His Surrogate For Hire

 Even if those things were happening, it felt like it was too late to turn back. If she walked away now, there was a chance she could be walking away from an opportunity that could change her life.

Charlotte seemed innocent enough. The two women walked back to a patio filled with white wrought iron furniture and more of the same colorful flowers that were in the front yard.

“I would like you to meet Mr. Marshall.” Charlotte stepped out of the way, giving Diana plain view. The man in front of them was the same man that had been so pleasant to her in the front room.

He extended his hand. “How do you do? Just call me Clay.”

“Diana. A pleasure to meet you again.”

Clay pulled out a chair and motioned to Diana to take a seat.

“Thank you.”

 He walked slowly around to his chair. “Such a beautiful day today.”

Diana just stared at him, not wanting to do too much small talk. She thought it better if they got right to the point, but she decided to follow his lead.

“It is a beautiful day to get to know one another, Clay.”

“That sounds wonderful to me. I would love that Diana. As a matter of a fact, I would love for us to sit down to lunch. Maybe we can talk over a small meal.”

Diana was not sure what to say. All she knew was that she was staring an opportunity in the face and she did not want to miss out.

“Lunch sounds wonderful. What do you suggest?”

“I actually have some food coming shortly, if you can stick around, Diana.”

“That sounds great. I have an appointment later this afternoon, but I can stay for a while now.” She really did not have any appointments that afternoon, she just did not want to appear to be too eager or available.

“That would be nice. I would love for us to get a chance to see how we connect.”

A silence settled between them. There was nothing but the birds chirping and a calm breeze around them.

“I’m sure you want to know more about what this is all about.”

Clay looked a bit nervous, like he did not know the right words.

“I want to say this situation is a bit bizarre, but if I do that, I would have to admit that my part in it would be just as strange.”

Clay nodded with a chuckle as he clasped his fingers together. “True. I think that both of us are looking for something. This could be a way to fulfill both of our needs.”

“I could be inclined to agree with that. How do you propose we fill those needs?” Diana found his green eyes mesmerizing. Clay was an attractive man and there was something charismatic that was drawing her to him. He was the kind of man that commanded attention when he was in the room.

As soon as she asked the question, Charlotte appeared with the food.

“I have something here for everyone. Diana, I hope that you like Thai.”

“I never had it before, but it’s worth a try.”

Charlotte left two big bags of food and walked away. Clay quickly set about setting out the plates and the food.

“As we were saying,” he continued. “I want you to know that you are the first of the interviews I extended an invitation to in reference to staying on for further conversation.”

Diana was flattered. “Thank you. I think.”

“It was a compliment. Diane, do you believe in intuition and in instant attraction?”

She shrugged. “I never thought about it.”

Clay looked at her, brow raised. “Well?” he asked, almost forcing an answer.

Diana pushed the fork around on her plate. “It’s possible. Anything is possible.”

“Ah, a realist I see.”

Diana giggled. “Not really. I just have so much going on in my life, I rarely sit and daydream about falling in love or having this mind blowing connection to anyone. That’s what fairy tales are for.”

A wide grin spread across his face. “Fairy tales? So you don’t feel like you could meet someone and fall in love at first sight?”

“I don’t know. What would you be falling in love with when you don’t know who that person is?”

“Touché. I like the way you think, Diana.”

“How about you? Do you believe in instant attraction?” She decided to flip it around and have him answer his own question.

Clay finished his food. “I believe you can make things happen. Help them along. Create the proper climate for all of the right things to occur. Does that make sense?”

“It does. More akin to what I believe. Sometimes things don’t go the way you would like. I believe that you can point things in the right direction.”

“Sounds like we have something in common, Diana.”

His eyes sparkled, twinkling a bit. Clay seemed like a sweet man. But Diana was smart enough to know she needed to fully understand what she was getting in to with this eccentric stranger.

They finished lunch with casual conversation. Diana liked the fact that nothing was forced and that she did not have to try to figure out something to talk about with him. Things flowed smoothly and she actually found Clay pretty amusing. They did not talk about work or politics or anything stressful or controversial and they never discussed the fact that she was there to interview for a surrogacy.

By the time she glanced at her watch, she had been there for almost three hours.

“Clay, I really must get going. I did not realize we have been here talking for over three hours.”

“Wow. Has it been that long?”

She nodded and pointed at her watch.

“Time passes by so quickly when you are in good company.”

“It does.”

Her dyed strawberry-blonde and black hair blew around with the breeze. She tried to tame it by tucking her hair behind her ear.

“I would like to say thank you for coming over and spending time with me today, Diana. I know it must be quite difficult to answer such an ad and to come to a place where you may have been unsure of your safety and what it was all about.”

She appreciated the fact that Clay could even acknowledge the things that filled her with anxiety.

“Thank you.”

He helped her out of her chair. “Can I walk you to the front door?”

“Please do.”