The Proposition

by Katie Ashley

  Aidan furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?”

  She stared down at the napkin, which now lay shredded in her lap, and tried to keep her emotions in check. The last thing she wanted to do was become hysterical in front of him for the second time that evening. “After Travis, my fiancée, was killed, I just shut down for a year. I guess you could say I was like a zombie. I got up, went to work, and came home. Then just as I started to see sunlight again, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. She was my whole world, and for eighteen months, my entire life was consumed with taking care of her.” Tears blurred her eyes. “And then she just slipped away.”

  At the sight of Aidan’s stricken expression, Emma gave a nervous laugh. “I can only imagine right now you’re wishing you’d never asked me out for a drink, least of all propositioned me.”

  “That’s not what I was thinking at all.”

  “Oh really now?”

  “If you must know, I was thinking more about how I’ve never met a woman like you before.”

  “Is there supposed to be a compliment in there?”

  “Of course there is. I’m not that big of an asshole, you know.” After she rolled her eyes skeptically, he took her hand in his. “You’re like a paradox to me. One minute you’re like this fragile flower and the next you’re tough as unflinching steel.”

  Emma couldn’t keep her mouth from gaping open. “I can’t believe you just said something that deep and sensitive.”

  “I have my moments,” he replied, with a grin.

  “By all means, please try to have more of them.”

  Aidan’s jovial expression turned serious. “I’m truly sorry about everything you’ve been through in the last few years. No one should have to endure so much and do it alone.”

  “Thank you,” she murmured, as she tried not to stare at him like he had suddenly grown horns. Was it actually possible that underneath his self-centered persona there was actually a good heart? One that truly cared about all she had been through?

  “And I’m also sorry about giving you such a hard time about the sex thing. It’s quite refreshing to meet a woman with old fashioned ideals.”

  “You’re serious?”

  Aidan gave Emma a sheepish grin. “Yes, I am. It’s also nice to know that you’re very public rejection at the Christmas party wasn’t just about me but more about your personal beliefs.”

  “Honestly, could you be more egotistical?” Emma replied, but she couldn’t help smiling at him.

  “All joking aside, I can see why you want to have baby.”

  “Oh you can?”

  He nodded. “You’ve had so much death and loss that you just want a little life in you.” He squeezed her hand. “Right?”

  Emma sucked in a raspy breath as his words reverberated through her. How was it possible for someone like Aidan to tap into the very heart of her emotions when even Casey sometimes didn’t understand her deep desire for motherhood? “Yes,” she murmured.

  “Then let me give you that. Let me give you a baby.”

  She fought the urge to pinch herself at the absurdity of the situation. How had she gone from being an emotional wreck at the baby shower to having a man offering to fulfill her wildest dreams? The rational side of mind her railed against her heart. “Do you have any idea how crazy this sounds? I don’t even know you! Why are you even offering up a part of yourself to me of all people?”

  “I already told you why.”

  Emma gave a frustrated sniff. “So you can sleep with me. That’s your only motivation?”

  He gave her a crooked grin. “You vastly underestimate your allure and sex appeal.”

  “If I’m going to even begin to take you seriously, you’re going to have to give me a better reason than that.”

  Aidan squirmed a little in his chair and cleared his throat before replying. “Well, there is another reason…”

  “And?”

  He scowled at her. “Okay, fine. I promised my mother when she was dying of cancer that I would have children some day. This way, I figure I can keep my promise with the least amount of commitment necessary.”

  Although he tried to hide it, Emma could see the pain simmering in Aidan’s eyes. It was obvious how much he loved his late mother. “I’m very sorry about your mother,” she murmured.

  He shrugged. “It was five years ago.”

  “Why did she make you promise to have children? I mean, didn’t she just assume you would have them one day?”

  “Not really.”

  She gave a disgusted shake of her head. “I bet you can’t even stand being around kids.”

  “For your information, I have nine nieces and nephews and a three month old great-nephew. If you talked to any of them, they would tell you what a good uncle I am.” He took out his iPhone and scrolled through a few pictures before thrusting the screen in front of her.

