The Proposal (24 page)

Emma quickly obliged, and then Aidan pushed them
back to the center of the bed. Then his hand delved between her legs, causing
her to whimper. As he thrust a finger into her core, he felt her walls clench
around him. “I just wanted to make sure you were ready for me.”

“I’m always ready for you, my love,” she whispered.

He brought both of his hands to her waist and gently
raised her up. He then guided his erection between her wet folds. As Emma slowly
slid down on him, Aidan feathered tender kisses along her collarbone. After he
was all the way in, he shuddered with pleasure. “Oh God, I’ve missed the feel
of you.”

When he lifted his head, she smiled down at him.
“I’ve missed every glorious inch of you, too.”

He laughed. “There you go stroking my ego.”

“I think we fit together perfectly.” She gazed down
to her expanding belly. “Well, except for that getting in the way.”

Aidan pushed the long strands of auburn hair out of
her face. “Don’t ever think Noah’s in the way. He will always be the string
that ties us together. He’s our love growing inside you. He may not be the
reason why I fell in love with you, but he’s the reason why I got another
chance at life.” He gave her a deep, lingering kiss. “You saved me, Emma.”

Tears sparkled in her green eyes, and her chest rose
and fell in harsh breaths like she was trying to keep her emotions from
spiraling out-of-control. “Oh Aidan.” She cupped his face in her hands. “I love
you so much,” she murmured against his lips.

Pressed chest to chest, Emma began to lift her hips
as Aidan raised his. She panted in his ear as the slow, languid strokes took
him deeper and deeper. Wrapped together, they kept their eyes on each other.
They were a tangle of arms and legs—but they were one.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Two Weeks Later

The shrill ringing of her cell phone roused Emma
from a deep sleep. Fumbling her hand along the nightstand, she finally gripped
it in her hand. Almost robotically she slid her thumb across the answer key and
brought it to her ear. “Hello?” she croaked.

“Em!” Casey shrieked before dissolving in sobs.

Emma jolted awake like she had downed several cups
of coffee. “Case, what’s wrong?”

In between hiccupping sobs, Emma could decipher only
a few words. “Jason. Groomsman. Alcohol poisoning after the Bachelor’s Party.
Hospitalized. Short one of the bridal party. Wedding ruined.”

Emma pulled herself into a sitting position. “Casey,
take a few deep breaths and calm down, okay? The wedding is not ruined just
because some asshat groomsman drank himself into the hospital.”

“But we rehearsed everything with seven groomsmen.
The pictures will be all screwed up!”

“Isn’t there another one of Nate’s friends or
relatives that could fill in and wear Jason’s tux?”

“I don’t know! Besides who the hell is going to fit
into a 6’4 bodybuilder’s tux anyway?!!?”

Emma glanced over her shoulder at Aidan sleeping
soundly, and an idea popped into her head. “Um, well, Aidan has a tux.”  There
was a long pause on the other end of the line. “Are you still there?”

“Why am I not surprised James Bond has his own tux?”
came Casey’s biting reply.

“It was for work purposes, Case.” Emma sighed.
“Look, I get that he’s still not one of your favorite people, but—”

“No, no, you’re right. We don’t have many options,
and Nate actually likes him.”

“Well, I’m glad at least one of you likes the father
of my child.”

Casey groaned. “You know I like him…I’m just not
back in
love
with him like you are.”

“So you want me to tell him to be suited up and
ready to roll at noon with the rest of the bridal party?”

“Yes, I would be thrilled and honored if he would be
there.”

Emma laughed. “Yeah, you sounded really convinced on
that one.”

Casey snickered. “I’ll work on it by the time I see
him, okay?”

“Okay then. I’ll see you later.”

“Bye.”

After Emma hung up the phone, she slid back under
the covers. Snuggling up to Aidan’s warm body she leaned over and kissed his
lips. “Wake up, baby.”

He grimaced while his eyes remained closed. She
kissed him again. “Em?” he murmured against her lips.

She nuzzled her forehead against his neck, her thigh
draping over his. Mistaking it for an invitation, Aidan snaked his arms around
her waist and pulled her up to straddle him. Emma shook her head. “Whoa,
cowboy, just what do you think you’re doing?”

He grinned lazily up at her. “I’d think you were
more the cowgirl in that position.”

Emma laughed. “Yeah, well, this cowgirl isn’t ready
to ride today.” When Aidan made a face, she added, “Well, at least not right
now. I need to ask you something.”

Aidan cocked his eyebrows at her. “What is it?”

Emma then related everything she had talked to Casey
about. When she finished, Aidan exhaled noisily. “You mean she actually wants
me in the wedding?”

“Sure, she does.”

Aidan gave her a skeptical look. “Seriously?” When
she bobbed her head enthusiastically, Aidan smirked at her. “Emma Katherine
Harrison, you are the worst liar in the world.”

“Look, Nate really likes you, and Casey always did.
She’s just having a hard time forgiving you.” Her response elicited a grunt
from Aidan. “So does that mean you’ll do it?”

“Of course I will.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she replied,
kissing his cheeks and then his lips. “You’re really going to make Casey so
happy doing this. She thought her perfect day was ruined. No woman wants the
slightest thing to go wrong on her wedding day. I mean, it’s supposed to be the
happiest day of your life, right?”

A far-away look clouded Aidan’s eyes. “Maybe I
should call and tell her I’ll do it. You know, really try to smooth things
over.”

“That would be awesome.”

He brought his lips to hers, kissing her tenderly,
while running his hands up her back. “You go on and get in the shower. I’ll
come join you in a minute.”

“Why do I have the feeling the cowboy is going to
expect to ride off into the sunset during our shower?”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Go on and let
me talk to Casey.”

“Fine, fine,” she muttered as she climbed off of
him.

