“That’s not the breeding program I was talking about.”
Her smile disappeared. “What exactly are you talking about, Zac?”
“You want it straight? I heard you were looking for a stud of your own, and I’d like to offer my services.”
Delaney gaped in mortification and disbelief. “What did that treacherous son of a bitch tell you?”
Zac raised a staying hand. “Hold on now, Delaney. It’s not like he broadcasted it to the world. He only told me.”
“Why? Why would he do that?” she demanded. “This was supposed to stay just between Ty and me. It doesn’t concern anyone else.”
“He wasn’t being malicious. I think he was just trying to solve your problem.”
“What problem?” she asked. “I don’t have a problem. I just want a baby.”
“He doesn’t want to do it,” Zac said. “And he doesn’t need your money anymore. He and Monica have worked out a deal on the hotel. That’s another reason I’m here, but I’m not free to discuss it.”
“But you’re at perfect liberty to blurt my most guarded secrets?” she snapped.
“I haven’t talked to anyone but you.”
She released an exasperated breath. “And we’re done talking. Thanks for dinner. I’m leaving.” She snatched up her purse and slid out of the booth.
“Wait a minute, Delaney. We’re not finished discussing this.”
“Yes. We. Are.” She spun to leave.
“You want that heifer or not?” he asked.
She halted in her tracks and speared him with a deadly look. “You’d hold that over my head? That’s blackmail.”
He shrugged. “Call it what you like, but one way or another, you’re gonna hear me out. Please sit down and finish your dinner,” he urged, eyeing her barely touched T-bone. “And maybe we can figure something out.”
She took a breath and blew it out in a long huff, then plopped unceremoniously back onto the bench on her side of the booth. Zac took it as a sign and signaled the server for two more drinks.
“I told you I don’t want to talk about this,” she said sullenly.
“Have you changed your mind then?” he asked. “About wanting a kid?”
“No. I haven’t changed my mind. I’ve wanted a family of my own as long as I can remember, but I don’t see it happening any other way. Not anymore.”
“Why the hell would you think that? You’re still young. Are you even thirty yet?”
“Twenty-eight.” She grimaced.
“There’s forty-year-olds that have kids these days! So why would you just give up? I’m trying to understand.”
“Because I never want to marry again. I don’t want or need a husband, Zac. I’m perfectly happy on my own.”
“No, you’re not. You just said you want a family.”
“Yes. Family as in children. I don’t need a husband for that.”
He gave her a slow smile. “But you do need a man.”
“Yes.” She rolled her eyes with a sigh. “I haven’t found a way to work around that part yet.”
“So you were putting all your eggs in Ty’s basket? No pun intended,” he added with a hint of a smirk.
“I hadn’t counted on him saying no,” Delaney said.
“But he did say no.”
“That’s right. What more do you need to know that’s none of your business?”
“Why Ty?” he asked.
“Maybe he wasn’t a good husband,” she replied, “but that isn’t all that relevant to his breeding potential. Ty has all the right traits for baby making. He’s tall, athletic, good looking, reasonably intelligent, and has a great personality—when he’s not in self-destruction mode.”
“That’s only when he drinks,” Zac said slowly.
“Yeah. That was in his negative column,” Delaney said. “He may not be perfect, but I know all Ty’s faults as well as his strengths. That’s why I asked Ty”
“I’ve never had trouble with alcohol. I’ve never done drugs. Ty’s two inches taller than me, but my IQ is five points higher. So I guess you’d have to decide if you’d rather have the extra brains over the inches. ’Course you could probably find yourself an Einstein or a Hawking if you go to a sperm bank, but I don’t know ’bout those brainiac kinda guys. Most of ’em are pretty weird.”
“Is this your idea of a joke?” she asked. “If so, it’s not very funny.”
“Nope.” He shook his head. “Just laying out the facts. Thought it would make this a whole lot easier if you looked at it objectively.”
“I am being objective. I already decided I don’t want to go to a sperm bank. I don’t want an anonymous donor. I want to know the person I’m going to create a child with.”