  “Oh,” Emma murmured, as she surveyed the smiling faces. “I didn’t realize you had such a big family.”

  “Four sisters, remember? Plus, we’re Irish Catholic.”

  She nodded. “Aren’t you a little young for a great nephew?”

  He pointed to an attractive middle-aged woman. “Angela is fifteen years older than I am, and Megan wasn’t actually expecting to become a mother at twenty-two.”

  Emma smiled at the newborn in the young girl’s arms. “He’s beautiful.”

  “In nine months, that could be you,” Aidan said softly.

  Emotions swelled in her chest, and she felt like she couldn’t breathe. She momentarily closed her eyes, desperately trying to keep the frail thread of her sanity from snapping in two. The answer to all her problems was sitting directly across from her. All she had to do was say yes, and she could finally be a mother. It was all too much to process, and she desperately needed to get away from Aidan to think clearly.

  When she finally opened her eyes again, she found Aidan staring at her. She smiled apologetically. “I’ve had a lot thrown at me today. I’m going to need some time to think about this.”

  “I understand. Take all the time you need. You know where to find me.”

  Emma nodded and then stood up. “Thanks for the drinks…and for listening.”

  He nodded. “Anytime.”

  And then she did something that surprised herself. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. When she pulled away, Aidan’s eyes bulged. “Goodnight,” she murmured before hightailing it out of the bar.

  Late summer heat smacked against her face as she started into the night. Drained emotionally and physically, her legs felt wobbly, and she stumbled a little on the uneven pavement. She had just entered the dimly lit parking deck when someone grabbed her arm. Emma whirled around and used all her strength to connect with the assailant’s face. Hard.

  “Damn, you have a good right hook,” Aidan groaned, bringing his hand to his right eye.

  “Oh God, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it was you!” she apologized.

  “No, it’s okay. I was a dick to not call out your name first.” He peeked at her through one eye. “Let me guess. You took the company up on their Female Assertiveness Training course?” She bobbed her head. “Yeah, well, they taught you well. I’m just glad you didn’t go for the old SING method.”

  “Oh, the Solarplexus, Instep, Nose, Groin thing?”

  Aidan nodded. “Nailing me in the balls wouldn’t have worked very well with my offer.”

  Desperate to change the subject away from his manly parts, she asked, “What are you doing anyway?”

  “My car is here.”

  “Oh, that’s right,” she muttered, feeling like an idiot.

  “And I promised Connor I’d make sure you got to your car okay.”

  She tried to resist the fluttering of her heart at his act of kindness. “Thank you. That was awfully sweet of you.” She pointed down the aisle. “I’m just over there.”

  “I can walk you.” When she eyed him skeptically, he grinned. “You know, to prove chivalry isn’t dead and all.”
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  “Okay then.”

  Their shoes echoed off the pavement, filling the silent parking deck. “So, um, do you live nearby?” he asked.

  “No, I’m about thirty minutes away in East Cobb.”

  “That’s not too bad a drive. You know, when there isn’t any traffic.”

  Emma ducked her head to keep from giggling at Aidan’s bad attempt at small talk. She must not have hid her amusement very well because he suddenly asked, “What’s so funny?”

  She smiled. “Oh, I was just wondering when you might mention the weather.”

  “I was that bad, huh?”

  “It’s okay.”

  He grinned at her. “I guess I’m off my game because you’re not like the women I usually come in contact with.” When she opened her mouth to protest, he shook his head. “Trust me, Em, it’s a compliment.”

  “Oh, I see.” Emma motioned to her Accord. “Well, here I am.”

  “Connor would be proud I got you here safe and sound.”

  Emma grunted as she fished her keys out of her purse. “If he lives to see tomorrow after blabbing to you like he did. I’m surprised he hasn’t taken out a billboard on I-75 saying, “Please Knock Up My Friend!”

