He closed the chest and placed a couple of burger bun bags on the lid. “Of course I do. You have a big brain and when I call you ‘Doc,’ I’m acknowledging that big brain.”
“Yes, but in a way that sounds like you’re sneering at me.”
He growled, and why was that sexy?
“Think we’re getting off topic here. I believe you said something that sounded like the quickest damn apology I ever heard. But I’ll need to hear it again to be sure.”
“You heard correctly. It was an apology.” I turned away once more.
He coughed significantly. The man was infuriating!
“But what were you apologizing for? So quickly.”
I faced him, feeling like a yo-yo. “Our conversation upstairs. You seemed to take offense at my comment about the use of your time in making a gift for Tilly. I didn’t mean that how it sounded, or how you took it, and I came to tell you that. I actually think it’s lovely that you would hand-make a gift for her.”
He shifted on his very valuable feet. A slight flush bloomed on his cheekbones. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Oh, it was. Tilly’s going to remember that gift above all others, especially if you wear that bracelet when you visit. She’s a very lucky girl to have so many strong male influences in her life.”
“Guess she is. But that’s what family does.” He moved closer to me. “Have you thought about that?”
“About what?”
“The influences on your future kid’s life.”
Of course I had. “I have a good support network. Violet and Dad, my sisters, my little brother. I have plenty of friends.” I’m not a complete loser.
“But the kid won’t have a dad. Full-time.”
“Lots of kids don’t. Or they have dads not worth writing home about. A man in the picture is no guarantee of a good male role model.”
“True.” He said it gravely, like he had given this some thought. Sean didn’t talk much about his father, but I did know that Jason and he weren’t close.
“So, going it alone. Pretty brave, really.”
I hmphed. “Did you not say I was crazy to do this?”
“I meant the way you’re going about it. Asking randos to donate their sperm. That’s the crazy part.”
I balled my hands into fists. “There’s nothing remotely random about my method! The whole point is that I don’t want a random donation?—”
I broke off as his shit-eating grin stretched wider.
“You ass.” But there wasn’t much heat in it.
“I guess I think that’s pretty brave, too.”
“Two compliments in less than two minutes. Wonders will never cease.”
“I guess not.” Still grinning. So handsome.
But temperamentally unsuitable.
“Your turn,” he said.
“For what?”
“Give me a compliment.”
