Happy Holidays - The Pregnancy Negotiation Part 5

"I gathered that." After Roz left the room, Mallory pulled off her hoop earring and placed the receiver to

her ear. "What do you want, Logan, other than to seduce the help?""Sorry. You know I can't help yanking Roz's chain a little.""And that's why you called?""Nope. I called to tell you to be at Mom and Dad's for a barbecue tomorrow night, seven sharp.""On a Wednesday?" Worse, on the night she planned to start procreating with Whit. "What's this all about, Logan?"

"It's a surprise, one you won't want to miss."

Mallory feared she might know exactly the reason for the sudden gathering. "Are you bringing Helena?"

The h.e.l.l cat."She'll be there.""Wonderful."Logan released a breath on a rough sigh. "Could you just try to get along with her for a change?""Color me a cynic, Logan, but I get the feeling she's very enamored with your checkbook.""You are a cynic, Mallory. Just because you handle divorces on a daily basis doesn't mean every woman is a gold digger."

Mallory was hard pressed to believe that Helena Brennan didn't fit into that category. The bombsh.e.l.l

blonde was nothing if not superficial, from her perfectly manicured nails to her large implanted b.r.e.a.s.t.s."Okay, for you I'll be nice to her." At least for an hour or so."Great, and be sure to bring Whit. I haven't seen him in a while.""I'll talk to him about it tonight." If he didn't keep her mouth occupied, which she really hoped he would."Guess I'll see you tomorrow night. And one more thing.""What?"

"Are you seeing anyone right now?"

Oh, yes. Her roommate, although she hadn't seen all of him yet, but soon. And that was somethingMallory had no intention of revealing to Logan. "No. Why?""You really ought to start dating, Mallory. Maybe you'll find the right guy, someone who might change your att.i.tude about relations.h.i.+ps."

The right guy. That seemed as probable as Whit Manning settling down with one woman. "I'll take youradvice under consideration, but don't get your hopes up.""Okay, so maybe you're not into dating. You should at least get some bed action now and then. If not, you might as well answer Aunt Ella's wish and join a convent."

Men and their preoccupation with s.e.x. Can't have one without the other. "Very funny, Logan. Now Ihave work to do, unless you need to chastise me about my chast.i.ty some more.""I'll hold off on that.""Good."He chuckled. "Until tomorrow night. See you then."After hanging up the phone, Mallory pondered the conversation with her brother. She had little doubt that tomorrow night he would announce his engagement to Helena. What else could it be? If he wanted to make one colossal mistake, then who was she to try to stop him? And he certainly had his nerve, telling her she was headed for permanent celibacy. That was only his opinion, one she didn't welcome.

Roz strode into the office again and this time smacked some kind of magazine down on the desk. "Page

fifty-four, read it."

Mallory picked up the magazine, flipped to the designated page and found an article t.i.tled, "Uncovering the Sensual You." Her gaze snapped to Roz, who stood before the desk, looking expectant. "Please tell me why you think this would interest me?"

"Because your brother is right. You need to get laid."

Mallory narrowed her eyes. "Were you listening in on our conversation?"

Roz put on her poker face, the one she wore so well. "I accidentally pushed the wrong line to call out."

Accidentally on purpose, no doubt, Mallory decided. "Did I miss something? Is this National Give

Mallory Advice On Her s.e.x Life day?"

Roz braced her palms on the edge of the desk and leaned into them. "That article says, and it's true, thatyour professional persona is at war with your s.e.xual self, and guess which one is winning?"Mallory tossed the magazine aside. "And I suppose you're going to tell me you've been married thirty-something years because you actually read this stuff."

"No, some of us are just born to love, which is why I'm so lovable." Most people would finish off thatkind of remark with a smile, but not Roz."Then you're saying I'm not wired right?"

"I'm saying you've got it in you, but you just won't let it come out. Let your hair down, and whatever else you need to let down, to get over it." She pointed at the magazine. "It's a simple list, a few things to remember to get you in the mood. Stoke the fire. Hype up the hormones. Then all you have to do is find a good man."

