The Proposition

  At the thought of his friends drinking and giving him shit about Emma, he couldn’t help muttering, “Douchebags.” He grabbed his suitcase and whistled for Beau. “Come on, boy. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

  Beau happily complied and went into full wiggling mode when he saw he was getting in the car. Knowing he was running late, he sped along the interstate and then zipped along the familiar streets over to Emma’s house. He pulled in her driveway at a little after three. He ignored the text buzzing in his pocket because he was sure it was her. Instead, he hopped out. Beau started to nudge forward, but he shook his head. “Stay boy.”

  After jogging up the front walk, he smacked the doorbell. “It’s open!” she called.

  As he pushed through the door, he saw her suitcase and purse sitting on the foyer floor. He heard rustling around in the kitchen. “Sorry, I’m a little late. Beau took forever to pee,” he lied. He didn’t feel the need to tell her one of his asshat friends had made him later than Beau’s bladder.

  “You didn’t leave him at home, did you?”

  Aidan laughed. “No, he’s having a fit in the car. I swear he recognizes your house.”

  Emma’s girlish giggle floated back to him. “Poor baby. It’s been his off and on again home the last few months. I put him a rawhide bone in my purse to help make the trip. But we’ll probably need to stop off once to let him pee.” She gave a frustrated sigh. “Who am I kidding? I’ll probably have to stop more to pee than Beau will!”

  She came around the corner, and his heart shuddered to a stop. Every time he saw her after being out of town, she took his breath away. She wore an emerald green sundress with thin spaghetti straps. The hemline fell just below her knees. Her enhanced pregnancy cleavage strained against the cups on the bodice. But it was the brown cowboy boots that made him do a double take.

  Emma started to rush past him to throw something in her suitcase when Aidan reached out and pulled her to him. “Damn, you look sexy as hell.”

  Her brows furrowed as she glanced down at herself. “Seriously?”

  He licked his lips and nodded.

  “This is one of the few dresses I can still get into. I think it might be time to cave in and buy some more maternity clothes.”

  His fingers splayed over her baby bump, touching her tenderly over the thin material. “To be four and a half months pregnant, you’re barely even showing.”

  She blew a stray strand of hair out of her face. “Tell that to my zippers.”

  “And the boots?”

  “Oh, these help me stay true to my country roots. I wear them all the time when I’m in the mountains.”

  He grinned. “I like them…a lot.” Cocking his head, he gave her his best ‘I want to devour you’ smile.

  Emma wagged her finger at him. “Oh no. Don’t even go there.”

  “Baby, I’ve hardly seen you, least of all touched you, in the last week. I’m about to explode!”

  “We need to get on the road. It’s already after three,” she protested.

  “What’s wrong with taking a little detour?” Before she could argue anymore, Aidan crushed his lips against hers, his warm tongue sweeping into her mouth. He snaked one arm around her waist, drawing her against him. She started to squirm away when he pressed his erection into her. “Don’t make me meet your grandparents with a hard on.”

  She smirked at him and started wiggling out of his embrace. “It’s a long drive. I’m sure you will cool off by then.”

  With a frustrated grunt, Aidan tightened one of his arms around her waist. He then brought his other hand to slip one of her tiny straps off her shoulder, pushing the material down to bare her breast. As he kneaded her flesh, his thumb brushed back and forth across her hardened nipple. When he heard her suck in a breath, he teasingly pinched the bud. It appeared to do the trick because a surge of passion overtook Emma. She brought her lips to Aidan’s while arching herself against him.

  He licked from her chin up to her ear. “I want you so bad, Emma,” he murmured. When he took her chin between his fingers and tilted her head back, Emma stared at him with hooded eyes.

  “Then take me,” she murmured.

  Kissing her again, his hand slid under her dress. Emma moaned into his mouth when his fingers found the heat between her legs. He stroked her over her panties until he could feel her moist desire through the fabric. Then he delved his fingers inside her —keeping the same rhythm with his tongue as with his fingers. She tore her lips from his, her breath coming in heavy pants. “Mmm, Aidan…yes, God! Aidan! Yes!” she cried, pinching shut her eyes as he brought her to the brink.

