The Proposal (16 page)

Emma glanced up to see him and smiled. “Hey. You’re
back.”

“Grammy sends her love and the promise she’ll be
down within the week.”

Emma huffed out a frustrated breath. “And
Granddaddy?” she asked tentatively.

“Is still in a lot of pain, but he’s doing pretty
well. And he managed not to verbally or physically assault me.”

Emma’s brows raised in surprised. “That’s good
news.”

He motioned at her and Georgie. “What are you guys
doing?”

“Trying the flashlight trick,” Georgie replied, not
taking his eyes off Emma’s belly.

“Flashlight trick?” he repeated, as he walked over
to them.

Emma nodded. “Since a baby’s eyes start to open in
the sixth month, supposedly pressing a flashlight to your belly will make him
move.” She smiled down at Georgie. “He’s never felt a baby kick, so he wanted
to feel Noah.”

Aidan chuckled. “Any luck?”

Georgie’s lips turned down. “Nope.”

“He’s showing his true Fitzgerald stubbornness by
not cooperating,” Emma said.

“Hey now, I think he’s equally inherited some of
that from you too,” Aidan argued.

“Kick Noah!” Georgie ordered.

Aidan laughed at his determination. “Did you ever
think that maybe you’re making him mad or something? How would you like someone
sticking a flashlight on you and shining it in your eyes?” Grabbing Georgie by
the ankles, he slid him down the bed. “Let’s see how you like it, huh?”

Georgie giggled when Aidan snatched his shirt up and
pressed the flashlight to his stomach. “Stop it, Uncle Aidan!” he said, when he
could catch his breath.

“Did your baby start kicking?” Aidan asked.

Georgie pushed his shirt down. “I don’t have a baby
in my belly, silly!”

“You don’t?”

“No, only mommie’s have babies in their bellies.”

“Oh, I see.” He tickled his fingers up Georgie’s
sides, causing him to laugh and squirm again.

“Quick Georgie!” Emma cried.

Aidan grabbed Georgie’s waist and hoisted him back
up to Emma. She took his hand and brought it to her belly. His eyes widened.
“Uncle Aidan, Noah’s kicking me!”

Emma grinned. “He must like the sound of your laugh
because that’s what got him going, not the flashlight.”

Georgie dropped his hand to lean over and kiss the
spot where he had been feeling. “I love you, Noah!”

Aidan smiled when tears sparkled in Emma’s emerald
eyes. He was getting used to her hormonal waterworks at the drop of a hat.

Georgie, however, peered up at her in surprise. “Why
are you crying, Aunt Emma?”

“Because you’re such a sweet boy,” she replied,
drawing him into her arms. She kissed the crown of Georgie’s head as she hugged
him. It didn’t escape by Aidan how Georgie had called Emma ‘aunt’, and she
hadn’t protested.

“I gotta go pee-pee,” Georgie said, squirming away
from Emma and hopping off the bed.

As he swept by Aidan, Emma’s gaze honed in on the
bag at his side. “What’s that?”

“Oh, um…” He rubbed his jaw and shifted on his feet.
He didn’t know why he was nervous about giving her the gift. It was just a
stupid onesie. “It’s something for Noah.”

Emma’s green eyes instantly lit up. “Really?”

“It’s nothing much. I just saw it in the store and
thought of him…and you.”

With a grin like a kid on Christmas morning, she
snatched the bag from his hands. Her fingers dug inside to pull out the onesie.
She unfolded it and peered at the writing. “I’m cute, Mommy’s cute, and Daddy’s…”
She tore her gaze up to meet his.

“Daddy’s lucky,” he finished for her.

“Oh Aidan,” she murmured. Tears once again welled in
her eyes, but a pleased smile curved on her full lips as she ran her fingers
over the onesie. She tilted her head up at him. “Thank you. This is too
adorable and sweet. And I love that the first article of clothing anyone has
gotten for him is from his father.”

“Besides his christening gown,” Aidan reminded her.

“Oh, you’re right. But still.”

“If I knew you were going to get that sentimental
about it, I would have bought him something nicer,” he mused.

“It’s not just the onesie, Aidan. It’s what it
says,” she said softly. Her eyes met his, and his heart leapt at the love he
could see burning in hers. If he could only bottle moments like these, he could
then give them back to her whenever she tried to doubt her love for him.

“Aunt Emma?” Georgie asked, squirming back up on the
bed.

“What honey?”

“I was just wonderin’ how did Noah get in your
belly?”

“Um,  well…”

“Mommy says he’s Uncle Aidan’s baby, so did he put
it there?”

Emma’s eyes bulged as she stared up at Aidan. “Uh,
well…”

John and Percy then appeared in the doorway. “You
know, I’m a little fuzzy on that one too, so maybe you can explain it to us
all,” John said, with an amused smirk.

Aidan turned to scowl at John. “Georgie,” he began,
“where babies come from is really something you need to ask your mom and dad
about.”

Georgie’s blonde brows furrowed. “Why? Is it a
secret?”

“No, it’s just, um, well…” Aidan rubbed the back of
his neck while trying to come up with an answer. Finally, he remembered what
his own mother had told him when he was just a kid and his sister Angie was
pregnant. “It’s like this. When a man and woman love each other very much, the
love grows inside the woman and makes a baby.”

Rubbing his chin, John asked, “So I guess that means
you love Emma, huh?”

Aidan shot him a death glare before turning his gaze
back to Georgie. Wonderment flickered on his face at the explanation. “That’s
so cool that I grew as my Mommy and Daddy’s love,” he murmured.

When Aidan dared to look at Emma, she stared
wide-eyed, open-mouthed back at him. Although he insinuated it every day, he
still hadn’t managed to actually say the words. Maybe now was the perfect time
to say it and seal the deal between them.

