“Not that often, no. Only when I have someone I want to take to lunch,” he said. “What about you? What’s your favorite lunch spot?”
She felt her face grow hot. She was about to reveal how far below his level she was. But Chelsea wouldn’t pretend to be anything other than herself, and certainly not to impress this man. “Do you know Pedro’s Tacos?”
“I’ve walked by it,” he said. “That’s the open-air Mexican place by the park, right?”
She nodded. “Fresh baked tortillas. Best I’ve ever had anywhere.”
“I’ve never tried it,” he admitted.
“You should. I mean, you have to order at the window, not on a fancy electronic table.”
“I think I can handle it,” he said with a grin. “Maybe I’ll check it out sometime.”
A server came in with two beers on a tray and placed them on the table. He withdrew without a word, which Chelsea found mildly creepy. Miles seemed to take it in stride, though. He picked up his beer and took a long sip.
“So, why were you crying back there?” he asked. She was startled. She hadn’t expected such a personal question. But on the other hand… what was the harm in telling him? She was never going to see him again, after all, and it would probably feel good to let out some of what she was feeling.
“I got some bad news,” she said.
He frowned. “What kind of news? If you don’t mind my asking.”
“I don’t mind,” she said, and realized that it was the truth. “I was there to see about a procedure to get pregnant, but it’s just so far out of my price range that I don’t think I’m going to be able to do it.”
He was quiet for a moment. Chelsea wondered if she had taken things too far. Maybe she shouldn’t have disclosed all that to a complete stranger. In fact, she was suddenly sure of it. What hadpossessed her to think he would want to hear anything about her troubles conceiving, for God’s sake?
“I’m sorry to hear it,” he said at last, his voice full of sincerity. Maybe he wasn’t bothered after all. “Will your husband be very upset?”
“Oh — no, I’m not married,” she explained. “That’s why I was pursuing fertility treatment in the first place. I’m doing this on my own. Or at least I was hoping to.”
“Ah,” he said. “I was going to judge the guy for not coming to the clinic with you. I’m sure it’s much harder to go to these things alone.”
“That’s considerate of you,” she said with a small smile, and sipped her beer. “Oh, this is good.”
“It’s my favorite in Austin,” he agreed. “So, what’s plan B? Are you looking into adoption?”
“Well, maybe. I haven’t ruled it out. I really wanted to have a child of my own,” she said. “I guess that’s not the right way to phrase that. An adopted child would also be mine. But you know what I mean. I wanted…” She blushed. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this stuff.”
“Sometimes it’s easier to confide in a stranger,” he said.
She nodded. “I wanted to carry a child,” she confessed. “That was part of the dream for me. So, I don’t know if adoption would be right for me or not. And besides, it would probably be just as expensive, if not more so. I sort of hoped this would be the more affordable option, but the price point is just crazy.” Miles’s mouth twisted in sympathy.
“What wereyoudoing there?” she asked suddenly. “You weren’t with anyone.”
“Same as you, actually,” he said. “Well — the opposite of you, I guess.” He chuckled. “I’m looking for a surrogate to help me have a child. My father really wants to see the family line continue, and he’s been unwell.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Chelsea’s heart went out to him. She couldn’t imagine how much more difficult all this would be if she was dealing with pressure from her family at the same time, not to mention an ailing parent. At least her mother was healthy.
“Thank you.” He inclined his head, “It’s made it very important for me to focus on starting my family as soon as possible, which means I can’t wait around for a woman who wants to do that with me. To tell you the truth, I don’t know if I’ll get around to all that anyway.”
“All that?”
“Romance,” he explained. “I’m a very busy man, and dating is a task I don’t need to add to my plate. Especially if I’m going to become a father. It’s a lot to handle all at once.”
Well, that’s one way to look at romance!Chelsea couldn’t imagine being that detached about it. She, too, felt it was unlikely that her romantic life was ever going to sort itself out but, unlike him, she considered that a source of sadness. She would have loved to meet the man of her dreams; she was simply beginning to doubt that he existed. But it wasn’t exactly a shock to hear Miles speak this way. The two of them were clearly as different as night and day.
He was frowning at her. “Say,” he said, “I wonder if you would be open to a business proposition?”
“A business proposition?” What were they talking about? When had the conversation turned? She put her beer down and focused on him. “I’m a schoolteacher. I’m not in business.”
