The Tycoon's Proposition

“It would give the mothers a break for a few hours or all day. I realize we’d have to get a trained, licensed person to head the center.” She spoke faster and faster.

“Possibly they could train Juanita so she could be licensed, too. The two of them could live in one part of the condo with her baby, and set up the center in the other.

“If down the road Juanita wanted to leave the ship, she’d have a skill so she could find a good job elsewhere.”

He sat up and leaned toward her. “And when all these babies are too old for the nursery, then what?” he drawled.

“It would mean there would have to be a preschool, and an elementary and middle school. The thing is, while I was getting acquainted with the ship this afternoon, I noticed that on the Sun Deck there’s a whole area in the aft section that hasn’t been designated for anything specific yet.

“If the schools were put there, they’d be near pools and outdoor activities that would be perfect for recess.”

He reached out to brush some blond tendrils away from her cheek. His touch sent a shock wave through her body. “I’m afraid the directors have a casino in mind.”

“Casino— But there are several dozen bars on the ship. Surely some of them could be turned into dens of iniquity at much less expense.”

She felt his body shake. He was laughing at her again. At least his mood had improved since they’d left the hospital.

“I can tell there’s a lot more on your mind. I’m willing to listen, but I can almost hear your teeth chattering. Get under the covers and make yourself comfortable.”

Her heart almost went into fibrillation. He’d just asked her to get in bed with him. She’d been wanting to do just that ever since she’d met him.

Was he testing the waters? Or was it a case of his being too tired to sit up talking to her any longer?

He was a man who liked to do the chasing.

He had asked…

Desperate to find out, she stood up and pulled the covers back so she could get in.

“I’m sure that feels better,” he murmured as she pulled the covers to her chin.

He was only a few feet away from her. She could feel all that male warmth. Terri would sell her soul to be wrapped up in it.

“What is it about men that they love to sleep in freezing cold rooms?”

“I didn’t realize you’d done a study on the subject.”

“I

haven’t exactly. But my dad and Richard were the same way. Beth says Tom’s so bad, he runs the air-conditioning when it’s sixty degrees out.”

His legs stirred. “Maybe it’s a macho thing. One of those mysteries of the male psyche not meant to be understood.”

“I can’t explain PMS either, so I guess that evens the score.”

The bed shook. “Is this your way of telling me you’re having a bad day?”

“No.” She chuckled. “It was just a comment since we were talking about mysteries.”

“How about solving one for me?”

There was something in his tone that sounded serious.

“If I can.”

“I understand your need to help Juanita. But to go as far as to try and help her find a job—”

“You probably think it’s weird.”