The Proposal

by Katie Ashley

  She shook her head at the thought of walking so far. With a heavy sigh, she hoisted herself out of bed. Beau slid off beside her. “Hang tight, boy. I’m not going far.”

  He ignored her and continued by her side as she padded into the bathroom. Steam enveloped her and momentarily clouded her vision. Just as she started for the toilet, Aidan shut off the water and stepped out of the shower in all his naked glory. Her eyes met his shocked baby blues before her gazed dropped below his waist. Her pregnancy hormones kicked into overdrive at the sight, and she licked her lips.

  “Are you done ogling my package?” he asked, amusement vibrating in his voice.

  She reluctantly jerked her gaze up to his. “Wait, what?” she asked. Then mortification rocketed through her, and she quickly ducked her head. “I’m sorry. I needed to pee.” She sidestepped his dripping wet, naked form and headed for the toilet.

  Aidan laughed at her embarrassment. He grabbed a towel, but instead of wrapping it around him, he took his time drying off his arms and chest. Emma ignored him and focused on relieving her bladder. Once she was done, she went to the sink to wash her hands. She rolled her eyes when Aidan still hadn’t covered up.

  “What sounds good for dinner?” he asked.

  Keeping her gaze on the vanity, she said, “Anything. I’m starving.”

  “Seriously?”

  She laughed. “You better get used to feeding my out of control appetite.”

  “I can try,” he mused as he finally wrapped a towel around his waist. “How does pizza sound?”

  “Mmm, heavenly.”

  “Then I’ll order in some pizzas.”

  She giggled. “Yes, you better make them large. Ooh, and get some Cinnamon Bread too!”

  “Okay then, I will.”

  “Can we watch more movies?”

  Aidan shuddered. “More chick flicks?”

  Emma poked out her bottom lip. “Pwease?”

  He rolled his eyes. “I guess so.”

  “Aw, thank you, thank you, thank you!” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck.

  With her mouth inches from his, she quickly turned her head and kissed his cheek. He stared intently at her for a moment. “All right. Enough of that. Get back into bed and off your feet.”

  “Yes Drill Sergeant,” she sighed.

  As she started out of the bathroom, he popped her ass playfully. When she glanced at him over her shoulder, he shook his head. “Always you and that mouth!”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Emma woke up a little before one, and after using the bathroom, she slipped back into bed. Aidan was dead to the world, snoring softly. She had just covered back up when her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She leaned over and picked it up.

  It was a text from Casey. Checking in on you, Em. Hope you’re resting & feeling all right. Call me in the am.

  Emma smiled at Casey’s concern. I’m fine. Thanks for asking. Btw, what are you doing up so late?

  I might ask you the same question.

  Had to pee.

  Ah, gotcha. I’m waiting for Nate to get home and bang me!!!

  Rolling her eyes, Emma typed Poor guy. No rest for the weary with your libido around!

  Lol. True. Speaking of resting, where’s the assclown?

  Emma giggled as her fingers flew over the keys. He’s asleep beside me.

  WHAT THE FUCK? ARE YOU INSANE?!!!

  Yeesh with the shouting! It’s not like we were doing anything. We fell asleep watching movies.

  I sure hope you punished him with some epic chick flicks.

  She glanced over at Aidan’s passed out form and almost felt sorry for what she had inflicted on him. Almost. Lol, let’s just say I gave him a trifecta of estrogen with The Sound of Music, Steel Magnolias, and Fried Green Tomatoes. I think he actually cried in Steel Magnolias…but I think it was more about him being stuck watching them instead of football.

  He didn’t have to stay and watch them, Em. He wanted to be with you…the fuckwit.

  Emma couldn’t help grinning at the screen. It doesn’t matter if he wanted to be with me. I’m still not sure I need to be with him. Regret filled her the moment she finished typing. She wasn’t sure that statement was entirely true.

  Hmm, does your change of heart have anything to do with Dr. McDreamy Bollywood?

  Nibbling her bottom lip, Emma hesitated before typing, Maybe…maybe not.

