“Probably.”
Nice. My sister doesn’t even try to assuage what could be my fears. True, she doesn’t know what I’m feeling. Heck, I’m not even sure what I’m feeling.
“I’m still considering… You know.”
“I know you are, Ror. Just because I tell you not to do something doesn’t mean you’re not going to do it. It probably means the opposite.”
“I respect your opinion, Cal,” I say.
“I know that. But you’re Rory Pike. You’re going to do your own thing no matter what anyone tells you. Even me.”
Callie’s not wrong. “I just want a kid badly.”
“I know. There’s no way I’m going to talk you out of it. I won’t even try.”
I scoff. “Yeah, you will.”
She laughs. “Yeah, I will. But seriously. I think there might be a better choice than Brock Steel.”
“You might be right. We don’t have a sperm bank here in Snow Creek though.”
“Sure we do. Go have a one-nighter with someone.”
I lift my eyebrows. This isn’t Callie speaking. More like the anti-Callie. “Seriously?”
“I’m kidding, Ror. Man, what’s with you? Or both of us, for that matter? This whole Pat Lamone thing has really messed us up.”
“No kidding. And for the record, I happen to think Brock Steel is of high genetic quality. Better than I’d get at any sperm bank.”
“I know you do. You’re probably right. The Steels are hardy stock for sure. But it’s a big step for him. He’s only twenty-four. I don’t want you to get your hopes up just to have them dashed. We both know Brock is only looking for one thing from you, and it’s not fatherhood.”
I shove another bite of cookie into my mouth. Sawdust again, with a chocolate edge. “You’re right. I guess I will check out sperm banks. Do you think there’s one in Grand Junction?”
“Probably. Let’s research it today.”
“Sounds good.” I rise.
“Where you going?”
“Pour some coffee, will you? I’m getting my laptop.”
“It’s not even seven o’clock.”
“So what? I’m going to research sperm.” A few moments later, I return with my laptop and fire up. “What do I type into the search engine? Sperm bank?”
“That’s as good a place as any to start,” Callie says.
Good enough. Sperm bank Grand Junction Colorado.
“I’ll be damned. There are a few.” I tap on the first option. “Check this out. They’ve got their profiles online.”
Callie scoots her chair closer to me so we can both see the screen.
“I can choose hair color, eye color, height, weight. My God, there are photos. Intelligence quotient. Hobbies, likes, and dislikes.”
“It’s a smorgasbord.” Callie takes a sip of coffee and then another bite of cookie.
“I like brown hair and brown eyes. I mean, that’s what I have. That would virtually guarantee that our kid would have brown hair and brown eyes.”
“Not necessarily. Brown hair and brown eyes are both dominant traits. Most people with brown hair and brown eyes carry the genes for the recessive traits as well, so you could end up having a blond-haired and blue-eyed child, even with a brown-haired and brown-eyed guy.”
“For God’s sake, Callie. Can you turn your brain off for one minute?”
“Hey, I’m just telling you. If you want to have a child who has brown hair and brown eyes, there’s absolutely no way to guarantee it. On the other hand, if you had blond hair and blue eyes, and you chose a blond-haired and blue-eyed guy, your kid would have blond hair and blue eyes. Except it might have green eyes, since green are more recessive than blue.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever. I don’t really care what color hair and eyes my child has.”
“But you just said—”
“I know what I said. All I care about is that I have a happy and healthy child.”
“Good. All these guys have been well vetted. Any of them will give you just as beautiful a kid as Brock Steel would.”
I nod. My sister’s right, as she usually is. I get so sick of her being right all the time. It’s totally annoying.
“Unless…” she continues.
“Unless what?”
“Unless… Your interest in Brock Steel is more than just genetics related.”
“Come on, Cal. You know me better than that.”
Callie doesn’t reply.
And I find myself wondering…
What about Brock Steel?
Certainly not relationship material. His interest in Sadie last night proved that, not that I had any grand delusions about him.
But damn… I wanted to be the object of his attention last night. I was nearly ready to bare my breasts to the whole bar to get him moving toward me.
Clearly, I’m just horny. Horny for a man in particular since it’s been so long, and Brock Steel is all man.
And he can kiss. Fuck it all, the man can kiss.
And I do love kissing.
But no.
Brock Steel is not for me. Not in any way other than a potential sperm donor.
No matter what ridiculous feelings I’m having.
Chapter Eight
Brock
I was right. Jacking off during the wee hours of the morning didn’t help. Rory Pike plagued my dreams, and I woke up in a fucking cold sweat.