  Aidan laughed. “Go easy on him. He cares about you.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise at the tenderness of his tone. “I know he does.” They stood awkwardly for a moment, staring into each other’s eyes. “Well, thanks again for tonight and for walking me to my car.”

  “You’re welcome.” While Emma pressed the unlock button on her key fob, Aidan started walking away, but then he stopped. He turned back and shook his head. “Oh fuck it.” Taking Emma totally off guard, he shoved her against the car. He wrapped his arms around her waist, jerking her flush against him. Electricity tingled through her at his touch, and his scent invaded her nostrils, making her feel lightheaded.

  She squirmed in his arms. “What are you—”

  He silenced her by leaning over and crushing his lips against hers. She protested by pushing her hands against his chest, but the warmth of his tongue sliding open her lips caused her to feel weak. Her arms fell limply at her sides.

  Aidan’s hands swept from her waist and up her back. He tangled his fingers through her long hair as his tongue plunged in her mouth, caressing and teasing Emma’s. Her hands left her side to wrap around his neck, drawing him even closer to her. God, it had been so very long since someone had kissed her, and it had taken Travis a week to get up the nerve to kiss her like this. Aidan was hot and heavy right out of the gate.

  Using his hips, Aidan kept her pinned against the car as he kept up his assault on her mouth. Just when she thought she couldn’t breathe and might pass out, he released her lips. Staring down at her with eyes hooded and drunk with desire, Aidan smiled. “Maybe that will help you with your decision.”

  And then he pulled away and started off back down the aisle, leaving her hot, bothered, and alone against the car.

  CHAPTER THREE

  During the next day at lunch, Casey strolled through Emma’s office door and tossed her wallet on the desk. “Do not under any circumstances let me near the vending machines. I have another dress fitting in a week, and it’s salads and celery until then.”

  Emma half-heartedly chuckled. Her mind was still reeling from the previous night’s events to be too involved in Casey’s wedding dress diet drama. She had spent the night tossing and turning as her mind whirled with Aidan’s proposition. But mainly she’d been kept awake by her lips still burning from Aidan’s scorching kiss. Her body had ached with longing most of the night as well until she had finally broken down and dug her vibrator out of the nightstand drawer.

  After plopping down in the chair, Casey cocked her head at Emma. “What’s up with you?”

  “Nothing,” Emma lied.

  Casey eyed her while opening up her Tupperware container. “Bullshit. You look like hell.”

  “Thanks. I’m going to assume that’s the low carb diet stress talking, and you’re not just intentionally being bitchy?”

  “Ha, ha. You look like you’re having a baby shower emotional hangover today,” Casey replied, through a forkful of lettuce.

  “No, it’s nothing like that.” She doodled mindlessly on her desk calendar. Although she wasn’t really sure she was ready to say anything to Casey about her evening with Aidan, she would burst if she didn’t tell someone. At the same time, she knew she needed her best friend’s advice if she was really going to take his offer seriously. “Case?”

  “Hmm?” Casey didn’t look up. Instead, she stared at her salad with a disgusted expression. “You know, I’d kill for some ranch dressing right now.”

  “I need to tell you something.”

  Casey snatched her gaze from the Tupperware over to Emma. “Oh shit. I don’t like your tone. What is it? You’re getting fired? No, wait, I’m getting fired?”

  Emma waved her hand dismissively. “No, no, it’s nothing like that. It’s just…” She drew in a deep breath. “After the baby shower, I had drinks with Aidan Fitzgerald.”

  “Oh Jesus you didn’t! Em, I warned you about him!” Casey pinched her eyes shut. “Please tell me he didn’t take advantage of your weak emotional state after the baby shower?”

  “Give me a little credit,” Emma huffed.

  Casey’s dark eyes flew open. “Then what happened?”

  Emma then proceeded to tell her everything from Connor showing up and confronting her to Aidan’s offer of DNA. When she got to the part of conceiving naturally, Casey shot out of her chair, sending her salad flying. “Holy shit, Em!”

  “I didn’t say yes.”

