The Proposition (The Proposition #1)(15)

He chuckled as he wrapped his arm around her waist and led her out of the restaurant. Emma leaned her head against his chest, enjoying the woodsy smell of his cologne. When he started for the elevators, she glanced up and asked, “Don’t we need to check-in?”

He fished the room key out of his jacket pocket and waved it at her. “All taken care of.”

“Aren’t you just the man with the plan,” she replied, and then giggled like it was the funniest thing she had ever said. When Aidan glanced down at her in amusement, she shook her head. “Seriously, never, ever drinking again.”

“Nah, you’re pretty cute when you’re tipsy,” he said, punching the elevator button.

The doors opened, and they stepped inside. The car’s jolt upward made Emma’s legs feel rubbery, and she clung to Aidan tighter. The elevator dinged when they reached their floor. “After you,” Aidan insisted when the doors opened.

“Thank you.” But when she stepped out, she turned right and then left, unsure of which way to go.

“This way,” Aidan instructed, taking her by the arm.

When they reached their room, Emma’s gaze caught the brass nameplate on the door, and she grabbed Aidan’s suit sleeve. “What are we doing here? This is a Honeymoon suite.”

“Yes, I realized that when I booked it. I was told it happens to be one of the nicest ones they have.” He grinned. “Besides, I thought you might be more comfortable doing what we have to do if it looked like we were married.”

She blinked in disbelief. “That’s so sweet. You’ve thought of everything, didn’t you?”

“Anything to make you more comfortable.”

Her heart fluttered at his words. “Thank you.”

Aidan unlocked the door. “After you.”

CHAPTER SIX

Emma walked into the suite and gasped. A trail of intertwining pink and red rose petals led the way from the living room into the bedroom. On the coffee table, a bottle of champagne chilled in a silver bucket next to two champagne flutes. An overflowing bowl of strawberries dipped in chocolate caused her stomach to growl. She turned her gaze and then followed the rose petals into the bedroom where rows of candles waited to be lit, and a pink wrapped package sat on the bed.

She glanced back to Aidan who was shrugging out of his suit jacket. “You did all this for me?”

“I’d like to take credit, but the staff did all the fruity candle stuff and flowers,” he replied, tossing the key card on the table. At her continued bewildered expression, he chuckled. “What did you expect? A single bed and a quickie? I know this is just about procreating, but give me a little credit.”

“No…but I just didn’t imagine this.” She smiled shyly. “For what it’s worth, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“What’s in the box?” she asked, motioning to the bed.

“Something for you.”

“Me?”

He nodded and handed her the package. “Before you open it, let me say this. You already know you don’t need to do anything but breathe to give me a raging hard-on—”

“Aidan!” she protested.

He laughed at her outrage. “Anyway, I’m kind of a lingerie man, so I thought you might humor me and wear it.”

She opened the lid on the box. After whisking away the pink tissue paper, her eyes honed in on emerald green satin. Her fingers trembled as she reached inside to pull out the baby-doll nightie. The bodice had intricate green and gold beading and embroidered flowers with sheer material that would reach her thighs along with a matching thong.

“Is it okay?”

“It’s beautiful,” she murmured. The thought of him shopping just for her was overwhelming. Did he do that for all his conquests, or did they come with their own readymade lingerie? “Thank you.”

Aidan’s face broke into a wide grin. “I don’t know about it being beautiful. It’s more about how you’re so f**king sexy when you’re in green. Just like that green dress at the Christmas Party and the one you’re wearing tonight.” He tenderly brushed a strand of her auburn hair out of her face. “That color makes everything about you stand out from your hair to eyes.”

“But how did you even know my size?”

“Casey helped me out with that one.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Why am I not surprised? I’ll have to remember to thank her for that.”

Aidan laughed. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, she swore she’d cut my balls off if I ruined this night for you.”

“She didn’t?” Emma squeaked.

“Oh yeah, she did.”

“Between Connor and Casey, I can’t believe you even want to go through with this!”

“It’s okay. I work well under pressure,” Aidan joked. He motioned his head to the bathroom. “Now go get your game face on and change.”

Emma giggled. “Okay, then.” She slipped into the bathroom and shut the door, locking it for good measure. She unzipped her dress, and it pooled into a whisper of chiffon on the floor. After exchanging her panties for the thong, she whisked off her bra and put on the nightie. There were no buttons or zippers, just a satin bow to tie in the middle to keep it in place. When she finished, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. “Oh my,” she murmured. Somehow donning the nightie had morphed her into a full-on sex kitten. She could practically hear Casey’s voice ringing in her ear. Go get him, babe!