Whatever Aidan had to say, it took him awhile to do
it. Emma was getting out of the shower when he came in the bathroom.
“Everything go okay?” she asked, sweeping her hair back in a towel. When he
didn’t respond, she caught his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He was
brushing his teeth, but his lips were fixed in a wide, almost goofy grin.

“Aidan, did you hear me?”

He spat out a mouth-f of toothpaste. “Huh?”

“I asked you how the call went.”

Once again, a wide grin curved on his lips. “It went
really, really well.”

She eyed him suspiciously as she dried off. “Well,
good. I’m glad to hear it. Having you and Casey back on friendly terms would be
the answer to a prayer.”

Aidan turned off the water. “Em, I’m not the one who
hasn’t been accepting. I mean, I got nailed in the balls for Christ’s sake!”

“I know you haven’t.” She kissed his bare shoulder.
“That’s why I’m so proud of you for being the bigger person by trying to make
things right.”

He cocked his brows at her. “You’re proud of me?”

“Mmm, hmm.” At his grin, she smacked his ass. “Now
get a move on, mister. Casey’s emotions today are like treading on thin ice.
Being late is the last thing we need.”

“I thought you had to go get beautified with her?”

“I do.” Emma eyed her phone on the counter. “Shit. I
better throw something on. I’m supposed to be at the spa in thirty minutes.
Will you be a real sweetheart and bring my dress to the church?”

“Of course I will.” When he leaned over to kiss her,
his mouth tasted of mint.

“Thanks,” she murmured against his lips.

“I love you,” Aidan said as he pulled away.

“I love you more,” she argued with a grin.

***

After a luxurious morning at the spa having facials
and massages, the entire bridal party’s hair and makeup were done. Emma
couldn’t help giggling at how comical Casey looked in a tracksuit coupled with
her full make-up and intricate veil and sparkling tiara.

Casey stared down at herself. “What? You don’t think
there’s something wrong with this look, do you? I bet I could walk in Wal-Mart
like this, and no one would say anything.”

Emma grabbed her purse. “Hmm, high praise indeed
from the Wal-Mart shoppers.”

Casey laughed. “Come on. We gotta haul ass to the
church.”

Rolling her eyes, Emma said, “Only you would say ass
and church in the same sentence.”

“You know you love my potty mouth.”

“I love everything about you, bestie.”

Casey held up her hand. “No more emotional landmine
comments like that, Em. I can’t risk my make-up.”

Emma laughed. “Fine. I’ll be a total hard ass the
rest of the morning. Happy?”

“Thrilled. Now come on.”

Emma and Casey, along with the rest of the bridal
party, headed to Christ the King Cathedral. It had been Nate’s church since
childhood, and Emma thought it made a beautiful venue for a wedding.

Once locked into a preparation room, they got busy
getting Casey into her mammoth dress. Emma stood back, gazing at Casey. Her
earlier promise was forgotten when tears filled her eyes. “You look amazing!”

Casey pointed a finger. “Em, you promised!”

“I can’t help it. It’s the hormones making me even
more emotionally crazy!”

“Ugh, you seriously have to quit the waterworks or
you’ll have me crying, and this waterproof stuff only works so much.”

“Fine, I’ll go put on my dress.”

“Good. And while you’re at it, think of disgusting
things, people who piss you off—anything not to be crying.”

Emma swept a hand to her hip. “Don’t you think
people will wonder why you’re very pregnant bridesmaid has such a ‘screw you’
look on her face?”

Casey laughed. “As long as you’re not crying, we’re
good.”

“You’re impossible,” Emma grumbled as she slipped
into the dressing room. The maroon dress hung in its bag on the hook where
Aidan had delivered it. She slipped into it, and then after trying to wrestle
with the zipper, she headed back into the main room for help. Carlee, Casey’s
sixteen year old sister, happily obliged.

Emma eyed her reflection in the mirror as a knock
came at the door. “It’s Aidan,” a voice called. Carlee giggled as she ran to
open the door.

When Aidan stepped inside, his gaze flickered over
the room for her. The moment he saw her, he beamed. “You look beautiful!”

Emma grinned. “Thank you.” Staring down at her
dress, she shook her head. “Frankly, I feel like an Oompa Loompa at the
moment!”

“Trust me, babe, you don’t look like one.” When she
gave him a skeptical look, Aidan winked at her. “Then I must have a Willy Wonka
fetish because I’d like to devour you right this instant.”

Emma smacked his arm playfully as Casey asked, “And
what about me? No compliments for the bride?”

Without missing a beat, Aidan said, “You’re an
exquisite vision of perfection in white who will take Nate’s breath away the
moment he sees you.”

Casey grinned. “Smooth Big Papa, very smooth.”

He leaned in and pecked her check. “It’s the truth.”

“I’ll take it then,” she replied.

“I’m so glad to get to be a part of your happy day.”

“So am I,” Casey replied, with a wink.

Emma’s mouth gaped at their exchange, especially
when Casey kissed Aidan’s cheek as well. What happened to her hating him? Was
the very fact he had been willing to stand in and save the day enough to make
Casey forgive Aidan for all he had done wrong?

“Did you need something?” she asked.

“I just wanted to check on you, see how you’re
feeling, but most of all, I wanted to bask in your rapturous beauty.”

“OMG, that’s so sweet!” Carlee exclaimed while one
of the other bridesmaids bobbed her head.

Aidan’s lips curled into a cocky grin at their
appreciation of his sentiments while

Emma rolled her eyes. “Seriously?”

He laughed. “Actually, it’s time to take the bridal
party photographs.”

“I thought as much.”

Aidan placed his hand on her shoulders, his
expression waxing concern. “I may have been joking, but I did want to check on
you.”