What does a man do when he decides it’s time to settle down and have children with or without a wife?  Well, Wesley Cooper, a specialist in genetics, made a bet with a colleague that he would find the perfect woman to bear his child.  His definition of the perfect woman was beautiful, highly intelligent, possessed logical thinking with a fiery passion and accomplished in more than her field of expertise.  Wesley had to find this person within the year and father a child, or he would lose his research grant.

Wesley had given up on the dating game and had a plan in his mind to use a surrogate to produce the ideal child.  That is until his friend decided to help his in finding Ms. Right for a wife.  While he wasn’t interested, when he first met Brenda Reid he had second thoughts.  What he didn’t know, though, was that Brenda had heard about the bet and had vowed not to go anywhere near Wesley Cooper.

As luck would have it, at a party given in honor of Brenda to welcome her to Meyers University, who would happen to meet her at the door but Dr. Wesley Cooper himself.  Brenda had a one-track mind and that was to focus on her career and nothing else.  But when she takes a mini vacation by train, who happens to show up but Wesley.  As the two of them travel to Florida, they get to know each other and a friendship develops.  Once in Florida they end up sharing a suite because there is a shortage of hotel rooms.  Just as the fire stirs between them, one day they have unexpected guests knocking on the door.  To Brenda’s surprise her aunts have stopped in on her prior to the family reunion and spot Wesley in the room.  Thinking quickly, Wesley decides to introduce himself as Brenda’s fiancé.  Not thinking herself, she goes along with this lie that gets out of hand.

While Wesley gets use to the idea of marrying Brenda, she still feels uncomfortable expressing feelings for him and lying to her family.  But as time goes on, the realization of the bet and Brenda’s nosiness causes this relationship to change.

Shirley Hailstock has proven once again that you never know how you’ll find the perfect mate.  This is an enjoyable book with a different point of view that deals with the silly things a man will do to have a child.