Chapter 1: Barren Ground
“Tom?”
“Hmmmm?”
Meredith Bayfield tried to make her voice low and seductive. A temptress’ voice. “Stay home from work today. Please?”
Her husband’s reflection glanced at her in the mirror, then went back to adjusting its tie. “Why? I have a board meeting today.” A quirk of his lips. “More like a bored meeting. Because I’ll be bored to death, most likely.”
She cleared her throat nervously. “My period ended eight days ago. I should be…” God, she couldn’t believe she was actually saying this! “I should be ovulating soon.” A flush of heat warmed her face. “Today would be a good day for the two of us to try to make a baby. The next several days, actually.” She gathered up her courage. “If the meeting is going to be so boring, then it wouldn’t be a big deal if you m
