The Proposal

by Katie Ashley

  Every day they seemed to grow closer and closer. But worry gnawed deep in the pit of her stomach. She feared her hormones and the close quarters of her bed-rest situation were making her blind to the truths of Aidan’s character. After all, she’d been fooled by him once before. Could she really ever trust him completely again? Could she emotionally withstand building a life with him only for it to all fall apart if he cheated again?

  On Monday afternoon, she had just settled in to watch a marathon of one of her favorite old series, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, when her phone buzzed beside her. At the name on the screen, her heartbeat accelerated so fast it threatened to beat out of her chest.

  It was from Pesh. Would it be presumptuous of me to inquire about checking on you tonight?

  She shook her head as she read and reread his text. Not only did he always sound so different than the men she knew, but he was always so kind and thoughtful. He had already called twice to check on her, but he had yet to broach the subject of coming by.

  Sure. That sounds great.

  I’ve even secured a portable ultrasound machine, so we can check on Little Man.

  At the mention of Noah, Emma’s heart melted. Aw, thank you so much.

  Is five too early? I have to go in at nine tonight.

  That’s fine.

  Wonderful. Do you like Indian food?

  Emma nibbled her bottom lip before responding. Actually, I’ve never eaten any.

  Seriously?

  Yep.

  Wish you could see how far my mouth is hanging open right now.

  With a giggle, Emma typed Sorry. Diehard Southern girl raised in the boonies.

  We’ll have to remedy that. I’ll bring you several courses from my favorite Indian restaurant.

  That sounds wonderful.

  Just text me the address, and I’ll see you in a little while.

  As her fingers punched out the street number of Aidan’s house, revulsion flooded through her. Was she seriously about to bring another man into Aidan’s house? A man whose very presence had the ability to confuse her about the depth of her feelings for Aidan? “Ugh, you’re a hateful, awful person, Emma Harrison!” she moaned, her head falling back against the pillows. Why did everything have to be so complicated?

  She knew what Casey would say. It became complicated because Aidan almost banged another woman and broke her heart and her trust. If he hadn’t made such a mistake, she wouldn’t even be entertaining the idea of Pesh. But at the same time, Aidan had been trying so hard to win her forgiveness, and she couldn’t ignore the fact he was her child’s father.

  “Heartless bitch,” she muttered as her internal monologue worked on overdrive of calling herself out.

  But in all honesty, it wasn’t like she was inviting Pesh over to have sex with him. He was coming in a medical capacity for goodness sake. Just because he happened to be bringing dinner didn’t mean it was a date or anything special. She had told him at the hospital that she wasn’t sure she had anything to give him, so it wasn’t like she was leading him on…or being unfaithful to Aidan.

  Now all she had to do was figure out a way to tell Aidan about Pesh coming over. Her stomach churned at the prospect. Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait long. He appeared in the doorway only a few moments later as she still sat staring at her phone screen.

  “You need anything?”

  She forced a smile to her lips. “No, I’m good.”

  “Listen, I know you hate me hovering and all, so would it be okay if I ran some things down to the office? They don’t seem to understand this whole ‘leave of absence’ thing.”

  “No, no, that’s fine.”

  “I may run by the gym after that. I shouldn’t be gone more than two hours. I can pick us up some dinner on my way in.”

  “Oh, um, that won’t be necessary.”

  Aidan gave her a funny look. “Won’t you be hungry then?”

  “Actually, Pesh is coming by for a house call in a little while. He’s bringing dinner with him.”

  Emma sucked in a breath as Aidan’s blonde brows disappeared into his hairline. “You’re having a date with Pesh tonight?”

  “It’s not a date!” she protested.

  Aidan crossed his arms over his chest and countered, “He’s not just stopping by to take your pulse, Em. The fucker is bringing dinner.”

  She winced. “No, it’s not like that. Pesh knows that I’m not looking to start anything right now. He’s just checking on me to be nice. You know, friendly and all.”

