One Secret Night, One Secret Baby(21)

Dylan grasped her hand and brought it to his knee. It was as natural as breathing for him to hold on to her this way. “I’m glad you’re in business with my sister.”

“Me, too. I think our talents complement each other. She’s the creative one and I’m the practical one.”

“You work hard. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look exhausted.”

She sighed. “There’s no fooling you.”

“I’m quite perceptive.” He smiled at her and his sea-blue eyes softened. “Turn around.”

“What?”

“Turn your back to me and try to relax.”

“Okay.”

She angled away from him on the sofa and then his hand gently moved her hair off her shoulders. It fell in a tangle on her right side. Next, he placed both hands on her shoulder blades and began a firm but soothing massage. The tension was released immediately, and as he worked the kinks out and moved farther down her back, she closed her eyes. “Oh, that feels good,” she cooed.

“That’s the plan, sweetheart.”

His hands on her body were a comforting, soothing presence lifting her spirits, a balm for her tired bones.

“Why don’t we take this into the bedroom,” he whispered, his breath tickling her ear. “Where you can stretch out and really relax.”

She turned to face him.

“Just a massage, I promise. Deal?”

“Deal.”

And then she was being lifted and carried toward her bedroom. Her independence had flown the coop the minute Dylan had shown up. But she loved his inner he-man and the way he took control of a situation. It was amazingly sexy.

She played with the curl of hair resting on his nape. “You don’t have to make deals with me, Dylan.”

“Don’t tempt me. I know how tired you are and let’s leave it at that.”

She nodded.

A slender shaft of light from the courtyard illuminated her bedroom window. Dylan lowered her to a standing position by her bed and moved behind her. With one hand on either side of her back, he inched her blouse up and over her head, tossing it onto the nightstand. Then he helped to remove her slacks. Down to a white bra and panties, she kicked off her shoes and turned to face him.

There was a sharp rasp of breath as he looked at her. “This isn’t going to be as easy as I thought,” he muttered in a tortured tone. “Lie down. I’ll be right back.”

Emma pulled her sheets back and lowered down onto her tummy, resting her head on her pillow. When Dylan returned, he held a bottle of raspberry vanilla essential oil. “This okay to use?”

She nodded and closed her eyes. She heard the sound of his hands slapping together as he warmed the oil and then felt the dip of the mattress as he sat beside her. “Ready?”

“Oh, yes.”

He spread the oil onto her skin, his touch light and generous as he rubbed every inch of her back. The pleasing scents of raspberry and vanilla wafted to her nostrils in the most delicious way. Using his thumbs, Dylan pressed the small of her back in circular motions, his fingers resting on the slope of her behind. She tingled there and her breath caught noisily. This was quickly becoming more than a massage and almost more intimate than having sex with Dylan. He removed his fingers, using his thumbs to walk up her spine.

“Oh, so nice,” she whispered.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying this.”

“Aren’t you?”

“Too much.”

She grinned and endorphins released merrily through her body.

He lifted his hands off her back and again she heard the smack of his hands as he warmed the oil. Next, he worked her legs, starting at her ankles, gliding his hands up and down, around and around, bringing new life to her tired limbs. First one calf, then the other, and then he was inching his hands up the backs of her thighs. He slowed his pace and stopped for a moment.

“Dylan?”

“I’m okay,” he said, his voice quietly pained.

“This isn’t supposed to make you tense.”

“Too late for that, sweetheart. Just relax and enjoy.”

But there was something too tempting, too genuine in his voice for her to sit back and take this without giving something back. She shifted her position, landing on her back. One look at his gorgeous face, his gritted teeth and set jaw had her gaze moving down below his waist. She wasn’t surprised to see the strain of material in his pants.

“I didn’t come here for—”

“I know, and it makes it all the more sweet.” She lifted her arms and reached for him. “Come here, Dylan.” she said. “Let me do something for you.”

