The Proposal (The Proposition #2)(41)

Pesh’s closeness caused her heartbeat to accelerate. His woodsy smell, the heat from his body, the tousled dark hair she wanted to run her fingers through—it drove her to distraction. Breathing normally like he had requested was completely out of the question. Instead, she managed to draw in several harsh pants. Pesh’s dark eyes swept from the stethoscope up to hers. He took the buds out of his ears and smiled knowingly. “Either I’m making you nervous, or you need to get back to the hospital for your erratic breathing and heartbeat.”

She felt a warm flush creeping across her cheeks. “No, it’s you,” she murmured.

He cocked his eyebrows. “So you’re saying if Dr. Pendleton were here taking your vitals you wouldn’t be reacting this way?”

Laughter sputtered from her lips. “Of course not.”

Shifting his body, he leaned in closer to her. His dark eyes penetrated hers. “Why do I make you nervous, Emma?”

Her mouth ran dry, and she licked her lips. “Because…” You’re so damn good-looking, and your fabulous body kicks my pregnancy hormones into overdrive, making me think things about you I normally wouldn’t. But more than the lust, you’re kind and compassionate, and if given the chance, I could see myself falling for you.

Emma exhaled the breath she had been holding. “I told Aidan that there was nothing between us, and that you knew I couldn’t give you more. But now that you’re in front of me, looking at me…” She shuddered. “You confuse me.”

“I confuse you?”

Staring down at her hands, she said, “I still care very deeply for Aidan, but when I’m with you, I start to feel…differently.”

“I could argue that it’s merely biological, and that your body is just seeking out a mate to protect you and your child.”

“If that’s the case, then I would only feel for Aidan, right?”

Pesh’s expression grew serious. “So I at least have a chance to woo you?”

“To woo me?”

He laughed. “Not a word you would usually use?”

“Not exactly.”

He tilted his head in thought. “Hmm, a chance to win you over by romancing you? To wine and dine you?”

Emma smiled and pointed to her belly. “There will be no wining, and with my bed rest, our dining is going to be a little limited.”

“Ah, but that’s why I brought food to you.” He rose off the couch. “Let me go get it, and we’ll commence our wooing.”

When he winked at her, she laughed. “Okay.”

Pesh stopped when he got to the door and turned around. “As long as I have a chance to win your heart, Emma, I’ll take whatever you can give me.”

Emma tried not to be overwhelmed by his words. All she planned on giving him was her friendship, and that was it—nothing more and nothing less. Regardless of what her traitorous body wanted to feel that was going to be it.

He carried two large food bags when he swept back through the door. “Goodness. I don’t eat that much you know!” Emma teased.

Pesh laughed. “I know, but I just wanted you to get a good flavoring for different Indian courses and dishes.” He glanced around. “Should I take these to the kitchen?”

“No, just put them here on the table. We’ll have a picnic of sorts.”

“Sounds good to me.” Once he sat the bags down, he turned back to her. Rubbing his hands, he said, “Before we dig in, let’s check on Little Man.”

Emma laughed at his enthusiasm. “Okay.”

“It’s hard to believe technology has come so far that we actually have portable ultrasound machines.”

“It’s crazy.”

Pesh set up the device and then turned to lift her top. Emma instinctively reached out to knock his hand away. His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I’m sorry. I was just—”

“I know. I was being ridiculous.”

She then eased her top up over her belly and lamented the fact Pesh had to see her like this. If he managed to see her swollen stomach and didn’t appear totally repulsed, maybe he really was worth giving a chance romantically. She quickly shook the thought out of her head when he squirted the cold jelly on her skin.

He ran the wand over her stomach, and Noah’s grainy image appeared on the screen. “There he is. Looking good too, I might add.”

Emma focused in on Noah. His arms and legs flailed a bit as the wand seemed to disturb his resting. In fact, he gave two enthusiastic kicks to prove he wanted to be left alone. “His heart rate is normal, and everything looks good with the placenta.” Pesh glanced up from the monitor to meet Emma’s gaze. “No more contractions or pain?”

“Nope. Everything has been fine.”

He smiled. “Such a blessing to hear. I’m sure once you’re off bed-rest in the next week, you can look forward to a happy and healthy remainder of your pregnancy.”

“That’s what I’ve been hoping and praying for,” Emma replied.

Pesh patted her hand reassuringly. “Just believe it.” He then put away the wand.

Emma glanced down at her sticky belly. “Do you mind grabbing me a hand towel from the kitchen?”

From his medical bag, he produced a towel. “I always come prepared.”