The Proposal (31 page)

“You were my stud horse once upon a time, remember?”

“
Were
. I’m your husband now, so the whole
giddy-up thing is a little ridiculous.”

“Roll-playing, babe.” Sweeping her hat off her head,
she placed it on his. When he started to take it off, she said, “Uh-huh. I like
it.”

“You can’t be serious?”

She bit her lip before reaching over to snap the
towel from his waist. She drank in his appearance and then grinned up at him.
“Mmm, yes, I like the sight of you naked in a cowboy hat very,
very
much.”

“Em, you naughty girl,” he murmured, as he leaned
over to kiss her. He made quick work of whisking the negligee over her head.
The sight of her voluptuous, naked form sent his erection bobbing against his
stomach. He cupped her full breasts as his tongue plunged into her mouth. He
worked the nipples until they were erect buds, causing Emma to moan and nibble
his bottom lip between her teeth.

She then brought her hands around his neck and
stroked and tugged the hair at the base of his neck. He groaned into her mouth
as his fingers trailed from her breast down to the apex of her thighs. “No
underwear? You were pretty confident your little stunt would ensure I was a
sure thing, huh?”

She laughed. “And when are you
not
a sure
thing?”

“Never. Because I never get enough of you.”

Emma’s amused expression faded. “Aw, baby, that’s so
sweet,” she said, her eyes shining with love for him. She brought her lips to
his and kissed him passionately, letting her emotions flow out through her
kisses. “I love you, Aidan,” she murmured against his lips.

“I love you, too.” Easing her on her back, he
gripped her hips and slid her bottom to the edge of the bed. Opening her legs
wide, he positioned himself between them as he stayed on his feet. “You okay
with not taking me for a ride?”

“You can take me anyway you want, Cowboy.”

He gave her a wicked grin as his fingers found her
center, which was already dripping with need. “You really were ready for me,
huh?”

“It’s the hat,” she panted as he worked his fingers
in and out of her.

He rolled his eyes. “Seriously?”

She scowled at him. “You fantasize about me in green
lingerie—I wanted you in a cowboy hat.”

“Then I’m glad I can make your fantasies come true.”
He found her sweet spot, and she gripped the sides of the bed.

“Oh yes, yes, right there, Aidan. Oh God! Please!”
she cried, bucking her hips into his hand. When he sent her over the edge, her
head writhed back and forth as she came.

He slid his fingers out of her and then positioned
himself at her entrance. With one thrust, he filled her, causing them both to
moan. “Mmm, wrap your legs around me tight, babe. I want those delicious cowboy
boots digging in my ass.”

She obliged him, and he gasped with pleasure.
Gripping the sides of the mattress, he began thrusting in and out of her.
Emma’s legs remained tight around him, and when he slowed his pace, she dug her
boot heels into his flesh, indicating she wanted him to speed up.

Staring down at her, he cocked his brows. “Are you
sure?”

She licked her lips. “Mmm, hmm,” she murmured.

Obeying her command, Aidan pounded into her. The
more frantic his movements became the more sweat began to trickle down his
body. He would almost need another shower when he was finished with her. He
knew they didn’t have long so when her walls clenched around him, signifying
she had gone over the edge, he gripped her hips and thrust faster and harder
until he cried out her name as he came inside her.

Panting, he leaned over to plant a kiss on her lips.
“Thank you, babe. That was a helluva send off.”

She giggled. “And thank you for indulging my cowboy
fantasy.”

“You’re welcome, ma’am.” Aidan replied, while
tipping his hat back. “Now after you unwrap your delicious legs from me, might
you oblige me with a ride to the airport?”

“I’d be happy, too.”

“Just give me a second to drown myself in some
cologne to mask this heady sex smell. Don’t want to make my business associates
jealous that I got some.”

“Aidan!” Emma squealed, shoving him off of her.

He chuckled. “There’s nothing I love more than
teasing you, Em. Especially when you react like that.”

She grinned. “And I love that you have to tease me
so mercilessly.”

His thumb came to caress her cheek. “And I love
you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

After dropping Aidan off at the airport, Emma
hurried back home. She had just enough time to get ready before the doorbell
rang, announcing Casey’s arrival.

Beau trailed down the hallway behind her as she went
to answer the door. On the second ring, Emma cried, “Would you give me a break?
I’m moving slow.”

She heard Casey’s laughter out on the porch before
the doorbell began to go on and off at lighting speed. “Don’t be a twatwaffle,
Case!” Emma said, as she threw open the door.

Casey wiped her eyes from her amusement. “I had to
tease you.” She then took in Emma’s appearance. “Aw, Em, you look beautiful,”
she squealed, kissing her cheek.

“Thanks. I feel like I threw myself together.”

“What do you mean? You had all afternoon to get
ready before you took Aidan to the airport, didn’t you?”

Emma ducked her head, a flush creeping across her
cheeks. “Well, I might’ve given Aidan a going away present.”

Casey once again roared with laughter. “Em, you
naughty girl.”

“I can’t help it. Even though I’m exhausted, stupid
pregnancy hormones have me horny all the time!”

“Hmm, I’m horny all the time, and I don’t even have
the benefit of being pregnant,” Casey mused.

“Then you’ll kill poor Nate when you’re pregnant.
It’s insane. Trust me.”

Wrinkling her nose, Casey said, “Well, that’s
something I’ll have to worry about in the far distant future. It sure as hell
ain’t happening now.”

Emma grabbed her purse. “Ready to go?”

“Yep. Let’s go get Connor.”

Fifteen minutes later, Casey swung into Connor’s
driveway. He was insistent on driving them in his brand new Lexus 350 SUV.
“Sweet ride, buddy,” Emma said as she climbed into the backseat.