“Hey guys, there’s some homemade brownies from
Emma’s Grammy in the kitchen if you want some.”

Georgie scrambled off the bed while John and Percy
hightailed it down the hall. Once they were alone, he smiled at Emma. “How was
my explanation?”

She sucked in a breath. “Good…and sweet. And he
totally bought it.”

“But did you?”

“What do you mean?” she whispered.

His heartbeat pounded in his ears. This was it. It
was now or never. He took a tentative step forward and opened his mouth.

“Aidan Fitzgerald, what are you doing giving my sons
chocolate before dinner?” Becky demanded from the doorway with a hand on her
hip.

Fuck! His moment had been totally ruined. He whirled
around to glare at Becky. She gave him a funny look. “Between John and Percy,
I’m not sure if you have any brownies left for Emma.”

He raked a hand though his hair and sighed
resignedly. “I’m sorry, Sis. They helped me lug in the groceries, so I thought
they could use a snack.”

She grinned. “I guess you’re forgiven then.” Becky
then turned her attention to Emma. “Everything go okay while I was gone?”

Emma nodded. “They were the best baby-sitters I’ve
had so far.”

Becky laughed. “I believe they’ve been your
only
ones besides my little brother here.”

With a teasing smile at Aidan, Emma said, “Oh, he’s
so much more than just a baby-sitter.”

He arched his brows at her. “Oh, really?”

“Mmm, hmm. You’re a cook, a house-keeper, and an
entertainer.”

Aidan shook his head but laughed in spite of
himself. “Yes, I am all those things.”

“Well, I guess I better round up the boys and head
out,” Becky said. She came over to the bed and gave Emma a kiss. “Take care of
your self, Mama.”

“I will…and Aidan will.”

At the loving expression on Emma’s face, Aidan
couldn’t help smiling. “Of course I will.”

“Work him hard then,” Becky said. She gave Aidan a
playful nudge before kissing his cheek.

“You can bet she will,” he mused.

“Bye then,” Becky called with a wave.

Aidan stared at Emma for a moment. Should he go
ahead and say it now or wait until a more opportune moment? Emma’s phone going
off confirmed that he might as well wait.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The next few days rolled along in a monotonous
rhythm. Before long, Emma had completed her first week of bed-rest. She read,
she watched TV and movies, and she visited with Casey and Connor as well as
Aidan’s sisters. True to her word, Grammy came down for a day, and neither Emma
nor Aidan could keep her from cooking them a huge meal along with a dessert.
Emma especially enjoyed when Patrick came by. She was so glad to see him
looking healthy and a complete opposite from when she had seen him last. They
were both on the road to recovery, and she was so grateful.

Fortunately, Aidan’s leave of absence had turned
into more of a work from home situation. Emma liked the fact he was kept busy
so he wouldn’t be hovering over her 24/7 acting like a deranged mother hen. It
wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy having him around. She loved the fact he was
willing to do anything and everything she asked him to. He was good company
with the fact he ate all his meals with her and usually fell asleep watching
movies, which meant he ended up sleeping by her side.

Every day they seemed to grow closer and closer. But
worry gnawed deep in the pit of her stomach. She feared her hormones and the
close quarters of her bed-rest situation were making her blind to the truths of
Aidan’s character. After all, she’d been fooled by him once before. Could she
really ever trust him completely again? Could she emotionally withstand
building a life with him only for it to all fall apart if he cheated again?

On Monday afternoon, she had just settled in to
watch a marathon of one of her favorite old series,
Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman
,
when her phone buzzed beside her. At the name on the screen, her heartbeat
accelerated so fast it threatened to beat out of her chest.

It was from Pesh.
Would it be presumptuous of me
to inquire about checking on you tonight?

She shook her head as she read and reread his text.
Not only did he always sound so different than the men she knew, but he was
always so kind and thoughtful. He had already called twice to check on her, but
he had yet to broach the subject of coming by.

Sure. That sounds great.

I’ve even secured a portable ultrasound
machine, so we can check on Little Man.

At the mention of Noah, Emma’s heart melted.
Aw,
thank you so much.

Is five too early? I have to go in at
nine tonight.

That’s fine.

Wonderful. Do you like Indian food?

Emma nibbled her bottom lip before responding.
Actually,
I’ve never eaten any.

Seriously?

Yep.

Wish you could see how far my mouth is
hanging open right now.

With a giggle, Emma typed
Sorry. Diehard Southern
girl raised in the boonies.

We’ll have to remedy that. I’ll bring
you several courses from my favorite Indian restaurant.

That sounds wonderful.

Just text me the address, and I’ll see
you in a little while
.

As her fingers punched out the street number of
Aidan’s house, revulsion flooded through her. Was she seriously about to bring
another man into Aidan’s house? A man whose very presence had the ability to
confuse her about the depth of her feelings for Aidan? “Ugh, you’re a hateful,
awful person, Emma Harrison!” she moaned, her head falling back against the
pillows. Why did everything have to be so complicated?

She knew what Casey would say. It became complicated
because Aidan almost banged another woman and broke her heart and her trust. If
he hadn’t made such a mistake, she wouldn’t even be entertaining the idea of
Pesh. But at the same time, Aidan had been trying so hard to win her
forgiveness, and she couldn’t ignore the fact he was her child’s father.

“Heartless bitch,” she muttered as her internal
monologue worked on overdrive of calling herself out.

But in all honesty, it wasn’t like she was inviting
Pesh over to have sex with him. He was coming in a medical capacity for
goodness sake. Just because he happened to be bringing dinner didn’t mean it
was a date or anything special. She had told him at the hospital that she
wasn’t sure she had anything to give him, so it wasn’t like she was leading him
on…or being unfaithful to Aidan.