The Proposal(55)

His arms dropped limply from her as his shoulders drooped in defeat. “Fine. Go to him. I hope he can give you what you obviously don’t want from me. But don’t think for one minute that you’re not doing the same thing I did. You’re running away from happiness and trying to calm your fears with someone else.”

He then turned and left her alone in the bathroom. Feeling lightheaded, she gripped the countertop. Tears pooled in her eyes, but she fought to keep her composure. She heard Aidan open the front door and ask Pesh inside. She glanced in the mirror and grimaced. Her kiss with Aidan had smeared her lipstick. “Just a second!” she called.

“Take your time,” Pesh replied good-naturedly. Emma was sure he was just being polite considering the fact Aidan was there.

Once she finished adjusting her make-up, she grabbed her purse and hurried down the hallway. Pesh stood in the foyer with his back to her. His hands were thrust into his pockets nervously playing with his keys while Aidan was nowhere in sight. She cleared her throat. “I’m so sorry I was late.”

He whirled around and then drank in her appearance. A bright smile curved on his face. “You look so absolutely gorgeous that any man would be a fool not to instantly forgive you.”

“Thank you,” she replied. She couldn’t help noticing how handsome he looked in his dress coat that hid the suit and tie he was wearing underneath. A cream colored scarf was draped around his neck. “You look very nice yourself.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.” He glanced around the foyer. “Where’s your coat?”

“Oh, just one second.” She started for the closet by the kitchen when Aidan appeared, clutching her formal dress coat in his hands. “You don’t want to forget this. It’s supposed to be down in the 40’s tonight. I don’t want you or Noah catching a chill,” he said.

She started to reach for it, but he held it out to put it on her. Turning her back to him, she faced Pesh. His jaw clenched as she watched Aidan slide the coat up over her arms and onto her shoulders. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Aidan’s fingers lingered on her until she finally stepped away from him.

“I guess we better go. We don’t want to miss our dinner reservations,” Emma said to Pesh.

“Good seeing you again, Aidan. Tell your father I hope he’s taking good care of himself.”

“Yeah, same to you. I’ll tell Pop you said hello.”

Emma couldn’t believe that Aidan was practically being cordial. But when they reached the front door, he called, “Take care of my girl.”

Pesh’s hand froze on the doorknob. “Um, I will,” he muttered before he jerked the door open for Emma. Once it closed behind him, Pesh exhaled noisily.

“I’m so sorry for that,” Emma began as they started down the stairs.

“It’s okay. I would probably have reacted the same way.”

“Seriously?”

Pesh nodded as he held open the door of his Jaguar. “If someone was trying to encroach on the woman I loved, I’d probably be less than civil.”

“But you’re not encroaching. He knows we’re just friends.” Emma couldn’t help noticing that Pesh flinched at the word friend. “We are still friends, aren’t we, Pesh?”

A smile forced its way to his lips. “Of course we are.”

Uneasiness crept into the pit of her stomach. Her expression must’ve alerted Pesh to her feelings because he said, “Emma, if you don’t feel comfortable about tonight or leaving Aidan, we don’t have to do this. I would never, ever want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

The sincerity in his voice made Emma shake her head. “No, I’m fine. Let’s go.” But the truth was she was far from fine. Her emotions buzzed and hummed like a swarm of locusts ready to overtake her at any moment.

He nodded, and after she had eased down into the seat, he closed the door for her.

Once he made his way around the car, he slid inside and cranked up the engine. He turned to her and smiled. “I’m glad you’ve consented to come with me tonight. My sister and brother-in-law will be joining us.”

“Oh,” she murmured at the insinuation of a double date.

“But Shevta is aware we’re not committed to one another, so you don’t have to worry about it being strange.”

Yeah, I’m sure she thinks there’s a lot more between us than you’re letting on—just like Becky did! Emma thought, but she pinched her lips tight. Her fingers went to the hem of her coat, and she twisted it with nervousness.

Pesh tried filling the uncomfortable silence with conversation about his sister and brother-in-law. Emma could tell he was very fond of Shevta, and she sounded like an amazing woman.