Tug of Attraction (7 page)

“Bridge, would you mind if I asked a hypothetical, yet personal question?”

She chuckled. “Considering how personal you’ll get if you do the deed, sure. Ask me anything.”

“What if we hit it off?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“What if we fall in love? Are you going to be so stubborn that you blindly follow the contract and won’t reconsider the other option?”

“What other option? Marriage?”

“Or just living together.”

She stared at him as if she were a deer caught in the headlights.

“Brigit?”

“I...I don’t think it’s a good idea to go down hypothetical roads. Let’s just worry about the one I’ve proposed.”

Ethan needed a drink. He swiveled on his stool and searched the room. “Where’s that waitress anyway?”

His phone rang. “Dammit,” he muttered under his breath before he answered.

“Sorry, Ethan. We need you. I know you’re on a date...”

“That’s okay. She knew this could happen.”

In a way, he was glad it did. The conversation was not going well, and he wouldn’t be heartbroken to leave it.

Brigit straightened and looked at him with raised eyebrows.

“There’s a tug in Ipswich that got its lines wrapped around the ship’s propeller. We sent Parker, knowing you were busy, but now his lines are wrapped around the damn thing too.”

“So you need me to go to Ipswich, tow two tug boats and a ship to a dock, and then unravel them?”

“Yup. That’s about the size of it.”

“Jesus,” he muttered under his breath. “Tell them I’ll be on my way in five minutes.” He disconnected the call and dropped the phone back into its holster.

“I’m sorry Brigit. I’ve got to go.” He dug his wallet out of his back pocket.

“Oh, no. Don’t pay for my drink.”

“I asked you out and you came from some distance. I don’t know how far, because you won’t tell me...” He didn’t mean to sound angry. “Sorry. I’m just frustrated that we have to leave things so unfinished.” He flipped a few bills onto the counter. “Anyway. Here’s enough to cover dinner. I’ll call you tomorrow, and we’ll reschedule.”

“I don’t know, Ethan...”

“Don’t know about what? Rescheduling our date?”

“Yeah. I don’t know if dating is a good idea.”

He never cared for rejection, but he’d learned to accept it. “It’s up to you. We can forget the whole thing right now—”

“No! I mean...call me when things are settled down. Okay?”

“Fine, but I really need to think this over. It might be a couple of days.”

“Please keep an open mind.”

“I will if you will,” he said, and strode out the door.

* * * *

H
is evening sucked. He didn’t get home until one o’clock in the morning, exhausted and pissed off. They’d had to cut the lines in fifty foot increments to get them untangled. When the crisis was over, he couldn’t stop thinking about how Brigit wanted to distance herself from him—as if he were a propeller, ready to chew her up. He grabbed a beer and took it to the living room.

“Rough night?”
Charlotte asked.

“The worst.” After a long pause, he figured,
What the hell. She’s a ghost, but she was a woman first.
“Charlotte, I’m not a vain man, but I don’t think I’m hard to look at, am I?”

“Oh, dear. Did the brunette run away screaming? I thought she seemed a little high strung,”
said his corporeally challenged friend.

He dropped onto the couch. “No. Not at all, but I asked one question that froze her.”

“Yikes. Frigid Brigid? It sounds like someone is earning a nickname worse than mine. What happened? Did she just lay there?”

“We didn’t even get that far. Hell, we didn’t even make it to dinner. I got called in for an emergency. I just asked if things were to change between us, how flexible she’d be.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Yeah. It’s hard to explain.”

“Try. I’m not going anywhere.”

He stifled a chuckle. “Well, it’s kind of insulting, actually.”

Charlotte was silent, so he couldn’t gauge her mood. He’d prefer not to be laughed at, but she could be weirdly understanding at times too.
Oh well. Might as well get it off my chest. If she laughs, she laughs.

“I asked Brigit what would happen if we dated and fell in love. Would she hold me to that stupid contract or could we reevaluate it?”

“What contract?”

“Didn’t I tell you about how she wanted my sperm, but not my interference? She insisted on my giving up all rights and responsibilities of fatherhood.”

“Yes, I know that’s what she wanted, but she was serious enough to draw up a contract?”

