Shotgun Groom. Kristin Morgan
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shrugged. “You were still overseas in France. It just didn’t seem like the right time.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “This is rather sudden, don’t you think? For heaven’s sake, you’re not even married.”
“I know,” Beth replied. “But I plan to remedy that. The fact is, Jack, whether or not you like my idea, I’ve already made up my mind to go through with it. I can’t just sit back anymore and wait for Fate to take its course. I have to take charge of my life now, before it’s too late.”
“Okay,” he said. “I can understand if you’re feeling that way about your life. We all do at times. But some things in life just naturally take time.”
“There’s nothing natural about not having my dreams come true. And as far as time is concerned, I’m quickly running out of it, even as we speak. I know I’ve already told you this before, but if I follow in my mother’s and grandmother’s footsteps, there’s a good chance that I’m going to go through menopause at a young age. All I may have left are two—possibly, three—good years. I can’t just allow those years to roll past me without even making an attempt to do something about it.”
Jack stepped back and regarded her intently. “Look,” he said, “I wish as much as you do that the guy of your dreams had shown up by now. But that doesn’t mean that he won’t. Who knows, he might be just around the next corner.
Beth gave him a dispassionate glare. “Come on, Jack, you know as well as I do that it’s unlikely he’ll ever show up in my life. And even if he were to show eventually, it would probably be too late by then for me to have my own child. I simply won’t let that happen. That’s where you come into my plan, Jack.”
Jack took a step back. “Me?” he said, as though surprised. A moment later, an enlightened gleam settled in his eyes. “Oh, I get it,” he said. “You need me to help you find a reputable sperm bank.” He shook his head affirmatively. “Well, don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll take care of that part. If you’re that determined to go through with this, it’s the least I can do to help you out.”
Beth swallowed the lump in her throat. “Jack, I’m not exactly planning to use a sperm bank.”
It took him a moment, but after giving her an astounded-looking grin, he finally said, “I don’t understand, Beth. Just how are you planning to get pregnant?”
Her heart began pounding with anticipation. “The good old-fashioned way.”
Jack’s grin widened. “What are you saying exactly?”
“I’m saying that I plan on getting pregnant by sleeping with a guy. Of course, he and I will have to get married first.”
“What?” Jack said, pulling his shoulders back.
Before he could say anything more, Beth hurriedly cut in. “And then as soon as the job is done,” she answered, “he and I will get a divorce. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?”
“Sounds crazy, you mean,” Jack exclaimed in his next breath. “Beth, have you lost your mind?”
Beth licked her lips. She had known this wasn’t going to be easy. “I know it sounds crazy. Karen already told me as much. But, frankly, it makes perfectly good sense to me.”
“Well, Karen’s right,” he said. “You can’t do something like this.”
“And why not?”
“Because...well...because it isn’t like you.”
“You know something,” she exclaimed, placing her hands on her hips, “maybe I’m tired of being like me. Maybe I want to be different. Maybe I want to be someone who is willing to take a chance in order to get what she wants in life.”
Stepping forward, Jack took her by the shoulders. “Look, honey, I think it’s great that you feel that way. But do you have to take such a big, flying leap the first time out of the nest?”
Beth’s bottom lip began to tremble. “I don’t expect you to understand,” she said as tears sprang to her eyes. In truth, she had been expecting him to understand, and she couldn’t even begin to acknowledge how disappointed she was that he obviously didn’t.
“Hey, come on now,” he said, pulling her against him. He was so solid...so dependable...so much what she needed right then in all aspects of the word. Why couldn’t he see that? Especially since he already knew all there ever was to know about her.
Hugging her tight, Jack looked down at her and said, “What’s with all the tears? Look, I’m sorry if I said something to upset you. I’m just a little shook up by all of this, okay? It’s not every day that you tell me you want to get married and get pregnant, all practically in the same breath. Give me a moment for it all to sink in.”
Beth nestled her body against his, savoring the warmth, the security of being as close to him as possible. He was her security blanket. Her shoulder to cry on. He knew her like no one else did. Finally, in spite of her desire to stay snuggled against him, she sucked up her tears and stepped back so she could gaze directly into his face.
“Jack, I’m really going to need your help with this one. I can’t do it alone.”
“Hey,” he said, looking deep into her eyes. “You know you can always count on me. I’m your best friend, remember? Don’t we always help each other?”
She nodded.
“Then what can I do to help you?” he asked point blank, suddenly cutting right through all the bull and getting to the heart of the matter.
Beth licked her lips again. “Well, Jack,” she said, “it’s really quite simple. I need you to marry me. I need to get pregnant.”
His grin broadened momentarily, then wilted away in two seconds flat. In a grave tone of voice, he said, “You’re joking, right?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m not. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all along. I need you to father my baby.”
Jack gaped at her.
“Look,” she continued in a hurry, “before you give me your answer, let me just say one thing. There’s no one else I feel I can trust with this. No matter what, I know I’ll be safe with you, Jack.”
“You can’t be serious about this,” he said.
“Oh, but I am,” she replied.
“In that case, let me just say one thing. If you think I’m the guy for the job, you’ve lost your mind.”
“I know I’m asking a lot—”
Taking a step back from her, Jack gave her a thawing glance. “You can say that again.”
“Even though we’re the best of friends, I really have some nerve putting you on the spot like this.”
“You bet.”
“You’re right, you know,” she said haughtily. “I should simply ask someone else, regardless of the consequences.”
“Now wait a minute,” he said, coming up straight. “I didn’t say for you to do that.” He ran his fingers through his hair, then paused for a long moment. “Jeez, Beth, do you have any idea what you’re asking me to do?”
“Yes, I think so,” she replied evenly. But her heart was pounding like mad. “Look, it’s only for a temporary period of time.”
Jack shook his head. “B-but I don’t understand. What about all our years together as friends? You’ve always said—”
“I know what I’ve always said. And I haven’t changed my mind about that,” she replied, placing her hands flat against his chest and feeling the beating of his heart beneath her touch. “All I want is for us to get married and stay married only for as long as it takes to get me pregnant.”
Once