The Proposition(68)

Emma gasped. “And just how the hell is it my fault?”

Aidan winked at her. “You just had to look so damn sexy in that dress and those cowboy boots.”

“You’re impossible,” she huffed. Secretly, she was more than pleased to hear him calling her sexy and not being able to keep his hands off of her. The bigger she got, the less desirable she felt. But then Aidan made her feel as beautiful as the day he first propositioned her at O’Malley’s.

He kissed her neck while running his hands up and down her back. “Damn, I missed you,” he murmured against her throat.

“Me or the sex?” she asked, repeating her familiar question.

“After all this time, are we still playing that game?” he growled. “You. I fucking missed you, okay?”

She pulled away to grin at him. “Oh, Aidan, you’re so romantic. Whisper more sweet words to me!”

His eyes widened, but then he laughed. “Sorry, guess that wasn’t really romantic, huh?”

“I appreciate the sentiment. I’ve missed you, too.” She ran her fingers through his hair and smiled. “Even though it brought us together, I really loathe your job sometimes.”

“Tell me about,” Aidan grumbled.

“You think you’re still going to be traveling like this when the baby gets here?”

“I hope things will calm down by then.” He feathered kisses along her jaw-line. “They think they can use and abuse me because I’m a bachelor. Maybe I should tell them I’m going to be a father, and they’ll go easy on me.”

Emma stiffened. “You mean you haven’t told anyone in your department about the baby?”

“Not exactly…I mean, my friends and work buddies know.” He grinned. “Spending time with you has kinda cut into our beer binges down at O’Malley’s, and they’re not really happy about it.”

A grunt of frustration erupted from Emma’s lips. Jerking herself off of Aidan lap, she worked at wriggling her panties back up her thighs and readjusting her dress.

“What’s wrong?”

“You seriously have to ask that question?”

He grimaced. “You’re pissed because I haven’t told my boss about the baby.”

“Of course I am!” she huffed, stalking across the room for her suitcase.

Aidan rose off the couch and adjusted his pants. “Em, wait, would you listen to me?”

She whirled around. “Is this when you tell me you’re sorry and that you just didn’t think about mentioning it? That somehow the fact you were going to be a father in less than five months just slipped your mind?”

He held up his hands defensively. “Look, I really am sorry. It’s been crazy at work the past two months that we’ve been working on being more of a couple. I’ve barely been in the home office a week straight. I promise you that I’m not being intentionally deceptive about you or the baby. I swear.”

When she realized the sincerity in Aidan’s voice, Emma sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have freaked out like that. These stupid hormones make me totally irrational sometimes.”

“No, you were right to get pissed. It’s not like I’ve gone out of my way to introduce you to my friends or tell them we’re official.”

Emma felt the electricity in the room shift. Was Aidan really talking about making things more official between them? Did that mean maybe living together? It seemed like a quantum leap considering they hadn’t even spoken the “l” word yet. It wasn’t for the fact that Emma wasn’t deeply in love with Aidan. She was just too afraid of scaring him away. Their entire relationship was such a fragile balloon that she was afraid would pop at any moment.

Aidan raised his eyebrows questioningly at her. “So are we okay?”

She smiled. “We’re fine.”

“Good then. Let’s get the hell out of town then!” Aidan said, grabbing Emma’s suitcase.

She drew in a deep breath and tried to mentally and emotionally prepare herself for what was to come.





CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE


When Beau saw her coming down the driveway, he started barking and wagging his tail. His head was out the backseat window as she came around the car.

“Did you miss me sweet boy?” He pressed against the door and gave an appreciative whine. “Aw, I missed you, too!” She shot Aidan a disgusted look over her shoulder. “You shouldn’t have left him in the car this long!”

“All the windows are down.” He gestured to Beau’s wiggling body. “Look at him. He’s perfectly fine.”

“I guess so,” Emma murmured, scratching behind Beau’s ears.