  When’s the hot date?

  It’s not a date. He’s just coming over to check my vital signs.

  He’s bringing dinner, Em. It’s a date.

  Whatever.

  Emma could imagine Casey rolling her eyes and huffing with frustration as she typed. Look, just don’t count Dr. McDreamy Bollywood out just because Aidan’s grown a vag and become all caring and considerate.

  Aidan has not grown a vagina!

  It wouldn’t hurt him if he did. Maybe he’d think with his dick a little less!

  Case….

  Fine, fine, I’ll quit running down the douchenozzle.

  Thank you

  Actually, I think you need to test out my theory about Aidan’s considerate vag.

  What?!!

  You need to send him to get you something to eat. Aren’t you craving something?

  Emma pursed her lips in thought. She craved both bacon and ice cream constantly, even at breakfast she could eat the two together. I could go for a double Baconator from Wendy’s and a Frosty.

  Ha! Good one. They’re open til two. Send him out. ASAP

  Case, he’s dead to the world.

  Oh for fuck’s sake! Wake him up and let him show off his shiny new vag!

  Emma huffed out a frustrated breath. Fine. Ttyl

  Night! Don’t think I won’t check back in to see if you really did it.

  You’re evil

  But you love me!

  Yes, I do.

  Love you too.

  After she tossed her phone back onto the nightstand, she glanced over at Aidan. He was in his favorite non-sexual position—on his stomach with his arms wrapped tight around the pillow cushioning his head. With his face turned towards her, he looked so peaceful. She felt terrible waking him up—even if she really was hungry and not just trying to prove something to Casey.

  With a sigh, she poked his back. “Aidan?” He stirred a little. “Wake up.”

  “Em?” he questioned drowsily.

  “Yeah, um, I hate to bother you, but I kinda have a craving.”

  With his eyes still shut, he yawned. “Want me to get you something from the kitchen?”

  She nibbled her bottom lip. “Actually, I wanted something from Wendy’s.”

  His eyelids flew open. “Seriously?”

  She nodded.

  “What time is it?”

  “One.”

  “You want me to go out and get you something to eat now?” he asked incredulously.

  “Please?”

  He stared at her for a moment, unblinking and unmoving. She could only imagine the thoughts racing through his mind. Just when she thought he might tell her to go back to sleep, he rose up into a sitting position and rubbed his eyes. “What do you want?”

  “A double Baconator, fries, and a chocolate frosty.”

  “Christ, at this time of night?”

  “I could eat bacon and ice cream all day.”

  “Remind me to buy some at the store tomorrow,” he said as he got out of bed.

  “So you’re really going?”

  He waved his pants at her. “Of course I am.”

  “Guess you have grown a vag,” she murmured.

  Pausing with one leg in his pants, Aidan said, “Excuse me?”

  “Oh, nothing.”

  Once he zipped up his fly, he leaned over the bed towards her. From the light trickling in from the bathroom, she could see the amusement on his face. “I could have sworn you just said I had grown a vag.”

  “No, I said that you really had grown a lot. You know emotionally,” she lied.

  �
��Uh-huh.”

  Before he could pull away, she leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Be careful and thank you.”

  He grinned. “I will.” When he got to the bedroom door, he turned back. “Just make sure Casey knows that I wear my alleged vagina with pride, not because she took my manhood with that purse of hers, but because I want to be a better man for you.”

  Emma widened her eyes. “How did you—”

  He chuckled. “When I started gathering all the personal stuff to bring here, Casey accused me of growing a vagina. I figured there was no one else you would be texting at one in the morning besides her.”

  Shaking her head, Emma said, “Whatever. Just go get my food please.”

  “Me and my vagina will be back in twenty minutes. Tops.”

  And with a wink, he was gone.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Emma woke the next morning to the shrill ringing of her cell phone in her ear. Squinting at the clock with one eye, she groaned. It was barely seven in the morning, and she knew only one person would be calling her that early.

