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He was a hundred percent sure he wasn’t going to let her continue to wallow in pain. No, he couldn’t do that to Claire. She needed him and he had to help her. Besides, if he didn’t, she might approach someone else. Hell, she might even go to a sperm bank.
    That thought was revolting. If anyone were going to impregnate Claire, it would be him, damn it.
    But greedy as he felt for thinking it, he also had to think of himself and the future child. He’d never been one to jump into anything. The list had to tip before he made a final decision.
    “I haven’t said yes yet,” he said, contemplating out loud. As soon as he said it, he regretted it.
    “No, you haven’t.” Her voice cracked as she spoke. Slowly she lifted the glass, this time swallowing a rather large amount.
    His heart knotted at the pain in her tone. He wanted to erase it. Banish all doubts and love her. He set his glass on the edge of the tub and stepped into the bubbles. He slid in the hot water, his body momentarily shocked by the difference in temperature.
    Sinking so his head bobbled above the water, he relished the crisp breeze.
    Under the water, he reached for her knee, then slid his fingers higher. Splaying his hand on her thigh, he hesitated a moment more. He wanted to be sure he said this right.
    The last thing he wanted was to upset her further.
    “Claire, it isn’t so much that I need to be sure, but that I want to know you are. This is very abrupt for a guy like me. You know I plan everything . We both need to have not a single doubt.”
    She gave a halfhearted chuckle, sniffled and wiped away a tear. “The lists.” What could he say? Admittedly, he liked his life to be orderly. He had to be in control.
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    He stroked his fingers along her thigh. “Exactly. Except I can’t list something like this. A kid is the rest of our lives. I can’t think of anyone better to have a child with, but, what are a few days to be sure?”
    She sucked back a sob, a forced smile spreading on her face. “You’re right, of course.”
    “Of course.”
    She play punched him. “Cocky.”
    He caught her, drawing her into his arms. He pulled her close to him and tucked her head under his chin. He loved the scent of her, sweet and spicy, just like her personality.
    Tenderly he planted a kiss on her forehead. Emotion overwhelmed him, a warm sense rushing head to toe through him. Holding her, knowing the possibilities between them, completeness filled him. Claire made him a whole, happy man.
    He stroked his fingers along her shoulder. “I wish I could take tomorrow off and keep you right here.”
    She looked at him with huge, daring brown eyes. “I’m game.” He pulled his head back, once again shocked but loving what he heard. “You mean you’d skip work, for me?”
    * * * * *
    Claire sighed, resting her head against his shoulder. “I’ve reached that point. I want to change. I mean…I still want to be me, all the good parts. But I’m tired of working and not being healthy. I think I might make some changes. I’d like to find another job, something different, a little less stressful. I might go part-time, maybe even take one of your classes.”
    The past few days, a sense of urgency had filled Claire. When she thought of work, of her current existence, she felt tired. Sad and worn out. She wanted to cry, to curl in a 37

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    ball and have a fit. She didn’t want to go on like this anymore. She craved change.
    Hungered for the white picket fence type of life.
    The simple notion of having a baby, Blake and a simpler existence lit a spark in her.
    Filled her with deep, desperate longing.
    Sometimes she even imagined she’d get chickens. She could feed them every morning and collect their eggs. Her mother had chickens. Growing up she’d had a fried egg every day with breakfast. It was insane, Claire was sure, but thoughts of those chickens plagued her dreams.
    She wanted those chickens, kids to cook breakfast for