The Proposition

by Katie Ashley

  Once she had worked him to full mast, she guided him to her already wet core. Emma grinned at Aidan. “Okay then, Big Daddy, let’s try once more to make a baby.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Emma gnawed on her already frayed nails. Sitting on the bathroom countertop, her legs swung back and forth. Her whole body hummed with nervous energy. She drew in a frantic breath, trying to calm her out of control emotions, but nothing short of a margarita the size of a fishbowl would help at the moment.

  She cut her gaze over where Casey lounged on the settee, eyeing three different pregnancy test sticks. “How long has it been?” Emma squeaked.

  Casey groaned. “About five fucking seconds since the last time you asked! Jesus, Em, you’re going to give me a stroke!”

  “I’m sorry. It feels like an eternity since I peed on those freakin’ sticks. I’m losing my mind.”

  Someone started in the bathroom, and Casey leapt up, bracing herself against the door. “Sorry, it’s out of order. Try the one down the hall.”

  The person grumbled, but then backed off. Emma widened her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re bogarting the bathroom for my pregnancy test!”

  “Do you want a strange chick taking a whizz in the middle of your big moment?”

  Nervous laughter bubbled out of Emma. “No, I guess not. But we don’t know if it’s going to be a big moment or not.”

  Casey grinned. “You’re a week late this time, Em. And don’t forget that Aidan took extra care of his swimmers. I think the odds are in your favor this second time around!”

  “As much as I want it to be, I have a feeling Aidan will be a little disappointed at no more baby-making sessions, especially since he’s storing up his energy while he’s out of the country.”

  “Who says it has to end?”

  Emma’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Because the purpose will be over then…I’ll be pregnant.”

  “Yeah and keeping him coming back for more just might land you something you never bargained for.”

  “And what’s that?”

  Casey gave her a knowing smile. “A husband.”

  The room spun around her, sending Emma’s head slamming back against the mirror. She brought her hand to her forehead to still the maddening spinning. “Don’t say things like that to me when I’m already about to explode.” When Casey didn’t reply, Emma opened her eyes. “What is it?”

  “They’re starting to change colors!”

  Emma sucked in a breath before leaning forward on the bathroom counter. “And?”

  “Holy shit, one has two lines and the others say ‘Yes’!”

  Falling off the counter onto the tiled floor, Emma staggered over to Casey and grabbed her by the shoulders. Bewildered, she asked, “But…so does that mean…?”

  Tears sparkled in Casey’s eyes. “It means you’re pregnant!”

  “Are you sure? You didn’t read the boxes wrong or something?”

  “No, I’m positive, and the tests are positive!”

  Emma froze as her body desperately tried processing her emotions. They ricocheted through her at warped speed causing her body to tremble. She couldn’t blink, least of all draw breath. All the painful years after Travis’s and her mother’s deaths she had spent hoping, praying, and longing for a child converged on this one moment. It was physically and emotionally overwhelming. Pregnant…she was actually pregnant.

  Casey shook her gently. “Breathe, Em, you’ve got to breathe.”

  Silent tears streamed down Emma’s cheeks. Her hand tentatively went to her abdomen. “I can’t believe it’s actually happening.”

  “It feels good to be right,” Casey joked, as she wiped her own tears away on the back of her hand.

  Emma’s elated expression started to fade. “What if the tests were wrong? I mean, what if--”

  Casey shook her head. “You could buy ten more tests to humor yourself, but it’s real this time.”

  Reaching for a tissue, Emma dabbed her eyes. “Don’t you see? There’s just been so much disappointment and sadness in my life that it’s hard for me to grasp that something I want so much can actually happen.”

  “Em—”

  “You don’t understand what it’s been like for me. So many times I’ve gotten my hopes up for true happiness only to have it dashed. Travis and I were planning on starting a family right away. He joked about knocking me up, so we could have Shotgun Wedding. I wanted nothing more than to have his child, and then he was gone. Then I lost my mother.” Her lip trembled. “I’m scared this is all going to fall apart, Case.”