“There’s no need,” he said, but it was too late. She grabbed him around the neck and pulled him down on top of her. He was careful where he landed and avoided plopping on her belly.

“I’m not tired anymore. In fact, I’m feeling pretty loose,” she said softly. “And you deserve a massage, too.”

* * *

Emma stood over the sizzling range top, flipping pancakes on a griddle, a pleasing hum running through her body. Last night’s massages had turned into something pretty spectacular and now she was famished. She’d crept out of bed, leaving Dylan sleeping, to make him a nourishing breakfast. He’d sure earned it judging by the energy he’d exerted making love to her last night.

When his arms wrapped around her waist, she nearly jumped out of her skin. She hadn’t heard him come up behind her. “Morning,” he said, nibbling on her neck.

“I thought you were sleeping.”

“I missed you.”

God, he said all the right things. “Sweet.”

“You’re sweet to make us breakfast.”

“Us?” She chuckled. “What makes you think this is for you?”

He tightened his hold on her and then reached around her body to turn the knob, shutting off the burner. “Dylan, what are you—”

He turned her around and kissed her complaint away. Then he gave her a heart-melting smile and tugged her away from the stove. He’d already put his clothes from yesterday back on. They looked amazingly unwrinkled and fresh, while she was wearing gray sweats and a pink tank sporting the Parties-To-Go logo in purple glitter, her hair in a messy ponytail.

Holding her hand, he led her to the living area. Her heart was beating fast now. What was he up to? He turned to her and the expression on his face was dead serious. “I’ve been thinking, Em. About us.”

She gulped. Us?

“You and I, we’re going to be parents soon and I guess I’m an old-fashioned guy when it comes to kids and all. I see a bright future ahead for us, the three of us. We’ll be a family, a real honest-to-goodness family, and I think the baby deserves the very best start in life. That means having a mother and father raise the child together. I care very much for you, Emma. You know that. We’re good together, if last night isn’t proof enough.” His smile was a little wobbly now and Emma’s heart pounded even harder. He was going to press her to move in with him.

“I’m not going to ask you to move in with me anymore, Em.”

“You’re not?” She blinked. This was new.

He shook his head. “No. That’s not the solution.”

He gazed deep into her eyes. “I want you to marry me.”

Emma’s mouth opened and a sharp gasp escaped. “Oh.”

“I’m asking you to be my wife, Emma. I’ve given this a lot of thought and I can only see good things in store for the three of us.”

She dropped her hand from his and shuffled her feet. Inside, everything was stirring, a mad mix of emotions and thoughts flying through her head. “This is...um, unexpected.”

“Really, Em? It’s not so far-fetched to think that two people conceiving a child together would get married, is it?”

He made it seem so simple. He cared for her. And Lord knew, she cared even more for him. She loved him. Could they make it work, even though he didn’t say the words a woman being proposed to was meant to hear? There was no claim of undying love, nothing about how he couldn’t live without her and how his life would be empty without her in it. Yet Dylan had spoken honestly, giving her genuine reasons why this was a good idea.

But doubts immediately crept in. He was Dylan McKay, eligible bachelor extraordinaire, a highly sought-after movie star, a man whose life was obviously filled with temptations at every turn. Could she place her trust in him not to break her heart and soul? Could she marry a man who didn’t outright love her?

“Em, you don’t have to give me your answer right now. Take some time,” he said, his voice laced with tenderness and understanding. “Give it some thought. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here.”

A huge part of her wanted to say yes, but she couldn’t make this decision on the spur of the moment. She was being given the moon, but was it greedy of her to want the sun and the stars, too?

“Dylan,” she began softly, “I can’t give you an answer right now. Everything is happening so fast.”

“I know. I get it, Em. I don’t want to add to your stress. Believe me, I only want what’s best for you. But I wanted to get my feelings out in the open. I think it’s the right move, but I won’t pressure you. I’ll wait until you’ve made your decision.”