Page 47 of Tempt
“Because of what happened tonight with me?” I sank deeper into the couch, as if under the weight of additional guilt.
“It’s not your fault,” he said quickly. “I think it’s a combination of intense attraction for you combined with a fear of—of... I don’t know.”
“I think you do.”
He exhaled. “You’re right. I do. I’m just ashamed to say it.”
“Listen, I think you and I are past the point where we need to feel shame about anything we say to each other. As long as you don’t tell me you’re married.”
“I amdefinitelynot married.”
“Good.” I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Did you really think I might be?”
“Not in my gut. But there were some surprises tonight.”
“There were,” he agreed.
“So what are you scared of?” I played with the hem of my dress.
“Same thing every guy my age is scared of—getting older. That’s why it’s so stupid and fucking cliché.”
“It’s not stupid,” I argued. “And it’s not just guys. Women are afraid of getting older too. I’m afraid of it.”
“But you’re young.”
“That’s relative. I’m sure an eighty-two-year-old woman would consider thirty-two young. But I always assumed I’d be married with a family at this age. I’m not even close.”
“You want kids?”
“Yes.” I paused. “You mentioned you had a vasectomy.”
“Yeah. About four years ago. Right before I got married.”
“Was it a difficult decision?”
“Not really.”
I chewed one side of my bottom lip. “It’s none of my business, but...”
“You can ask.”
“You never wanted kids?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Just never did.”
“And your ex-wife didn’t want kids either?”
“She said she didn’t, which was why she asked me to get the vasectomy. At the time, she was very focused on her career. But that changed, and we split up.” He paused. “She’s pregnant now.”
I gasped. “Wait a minute. She made you get a vasectomy, then left you for someone who could father children?”
“She didn’t make me,” he said. “It was ultimately my choice. And she didn’t leave me because of that—she left me because she fell in love with someone else, a producer at the TV station where she worked as a reporter.”