“Apparently she’d been thinking about it for quite a while.”

“Okay. What did she say when you asked about changing the contract
if
you both wanted to?”

“That’s when she froze.”

Charlotte didn’t laugh, but he wasn’t comforted by her silence either. He removed his boots while he waited.

At last she said,
“I don’t think she means to insult you. If she thought you were hideous, she wouldn’t want to sleep with you at all—at least not for free. Maybe she’s just jaded as far as love is concerned. That I can understand.”

“Yeah, she said she saw too many relationships and marriages fall apart in Hollywood. It’s hard for her to trust—”

“Hollywood?”
Charlotte interrupted excitedly.
“You mean where the game shows happen?”
She lowered her voice to mimic an announcer
. “Coming to you from the entertainment capital of the world, Hollywood, California...”

Ethan chuckled. “Yeah. That Hollywood. She moved there right after high school and lived there for about ten years.”

“Ohhh!”
He heard Charlotte clapping.

“She didn’t like it,” Ethan said and stretched his legs. “Well, maybe she did for a while, but eventually her hopes of an acting career died there. It’s not uncommon.”

“She couldn’t get a job spinning the wheel or holding the briefcases? But she’s so pretty.”

“That’s the problem. There are a lot of pretty people out there all hoping to get the same parts.”

“I see. That’s very sad. So she had no job and no husband. She could wind up like me. A lot of us women—”

Ethan held up one hand. “No. She has a job that she loves now. It’s not an acting job, but it suits her personality. She takes care of animals.”

“But animals wouldn’t know how pretty she is.”

“Maybe that’s part of the attraction. She doesn’t have to be pretty for animals to love her. They just love her because she loves them.”

“Ah. I see now. But at least you know she’s capable of love. Maybe she’ll love you too someday.”

“That’s just it. I don’t think she wants to—even if she could.” Ethan frowned.

“Humph. Now I’m mad at her again.”

“I didn’t know you were mad at her before.”

“Well, I didn’t like how she reacted to me the first time she saw me. Maybe she’s so used to pretty people she doesn’t like imperfection. I’m not ugly. I just have one little dagger sticking out of my head. Is she the reason you think you’re not attractive?”

“No. Well, yeah.” He sighed. “I don’t know what to think.”

“Okay. I’m going to be serious. You know it doesn’t happen often, so listen up. You are not ugly. In fact, you’re
very
handsome. Granted, I’ve known you since you were born, but I don’t think that matters. There was a time when you were little and cute and a time when you were gawky and shy. Then you grew into a handsome young man and changed again. You were confident, even cocky. And if you haven’t noticed, you’re changing even now. The young man was full of mischief. You said you wanted to play the field, and you did. A lot! How can you think you’re ugly when so many girls liked you? Now, just because of this one girl you doubt yourself? She doesn’t deserve you.”

Ethan shook his head. “Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, but I’m still confused by the mixed message.”

“Seriously, if I had a body, I wouldn’t charge you more than once or twice
.”

He laughed.

“But if there was one itty bitty thing I could change about you...”

Ethan groaned. “Okay. Tell me. What is it?”

“Your hair. I think you should grow it long while it’s still all one lovely dark color. Someday it will turn gray and then white. Or thin—even bald. Why not flaunt it while you’ve got it.”

Ethan laughed. “Long hair went out in the eighties. Besides, could you see me on the boat with my hair in my eyes all day long?”

“In my day a man would grow his long flowing locks over his shoulders and tie it back when he needed to keep it out of his face.”

“In your day men wore white lace.”

She made a flippant noise and then said,
“You asked. I told you. Now, if you don’t want my advice, don’t ask for it. Just turn on the TV before you leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Well, I’d storm off and slam the door, but I can’t.”

“C’mon, Charlotte. Don’t be mad. I’ll turn on the TV, but I have other things to do.”

“Like what?”

“Like researching artificial insemination. She said it’s expensive. Maybe I can offer her a loan.”

Charlotte laughed.
“I still think you should just give her your seed and be gone. It would serve her right. She’ll think about you every night at about two a.m. when she has to get up with a wailing infant.”