Mallory had already found that man in Whit. But a magazine how-to? Well, Whit had learned all about kissing from the same kind of article. And after all, she'd found her baby-making resource from the Internet. "Fine. If it will make you happy, I'll look it over. But I can almost guarantee I won't be interested."

Roz lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "It's worth a shot. Otherwise, I hope you look good in a habit." With that, the meddling paralegal was out the door, leaving Mallory once more with her thoughts.

She did not need a list to relax enough to make love so she could make a baby. She did not have to be totally bowled over during the process. She did not need anything but Whit Manning's biological contribution. However, she had a feeling he could have something to say about that, considering what he' d said to her last night.

And that lead Mallory to wonder exactly what he might have in store for her this evening.

Four.

"W hit Manning, what are you doing?"

With a potato chip poised to enter his mouth, Whit glanced from the TV to see Mallory coming into theliving room, a look of disdain on her face. "Having a snack.""I can see that." She s.n.a.t.c.hed the bag of chips from his grasp. "This isn't nutritious."He dropped his feet from the coffee table. "I need something to eat since it's almost nine. I'm starving."

As much for her attention as he was for food.She waved the bag at him. "Do you know how much sodium these contain?"He rubbed his chin. "Oh, so that's it.""That's what?""The old salt thing. Eating more salt means conditions are better for conceiving a boy, according to the infamous list."

She narrowed her eyes. "How do you know that?"

He reached over to the end table and waved the piece of paper, much the same as she'd done with the

chips. "I read all about it."

She stared at the page, then turned her green eyes on him in a not-so-nice look. "How did you get hold of that? I have the copy with me."

"You also have the site bookmarked on your computer."

She looked totally appalled and s.e.xy as h.e.l.l in that tailored gray suit with the skirt that came just above

her knees. "You've been exploring my favorite places?"

He grinned. "Not all of them. At least not yet."

Shoving her hand into the bag, she withdrew several chips and popped them into her mouth. "I cannot

believe you hacked into my computer.""I didn't hack into it. I turned it on." And he hoped to do the same to her and soon. "If you don't wantanyone digging around in your Internet account, then you shouldn't store your pa.s.sword."

"You have a lot of nerve."He had a huge urge to kiss the anger away from her face. "Hey, if I'm going to do this, I need someguidelines. And since this is my baby, too, I should have an opportunity to determine its gender throughwhatever means possible." He perused the points under the Having a Boy section. "I haven't gotten to all the favorable positions for conceiving a boy yet, but I'll make sure that's covered before tomorrow night.But I really like the part about eating beef instead of fish.""Right now you're in danger of eating that piece of paper."Tossing the page back on the end table, he leveled his gaze on her. "I'd rather have some Chinese takeout. Do you want your usual?"

"No." Catching Whit totally off guard, she unzipped the front closure of her suit's jacket to below herb.r.e.a.s.t.s, revealing a glimpse of a black bra. "I grabbed a chicken sandwich on the way."Whit really wanted to grab her. Badly. "I don't remember that being on the list." He barely remembered his name."It's not, but I wasn't in the mood to worry about it."His gaze traveled to the gaping jacket. "Obviously you're in the mood for something else a little more interesting."

"Such as?"

Whit realized she was totally oblivious to what she'd done because of her current state of mind.

Something was bothering her, and he intended to find out what.

Patting the sofa, he told her, "Sit down."

"I want to take a shower first."

Can I join you? threatened to spill out of his mouth and only by sheer will did he stop it. "You can do that

in a minute."

She dropped down on the couch and Whit was careful to keep his distance. He glanced at the yawning

jacket, then realized he was about to do something he wouldn't normally do. Reaching over, he slowlypulled the zipper back into place while Mallory followed the movement of his hand.Color rose to her cheeks and she failed to look at him. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize-""It's okay. Now tell me what's going on."She tipped her head back against the cus.h.i.+ons and stared at the ceiling. "It seems Mom and Dad are having a little get-together at the house tomorrow night."