“Thanks. Jeff and I really like it.”

“Everything still going well with you two?” she
asked.

Connor glanced back at her and grinned. “Yep. In
fact, we’re talking about getting married.”

“Really? That’s wonderful.”

“Yeah, obviously we won’t be able to do it around
here, but we’re all about making the commitment.

“That’s awesome,” Casey said, buckling her seatbelt.

“I’m going to expect you two to be my bridesmaids…or
groomsmen…hell, something in the bridal party.”

Emma and Casey laughed. “It would be our pleasure,”
Casey replied.

“As long as it’s after I’ve had enough time to get
some baby weight off,” Emma teased.

Connor eased up to the red-light. “Oh please. Like
you’ll have that much to lose.”

Emma groaned. “Trust me. It’s more than you think.”
Leaning forward in the seat, she waved her swollen fingers at Connor. “See some
of the lovely fluid retention.”

“Ew, that’s disgusting.”

“You should see my feet.”

Casey shook her head. “Oh please, Em. You’re weight
gain is basically only tits and belly.”

Emma wrinkled her nose as Connor snickered. “And
you’ve had a bodacious set of ta-ta’s since 7
^th
grade.”

“Connor!” she cried before smacking his arm.

“Please, you know that from the time you turned
twelve, every guy was talking to your boobs and not your face.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay. That’s enough
talk about my breasts for one evening. I think it’s time for a conversation
change!”

“Fine,” Casey and Connor murmured in unison.

“So where are we off to eat?” Casey asked.

“There’s two new restaurant openings downtown
tonight. Might be some celebrity sightings, too,” Connor said. He glanced back
at Emma to gage her response.

She wrinkled her nose. “Can’t we do something more
familiar with less of a crowd?”

“Jesus, you already sound like an old-fart married
woman,” Connor moaned.

“I can’t help that being pregnant makes me tired.”

“Oh no. Don’t be blaming it on the pregnancy. It’s
your fault for giving Aidan a sexy send-off complete with cowboy boots,” Casey
said with a wicked grin.

Emma flushed as Connor groaned. “Oh God, I could
have lived a life-time without that one.” He shook his head like he was trying
to shake himself of the thought. “Okay, so no high-end, glitzy places for Miss
Banging Boots back there.”

“Ugh, I can’t believe you two sometimes,” Emma
grumbled as Casey snickered.

“Well, it’s your night, love, so you can pick,”
Casey said.

“How about the Cheesecake Factory?” Emma suggested.

“Fine, we’ll go to the uber not happening Perimeter
location,” Connor joked.

“Good. I’m excited,” Emma said with a grin.

When they got to the restaurant, they had to fight
their way through the teeming crowd. “Doesn’t look so uber not happening to
me!” Emma shouted over the noise.

“It’s Friday night. It’s going to be crazy
anywhere.”

Thirty minutes later when they finally got a table,
Emma’s feet were screaming in agony. As she flopped down in the booth, pain
shot up her lower back. “Ow!” she yelped.

“Are you okay?”

She giggled. “Yeah, I was expecting a little more
cushioning—not that I don’t have enough padding back there.” When Connor
started to open his mouth, she wagged a finger at him. “I don’t need any
comments about how I’ve always had junk in my trunk either, thank you very
much.”

“You’re such a prude,” he replied with a wink.

By the time they finished their meal and Emma had
gorged herself on her favorite Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake, she was
exhausted. She wanted nothing more than to go home, get into her pajamas, and
curl up on the couch. She just hoped that Casey and Connor didn’t have anymore
big plans for the evening.

As they got up, Emma winced as her hand flew to rub
her back. What had been a dull throbbing during dinner was now pulsing. She
hobbled out of the restaurant and tried desperately to keep up with Connor and
Casey.

“Guys, we’re not running the Peachtree Road Race.
Would you slow down!” she called.

“God, Em, just when I thought you couldn’t be any
slower,” Casey remarked, walking back to her.

“My back is killing me.”

Casey snorted. “Do you have a sex sprain?”

Emma narrowed her eyes. “It isn’t a sex sprain. It
started back in the booth.”

Thankfully, they made it to the car. When she got up
into the SUV, a strange feeling rippled through her back and belly before a
deluge of water swept down her thighs. At first, mortification filled her that
she was experiencing pregnancy incontinence. But then the revelation hit her.
She had gone to the bathroom before their meal arrived…and before dessert. “Oh
God,” she murmured.

“What’s wrong?” Casey asked, checking her reflection
in the mirror and applying more lip stick.

Emma drew in a ragged breath. “Um, I think my water
just broke.”

Both Casey and Connor whirled around in their seats,
shock and horror etched across their faces. “What?” Casey demanded.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure. It’s all over me.”

“Oh shit, Em, don’t tell me you just ruined my new
leather seats?” Connor moaned.

Casey smacked his arm hard. “It’s not like she can
help it.”

Embarrassment warmed Emma’s cheeks. “I’m so, so
sorry, Connor. I promise I’ll pay to have it professionally cleaned.” The
moment the words left her lips raging pain crisscrossed its way through her
abdomen, causing her to cry out. She pinched her eyes shut and breathed in
deep, trying to ride it out.

“Em?” Casey questioned.

Once the pain passed, she opened her eyes. Both
Casey and Connor stared expectantly at her. “Yeah, um, I think we’re going to
have to cancel our sleepover. I need to get to the hospital.
Now
.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“Goodnight!” Aidan called as he left his business
dinner. Rolling his shoulders, he fought the fatigue that filled him. He wanted
nothing more than to get back to the hotel and call it a night. When Emma’s
familiar ring tone came on, he dug his phone out of his pocket. “Miss me
already, sweetheart?” he joked.