* * * *

B
rigit heard the phone and wasn’t sure if it was part of her dream or not. When it didn’t stop ringing, she rolled over and lifted the receiver.

“Brigit? Can you come over?”

She sat up in her canopy bed and rubbed her eyes. “Ethan? Are you okay? What time is it?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. It’s early. Did I wake you up?”

“Kind of.”

“Sorry about that. I was just reading up on artificial insemination and—well, it would be better if you come over to discuss this.”

“What’s to discuss? I told you I can’t afford it.”

“But it’s not that expensive. It’s only about seven hundred dollars per treatment in Boston.”

Brigit chuckled. “Your ‘only seven hundred dollars’ is ‘Eek! Seven hundred whole dollars!’ to me. And it’s rare if it happens to work on the first try. It can take a normal person up to four tries. Add to that someone like me with possible fertility issues, and you can see where the bills would pile up quickly.”

“Pardon me for bringing this up, but I thought your parents were rich.”

Brigit frowned. “My mother used to say that divorcing well was every bit as important as marrying well. I refuse to ‘get rich’ that way.”

“I admire that, but I could loan you the money. You wouldn’t have to pay me back for, well, I don’t know. We could work it out, so it won’t be a hardship.”

She laid back on her pillow. “That’s really sweet of you, Ethan, but if I pay you back at a rate I could afford with normal interest, I might get you paid back by the time the little tyke goes to college—and only on a full scholarship.”

“Bridge. Work with me here. I’m trying to help you.”

“I know, and like I said, that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever offered to do for me. That’s why you’re the right man for the job. Don’t you see?”

“Ah, no. I’m confused. Because I’d like to pay for your artificial insemination, I’m the right guy to get you pregnant and walk away?”

“Because you care about my happiness. You want to help me make my dream come true.”

“Of course I do.”

She lowered her voice to a sexy whisper. “Not every guy would care. In fact, I think you’re one of the very few. You’re special, Ethan. I mean that in the best way.” 

“Ms. Love, are you trying to seduce me?”

She chuckled. “Well, yeah. I’ve been trying for a few weeks now, and I’m not doing a very good job. I thought I’d be waking up with you beside me by now.”

Silence on the other end of the phone had her wondering what she’d said wrong.

“Would you give me breakfast?”

She laughed. “Sure. That’s the least I could do. I’ll cook you a big fortifying dinner the night before too, if you like.”

“Mmm...that sounds tempting.”

“Good. Think about it, then. Just say the word and I’ll show up at your place with a meatloaf, potatoes, and a dozen eggs.”

“My place?” After a brief pause he spit out, “Oh, yeah. Because I can’t know where you live. Goddess forbid.”

“I think it’s for the best. I can promise you, I don’t live in a hovel. It’s a very cheerful and comfortable place...for two.”

Silence on the other end made her wonder if she was right back where she’d started.

“Fine. I’ll think about it some more. Do you have cats, by the way?”

“No. Just one dog, Goldie.”

The dog heard her name, barked, and pushed her way into the bedroom, wagging her tail. Brigit sat up and reached over to give her a morning pat and scratch.

“Oh.”

“Why did you ask about cats?”

“I did some research and read where cats can carry some kind of illness to pregnant women. Something called Toxoplasmosis that can cause birth defects. You might have to quit your job.”

Brigit sighed. “I know about toxoplasmosis, but pregnant women have cats as pets and they manage just fine. You shouldn’t handle their feces. That’s all.”

“So how do pregnant women with cats change the litter? Oh, that’s right. They probably have husbands or live in boyfriends who’ll do it for them.”

She smiled slyly. “You were hoping I had a cat?”

“No. I was concerned about the baby. That’s who would suffer.”

Brigit felt about two inches tall. Ethan
wasn’t
like most men. He wasn’t trying to get into her pants or into her wallet. He was honestly just concerned about her long-range goal. “You know what?”

“What?”

“You’re a pretty special guy. Can I bring you a picnic lunch today?”

“You don’t have to work?”

“No. They give me days off for good behavior.”

“Okay. That would be nice.” She swore she could hear the smile in his voice. “I still have to stay close to the harbor. Maybe there’s a section of town that’s not haunted and we can have a nice quiet lunch together.”