"On a Wednesday?" he said, when he was really thinking, On the night we're supposed to begin making a baby?

"I know. I said the same thing to Logan when he called. But he insists it's important." She finally looked

at him. "You're invited, too."Normally that would be more than okay. Whit liked being around the O'Briens, a boisterous, close-knitfamily that was everything his own family had never been. But he'd had big plans for tomorrow night."Logan didn't hint at what this is all about?"

Mallory released a long sigh. "No, but I'm thinking it has something to do with his current girlfriend."Helena Brennan, the reason Whit hadn't seen Logan in quite a while. "You don't think they're-""Planning to get married?" Mallory let go a terse laugh. "I have a hard time believing it, but he's totally enamored of her. Although I have no idea why."

Whit now knew what had Mallory so worked up-typical sisterly protectiveness. "How would you feel if they did become engaged?"

She shrugged. "If he wants to tie himself down to a big-breasted socialite whose day consists of tennis at

the country club and hours at the spa, then who am I to stop him?""You really don't like her, do you?""Do you?"Whit hadn't formulated much of an opinion of Helena beyond the fact she had a killer body, but he'd seen little sign of a brain. He didn't think it was wise to tell Mallory that. "I don't know her all that well,

so I really couldn't say.""Come on, Whit. You know her kind. She's looking to snag a rich husband, and Logan definitely fits thatprofile."

Whit definitely knew her kind. He'd been involved with a couple himself. "Logan's not stupid, Mallory.

Maybe he's really in love this time.""Woo-hoo. Let's hear it for love." Mallory rose to her feet and faced him again. "I'm tired, Whit. Think I'll take my shower now and go to bed."

So much for Whit's plans to try a little more persuasion in order to enable Mallory to relax before the"big night." Or maybe not. "I'll come tuck you in after you're done.""You really don't have to do that."

"I know, but I want to."

He expected her to put up a little more of a protest. Instead, she said, "Give me about twenty minutes.

You can tell me a bedtime story."

Whit wasn't interested in telling her any kind of stories, but he sure wouldn't object to a little bedtime adventure. He warned himself one more time to take it slowly. Mallory was definitely keyed up tonight and she probably wouldn't welcome his attentions beyond some companions.h.i.+p. Then again, he did know a few ways to help her relax.

What a fool she was to let Whit anywhere near her bed. When Mallory came out of the bathroom, dressed in a moderately modest thigh-length green nights.h.i.+rt, she found him sitting on the edge of the mattress. His dark hair was damp from his own shower, the white ribbed tank he wore drawn tight over his primo physique, his legs bared due to the pair of silk boxers that would be deemed a respectable length, but still caused quite an impact on her pulse. Buying those for him, well, just another foolish mistake she'd made in a long line of many of late. However, she refused to do anything else that would be deemed imprudent, such as letting him stay in her bed all night. Tomorrow night was another thing altogether. As soon as she finished with the family socializing, she would welcome him into her bed to begin the procreation process. That thought sent a tiny little s.h.i.+ver through her body on the heels of a nervousness that didn't seem to want to go away.

Stopping at the dresser, Mallory picked up a brush and ran it through her hair, glancing now and then at Whit in the mirror's reflection. He'd stretched out on the bed, hands laced behind his neck, feet crossed at the ankles. He didn't speak, but he did continue to survey her from shoulders to feet. And her traitorous eyes kept roaming to the boxer's fly. Whit Manning's male package, all wrapped up in navy silk. Wouldn't it be fun to open it and see what surprises were in store?

The brush flipped out of Mallory's hand and landed on the dresser with a noisy thump, knocking over a perfume bottle and sending picture frames down like dominoes. She was mildly aware of Whit's quiet laughter as she fumbled to right the mess.