Tessa Radley - Expecting His Child - The Pregnancy Plot / Staking His Claim / A Tricky Proposition

The irony was that AJ had no idea. She still thought he was some career-driven workaholic robot, motivated by success and money. Yet he was no longer the man she knew from back then, that young, overscheduled, goal-oriented man for whom career and the great Cooper name came first and foremost.

Decker was right. Everything he’d pursued he’d gotten—his position as chief surgeon at Saint Cat’s, GEM, various bed partners following Katrina. As a doctor, he’d been acutely aware of human frailty, the crazy ways a person’s life could hinge on the actions of others. Yet he was also a big believer in fate. He’d never been able to replicate the magic he’d had with AJ, not even with Katrina. But now, incredibly, he was being handed a second chance.

Fate.

Was he crazy? Maybe. But right now, he had the eerie feeling that if he said no to AJ, if he didn’t put in the effort to make another go of it, he’d lose her and she’d have their happy ending with someone else.

You’re actually going to make a woman fall in love with you? He could imagine Paige’s incredulity just before she burst out laughing.

This was no laughing matter. He had no intention of walking away—didn’t want to walk away. AJ had chosen him, had come to him.

Fate.

He eyeballed her as she waited patiently for his answer.

“So there’s been no one else?”

AJ slowly slid her sunglasses off, placed them high on her head, then met his direct look with one of her own. “One guy loved going out with his mates more than me. One preferred his collection of Lord of the Rings action figures. Another had three girls on the go. And one...” She paused. Those battle scars still stung—no doubt would still sting—for years to come. But their presence also proved she was doing the right thing.

“What happened?”

“He came close.” She shrugged. No naïveté for her again. “But then I found out he was married and cheating on his wife.” At his gently murmured curse she shrugged. “See? Asshats.”

“You’re still young, AJ. Only thirty-two. There’s still plenty of time to—”

“God help me, if you say, ‘you’ll find someone,’ I am so going to smack you.”

He clamped his mouth shut and stared out the windshield, the faint strains of traffic barely discernible in the background. “So you’ve decided to approach motherhood alone,” he said.

“Yes.”

He paused, eyebrow raised, waiting for her to elaborate.

She sighed and gripped the seat belt still strapped across her chest. “Given my single status and my low chances of getting pregnant, I’d booked an appointment with a fertility clinic, but that fell through and I have to wait six months for another.”

“Which is where I come in.”

“Yes. Matt, look. Maybe it was just a coincidence seeing you at Emily’s wedding. I’m not a believer in fate—”

“I am.”

She paused, digesting that interesting little snippet, then continued. “So if you want me to sign a contract, I will. I will not interfere with your life or your career. No one will have to know.”

“Keep us a secret?” His brow went up. “You didn’t like that idea last time.”

“You remember that?”

“You don’t?”

Every single moment I think of you. She swallowed the faint feeling of inadequacy, still there after all these years. “It was a long time ago. I’m older now. And I’m prepared to meet your terms.”

He remained silent for a moment, then said softly, “You don’t know what my terms are.”

She suppressed a shiver as his gaze passed over her face, taking in her features before focusing squarely on her eyes. Wait, did that mean—?

Her heart skipped a beat. “What are they?” she asked softly.

“Well, first—you have to be able to financially support a child.”

“I can.” Her calm response belied the growing butterflies in her stomach.

“Because I get the impression your income could be...” He paused, searching for a word. “Fickle.”

The implication stung. “Sometimes. But my bank account is decent. Do you want to check my balance?”

“No, that won’t be necessary.” His gaze skimmed her again. “And having Zac Prescott as financial backup wouldn’t hurt, I’m guessing.”

Oh, now she was more than stung. She was irritated. “Yeah, sponging off my brother-in-law is not—and never has been—an option, Matt. What’s your next condition?”

“Do you have an apartment? A place of your own?”

“I’m looking.”

He nodded.

“Saint Cat’s fertility specialist is the best in the state. I can get an appointment for a week Thursday.”

“That’s quick.”

His smile was brief. “The perks of being the former head of neurosurgery.”

With a nod she asked, “Is that all?” then immediately hated the way her voice came out all stuttery and unsure.

“No.” This time his eyes lingered on her cheek, then her lips. “We’re going to do this the old-fashioned way. No clinics, no cups. It’ll be just you, me and a bed. Or—” his mouth curved “—maybe not a bed. Depends where we are.”

AJ’s breath stilled. This was...unbelievable. Amazing.

“So you’re saying yes,” she said out loud. “We’re really going to do this.”

Matt nodded. “We are.”

He’d said yes. He’d actually said yes. Reality struck so hard and with such force that her throat closed up and she had to work to regain control of her overwhelming emotions.

One step. This was just one step.

Yet the yearning, the desperate desire, flickered to life, flaring into hope.

A baby. Her baby. A chubby, squirmy, drooly child who would know every day he was loved and wanted. A child who would never go hungry or thirsty. A child who would always come first. A child she’d hold and cuddle and never abandon to the foster system.

She quickly suppressed those bitter memories, locking them away so they wouldn’t taint the moment. “Thank you, Matt,” she choked out, her hand going to his arm. “Honestly, I cannot thank you enough. This means...” She blinked like crazy and took a breath as the skeins of control began to unwind. Don’t cry. Don’t you dare cry!

“Do you want me to draw up a formal agreement?”

She stilled as reality jolted her back to awareness. “Can you do that?” At his nod she said, “Oh, okay, then. Sure.”

Of course, having something down in writing made total sense. She withdrew her hand and glanced at her watch. “So I guess...well, I’m free right now. When do you want to...uh...”

His cough of surprise made her glance up. “AJ.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s see what Dr. Adams says on Thursday.”

She could feel the warmth heat her cheeks.

“And anyway,” he added casually, “we’re going out first.”

“Going out? What, on a date?”

“Yes. Tonight. You, me, dinner. Dessert.”

AJ hesitated. “Although I appreciate the effort, you really don’t have to do that, you know.” She smiled, tempering her refusal. “At this stage, it’s safe to say I’m a sure thing.”

“But I want to. Big difference.”

She met his eyes, holding firm under his loaded gaze. So he was determined to wine and dine her before bedding her? AJ shrugged. “Fine,” she said in her best blasé voice. “Dinner.”

“Where are you staying?” Matt asked after a brief pause.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to make a call first.” She’d handed Zac’s apartment keys over to the building super. She’d have to call him, see if she could stay longer until she could work out something that didn’t involve taking advantage of her brother-in-law’s charity.

“You can always stay with me.”