Page 4 of Taken by the Lawman

“That is a suggested schedule of events. Again, only suggested. If you decide he is the one, our agency will contact him and set up a meeting where you both can discuss the finer details. Then whether you two decide to go a more traditional or scientific route is completely your choice. Our agency doesn’t recommend how you conceive, we simply, or rather not so simply, find a compatible mate that meets your requirements. I think you should be very happy with Rex145. Top at his class at Harvard Law. He comes from a reputable family and no alarming medical conditions in his family. He is also very health conscious and active, just as you preferred.” That smile grew.

“Rex? Is that his real name?” Kiersten skimmed the personal information area of the form. Rex145. Thirty-five. Lawyer. Excellent health. That was all it said. Would she learn more if she met him?

Did the smile slip some? “Because the engagement of the father is very limited, we allow our donors to use first names only. However, again, once you two meet and decide to continue with the process it is completely up to you and at the donor’s discretion how things are handled.”

Process. Donors. First names only. All these descriptions seemed out of place when this could be the potential father of her child. Sure, she’d read the agency’s brochure that laid it out with clarity how their services worked. They prided themselves in the modern approach in reproduction for unique families. Was Kiersten unique? She just hadn’t met Mr. Right. She wanted a child…wanted it badly and this seemed like the best way possible.

“Is everything okay, Ms. Cade?” Ms. Mavis asked.

“Yes, everything is fine.”

“If you’re not sure this is what—”

“No, I mean, yes, I’m sure. Can I have some time before I decide? It’s a lot to absorb.”

“Sure. It’s important that you feel Rex145 meets your requirements, but you won’t fully know until you’ve met him. I’ll give you my card with the address where you can deliver the check if you decide we should proceed.”

Kiersten wasn’t sure why she couldn’t just say yes. She’d come into this process hell bent on finding the right partner to have a baby with, even starting a low dosage of fertility drugs to prepare her body. She’d done all her research and, although IVF seemed like the path most women took, Kiersten was leaning toward natural reproduction. When she started imagining having sex with a stranger she broke out in hives, but how was this any different than a one-night stand? Her mind drifted back to the night she spent with the sexy agent. Sweat beaded between her breasts and goosebumps scattered her skin. She couldn’t allow herself to go down that path.

It was time she made some serious decisions about her future. Although she never saw herself as being a single parent before, lately every baby she saw made her ovaries scream. She’d heard it referred to as “Mom Fever”. Other women were able to balance work and parenthood. So, could Kiersten. The FBI had gotten her best years, and now she would share her time with a child if things were successful with “Rex”. He was chosen because he fit the bill. It all seemed so sterile, but wasn’t this what she wanted? A no-mess situation with no chance that a man would want to be a father later down the road.

“Ms. Cade.” Ms. Mavis took back the form Kiersten was wrinkling and placed it into the thin folder. She clasped her hands and her smile became shaky. “Many of our clients get this far and when they have a potential match before them, they see things as, well, overwhelming. Sometimes the realization tilts people into the realization that they’re not ready. Now might not be the right time for you.”

“No. Now’s the time. I’m on drugs…fertility drugs that make me a little crazy. Not psychotic crazy, but a little emotional. Doc said that’s normal. I have everything packed up in my small downtown apartment and the movers are coming tomorrow. I’m even moving back onto my family’s ranch until the new house is finished. A new house. It has two bedrooms. I’ve never had a place with more than one. That’s how ready I am.” If the time wasn’t right now, it might never be. She wanted to be a mother. Wanted a child. This could be the only way she could have a family. “I just need a day. I’m not the type to make impulsive decisions.”

“Yes, I understand that. Take the folder. Read through it. Let us know. We here at In and Out are there if you have questions. We want this to be a pleasant experience for you.” There was a hesitation. “You have seventy-two hours to decide if you wish to move forward with Rex145, and then we must throw this fish back into the pond, so to speak. After all, they’re getting paid too.”

With folder in hand, she stepped into the elevator and rode it down to the garage where her Jeep was parked. Starting the engine, she didn’t make a move to leave the parking spot but instead stared straight ahead at the concrete wall. For years she’d focused on her career—worked hard to get to where she was today in a male-dominated field. When she’d been made to feel inferior it was the fuel that made her work even harder. Her parents and brothers had been her support system, encouraging her to do everything she’d dreamt of doing.

Looking down at the folder sitting on the passenger seat, she slumped her shoulders. Wasn’t she supposed to be excited? Empowered? What was holding her back?

Pulling her Jeep out of the garage, she drove toward her downtown apartment in Cheyenne, all while trying to figure out why she didn’t just give perky Ms. Mavis her answer. Of course, Kiersten wanted to meet the potential father. Of course, she was ready to have a baby, but her brother Cull’s words stuck in the cells of her brain like Gorilla glue. “Some people want just a baby and others want the family. Make sure you know exactly what you’re wanting before you make any lifelong decisions.” She could always rely on Cull to guide her, but she also realized he had more traditional values. Meet a man, get married, and have a baby. Now that he and Sally were planning their wedding, this rooted his beliefs even more. It wasn’t as if she didn’t hear the “family lecture” enough from her parents.

In all truth, once upon a time she’d wanted the husband with the children, but over the last few years, she’d dated less and spent more time making booty calls than spinning potential romantic relationships.

That’s where Brad came in. Sweet, dependable, dermatologist Brad. They’d met through a friend, enjoyed enlightening conversations, and ended up in a sex with no commitment relationship. This had worked for her for almost a year until he started getting the idea that he wanted to sleep over and have breakfast. She’d done the right thing by cutting the strings.

She needed to focus all her concentration on motherhood now.

Motherhood.

Holy crap.

What would her parents think? They were the dictionary definition of lasting love. They married in their twenties, and now forty years later, they loved each other more than ever. Her brothers had met the loves of their lives too, but here she was still clinging to the single life. Up until recently she’d enjoyed working forty-eight hours hunting criminals and could manage the lack of sleep. Hell, she hadn’t thought of anything but catching the criminal. However, it had lost some of its sparkle. There was a deep void in her life that her ma called “destiny”. It knocked at her door and wanted in.

Still enveloped in her thoughts when she parked on the street in front of her apartment building, she made her way up to the third floor. She had the key in the lock when she realized the door was already unlocked. Although she’d been unusually forgetful here lately, she never forgot to lock her door.

Pulling her Glock from her side holster, she pointed it at the floor and gave the knob a turn, slowly opening the door. Peering in, she could see that the lamp was turned on, but she couldn’t see anyone, or anything, except for boxes. Stepping deeper inside, she kept her back to the wall and took three sidesteps.

Hearing a rattling noise in the kitchen, she made her way there, stepping over the board that creaked. The shadow of someone feathered across the wall and then the sounds of cabinets being opened and closed. Lifting the nuzzle of her gun higher, tightening her fingers on the grip, she took the step that brought her to the kitchen’s threshold. “Don’t move a muscle or I’ll shoot,” she said.

The man swiveled, his brows scrunched over wide eyes. “Holy shit, Kiersten. Have you lost your mind?”

“Have you lost yours? I could have shot you, Brad,” she groaned and replaced her gun. “What are you doing here?” He’d never just shown up. The rules had been that she would invite him.

The tall, curly blond man with the baby face blew out a long, frustrated breath. “Have you seen the wine opener? The one I bought in Italy”

“First, why are you searching for your opener in my cabinets?”

---