  “Don’t be afraid.” Casey drew Emma into her arms. “I’m here for you, and everything is going to be all right. It’s finally your time, Em. You’re just going to have to keep the faith and believe it.”

  Emma closed her eyes and let Casey’s optimism wash over her. “I want to believe it. So very, very much.”

  Casey pulled away to give Emma a reassuring smile. “Well, you better because it’s the truth. Now look in the mirror and say the words.”

  “Seriously Case?”

  “Do it!”

  “Fine.” Emma stared at her pale, mascara streaked face in the mirror. “I’m pregnant, and I’m going to be a mother.”

  “Damn straight! Now when are you going to tell Big Papa the good news?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Even though we’ve talked on the phone and skyped since he’s been gone, I don’t want to do it that way.” At the wicked expression on Casey’s face, Emma crossed her arms over her chest. “I know what you’re wondering, and the answer is no. We did not have phone sex!”

  “How disappointing,” Casey pouted.

  Rolling her eyes, Emma said, “Anyway, to get back to the original point, I think it’s best I wait until he gets home.”

  “And when is that exactly?”

  “Sometime next week.”

  “Good. By then, you will have had time to see your Gyno, and you’ll know without a shadow of a doubt you can tell him the good news.” She held open the bathroom door. “I say we blow out of here at five and go celebrate with non-alcoholic beverages and chocolate!”

  Emma grinned. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  ***

  A week later, Emma stepped out into the waiting room of her OB/GYN’s office to the expectant faces of Casey and Connor. She couldn’t hide her beaming smile. “I’m really, really pregnant!”

  Popping out of their chairs, they both erupted with loud cheers and gave Emma a long, excited group hug. On the way to the car, her phone buzzed in her purse. She dug it out and gasped. At the airport. Heading home. Want to meet for drinks at O’Malley’s at six?

  She quickly texted Aidan back. Sure. Sounds good. See you then.

  At his next response, Emma skidded to an abrupt stop and stared at her phone. Both anxiety and longing gripped her at his words. Good. I’m looking forward to kissing and licking every square inch of that fabulous body of yours tonight.

  “What’s the matter, Em?” Casey asked.

  “Nothing…just a text I got.”

  Connor snorted. “Just a text my ass! From the practically giddy expression on your face, I’m assuming it’s from Big Papa Fitzgerald!” Connor joked.

  Emma giggled. “Yes, it is. He’s on his way home.”

  Peeking over her shoulder, Connor gasped. “Damn, girl, he’s looking forward to licking every inch of your body? Em’s gone kinky on me!”

  “Would you stop!” she shrieked, jerking the phone away from his view. Her reaction sent Connor and Casey giggling like mad as they hopped into the car.

  Fumbling for her car keys, she wasn’t quite sure how to respond to Aidan’s text. Finally, she typed a quick See you then. As she cranked up, she had a gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach that telling Aidan wasn’t going to be as easy as she thought.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  As his plane skidded across the runway at Hartsfield Jackson, Aidan fought the urge to shout for joy. For him, there was truly no
place like home. He tapped his foot impatiently while he waited for the plane to come to a stop. Four weeks away had felt like an eternity. Even though he wanted nothing more than to grab a couple of chili dogs from the Varsity along with a twelve pack from the liquor store, he had very important dinner plans and even bigger nighttime plans.

  After deplaning, he broke into a jog from the gate, grabbing up his luggage as fast as he could. Glancing at his watch, he had forty-five minutes to make it to O’Malley’s. He would’ve liked to have had time to freshen up, but his rumpled shirt and wrinkled dress pants were just going to have to do.

  Miraculously, he stepped into O’Malley’s a little before six. When Jenny saw him, her face lit up. “Hey stranger! Glad to see you’re back.”

  He smiled. “Thanks. It’s good to be home. You can’t imagine how much I missed this old hole in the wall. You can’t quite find the same beer or burgers over there.”

  Jenny laughed. “So do I need to reserve a large booth for the crew and your Welcome Home party?”

