deterred her. "Oh, are you sterile?"
Sterile? It was a challenge, a gauntlet. Nick felt his blood pounding in his head. He didn't deserve this. All he wanted was a job.
His nostrils flared, as he wiped his face with his hand. He wondered what might happen if he slowly kissed away her judgmental expression and opened that straight linen jacket of hers. In ten minutes he could make a real woman out of her, change her entire attitude, and make her think sterile. Damn, he'd been way too long without a woman! That wasn't his style though.
He blew out breath, as he willed his body to calm. "Not that I know of, no. But I came here under the impression this was a sheet-metal company. I figured you were looking for a warehouse foreman, or shipyard crew. Not—not something like this."
"It is a sheet-metal company Nick. And I have a full crew right now. But what I don't have is a sperm donor."
"You can say that again, lady." Geez. No way was he going to give this woman what she 'wanted'.
She sighed heavily, as though the weight of the world were on her shoulders. "I should be used to dealing with this reaction. As I said earlier, three of the others stormed out of here this morning as though I'd shot them. But Nick, there isn't an easy way to approach the subject. I figured bluntness might be best. I know it's a big thing to ask of any person."
The way she wrung her hands made Nick stop and consider her request for just a second. This couldn't be easy for a woman like her, he reflected. Not for Goody-Two-Shoes. But there was nothing short of moving the earth that would make him agree to something like this. So why was she proposing such an outlandish thing in the first place?
If it hadn't been for that sultry voice, he'd been out of here by now. But damn if he wasn't turned on by the woman. It was crazy but he found himself wondering what her hair might be like if he undid the clasp, and what lay beneath that dowdy linen suit and thick set of glasses. Forget it, he silently scolded himself. She's crazy!
"Look, I thought this was a job."
She leaned forward, her expression earnest, almost pleading. "Oh, it is. It is, Nick. This isn't personal, believe me. I mean, I don't expect it to be. It can all be taken care of clinically. I've made all the arrangements; all I have to do is find a donor. And I will pick my own donor. But there are a few things that have to be done first—if you agree to it."
Of course he wouldn't agree to it! Did she need it in writing? Mama would pin his ears back for staying as long as he had, if she knew.
The word 'No', was on the tip of his tongue, but instead he heard himself saying, "Such as?"
"First," Her face lit with hope. "I'll need to run a complete check on your background. Have a medical history done. This will require more information than you might be willing to give. I see you listed no medical problems, but of course that would have to be checked out. You listed a lot of jobs. On an ordinary resume that wouldn't look good. It hints at instability. There's probably a reason behind all of them, but I don't have the time or the inclination to delve into it."
"Look, don't bother. There's nothing wrong with my background, medical or otherwise. As for the jobs, it's real simple. My family comes first. A lot of bosses just don't seem to get the message. But that's how it is in my family. That's why I'm not the right guy. I've got enough obligations for now."
He wanted to shake some sense into her, but he'd never manhandled a woman and he certainly wouldn't start now.
"Nonsense." She cleared her throat. The arrogance was gone from her face. "I'm glad to hear it, Nick. And I find you a very well-rounded man. You are a street-wise, self-educated man who happens to have morals, too. I like that. But naturally, I'd need more information. I'd have you investigated; I want you to understand that. I'm an honest person. Then you'd be sent to a clinic and tested for sperm count and a complete physical, that is, if you pass the background check. Assuming you are 100% healthy we'll draw up a contract that in effect makes me the legal guardian of the child. You'll have no further responsibilities. That's all there is to it."
She made it sound like a formula for a corporate deal. But she still hadn't got his message yet.
"Is that all?" Nick respected the lady, even went as far as feeling sorry for her, but now, he was rethinking it. Not that she hadn't calculated his every move. That was the problem, it was too calculated. The woman was obviously suffering from delusions. No further responsibilities? Who was she kidding? Babies weren't born that way—in a clinic, with no responsibilities. They spelled responsibilities, with a capital R. Besides, babies were meant to be born out of love and affection and family. Who was she trying to kid?