  “It sure as hell doesn’t sound like that to me.”

  At his harsh tone, Emma stared down at her quilt. “Look, this is your home and your hospitality I’m imposing on. So if you really feel that strongly about Pesh, I’ll tell him not to come.”

  When she dared to look up again, Aidan’s expression momentarily softened. “You mean you would do that? For me?”

  “Of course I would. Give me a little credit for considering your feelings.”

  After jerking a hand through his hair, Aidan gave a frustrated grunt. “And you’re sure you’re not trying to start something up with him?”

  “The last thing I need right now is more stress in my life, and any relationship, especially a new one, is always stressful.”

  “Even with me?”

  She cocked her head at him. “I wasn’t the one who caused the stress in our relationship, remember?”

  Aidan cringed. “I’m well aware of what I did as it continuously comes back to bite me in the ass. Like with this foreign fucker sniffing around you.”

  Emma rolled her eyes. “He has a name, and it’s Pesh. If you would take the time to get to know him, you would realize he’s not the type of man trying to take advantage of me or get in my panties.”

  “No, it’s worse because he isn’t,” Aidan grumbled.

  “What?”

  “I’d rather he be some douchenozzle trying to get in your pants because you’d be totally repulsed by that and tell him where to get off—just like you did me at first.” Aidan grimaced. “But it’s worse because he’s some honorable dude who doesn’t care that you’re pregnant with another man’s child. He reeks of commitment for God’s sake. Hell, you’ll probably be engaged by the time he leaves tonight!”

  After taking in Aidan’s words, Emma remained speechless. When they had stared each other down for a few agonizing seconds, Aidan sighed. “Fine. Let him come by and check you out.”

  “He’s not checking me out. He’s checking my vital signs. He even has a portable ultrasound to check on Noah.”

  “Fabulous,” Aidan muttered before starting to the door.

  “You’re not being fair,” she said.

  Aidan whirled around, fire burning in his eyes. “Excuse me?”

  “Can’t you at all empathize with what I’m going through? All this confusion I’m feeling about you and about us and all the uncertainness—you felt this too, didn’t you?”

  “Are you insinuating that what you’re going through right now is the same thing I did about committing to you?”

  “No, it’s just—”

  Aidan held up a hand. “I’d think long and hard about making any comparisons, Em. Because in the long run, my confusion led me to screw up the most wonderful thing I ever had.” He shook his head sadly at her. “I wouldn’t want you to have to go through the same thing.”

  Her chest caved in at his words, and she had to suck in a few harsh breaths. Was Aidan right? Was she throwing away happiness with both hands because of her stupid uncertainty?

  His voice brought Emma out of her thoughts. “How long should I be gone tonight?”

  “Aidan, you don’t have to leave. You can stay right here and see that there’s nothing going on.”

  “I may be a masochist but only to a certain extent,” he replied bitterly.

  Emma sighed. “He’s coming at five, and he has to go into work at nine.”

  Aidan bobbed his head in acknowledgement. “I’ll have my phone if you need me.
”

  Without another word, he left her. When the back door slammed shut, she jumped. Beau came into the bedroom and gave her a WTF look. She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, it’s all my fault, right?”

  Beau barked and came over to the bed. Emma sat up and leaned over to scratch his ears. “Come on. I need to get ready. We’re having company this afternoon.”

  Beau’s ears perked up at the mention of company, but she shook her head at him. “But I’m sure you’re not going to like Pesh very much. You’ll get all territorial, which means I probably need to put you in the basement.”

  He whined and backed away, causing Emma to giggle. “Not now, silly. Just before the company gets here.”

  She then got busy getting ready for Pesh’s arrival. After she showered, she put on a small amount of makeup. To prove to herself and to Aidan it wasn’t a date, she didn’t bother putting on one of her nicer maternity dresses or outfits. She maintained her daily wardrobe of stretch pants and a long-sleeve shirt.

  After banishing Beau to the basement, she was lounging on the couch with a book when Pesh rang the doorbell. “Come in,” she called.