  “Um, no, actually, I’m meeting someone.”

  “Someone or some woman?”

  He coughed. “A woman.”

  Aidan couldn’t help feeling surprised when Jenny’s smile widened. “Is it the pretty red-head you were here with before?”

  His mouth gaped open. “Wait, how did you guess that?”

  She grinned. “I knew there was something between you two when you came in—something different from the other women I’ve seen you with.”

  “But we weren’t even dating then.” He shook his head. “We’re not even dating now.”

  “Oh please.” Jenny waved her hand dismissively at him and grabbed two menus. She led him to the same secluded area he had sat with Emma in before. This time she gave them the back corner booth, ensuring they would have a lot of privacy. “You guys make a really good-looking couple,” she said before leaving him once again open-mouthed.

  Aidan’s only response to Jenny’s compliments was to give a frustrated grunt. He eased down in the booth and took out his phone. After scrolling through several emails and texts, he glanced up to see Emma sweeping through the door. He sucked in a breath and tried to still the accelerating of his heartbeat. What the hell was happening to him? No woman had ever had this much of an effect on him. The time away seemed to have made her even more beautiful than he remembered, but there was something different about her—something softer, more vulnerable. It was a hell of a turn on.

  When Jenny said something to Emma, she beamed and ducked her head. Without blinking, Aidan watched Emma as she followed Jenny to the table. Her dress slid over her hips, accentuating the curves he was familiar with. Her long auburn hair hung in waves, cascading over her shoulders. He gritted his teeth when he noticed some of the other male patrons ogling Emma as she passed them by. Even though he had no right, he wanted to scream at them that she belonged to him.

  Her face lit up when she met his gaze. “Hey!”

  As he started rising out of the booth, she rushed over and threw her arms around his neck. He opened his mouth to say hello, but her lips crushed against his. As she deepened the kiss, Aidan tried to keep his bearings by tightening his arms around Emma’s waist. Damn, he had missed the feel of her lips, her tongue, and the way her body molded against his.

  A low whistle behind them caused Emma to jerk back much to Aidan’s dismay. Jenny grinned at them and winked. “Now who needs the guys when you can get a homecoming like that, huh?”

  Emma’s cheeks grew red, but she laughed. Tilting her head to the side at Aidan, she asked, “Am I enough of a Welcome Home party?”

  He grinned. “At the moment, hell yes, you are.”

  Jenny squeezed past them to sit their silverware on the table. “I guess I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone now.”

  “Thanks Jenny,” Aidan said.

  He arched his eyebrows when Emma plopped down next to him in the booth rather than sitting across from him. “Miss me that much, huh?”

  Her laughter made his heart vibrate with warmth. “Yes, actually I did.”

  Aidan stared into her twinkling green eyes. “I missed you, too.” A hell of a lot more than I want to admit.

  “Me or the sex?” she asked.

  “Both,” he answered honestly.

  She giggled. “I figured it would only be the sex.”

  “You underestimate yourself as usual.” Propping his arm on the back of the booth, he turned to get a better look at her. “But I can’t help myself if it sounds like I’ve only been missing the sex when I tell you how fucking gorgeous you look tonight.”

  “No, it’s okay.” Her cheeks flushed. “And thank you.”

  Aidan leaned over to nuzzle her neck, inhaling the delicate smell of her perfume. He groaned in the sweet agony. “The way your dress is hugging all your curves and your hair falling loose and wavy, just begging me to run my fingers through it, makes me want to forget dinner and take you home instead.”

  When she stiffened, he raised his head. “What’s wrong?”

  “I need to tell you something.”

  “Anything. Well, as long as it isn’t something like you’re not coming home with me tonight.”

  “I’m pregnant,” she blurted.

  The air wheezed out of him, and he felt like he had been kicked in the groin. “Okay, that’s not quite what I was expecting.”

  “I found out a week ago, but I wanted to wait until you got back to tell you. I thought it would mean more in person.”

