The Fighter Pilot’s Baby

Chapter 4

Bianca looked at Alex; she wasn’t sure what to make of his revelation. For the fiftieth time she thought about how they were practically strangers. And he wanted to have a baby with her!

“We can’t. We shouldn’t.” She mumbled, pulling away from him.

Bianca began to pace around the room again, her mind racing. The part that scared her the most was that she was actually considering his offer. No, it was crazy. Wasn’t it?

“Bianca,” Alex interrupted her frenzied thoughts. He sidled up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Bianca’s heart fluttered, her stomach was a riot of butterflies. She wanted to tell him no. That she had a plan. Other plans. This didn’t make sense. But, he was making it so difficult. His large hands spanned her size six waist and she yearned to lean back into him, to be enveloped by his scent; leather, soap and male. The heat from his large body behind her seared her back and Bianca’s emotions were in turmoil. Shaking her head to clear her raging hormones, Bianca spun from his grip.

“No, this isn’t a good idea,” She asserted, walking across the room, away from his touch. If he touched her again she might give in.

“Give me one good reason why?” Alex asked. His gaze was intense as he stared her down from across the room. Those blue eyes of his turned stormy and she knew he was getting frustrated.

“We’ve just met. How do I know this will work? What if we spend more time together, and I’m already pregnant and we find out we don’t like each other? Or we have nothing in common?” Bianca wrung her hands with anxiety as she spoke.

“You have to admit there’s a connection between us, Bianca. I told you I’ve never felt this way about anyone else. I doubt in a few weeks, or even months, that I wouldn’t like you.” Alex stalked toward her and Bianca backed up nervously, jumping when the backs of her legs hit the couch.

Bianca sat, since she was already almost on top of the couch anyway. He was right on one account. Bianca also never felt this way about anyone else, especially not in such a short time. But what if she was wrong? Her instincts with men were skewed because of her mother’s track record with men. Bianca stood again, unable to stay still. She caught a look of hope, fleeting as it was, pass across Alex’s face. Could it be that he wanted a child of his own too? A thought occurred to her, seconds before she voiced yet another decline to his offer. She was going to go with a sperm donor anyway. That was the choice she made this evening after much thought. It would be a faceless man who would have no claim to her child except to bring them to life. Why not give her son or daughter a father. A real father. Even if it didn’t work out she was sure Alex was honorable enough to remain in the child’s life. Wouldn’t that be better than raising a child alone?

Nodding her head as she approached him, a final decision made, Bianca conceded, “Okay. Let’s do it.”

*****

Alex spotted the shift in Bianca before she stood. She was thinking hard, and by the time she began to move toward him, he knew she would agree. Trepidation made his heart speed up as she agreed, but Alex wouldn’t change his mind. When he returned home from his last deployment, the moment his feet hit the runway he wanted to reenlist. He was a soldier, a pilot. That was his life for the last ten years. Until he saw Bianca. Her warm brown eyes and beautiful curly hair drew him in. When he spoke to her, her kindness and warmth held him there. This was it. The Air Force may have taken the first part of his adulthood, may have been his family for the last ten years, but he wanted a new life. A life filled with love and family. He had contacted Bianca earlier in the day to tell her about his new business venture. He wanted to share the exciting news with her and let her know he wasn’t going anywhere. When she sprung the news on him about her fertility issues, Alex knew there was only one way to remedy it and keep her in his life.

“Alex? Did you hear me?” Bianca asked, anxiety making her voice take on a high pitched tone.

Alex snapped out of his reverie, “I’m sorry. Yes, I heard you.”

Bianca looked at him strangely, possibly questioning if he was changing his mind. Alex smiled at her to reassure her but she still looked anxious.

“We can do this,” he assured, yet again.

Bianca nodded; she appeared to be trying to make herself appear more certain but Alex saw right through her. Alex reached for her and she didn’t resist or pull away this time. Happy that she was finally coming to terms with their decision, Alex pulled her to his chest. She rested her mop of dark curls against his chest, her breathing slowing. He could feel her heartbeat against his own. Each thump indicated that maybe they were both more nervous about the setup than they were letting on. Alex knew one way to break the ice.

For a brief moment she pulled back.