The Proposal (The Proposition #2)(43)

“Well, my father came to America with his parents when he was just a teenager. He wanted to leave India behind and become Americanized.” Pesh shook his head. “He even changed his name to Charlie.”

“Really?”

Pesh grinned. “Yes, no one I know except my mother and my late grandparents called him by his real name.”

Emma pushed her fork around the plate, uncertain of what to eat next. “What about your mother?”

“She’s the reason why I’m not completely Americanized, or have a name like Bill or something.”

Emma giggled. “I can’t quite see you as a ‘Bill’…William maybe, but definitely not Bill or Billy.”

“Me either.” Pesh wiped his mouth with his napkin. “She came over to marry my father when she was just eighteen. They had known each other as children, but it was very much an arranged marriage.”

“Oh,” Emma murmured. She took a tentative bite of the lesser of the spicy evils. “Was your marriage arranged?”

“No. In fact, Jade was the first non-Indian girl I ever dated.”

“Was your mom angry?”

He bobbed his head. “At first. But Jade very much wanted to acclimate herself to my life and my customs. Over the years we dated, she slowly grew on my mother.” He grinned at Emma. “As for my father, the traitor to his culture, the thoughts of a blonde hair, blue eyed daughter-in-law was a dream come true!”

Emma laughed. “I can only imagine.” When she glanced up from her plate, she saw that Pesh’s expression had turned serious. “What?”

“I can only imagine he would be thrilled with an auburn haired beauty with sparkling green eyes.”

Her fork clattered noisily onto the floor. She and Pesh both leaned over to retrieve it, and they ended up bumping heads. “Oomp,” Emma muttered. She brought her hand to her head and rubbed her aching hairline.

“I’m sorry I upset you,” Pesh said softly.

“You didn’t upset me. It’s just that…” She nibbled her lip, unsure of how to proceed. “When you say things like that, I feel like I’m leading you on. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Emma, I am a grown man. I’m fully capable of taking care of myself and my feelings. I’m also well aware of how plain you’ve made your intentions to me.”

She shook her head. “Then why bother wasting your time on me if I’m all closed off?”

“That’s the same question one might pose to Aidan. Why should he bother pursing you after what he’s done and how you still feel about him?” He gave her a hesitant smile. “Because you’re worth fighting for.”

“Oh God,” she moaned. She covered her face with her hands.

“Did I say something wrong?”

From behind her hands, she replied, “Oh no. That’s the problem. You never say the wrong thing. Everything you say and do is absolutely wonderful.”

Pesh laughed. “I’m sorry for confusing you, Emma. I really am.”

She peeked through her fingers at him. “Really?”

“Well, I could lie and say yes, but the truth is I’m glad I’m slowly breaking down your walls. I want you to be able to see that whenever you’re ready and if you really want me, I’ll be here.”

“You would say something like that,” she grumbled.

Standing up, Pesh stretched his arms over his head. “Okay, I think it’s time for a conversation change and for me to clean up.”

“Oh no, you don’t have to do that.”

“I wouldn’t dream of overstepping your hospitality by leaving a mess.”

“There you go with that worldly talk again,” she remarked.

He wagged his finger at her. “Okay, so I talk worldly. What’s something unique about you?”

“Hmm, well…”

“Oh come on. I know there has to be tons of unique things about you.”

“Okay then, I’m a singer.”

His dark eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You are?”

She nodded and then told Pesh all about growing up singing at her cousin, Gary’s, bar.

“You sang at bar called ‘Doc’s’?” Pesh asked, the corners of his lips turning up in amusement.

“Yes, I did. That was Gary’s nickname.”

“Hmm, I like the irony.”

When Pesh winked at her, she shook her head. “Okay, so I’m a singer. What’s something else unique about you?”

Scratching his chin, Pesh said, “Well, I own and fly my own plane.”

Emma widened her eyes. “You do?”

“Yep. Actually, it isn’t entirely my own plane. My father and middle brother also have their pilot’s licenses.”

“Wow, I’ve never been up in a small plane before.”

“Then I’ll have to take you some time.”

Emma’s heartbeat fluttered at the insinuation. As if he read her confused thoughts, Pesh grinned. “Are you sure you’re done eating?”

Considering her stomach was already churning from the mixture of spices and dishes, she knew she couldn’t eat another bite. “I’m good. Thank you.”

“You won’t mind if I take the left-overs in for the other doctors and nurses?”