  Pesh pushed through the door. His gaze scanned the room for her. When his eyes met hers, he gave a beaming smile. “Well hello. Don’t you look wonderful?”

  Emma glanced down at her clothes and then back up to him. “Seriously?”

  He chuckled. “I don’t mean your attire. I meant that your color looks very good. Your bed-rest appears to be agreeing with you because you have a healthy glow.”

  “Oh, well, thank you. That’s good to hear.”

  “You aren’t starting to feel a little stir-crazy, are you?”

  She grinned. “Maybe a little. I’ve only been out of the house once to go to the doctor. Nothing exciting.”

  “Well, speaking of the doctor, let me get my bag and the monitor, and we’ll check to see how you’re doing.”

  “That sounds good.”

  Pesh disappeared out onto the porch for a moment before returning with a black medical bag and a large box with a handle. He sat them down on the side of the couch. He then glanced around the living room, taking in the décor. “You have a very beautiful place.”

  “Thank you, but I can’t take the credit since this isn’t my house.”

  He eased down on the couch beside her. “I should have realized you were staying with someone.”

  Nibbling her lip, Emma replied, “Actually, this is Aidan’s house.”

  Pesh grimaced. “I’m alone with you at his house.”

  Emma’s cheeks warmed. “I’m sorry if it makes you uncomfortable. He’s the only one who could take care of me.”

  “It’s fine.” He placed his hand on top of hers. “I’ll go anywhere if it means getting to spend some time with you.”

  She met his intense gaze. “Thank you,” she murmured. Everything that she had argued with Aidan about being interested in Pesh seemed to fly out the window when she stared into his soulful, brown eyes.

  He flipped over her wrist and began taking her pulse. “A little fast, but it seems good,” he noted.

  Leaning over, he started digging through his medical bag. He stuck the stethoscope buds in his ears and brought the silver disc to her chest. His demeanor was all professional as he instructed, “Breathe normally.” As he shifted the disc across her chest, his arm brushed across her breasts, and she stiffened. If Pesh noticed her reaction, he didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, his brows furrowed as he listened to her heart and lungs.

  Pesh’s closeness caused her heartbeat to accelerate. His woodsy smell, the heat from his body, the tousled dark hair she wanted to run her fingers through—it drove her to distraction. Breathing normally like he had requested was completely out of the question. Instead, she managed to draw in several harsh pants. Pesh’s dark eyes swept from the stethoscope up to hers. He took the buds out of his ears and smiled knowingly. “Either I’m making you nervous, or you need to get back to the hospital for your erratic breathing and heartbeat.”

  She felt a warm flush creeping across her cheeks. “No, it’s you,” she murmured.

  He cocked his eyebrows. “So you’re saying if Dr. Pendleton were here taking your vitals you wouldn’t be reacting this way?”

  Laughter sputtered from her lips. “Of course not.”

  Shifting his body, he leaned in closer to her. His dark eyes penetrated hers. “Why do I make you nervous, Emma?”

  Her mouth ran dry, and she licked her lips. “Because…” You’re so damn good-looking, and your fabulous body kicks my pregnancy hormones into overdrive, making me think things about you I normally wouldn’t. But more than the lust, you’re kind and compassionate, and if given the chance, I could see myself falling for you.

  Emma exhaled the breath she had been holding. “I told Aidan that there was nothing between us, and that you knew I couldn’t give you more. But now that you’re in front of me, looking at me…” She shuddered. “You confuse me.”

  “I confuse you?”

  Staring down at her hands, she said, “I still care very deeply for Aidan, but when I’m with you, I start to feel…differently.”

  “I could argue that it’s merely biological, and that your body is just seeking out a mate to protect you and your child.”

  “If that’s the case, then I would only feel for Aidan, right?”

  Pesh’s expression grew serious. “So I at least have a chance to woo you?”

  “To woo me?”

  He laughed. “Not a word you would usually use?”

  “Not exactly.”

