The Tycoon's Paternity Agenda Read Free Page A

occasional beer, but beyond that I don’t drink, so giving it up isn’t a problem. Not to mention that I’m healthy as horse. And my doctor never fails to point out at my annual physical that I have a body built for childbearing.”
    She certainly did. She had the figure of a fifties pinup model. A time when women looked like women, not prepubescent boys. In his opinion Rebecca had always been too obsessed with her weight and her looks, as though she thought he would love her less if she didn’t look perfect 100 percent of the time. Even during chemo she never failed to drag herself out of bed to put on makeup. And when she could no longer get out of bed, she had the nurse do it for her.
    The familiar stab of pain he felt when he thought of her that way pierced the shell around his heart from the inside out.
    Katy surprised him by reaching across the table and taking his hand. What surprised him even more was the tingling sensation that started in his fingers and worked its way up his arm. Her hands were a little rough from working on the ranch, but her skin was warm. Her nails were bare, but clean and neatly trimmed. Everything about her was very…natural.
    Which was more than he could say for this situation, and the odd, longing sensation deep in his gut.
    â€œAdam, you know as well as I do that despite all the background checks you can do, there’s no one you could trust as much as me.”
    He hated to admit it—she was right. Despite their very complicated past and feelings of resentment over Becca, Katy would never do anything to put her sister’s child in harm’sway. But she could use the opportunity to try to manipulate him, and he never put himself in a position to lose the upper hand. Not professionally, and especially not personally.
    Not anymore.
    But this was the welfare of his child they were discussing. Wasn’t it his obligation as a father to put his child first, to make its health and well-being his number-one priority?
    Katy squeezed his hand so tight he started to lose sensation in his fingers, and they were beginning to get curious glances from his employees.
    He gently extracted his hand from hers. “Look, Katy—”
    â€œPlease, Adam. Please let me do this.” She paused, her eyes pleading, then said, “You know it’s what Becca would have wanted.”
    Ouch. That was a low blow, and she knew how to hit where it really stung. The worst part was that she was right. Didn’t he owe it to Becca to let Katy do this for them? For the baby? Wasn’t he partially to blame for Becca losing touch with her family in the first place?
    â€œThough it’s against my better judgment, and I would like to run it past my attorney before I give you a definitive answer…I’m inclined to say yes.”
    Her expression was a combination of relief and gratitude. “Thank you, Adam. I promise, you won’t regret this.”
    Impossible, since he regretted it already.
    Â 
    Katy left soon after, and Adam headed back up to his office, feeling conflicted.
    On one hand he could see the benefits of choosing Katy as a surrogate. In theory, it was an ideal arrangement. But he knew from experience that things did not always go as planned, and what may seem “ideal” one day could swiftly be come a disaster the next.
    Before he made any decisions, he would speak with his attorney.
    His assistant, Bren, stopped him as he walked past her desk to his office. “Senator Lyons called while you were gone. He said he’ll be out of the office the rest of the day but he’ll call you back tomorrow.”
    â€œDid he say what he wanted?”
    â€œMy guess would be a campaign contribution. Isn’t he up for reelection?”
    â€œYou’re probably right.”
    â€œAlso, Mr. Suarez needs to see you when you have a minute.”
    â€œCall down to his office and tell him now would be good,” he told her. It was