Free Strictly Professional by Sandy Sullivan Page B

thousand.”
    Her head snapped around. “Five thousand? You’re kidding me, right?”
    He cocked his head slightly to the side. “No. Last time I checked, that’s about right I think. Dad might have sold some off by now or divided it up and given some to Aaron.”
    “Brandon, that’s a huge place.”
    “Doesn’t seem like it to me.” He smiled. “Of course, I’ve never ridden from one side to the other.”
    Something ricocheted through her brain as she stared at his face.
    Cooper. Cooper. Oh my God! His parents own Cooper Cattle out of Montana.
    “Is your father Jed Cooper?”
    His eyes narrowed in what appeared to be suspicion.
    Maybe he’s been burned by gold-diggers, too.
    “Yes, why?”
    She set the picture back down and moved away from his disturbing heat. “I’ve heard of him. That’s all.”
    “There’s more to it than that, Savannah.”
    Stopping near the window, she could see the moonlight casting sliver beams across the pasture in the back.
    Stud service. Mom and dad want a grandchild and I know they wouldn’t be disappointed in hooking up with Cooper Cattle, but could I only use Brandon for a baby? What would he say to that?
    “Savannah?” He stood behind her. She could smell his spicy cologne mixed with his intoxicating male scent and it sent heat spiraling through her middle to settle between her thighs.
    His reflection in the window where he stood behind her made them look perfect together.
    She inhaled a quick breath and said in a rush, “Brandon? Would you make a baby with me?”

    * * * *

    He laughed. Not knowing what else to do and thinking she couldn’t possibly be serious, his chuckle turned into roaring laughter. He dropped onto the couch and wiped his eyes.
    Her eyes narrowed when she turned to face him.
    “I didn’t think the idea merited that kind of mirth.”
    “I’m sorry, Savannah.” He held his side while it cramped. She wasn’t laughing and the chuckles died on his lips. “You really are serious?”
    She dropped into the chair he’d vacated earlier. “Yes.”
    “Make a baby? With me?”
    “Come on, Brandon. I didn’t think it would be that hard to explain. You’re a doctor and so am I. How hard is this?”
    “Care to explain what brought this on? I mean we only met four days ago. Granted, you are a beautiful woman and we seem to get along all right.”
    And I’d like nothing more than to fuck you until you scream.
    Rubbing the spot over her right eye, she dropped her gaze to the floor for a moment before it returned to his face. “It’s my parents. I told you how they have been harassing us to have children and find husbands.”
    “Yeah. So what’s this got to do with me except that I’m the other half of a baby making machine?”
    “When I went home this weekend, my parents basically gave all of us an ultimatum. They want us to find husbands, of course, but the biggest thing they said was we needed to have children.”
    He didn’t like the sound of this. “I don’t quite understand, Savannah. You’re going to have to give me more information.”
    She stood and started to pace. “How do I say this without sounding crude?”
    “I think we are beyond crude.”
    Their gaze met and he knew she didn’t like this anymore than he did but curiosity had him sitting on the edge of his seat.
    “I’m sure you know who my parents are.” She chuckled. “Right now, I wish they weren’t my parents.” Stopping behind the chair she’d sat in, she picked at an invisible piece of something on the blanket draped there. “William and Maria Gibson?”
    If their names were supposed to mean something to him, they didn’t. “And so?”
    She looked surprised. “You don’t know who they are?”
    “Am I supposed to?”
    “Let me clarify, then. Gibson Industries out of Houston. Gibson Oil?”
    “I’ve heard of Gibson Industries and I’m assuming the way you talk, Gibson Oil is a big producer.”
    Savannah sat back down in the chair. “My parents bought some