The Proposal (The Proposition #2)(19)

“I figured as much.”

“Have a seat. I’ll go let Beau out of the basement.”

When Aidan eased down on the couch, a memory flashed in his mind of making love to Emma in the very same spot before they went to see her grandparents for the first time. He heard Beau long before he saw him racing around the corner.

“Hey boy!” he cried, rising up off the couch.

At the sight of Aidan, Beau went into full freak-out mode with his whole body wiggling while he whined and cried. He barreled into Aidan, knocking him back down onto the couch. Then he went to licking Aidan’s face, hands, and any other body part he could get his tongue on.

Emma laughed. “See, I told you he missed you.”

Beau barked a few times as if in agreement, and then went back to slurping his tongue over Aidan’s face. “Okay, boy, I missed you, too.” Aidan rubbed over Beau’s back and then patted his head.

“Now sit down, Beau, and be a good boy,” Emma instructed.

To Aidan’s surprise, Beau obediently slid down onto the floor and sat stock still for Aidan to pet him. “Damn, I can’t believe you’ve gotten him to obey.”

“It’s taken some time.”

“Did you take good care of Mommy while I was gone?” Aidan asked, scratching Beau’s ears. At her sharp intake of breath, he glanced up at her and winked.

“He’s been wonderful company. Especially at night,” she replied softly.

“I can imagine. The nights alone have been hell on me.”

Emma opened her mouth to say something, but then suddenly wagged her finger at Beau. “Stop that licking, or I’m going to put the cone of shame back on you.”

Aidan laughed as he patted Beau’s back. “Don’t be so uptight, Em. He’s just a dog. Let him lick himself if he wants to.”

She shook her head. “If he keeps licking like that, he’s going to cause an infection with his stitches from his surgery.”

“Surgery?” Aidan repeated lamely. “What happened to him?” When Emma didn’t respond, Aidan glanced up to see her flushing and ducking her head. Oh no. She couldn’t have gone there. She wouldn’t have done that. Taking Beau by the collar, he turned him slowly around. At the sight of his lost manhood, he sucked in a breath. “You had him fixed?”

Emma nibbled on her bottom lip. “The vet suggested it. He said it would help calm Beau down and make it easier for him to get acclimated when Noah’s born.”

Aidan rose off the floor. “Jesus, Em, first you wanted my balls on a skewer, and now you had to take my dog’s!”

“I never wanted your…balls!” she huffed in protest.

“Symbolically you did.”

She rolled her eyes. “But look how much calmer he already is.”

Aidan glanced at Beau. As much as he hated to admit it, he was way more relaxed. “Yeah, well, you should have consulted with me first. He’s my dog!”

She winced as if in pain. She took a few slow steps before easing down into the chair. “Whoa, wait a minute. Don’t walk away. We’re not through discussing this.”

“Em?” When she didn’t respond, he walked around the side of the chair. He squatted down in front of her. His heart jolted to a stop and restarted at the anguished expression etched on her face. “Em, what’s wrong?”

“I’m…cramping.” She closed her eyes, and her chest rose and fell in harsh breaths. “It hurts really bad.”

Fear crashed over Aidan’s head. “Come on. Let’s get you to the hospital.” Before she could protest, he took her hand and helped her out of the chair. She whimpered and clutched her abdomen. “I’ll carry you if you need me to,” he said.

“No, I can make it,” she replied.

He wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her. “Stay Beau,” he called over his shoulder. Beau whined, but reluctantly, he sat down in the foyer. When they started out the door, Emma froze. “My purse.”

“I’ll get it.” He whirled around and went to snatch it from its place on the floor. He then returned to Emma’s side to help her out of the door and down the porch steps. “You want to take your car since it’s closer? I can move mine.”

She shook her head. “No, no, yours is fine.”

“How’s the pain?”

“Intense,” she panted.

“Are you bleeding or do you think your water broke?”

“No, it’s just the contractions.”

A tiny flicker of relief filled him. “It’s going to be okay, Em. We’ll get you to the hospital, and whatever it is, they’ll fix it.”

His heart shattered when she stared up at him with eyes pooling with tears. “I hope so.”

“Have faith.”

He opened the car door and eased her down onto the seat. As soon as he shut her door, he sprinted over to the driver’s side. He climbed inside and cranked up. After pealing out into the street, he glanced over at Emma.

Her eyes were closed and her brows furrowed while she bit down on her lip. Taking one of his hands off the steering wheel he grabbed up one of hers. Her eyes flew open, and she stared over at him. “I’m here for you, Emma.”

“Thank you…I’m glad.” She squeezed his hand tight. Refusing to let go, she used her other hand to dig her phone out of her purse. She thrust it over at Aidan. “Call Casey,” she murmured.