“I had me a hot date.”
Emma jerked her head up to stare at him. She couldn’t stop her eyes from widening in shock or her mouth dropping open. He had been with another woman? After everything he had said to her before he left? Her nausea revved into overdrive at the prospect, and she fought the rising bile in her throat. “Y-You did?”
He nodded and plopped down on the coffee table. His knees knocked into hers, and she fought the urge to pull away from the closeness of him. He leaned in on his elbows. “Picture this outfit. Cut-off, Daisy Duke’s with the ass cheeks hanging out—”
“Short shorts? It’s late October!”
Aidan held up his hands. “I’m not finished.”
Crossing her hands over her chest, she huffed out a frustrated grunt. “Fine.”
“Anyway, so like I was saying, there were the Daisy Dukes, cowboy boots, and to top it all off there was the halter top with the bare mid-drift…” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Man, I was looking good!”
His eyes snapped open, and then he winked at her. Emma stared at him in disbelief. “There wasn’t a girl wearing that…you mean you…”
Aidan laughed. “I was just teasing you, Em. I went over to Pop’s, and we watched the game. I sure as hell wasn’t out with a woman.”
The prospect of him being on an actual date had worked her into such an emotional firestorm that along with the relief she felt, she also knew she was going to be sick. She had only a moment to panic about whether or not she would make it to the bathroom before she leaned forward and threw up in Aidan’s lap.
He gazed from his soiled pants back up to her eyes. “Damn, Em, I know my joke was bad, but did you seriously have to puke on me?”
Tears of mortification stung her eyes. “I-I…I’m sorry.”
His expression turned from amusement to compassion when she burst into tears. He reached over and rubbed her arm. “Hey, don’t cry. You’re not the first person to puke on me. I did belong to a fraternity back in the day. Nothing is worse than drunk guy vomit.”
“I can’t believe you’re being so nice about it,” she sobbed.
“Well, it’s not like you did it on purpose.” He raised his eyebrows at her. “Did you?”
“No! I would never do that!”
He rubbed her cheek with his thumb. “I know. I was only teasing you again, Em.”
“I don’t think the food agreed with me—too many different spices and sauces,” she replied, wiping her nose with the back of her sleeve.
“Hmm, I think that speaks volumes about the company as well, don’t you?”
“Aidan,” she warned, her embarrassment fading into anger at his assumptions.
He cocked his head at her. “Sounds to me like Noah is trying to tell you something. I’m glad the Little Man already has his dad’s back.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’ve never eaten Indian food before. It has nothing to do with my feelings or Noah’s. It’s my digestive system speaking, thank you very much,” she snapped.
Aidan grinned. “Ah, there’s those lovely pregnancy mood swings I love so much.”
She sniffed in a frustrated breath. “Come on. You need to get cleaned up, and I need to go back to bed.”
When Aidan stood up, vomit slid down his pants legs. He made a face. “Jeez, I think that’s seriously about to trigger my gag reflex.” His hands went to his button, and he unzipped his pants. He quickly stepped out of them and balled them up. “I better throw these in the washer.”
Emma leaned forward to get up off the couch just as Aidan turned. Her face grazed across his crotch. At his sharp intake of breath, she jerked back. “Uh-sorry,” she mumbled.
“This night just keeps getting better and better,” he grumbled. Before he started to the bedroom, he turned back and offered Emma his hand. Her heart kick-started at the small gesture.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Listen, I’ll grab my stuff and hit the shower upstairs so you can have mine.”
Her hormones went into overdrive. “Aw, that’s so sweet,” she murmured.
Aidan gave her a playful smirk. “Damn, babe, it doesn’t take much to impress you, does it?”
She rolled her eyes. “Excuse me for being grateful for your kindness,” she huffed before stalking into the bathroom and slamming the door.
Aidan poked his head in just as she swept her top off. She squeaked at the sight of him. “Um, you do remember I need to get my shit from in here, right?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Only in her bra, Emma began brushing her teeth. Once Aidan swept up his shampoo and body wash, he leaned to grab his toothbrush before bestowing a kiss on her bare back. Longing shuddered through her. If Aidan realized her reaction, he didn’t say anything. “Now don’t stay on your feet too long.”