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2.
***Remington***
Thesweetsouthernliltof her voice made my cock stir. Her words came just a bit slower and I found myself leaning forward to devour every single one. She was even better than her picture. Wide green eyes, a full mouth meant for pleasing a man, and fucking freckles. She looked like the girl next door, if the girl next door had curves for days and the ability to make a man hard with a single batting of her long lashes.
“Memphis. I’ve never met a Memphis before.” Wells rested his hands on the table that separated us from Memphis and I could see the way his knuckles were white from the pressure of him squeezing them together.
“My momma was a romantic at heart. She named me after the place she met my father.” A smile tipped her lips upwards. “I’m told it could’ve been worse. They had a missed connection in Florida before meeting in Memphis.”
Boone laughed easily. “I think Memphis works for you. Did you ever have a nickname, though? I was Boo growing up. Wells was Welly and Remington here is still Remy to us.”
A flattering blush stained her cheeks and she crossed her legs, flashing a tantalizing amount of thigh as she did. “I plead the fifth.”
“Ms. King, all of your medical exams came back healthy, as is required, of course. However, your application was received last minute and I haven’t been able to vet your information yet. Why don’t you tell us about yourself?” Mrs. Hathe refused to look my way as she addressed Memphis. She knew she was overstepping, pushing when I’d said to stop.
“Sure.” Memphis lost her smile and uncrossed and recrossed her legs the other way. She was nervous. “I grew up in Georgia with a small family. I graduated from St. Katherine School at the top of my class and attended the University of Georgia for the next four years. I double majored in business and English. After graduating, I went to Yale and continued my English literature education. I know that I should’ve followed through with business, especially considering that’s what my father wanted to bring me on board with the family business, but it wasn’t in my heart.”
I steepled my fingers as I studied her. “The business program at Georgia is solid. That’s impressive.”
Her eyes moved to my hands and stayed there. “I stated in my application that I’m also a champion swimmer and my tennis game is top notch. I can also make a coconut cake that would make you cry happy tears.”
“What made you want to do this?” Wells’ leg bounced under the table and I knew he was anxious to be done with the entire process. He hadn’t even jumped on her English degree, despite his time studying some of the classics abroad.
“I’ve done a lot in my life. I’m nearing thirty and I’m nowhere near settling down myself. I feel like it’s just right to help out a family in need. If I can do this, I want to.” She tugged at the hem of her dress. “I also saw that the surrogacy would be spent here, in Chicago. While I would be sad to leave the family home in Georgia, I’ve never lived in Chicago and doing this, being a surrogate, will allow me to help someone while getting to experience a new place. And to be quite honest, that English degree and my desire to follow my love of literature into a career has created a riff with my family. They wanted me to follow in their footsteps and master the art of business. I had other plans.”
Frowning, she looked away and shook her head. “It’s unfortunate, but I’m not on great terms with my father. Until I settle into a career and find my place in the world, I’m feeling slightly adrift.”
Truthfully, the moment I’d spotted Memphis’ headshot sitting off to the side on Mrs. Hathe’s desk, I’d had a feeling about her. When I skimmed her application, I saw that she was an intelligent woman from a good family and that she’d been raised to understand our societal needs. She’d give me a kid who would hold up the family name just fine. I didn’t need Mrs. Hathe to do any tests or checks to know that I was going to choose Memphis. That was the reason I’d demanded she be brought in last minute. I didn’t care what Mrs. Hathe thought. I wanted Memphis and I was going to get her.
“I also practice the same sunbathing techniques as Gwenyth Paltrow.” Memphis nodded hard enough that her hair fell into her eyes. She tucked it behind her ears and pressed her lips together, like she was trying to stop herself from talking more.
“Ms. King.” Mrs. Hathe shifted in her seat and shot an apologetic look my way. “I don’t think that’s necessary information.”
I frowned and held up my hand at the older woman. I understood that she was well respected in her field, but I didn’t like the way she was treating Memphis. “Mrs. Hathe, I’d appreciate it if you stepped out for the remainder of the interview.”
Memphis looked between the two of us and sat up even straighter. “Oh…”
“Mr. Hawke, I don’t think-”
“I assure you, Mrs. Hathe, that you are not needed for the rest of this interview.” I held Memphis’ shocked gaze and sat back in my chair. “Would you be able to start immediately if one of us chooses you?”
“I would.” Nodding quickly, Memphis gripped her hands tighter in her lap. “Immediately.”
Boone grinned, turning his charm up a degree. “Your application looks great. Tell me one thing, though.”
Her eyes moved to Boone and she swallowed. “Anything.”
Boone’s answering groan under his breath barely reached my ears, so I knew it hadn’t reached Memphis, but knowing that he was feeling the effects of Memphis’ sweetness bothered me. I stretched my arm out along the back of his chair and squeezed the back of his neck. He needed to keep his shit in check. We weren’t hiring Memphis to be our girlfriend, or whatever flavor of the day Boone was tasting. I needed to remind myself of that, too.
“Are you as sweet as your accent? Second question. Can you assure me the baby will have your accent and your eyes?” He stood up and moved around the table. “I think I-”
Wells stood up and cleared his throat. “Boone.”
I let out a frustrated sigh and joined them. Standing on the other side of the table, closer to Memphis, I froze for a moment. Looking down at the woman, a wave of awareness washed down my spine and left a pleasant tingle behind. Having her in front of me, looking up with her innocent eyes, I felt the dangerous desire to dominate her sweet little body until those eyes fluttered shut with pleasure.
“Give us a few minutes to talk, Memphis. Wait outside.” I bit my tongue and watched as she stood up and still didn’t come up to my chin. She wasn’t a tiny woman, but she still felt small in front of us. “We’ll call you back in momentarily.”
She met my gaze and then nodded quickly before all but running to the door. Just when I thought I’d found a submissive little bunny in my net, she paused with her hand on the door and looked back at us. “I’m not as sweet as the accent would have you think. I’m sorry if that’s disappointing.”
