The Proposal(76)

“I’m sorry it’s not somewhere exotic like the Caribbean or romantic like Venice,” Aidan said as they pulled onto the highway.

“After Noah is born, I’m holding you to that Italy promise.”

“It’s a deal. And since I know you won’t get on a plane without him, we’ll make the Little Man an international traveler before he’s a year old.”

“Aw, I love it.” Reaching over, Emma took Aidan’s hand in hers. “It doesn’t matter where we go as long as I’m with you.”

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “I feel the same way babe.”

After taking a turn off the interstate, they drove along the dark and curvy mountain roads. Glancing at the directions on his phone, Aidan made a final turn. “Greg had maintenance come out this afternoon and get things set up for us.”

“Like sex up the place?” Emma asked with a grin.

Aidan grinned. “Maybe. They delivered some food as well. We’ll go out to dinner a couple of times too if you want.”

“With us out here in the middle of nowhere, how do I know you won’t hold me hostage as your sex slave?”

Aidan threw his head back and roared with laughter. “No babe, you’re my wife, never my sex slave.”

“Pity,” she murmured. When he jerked his wide-eyed gaze from the road to meet hers, she giggled. “Just kidding.”

He exhaled a noisy breath as they turned into the driveway. Floodlights momentarily blinded her. When Emma stepped out of the car, she fought to keep her mouth dropping to the ground in disbelief. She glanced at Aidan and shook her head. “What?” he asked.

“You said your buddy was letting us have his cabin. That,” she motioned to the giant mansion, “is not a cabin. It’s a lodge at least. I bet it has eight or ten bedrooms.”

“And we can christen every one of them while we’re here,” Aidan remarked.

She laughed. “Yeah, we’ll just have to see about that one.”

“Come on. If you think this is amazing, wait until you see inside.” Taking her hand, Aidan pulled her up the front walk-way and up the porch steps. Once Aidan unlocked the door, he glanced back at her with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

“Whatever you’re thinking, I can without a doubt say the answer is no!”

Aidan chuckled. “Come on. I just wanted to carry my bride over the threshold.”

She couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “Your bride is seven months pregnant. Besides, you’re supposed to do that at your home, not your honeymoon destination.”

Ignoring her, Aidan swept his arm underneath her knees while the other went around her back. She shrieked when he swept her off her feet before kicking open the front door. “Oomph,” he muttered as he staggered across the threshold.

Emma burst into laugher at both his determined expression and his purple coloring. “Don’t go incapacitating yourself before we can get the honeymoon started, babe,” she teased.

“Yeah, yeah,” he replied as he gently set her on her feet in the foyer.

“Aw, my hero,” she said, leaning up to kiss him.

He grinned at her. “Go on and explore the ca—”

“Lodge,” Emma corrected.

“Whatever. I’m going to go get our luggage.”

“Be careful. I wouldn’t want a city boy like you taken off by a bear or a coyote.”

He shook his head. “Always that mouth of yours.”

Once Aidan headed out the door, Emma turned her attention to the living room. It was outfitted with large, overstuffed couches and chairs. A floor to ceiling stone fireplace sat in the middle of the room, and after picking up the remote on one of the tables, a press of a button sent it roaring to life. Tilting her head, Emma took in the high ceilings with their crisscrossing wooden beams. As she walked around the room, she saw the large circular staircase leading to the next floor.

Aidan came huffing inside with three of their bags. “Need some help?” she asked.

“No, I got it,” came his muffled reply from behind the luggage.

When he started down the hallway, she followed him. At the end of the hall was the master bedroom. Her eyes widened when Aidan flipped on the light switch. Not only did it boast a huge four poster bed, a sitting area with a couch, loveseat and chair, but its own fireplace with a furry rug in front of it.

“Is that…?” she asked, pointing down at the floor.

Aidan grinned. “No, it’s fake bearskin or some other politically correct fake fur.”

“Good to know.”

“I bet it feels soft against your skin though,” he murmured, his breath hovering over her cheek.