Chapter 3

“She wants me to donate my sperm!” Logan whisper-shouted into the cell phone. He didn’t want to wake Troy and Celeste, who were in the bedroom next door.

His brother howled.

“It’s not that funny.” Logan started across the guest room, which was twice the size of his bedroom at home with twice the furniture. He caught his shin on the corner of the bed frame, swore at the sharp pain, and hopped around the bench pushed up to the end of the bed. He then dodged an armchair and limped to the paned window.

He could see over the bushes he’d trimmed to the house next door—Jen’s ivy-covered castle. Did she plan on filling it with children? She didn’t seem the Mother Hubbard type. In some ways, she fit the image that Troy had painted—cool, poised, aloof. She worked hard at hiding her vulnerability, but it was there, lurking in those big brown eyes.

“Tell me about the date,” Huston urged.

“Not much to tell. We went to a barbeque joint. Ate. Talked.” Logan scratched his head. He couldn’t figure her out. The way she looked at him, like she was hungry for something. Not sex, exactly. He’d seen that look many times and could recognize lust. No. Jen’s need went deeper. So why wouldn’t she be looking for a relationship before having a baby?

“How did she lead up to the big question?”

“She told me about her ovulation app.”

“Her what?”

“She tracks her ovulation on a smart watch.”

Static noise came from the other end of the line—or was it snickering?  “Sounds like an interesting conversation.”

With a sigh, Logan leaned his arm up against the window frame. “It was.”

Light spilled from the back of Jen’s house onto the brick patio and her dog darted outside. Not long after, Jen came into view as she crossed the patio and ran into the yard, wearing what looked like a baggy sweatshirt and sweatpants. She had her hair pulled back in a ponytail and still looked cute as a doodlebug.

Freckles jumped as she lifted something in air. They played tug-of-war with what looked like a carcass, but was probably just a stuffed toy. Her gleeful laughter drifted upward and made him long to go down there and join her.

Logan turned away from the window. She wouldn’t appreciate him butting in on her private time, and she’d think he was a weirdo if she caught him spying on her. “She asked a bunch of questions. I thought she was interested.”

“She is interested—in your sperm.” His brother snort-laughed.

“Honest to God, I’m hangin’ up if you don’t stop,” Logan threatened. He ought to know better than to call Huston to talk about this. His brother couldn’t have a serious conversation with an undertaker.

Who else would he call though? Huston was his closest sibling, more than that, his best friend. Only thirteen months apart, they’d been inseparable all the way through high school. The two of them, together, had taken all the shit their older brothers could dish out, or anybody else for that matter. Usually, though, he was the one listening to Huston brag about his latest conquest or moan about getting rejected by a girl he had his eye on. Not that Logan was bragging, and Jen’s request defied categorization.

Women had chased him.

Women had used him.

Women had sworn to love him forever, then betrayed him.

But until now, no woman had asked him to give her the means to make a baby—without any involvement beyond jerking off. Jen hadn’t offered a different option. The way she phrased it made it sound like she expected him to deliver his contribution in a mason jar, like ranchers did with bull semen.

“What’s the big deal, Logan? Guys donate to sperm banks all the time.”

“She’s not a bank.”

“Didn’t you say she offered you twenty grand? Sounds like a bank to me. And she’s offering you a better rate.”

“How would you know? Have you donated?”

“No, but a friend of mine did. He made fifty bucks.”

Logan sank onto the side of the bed. He leaned over and braced his elbow on his knee, bracketing his forehead with his hand. His stomach had been tied in knots ever since Jen had dropped that bomb on him at the end of dinner. At least she waited until he finished his ribs. “She wants me to get a blood test first, says she can pull strings with some lab downtown. And she asked for a medical history on our family.”

“Did you tell her about crazy Aunt Minnie?”

“Get off it, man. I’m not in the mood.”

His brother went silent. Finally. This wasn’t a joking matter.

“You like this woman—Jen? Is that her name?”

“Yeah.”

“But you just met her.”

“Listen to you, the guy who falls in love when a woman buys him a drink.”

“Who said anything about love?”