  Now he knew why she appeared so different. Pregnancy had her absolutely glowing with pure happiness. A sense of immense pride radiated through him that he had a part in making that happiness. His lips curved in a genuine smile. “That’s wonderful news, Em. I’m thrilled for you.”

  Happy tears sparkled in her eyes. “Oh Aidan, I can never thank you enough for making this dream possible!” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck again. She squeezed him tight. “I still can’t believe it happened after only two months of trying. Do you know how blessed and lucky we are? Some people have to try for months and months—even years.”

  “Yeah, that would have been miserable,” he joked.

  A girlish giggle escaped her lips. “I am sorry that we didn’t get to…well, you know, have sex as much as you would have liked.”

  Just the mention of that word on her luscious lips made him squirm in the booth. “So am I, especially since I’ve practically been a monk the last few weeks.”

  Her eyes widened. “You mean you kept up with the boxers and no activity of any kind?”

  “Well, I might have taken care of business once or twice,” he replied, sheepishly. “But I abstained all last week in preparation.” Now after all that work, he was going home, tail between his legs, and extremely frustrated. It was truly going to be just him and his hand that night.

  Emma cupped his face in her hands. “Oh, you poor baby! You’ve really gone above and beyond for me through this whole thing.”

  When she brushed her fingers over his lips, he grabbed her hand. “Please, Em, don’t. I’m way too fucking frustrated for shit like that.”

  A smile that was both teasing and sweet spread on her face. “I tell you what. Since you’ve made me the happiest woman in the world, I think I more than owe you a round or two to put a smile on your face.”

  For the second time that night, Aidan felt like he had been kicked in the groin. “You can’t be serious.”

  Her brows furrowed. “Don’t you want me to be serious?”

  “Of course I do! I want to push your dress up over your thighs, rip off the lacy thong I imagine that you’re wearing, and fuck you senseless right here in the booth.”

  Emma sucked in a breath and widened her eyes. “I take that as a yes.”

  Aidan grinned. “Hey, it’s been four weeks babe. You’re lucky I’m not dragging you into the bathroom for a quickie.” When her nose wrinkled in disgust, he couldn’t hold back his laughter. “Don’t worry, Em. I’ll contr
ol myself.” Running his hand under her dress, he squeezed her thigh. “At least while we’re in public.”

  He was surprised when she didn’t smack his hand away. Instead, she merely smiled invitingly up at him. “Can we at least eat first?”

  “Of course we can. You’re eating for two now, right?”

  Emma snorted. “Supposedly yes. But the way I’ve been packing it in lately, you would think I was having triplets or something.”

  Aidan waved the waiter over. After Emma finished rattling off all that she wanted, Aidan couldn’t hide his amusement. “You’re seriously going to eat all that?”

  She bobbed her head as the waiter left. “It won’t matter as much this time since I assume I’ll be burning a lot of calories later, right?”

  He chuckled. “Hell yes!”

  For the rest of dinner, he behaved himself. Instead, he focused on how joyfully animated Emma became as she talked about the baby and the pregnancy. He had never seen her talk a mile a minute or smile so much. He began to wonder how her cheeks couldn’t hurt. He momentarily stiffened when she mentioned that both Casey and Connor had accompanied her to her first doctor’s appointment. “So now he’s all about you having a baby as long as he didn’t father it?”

  Emma’s fork froze in mid-air while her face crumpled. “He just wanted to come and support me since you were out of town.”

  “That was nice of him,” Aidan said, unable to keep the sarcasm out of his tone.

  “If you don’t want him at the first ultrasound, I won’t invite him.”

  Aidan didn’t know why the hell it bothered him. It wasn’t like he had any plans of being involved in the baby’s life…or did he? For some reason, just the thought of Connor being in his baby’s life dropped a heavy blanket of possessiveness around him. Shuddering, he tried ridding himself of the feeling. Besides Connor seemed like a genuine guy—he obviously didn’t have to worry about him being competition in Emma’s bed.

  “Aidan, you didn’t answer me?”

  He met Emma’s intense stare. “What?”

  “I asked you again if you wanted it to just be the two of us at the first ultrasound.”