  He tilted his head in thought. “Hmm, a chance to win you over by romancing you? To wine and dine you?”

  Emma smiled and pointed to her belly. “There will be no wining, and with my bed rest, our dining is going to be a little limited.”

  “Ah, but that’s why I brought food to you.” He rose off the couch. “Let me go get it, and we’ll commence our wooing.”

  When he winked at her, she laughed. “Okay.”

  Pesh stopped when he got to the door and turned around. “As long as I have a chance to win your heart, Emma, I’ll take whatever you can give me.”

  Emma tried not to be overwhelmed by his words. All she planned on giving him was her friendship, and that was it—nothing more and nothing less. Regardless of what her traitorous body wanted to feel that was going to be it.

  He carried two large food bags when he swept back through the door. “Goodness. I don’t eat that much you know!” Emma teased.

  Pesh laughed. “I know, but I just wanted you to get a good flavoring for different Indian courses and dishes.” He glanced around. “Should I take these to the kitchen?”

  “No, just put them here on the table. We’ll have a picnic of sorts.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Once he sat the bags down, he turned back to her. Rubbing his hands, he said, “Before we dig in, let’s check on Little Man.”

  Emma laughed at his enthusiasm. “Okay.”

  “It’s hard to believe technology has come so far that we actually have portable ultrasound machines.”

  “It’s crazy.”

  Pesh set up the device and then turned to lift her top. Emma instinctively reached out to knock his hand away. His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I’m sorry. I was just—”

  “I know. I was being ridiculous.”

  She then eased her top up over her belly and lamented the fact Pesh had to see her like this. If he managed to see her swollen stomach and didn’t appear totally repulsed, maybe he really was worth giving a chance romantically. She quickly shook the thought out of her head when he squirted the cold jelly on her skin.

  He ran the wand over her stomach, and Noah’s grainy image appeared on the screen. “There he is. Looking good too, I might add.”

  Emma focused in on Noah. His arms and legs flailed a bit as the wand seemed to disturb his resting. In fact, he gave two enthusiastic kicks to prove he wanted to be left alone. “His heart rate is normal, and
everything looks good with the placenta.” Pesh glanced up from the monitor to meet Emma’s gaze. “No more contractions or pain?”

  “Nope. Everything has been fine.”

  He smiled. “Such a blessing to hear. I’m sure once you’re off bed-rest in the next week, you can look forward to a happy and healthy remainder of your pregnancy.”

  “That’s what I’ve been hoping and praying for,” Emma replied.

  Pesh patted her hand reassuringly. “Just believe it.” He then put away the wand.

  Emma glanced down at her sticky belly. “Do you mind grabbing me a hand towel from the kitchen?”

  From his medical bag, he produced a towel. “I always come prepared.”

  She laughed. “Well, thank you then.”

  “While you get cleaned up, I’ll go get us some plates and silverware.”

  “Sounds good.”

  As Emma swiped herself clean of the jelly, she heard Pesh opening and closing cabinets. He had started into the living room when a bang at the basement door caused him to jump and almost drop everything. His wide-eyes met Emma’s as scratching and howling persisted at the door. “Is Aidan keeping someone hidden in the basement?”

  She giggled. “That would be our…um, well, Aidan’s very spoiled dog, Beau.”

  Pesh nodded as he set down the plates. “Want me to let him out?”

  “I guess so. I wasn’t quite sure how he might react to you.”

  “Animals usually love me, so we’ll see if I can win him over.” When Pesh opened the basement door, Beau came bounding in. He raced over to Emma and licked her hand. “Hey good boy.”

  Then his ears perked up, and he swung around to take in Pesh. A low growl erupted in his throat. “No, no, Beau. Pesh is our friend,” she said, grabbing his collar.

  Pesh slowly walked over to the couch. Tentatively, he stuck his hand out for Beau to smell. After Beau took it in, he still stared hard at Pesh. “I would almost think Aidan had warned him about me before he left tonight,” he mused.