  She whimpered when his fingers slid out of her. His hand then went to jerk her panties down to her knees. He brought Emma’s hand to his crotch. She reached out to fumble with the button and then the zipper on his jeans. Once she freed his erection, she stroked him hard and fast, using the drops of pre come for friction.

  Aidan sucked in a ragged breath and then removed her hand. “That’s enough of that,” he muttered in a strained voice.

  He backed up to the couch, pushing his pants and underwear over his hips. He tugged Emma’s hand, jerking her to him. They collapsed onto the couch with Emma’s heat straddling him. After guiding himself into her, he started moving her hips against him. Frantically, he thrust himself in and out of her as Emma leaned over to kiss him. She didn’t last very long before going over the edge again.

  Even though he was close, Aidan didn’t want to come. Nothing felt as good as being buried deep inside Emma. He kept raising his hips and bringing her hard down on his cock. He threw his head back and closed his eyes as the intense sensations rolled over him. Finally, when he thought he couldn’t stand it anymore, he gave in to the release and came flooding into her.

  ***

  As Aidan cradled her to his chest, Emma covered her eyes with her hands and groaned. “What’s the matter?” he asked.

  “I can’t believe I just let you screw my brains out right before I’m going to my grandparents.”

  Laughter rolled through Aidan. “I’m sorry I’m a horny bastard and couldn’t help myself. But if we’re really honest, it’s more your fault than mine.”

  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 happ
y 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.

  “You spoil him too much,” Aidan mused, tossing her suitcase in the backseat.

  “I do not.”

  “Oh really? Every time I come in the door, he starts looking for you. He could give a shit less about me now. Not to mention, he expects to lie around on the couch and eat my table scraps.”

  She blushed. “Oops.” As soon as she slid across the seat, Beau leaned over the headrest to lick her cheek. “Are you ready to get the city grit out of your fur?” Emma asked, patting the Lab’s head. He wagged his tail and licked her again. “Yep, I think he’s ready.”

  Aidan snorted as he pulled out of the driveway. “Once he sees all those wide open spaces, he may never want to come back.”

  After he took the 75 North exit, they started their pilgrimage out of the city. The urban backdrop melted away into an emerald blur of trees and pastureland. The closer they got to the mountains the cooler the swirling air around them became.

  A pang of homesickness reverberated through Emma as they drove along the familiar roads. She had spent her whole childhood in the mountains until she had gone to college in Atlanta. There was a very large part of her that longed to move back, especially when it came to raising the baby.

  When they neared her grandparents’ property, she leaned forward in her seat. “Okay, you’re going to turn right at the black mailbox.”

  Aidan turned to her in surprise. “Onto that gravel road?”

  “Yep.”

  After they wound around a couple of curves, they came to an open field. Up the hillside was her grandparent’s house and barn. Aidan turned to her with widened eyes at the sight of the multitude of cars and people milling around. “This is all your family?”

  She nodded. “There are usually about fifty people or more. By the time the barn dance starts tonight, it’ll be around a hundred.” She eyed the skeptical expression on his face. “You sure you’re up to this?”

  “Sure, it’ll be fine as long as no one wants to kick my ass for knocking you up.”

  Emma laughed. “Most of my family is okay with my pregnancy. My grandfather and some of my uncles might give you a hard time though.” She hesitated before dropping a bomb on him. “Um, since we aren’t married, don’t plan on us sharing a bedroom tonight.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Emma grimaced. “My grandparents are very old-fashioned. They won’t condone us sleeping in the same bed if we aren’t married.”

  “Even though you’re pregnant with my child?”

  “Yes.”

  He exhaled noisily. “Good thing I got some before we left. It would have been a long, long weekend.” He laughed when she smacked his arm playfully in outrage.

  “Come on. Let’s go face the firing squad,” Emma said, with a grin.

  “Fabulous,” Aidan groaned as he climbed out of the car. He clipped the leash to Beau’s collar and let the squirming lab out of the backseat.

  Delicious aromas filled Emma’s nostrils, and her stomach growled. She was so thankful her nausea had passed because she wanted nothing more than some of her grandmother’s Brunswick stew.