Logan straightened. “That’s not what I meant.”

Love sure as hell wasn’t on his mind. Getting laid? Maybe. He’d congratulated himself on snagging the interest of a smart, beautiful woman clearly out of his league. But it wasn’t him she was interested in; it was only what he could offer as a reproduction-source. If some lawn guy with the right physical attributes had shown up instead, she would’ve offered to buy his sperm.

“My point was about how fast you decide you’re interested in a woman,” Logan explained. “I met Jen. I liked her. We went to dinner. That’s all there is to it. Except for the, you know...”

“Okay, so things didn’t work out the way you expected. You’re leaving after next week anyway. Why does it matter?”

“It matters because it’s worth twenty grand. That’s almost enough for a year of vet school.” He hated that Jen’s offer tempted him. They would be turning something mysterious and sacred—making a child—into nothing more than a business transaction. Not to mention his intense discomfort with the idea of fathering a baby he’d never get to see. If they struck a bargain, he had to sign a contract waiving his parental rights and agree not to contact Jen afterwards.

“Why not ask for fifty grand? That’d get you through two years.”

“Seems mercenary to haggle over the price.”

“She’s the one who wants to cut a deal.”

Logan scrubbed his fingers through his hair. At last, he’d met a woman who’d sparked his interest and, he’d thought, seemed interested in him. As it turned out, Jen only cared about his physical characteristics and genetic makeup, like that was all he had to offer.

“Yeah, maybe you’re right.” Rather than letting her offer bother him, he should consider it. Weigh the advantages against the disadvantages. “Even if I do agree, it’s selfish to keep the money. Dad needs it for a new barn. Besides, I can’t leave, he needs my help.”

“He won’t take your money, and you’re not that important. We can manage without you.”

His brother only said that to make him feel less guilty about going back to school. Then again, Huston had a way of cutting him down to size when he started to get bigheaded. Things were tough at home, but now that his brother was back, they probably could manage.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily. I’ll set up my practice in your front yard.”

“Deal.”

Returning to the window, Logan looked out. Jen had gone back inside and her windows were dark. Troy and Celeste had gone to bed too. In fact, they couldn’t wait to bid him goodnight. He envied them; they made love look easy. Everyone assumed he hadn’t married because he wasn’t ready. At twenty-seven, that wasn’t the case. He just hadn’t found the right woman.

“She might not think I’m worth fifty grand.”

“Sleep with her, then ask.”

Logan smiled, his sense of humor returning. He needed a good laugh. “Great idea. I’m sure afterwards she’ll double her offer and then some.”

“That’s the spirit. When I get there next week, you can tell me what she decided you were worth.”

“Like hell. We won’t be discussing this again...and don’t tell Dad.” Logan could imagine his father’s explosive reaction. “How’s he doing?”

“Not so good this week. Yesterday was their anniversary.”

“Shit.” Logan rested his shoulder against the wall and tried not to look out the window. “I forgot. Should’ve called him.”

“You can talk to him tomorrow. I told him you remembered, but that you were out and couldn’t call until late.”

Logan closed his eyes. “Thanks.”

“No problem. Now get some sleep.” Huston’s voice had a ragged edge.

Logan didn’t doubt their father had been a bear, and he was usually the one who dealt with his dad’s low moods and rampages, acting as a buffer between his brothers. He couldn’t recall exactly when he’d become the appointed peacemaker. But he was more than ready to turn that role over to someone else—if he could be sure blood wouldn’t be spilled.

“Yeah, you get some sleep too.” Logan dropped his phone on the bed and undressed down to his briefs, all the while mulling over Huston’s suggestion that he sleep with Jen. It had only been a joke...partly a joke. Even so, the idea held more appeal than it should, which was why sleeping with her wouldn’t be wise.

Then again, getting her into bed would be a nice side benefit, to go along with the money, and he had to admit it would also go a long way in soothing his smarting pride.

He could make it a condition. Agree to donate, but insist they do it the old-fashioned way. Why not? She’d probably turn him down. Then he wouldn’t have to wrestle with the moral dilemma.