  Fumbling for her phone, she grabbed it and pressed the button. “Good morning, Grammy,” she murmured drowsily.

  “Hey sweetheart. How are you feeling?”

  “Sleepy.”

  Grammy laughed. “I’m sorry to wake you, but you know that Granddaddy and I think sleeping past five is too late.”

  “That’s a travesty when you guys could sleep in.”

  “Listen honey, I wondered if Aidan could come up here today? I took some things out of the freezer that I thought you would like, and I’m about to start fixin’ some casseroles for him to heat back up later on.”

  “Grammy, you should be taking care of yourself and Granddaddy, not me!” Emma protested.

  “Oh, what’s a few casseroles? Most of it I’d already cooked and put away. Besides, I can’t rest if I think you and the baby aren’t getting good, healthy food.”

  “Aidan’s actually a really good cook, Grammy.”

  She harrumphed into the phone. “Not like me.”

  Emma laughed. “That’s true.”

  “So you think he’ll be up here after while?”

  Glancing over her shoulder, Emma was surprised to find Aidan still in the bed beside her. “I’ll ask him when he wakes up.”

  He popped one eye open. “I’m awake,” he muttered.

  “Does that mean you’re going up to Grammy’s to get us some food?”

  “She’s cooking?”

  Emma nodded.

  He grinned. “Hell yes. I’ll get my clothes on right now.”

  With a laugh, Emma replied, “He’ll be up there around noon.” At Grammy’s sigh, Emma said, “He needs to fix us breakfast first and get a shower.”

  “All right then. I love you, baby girl.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Once Emma hung up the phone, she cradled it to her chest. She wanted more than anything to feel Grammy’s arms around her. No matter what was going on in her life, somehow just being in Grammy’s embrace made everything all right.

  “You miss her, don’t you?”

  She tore her gaze over to Aidan and then nodded. “Will you give her a great big hug and kiss for me when you get up there?” she asked.

  Aidan laughed. “I don’t think Virginia would let me past the front door without hugging and kissing me.”

  Emma giggled. “That’s true. But give her one anyway, okay?”

  “I will. And then I’ll be sure to come back home and give you her love too.”

  “Thank you.”

  Collapsing back against the pillows, Aidan groaned. “Jesus, my first real day I can sleep in from work, and I’m awake at seven-thirty.”

  “You don’t have to get up now. We can try to go back to sleep.”

  “Sure you’re not hungry?”

  Emma wrinkled her nose. “No, I still get a little nauseated in the morning.”

  “Will you set the alarm for ten?”

  She cocked her eyebrows. “You’re really planning on snoozing late, huh?”

  “Mmm, hmm,” he murmured.

  When she pushed back under the covers, Aidan scooted over in the bed. His arm snaked around her waist as he spooned against her. Nuzzling his face into her neck, he said, “Warm me up.”

  Her breath hitched as she glanced over her shoulder at him. “Are you really that cold?”

  He popped one eye open and gave her a sly grin. “Maybe.”

  “Uh-huh, well, just watch it, mister.”

  They had just settled back down when Noah struck up a kicking frenzy. “Oomph,” Emma said, shifting to the right.

  “Seriously, Em, I’m not trying to cop a feel!”

  She giggled. “I know you’re not.” She took his hand and brought it to the place on her stomach where Noah’s foot was thumping.

  Aidan sucked in a breath. When she glanced back at him, he wore an expression of pure wonderment. He met her gaze and smiled. “Is he always so active in the mornings?”

  “Sometimes. Usually, he really gets going after I eat.”

  “Ah, like he’s on a sugar rush or something?”

  “I guess so.”

  Even after Noah settled down, Aidan kept his hand firmly against her belly. Although Emma should have protested, she didn’t. It felt too good with his arm around her. And within a few moments, she fell into a contented sleep.

  ***

  After the alarm went off at ten, Aidan hopped out of bed. As Emma rose up, she figured he was headed for the shower, but instead, he reached for his phone.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Calling Becky.”

  “Why?”