  Casey’s eyes widened. “And why not?”

  “Why not? You just freaked out two seconds ago when you thought I had hooked up with him!”

  “That’s different. I know you want a relationship—a husband, and Aidan Fitzgerald is not husband material. But he’s sure as hell stud material.” When Emma didn’t respond, Casey leaned over her desk. “Why did you really turn him down?”

  Emma refused to look up. “Well…you know.”

  “That’s your answer? I can’t think of a possible reason to say no! Let me break it down for you. You have the opportunity to get what you want most in this world, a baby, from a smart, healthy, good-looking man while combining it with potentially mind blowing sex.”

  Emma flushed and shook her head. “You know my experience, or lack thereof, with men. I wouldn’t even know how to begin.”

  “Oh, I’ve got a million different scenarios in mind right now on how you start,” Casey replied, waggling her eyebrows.

  “Ew!” Emma screeched.

  Casey laughed. “Okay, okay, I won’t torture you with anymore innuendos.”

  “Thank you.”

  “But,” Casey said, holding up one hand, “only if you’ll promise to take Aidan up on his offer.”

  Emma jerked her fingers through her hair in frustration. “Trust me, there’s a very insistent but annoying voice in my head telling me to march up to his office this very instant and tell him yes. Like it was some weird twisted stroke of fate that made him appear when he did last night.”

  “Sounds like the voice of reason talking to you, and I couldn’t agree with it more. He’s offering to give you the experience of a lifetime, in more ways than one. I mean, if I hadn’t been in love with Nate for five years, I would’ve considered letting Aidan make a play for me.”

  Emma crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh really?”

  “Yes,” Casey replied dreamily. “It’s like I told you before, he’s sex on a stick. Who wouldn’t want to experience that at least once in their life?”

  “So what you’re saying is Nate isn’t sex on a stick?”

  Casey chuckled. “Nate is barely sex on a low fat wheat-thin. But I sowed a few wild oats back in my day, so I’m totally satisfied with what I have.” She bent over to grab up her abandoned container and silverware. Waving her fork at Emma, she said, “You,
on the other hand, have a bag of oats needing satisfying.”

  Emma rolled her eyes. “Let’s leave my oats out of this please.”

  “Come on, Em. Aren’t you the least bit curious what it might be like to have sex with him?”

  Heat rose in Emma’s cheeks as she thought of Aidan’s steamy kiss against the car. If he could get her that hot and bothered in a dingy parking lot, what could he do in the bedroom? “Of course I am. I’m about to hit my sexual prime, so I’m not totally dead in the desire area.”

  “Then what the hell is the problem?”

  Emma pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Okay, here’s a really bad analogy for you. Aidan is like the Indy 500 of Sex, and I need someone who is more—”

  “Bumper cars?”

  “I was going to say the slow lane, smartass.”

  Casey laughed. “Sorry. I couldn’t help going there.” She straightened up in her chair. “Go on then.”

  Emma twirled her pencil absentmindedly. “What I meant is that Travis and I were the same speed. Sure, I’d messed around with a few guys, had some third base action, but nothing like with him. He had only been with one other girl. We dated forever, and he was patient and took his time.” She shook her head. “Aidan doesn’t impress me as the patient, understanding type. He’s more like the ‘wham, bam, thank you ma’am’ type.’”

  “You won’t ever know unless you try. And hell, Em, he’s not a Neanderthal whose going to grab you up by the hair and drag you off to his cave.” Casey paused and licked her lips. “Although that scenario has some kinky potential.”

  “Case, please,” Emma moaned.

  “Fine. Here’s the bottom line. Regardless of whether you’re in love with the person or not, sex is all about communicating. So just let him know what you want or don’t want. He obviously wants you pretty bad if he’s willing to offer up his DNA for a little roll in the hay, so I’m sure he’ll be more than willing to do it your way.”

  Images of Aidan’s fleeting kindness and concern flashed in her mind. He wasn’t the total asshole she had once thought he was. “I guess so…”