  “Is that homemade BBQ I smell?” Aidan asked.

  “Yes, it is. Everything will be homemade from the apple pie to the moonshine.”

  “Damn, I think I’ve died and gone to heaven. Well, not exactly at the part about the moonshine.”

  Emma giggled. “Good luck not having my uncles force some homebrew on you. They’ll want you to prove your manhood.”

  Aidan opened his mouth to protest, but a woman’s voice cut him off. “Emma!” she shrieked, clapping her hands. Emma didn’t even have to turn to recognize the voice. Just the sound of it echoing around her coated her body with a thick blanket of love. Spinning around, she saw her grandmother striding towards her.

  From her teased silver bouffant hairdo to the worn red and white gingham apron she wore tied firmly over her dress, Grammy never seemed to age or change. She was the one constant beacon in the storm Emma had been able to count on her entire life for love, support, and strength.

  Grammy’s face lit up like a Fourth of July sparkler. “There’s my beautiful baby!” she exclaimed, drawing Emma into her strong embrace. Squeezing her tight, she said, “I’ve missed you so much, darlin’.”

  “I missed you, too, Grammy.”

  She pulled away and smiled. “You’re going to have to start coming up here more than twice a month. Your granddaddy and I get mighty lonesome for you.”

  Emma giggled. “We talk every other day. Do I really need to come up that much more?”

  “Yes, you do. Especially when the baby gets here.” She reached out to gently touch Emma’s swollen belly. “Look how big you’ve gotten!”

  “Tell me about it. None of my clothes fit.”

  “Well, consider yourself lucky you didn’t start showing right off the bat. Your mama had to have maternity clothes the second month she was pregnant with you!”

  Emma smiled at the memory of her mother laughing about how she practically showed from conception.

  “So how are you feeling?” Grammy asked, her brow creasing with worry.

  “Better. Thank God the morning sickness stopped now that I’m out of the first trimester. I’ll get to find out what I’m having next week.
I’m doing the early gender sonogram.”

  Grammy’s beaming face grew even brighter. “Wonderful. Of course, I still say you’re carrying it like a boy.”

  Emma glanced over at Aidan and grinned. “That would make Aidan’s father happy to hear you say that. He’s sworn since the moment I met him, it’s a boy.”

  Grammy turned her intense green eyes on Aidan. “So this incredibly handsome and dashing man you’ve brought with you must be Mr. Fitzgerald?”

  Heat rose in Emma’s cheeks both at her grandmother’s compliments and how she was to make the introduction. “Yes, this is Aidan. He’s…”

  “The sperm donor?” Grammy questioned.

  Aidan chuckled. “Yes, but in more ways than one.”

  Grammy clutched her stomach and doubled over with laughter. When she recovered, she held out her arms for Aidan. “Well, come here and give me a hug, Mr. Sperm Donor.”

  Emma watched in amazement as Aidan willingly hugged Grammy. She couldn’t believe how effortlessly he already seemed to be interacting with her family, considering how he had freaked out so much when she met his nephews and Patrick.

  Patting Aidan’s back, Grammy said, “We’re so very happy to have you here with us for the weekend. I hope you’ll enjoy yourself.”

  He gave her a dazzling smile. “Thank you, ma’am. It’s a pleasure to be here.”

  Grammy wagged a finger at him. “As for fathering Em’s baby, there’s something I need to say about that.”

  Emma chewed her bottom lip and threw a worried glance between her grandmother and Aidan. Her chest tightened in apprehension at what Grammy might say to him. If it was anything like the early phone calls and first visit she had with her grandparents about her unmarried pregnancy, Aidan was in for a severe tongue-lashing.

  “Yes, ma’am?” Aidan asked pleasantly, but Emma couldn’t help noticing how he flicked Beau’s leash back and forth with nervous energy.

  “Having a child on her own is certainly not what my husband or I wanted for Emma. We’d rather she had found a husband and then had children.” She shook her head sadly. “At one time, she had that. But then life hasn’t exactly been fair to Em. She deserves all the happiness in the world, and I know that nothing will make her happier than finally having her dream of motherhood come true.”