  “Besides going to Grammy’s, I need to go to the grocery store and run a few errands. It might turn out longer than I expect, and I don’t want to leave you alone that long.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “I think I can make it from the bed to the bathroom just fine, thank you.”

  He shook his head as he stepped out of the bedroom. “Hey sis, can you do me a favor?” she heard him ask. He wasn’t gone long before he came back inside. “Becky’s coming over.”

  “Fabulous,” she muttered.

  Aidan’s brows furrowed in confusion. “I thought you liked her?”

  “I do. In fact, I love her like my own sister. It’s just I feel so overprotected at the moment—like I’m in a fishbowl.”

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t help worrying about you, Em.”

  Her chest clenched at the earnest expression on her face. She didn’t know why she had to fight him so much. She should just stop and enjoy the fact he was being so attentive and caring. So instead of arguing, she threw up her hands in defeat. “All right, all right. Becky can come baby-sit me.”

  He grinned. “Good considering you didn’t have a choice.”

  “Aidan,” she warned.

  He leaned over to kiss her cheek. After he pulled away, his lips hovered close to hers. When she looked into his eyes, she saw the longing burning bright. Part of her wanted to reach out and kiss him, but the other part knew what an explosive land mine that was. Putting her hand on his chest, she gently pushed him back. “You better go get a shower. Grammy will be standing on her head and blazing the phone lines if you’re not there right at twelve.”

  Hurt momentarily flashed in his eyes before he bobbed his head. “Okay then.”

  Emma’s heart clenched as she watched him march defeated into the bathroom.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Aidan made the trek out of the city up to the mountains. It was just after noon when he pulled to a stop in front of Earl and Virginia’s house. He drew in a breath of trepidation as he started up the front walk. He had just started up the porch steps when Virginia threw open the front door. “Well hello there handsome! Good to see you again.”

  Relief flooded him that at least one of Emma’s grandparents didn’t hold a grudge. Of course of the two, he had worried the least about Grammy. The worst she could do was frail him with
a frying pan—Earl was the one of the knives and shotguns.

  He smiled. “Hello Virginia. It’s good to see too.”

  Just like he expected, she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight. “How’s my sweet girl holding up?”

  “Right now she’s mad as hell that you’re cooking for her and not taking it easy,” he replied as he pulled away.

  Virginia cocked her silver head at him, and he grunted. “Even though she wants me to tell you she’s fine, I can’t lie.”

  “I figured as much.”

  “Physically, she’s doing fine, but it’s the emotions that are killing her…and me.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, Aidan rocked back on his heels. “I wish I knew what to say or do to make her feel better. I hate to see her cry, and it kills me to see her scared like she has been.”

  Virginia rubbed his arm. “Aw, honey, I’m sure you’re doing a fine job taking care of her. Being pregnant is hard enough without throwing in pre-labor and bed-rest into the mix.”

  “What does it matter how well I’m taking care of her when it’s my fault she’s where she is?”

  “Now you can’t think like that.”

  “It’s the truth, isn’t it?”

  Virginia shook her head. “I’m not here to judge you or chastise you about what happened, Aidan. That’s between you, the good Lord, and Emma. And if I know my baby girl like I do, the greatest stress on her came with what happened to your daddy. Riding in that ambulance, hearing those sirens, I know it brought back everything that happened with Emma’s daddy.” She cupped Aidan’s chin. “So don’t run yourself down so much, okay? If you’re in the pits, no one is going to be there to bring Emma up.”

  A hesitant smile played at his lips. “I guess so.”

  “Well, I know so.” She waved him towards the house. “Come on in and let’s get the food. I don’t want to keep you away from Emma too long.”

  “Not that she would care,” he muttered under his breath.

  Virginia cast a knowing glance over her shoulder at him. “She cares a lot more than you think she does.”

  That sentiment made Aidan’s heartbeat accelerate and gave him a little more hope. As he stepped into the living room, he locked eyes with Earl who was lounging in the recliner. He gulped and steadied himself in anticipation for a showdown. “Hello, Earl.”