Page 6 of One Hot Deal

"Yes, of course."She studies her desktop."This endeavor will require absolute secrecy and confidentiality.No one can ever know about our arrangement, if you should agree to it."

"Come on, you know you can trust me.I've been protecting you for three months."

She stares down at her lap while biting her lip.

That's the cutest thing I've ever seen her do, but it's damn strange too.

Finally, she sits up straighter, tugs her jacket down, and faces me."I want to have a baby, but I do not need a husband or any sort of man in my life."

"Uh, okay."Where is this conversation going?Maybe she wants me to vet adoption agencies for her.

She clears her throat again."I want you to be my donor."

"Your what?I don't have gazillions in the bank like you.Not sure how I can—"

"No, Mr.Hahn, not that sort of donation."She nails her gaze to mine."I want you to be my sperm donor."

My eyes must be bulging because I can feel a draft drying them out.My mouth must have fallen open too.Yeah, my tongue is turning into a dry sponge in my mouth.I heard that wrong, right?She couldn't have said she wants me to donate my, uh, little guys.

"You seem confused, Mr.Hahn," she says."Haven't you heard of sperm donation?"

I wince."Could you please stop using the S-word?"

She sighs and shakes her head."Why are men so sensitive about using the correct scientific term for their—"

"Because we are."The full meaning of what she said finally penetrates my brain."Are you seriously asking me to go into the restroom and jerk off into a plastic cup?"

"I see crude terms don't bother you.But the word sp—"

"Yeah, you can stop saying that.I know what you're talking about."

"Good."She fiddles with the papers on her desk again."You are healthy and virile, so I assume your sper—I assume you're healthy in other ways too.But I will require you to find a doctor and ask them to test your fertility."

"I haven't agreed to your cockamamie plan yet.And you haven't fully explained it."I scratch my head because it suddenly feels like I have fleas in my hair."You said you don't want a man in your life, so I'm guessing you'll be taking my, uh, little guys to your doctor for, you know, the, uh, procedure."

Maybe I'm still asleep and this is one wacko dream.

"Privacy is of paramount importance to me," she says."You know that.I cannot have anyone finding out what we are doing together.That means no doctors, not until I'm pregnant.No fertility clinics, no sperm banks, nothing that might leave a paper trail."

She saidthatword again, but I'm too confused to grimace about it.

I scrub a hand over my mouth."But you said I need to see a doctor."

"Yes."

"What am I supposed to tell them?They'll want to know why I need a fertility test."

She gives me her businesswoman stare, which I've seen her give to a lot of people who work for her.It usually makes them apologize and vow never to disappoint the boss again.But Diana is not my boss, and she doesn't intimidate me.

"Tell them whatever you like," she says, her tone cool and calm, in opposition to the fire in her eyes."Just get it done."

"Yes, ma'am.I'll do that—if I decide to accept your offer.But I still have some questions."

She waves her hand at me."Go on."

"What happens after I get you knocked up?Am I supposed to just keep working for you and pretend we don't have a child together?"

Diana clasps her hands on her desk and studies me for a moment."This will be my child.No one will ever know who the father is."

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