The Proposition (The Proposition #1)(32)

Emma crossed her arms over her chest. “Last time I checked, your heart is above your waist, not below it.”

Aidan laughed. “Okay, okay. I get it. So what’s the story?”

“Fine. Here’s the Sparknotes version: his name was Steve, we were eighteen, and I was in love with his best friend.”

“Ouch, that had to suck for ol’ Steve.”

“I never meant to hurt him, but from the time I turned sixteen, there was never anyone in the world for me but Travis.”

“Did you go out with him to make Travis jealous?”

“No, at first I thought Steve would make me forget him. We were all in school and church together, but Travis acted like I was nothing more than a friend. Steve was the kind of guy who brought you flowers and called you in the morning to see how you were doing. He also respected my boundaries about sex.”

“Poor Steve,” Aidan joked.

Emma laughed. “Now I didn’t say he wasn’t getting any sexual satisfaction.”

“Just not the full enchilada.”

She wrinkled her nose. “If you have to put it that way, I guess so.”

Aidan grinned. “So what happened?”

“Even though he should have been everything I could ever want in a boyfriend, I felt nothing. It wasn’t fair to him, so I broke up with him. He was so devastated he got Travis to come and talk to me.”

Emma ducked her head, fighting the dreamy smile spreading across her cheeks. “Travis came stomping in my room, red faced and furious, demanding how the hell could I break his best friend’s heart. After listening to him rant and rave for about five minutes, I finally just screamed I was in love with him.”

Aidan’s eyes widened. “Holy shit! That took balls. What did he say?”

Emma laughed. “That he was in love with me too, but he didn’t want to hurt Steve. So we waited a few months to start dating, and then we were inseparable.”

“And Steve was okay with it?”

“He wasn’t thrilled, but he found someone else.”

Aidan stared at her for a moment and then grinned. “After unloading that heavy shit, I think we need some more wine.”

“Yes, I think we do, too.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

When Aidan didn’t return within a few minutes, Emma went in search of him. She found the kitchen empty but heard raised voices coming from the hallway. She craned her head around the corner to see who Aidan was talking to. Three sandy haired boys stood in the foyer outfitted in swimming trunks and carrying pool gear. Their faces were downcast. The smallest one, who couldn’t have been more than five, stomped his foot and huffed, “But Uncle Aidan, you promised we could come swimming anytime!”

“I know, Georgie, but you see—”

The tallest one shook his head. “Dude, this is so not cool.”

“Look, I told you guys that you could come back tomorrow. It’s just tonight isn’t a good time,” Aidan argued.

Emma stepped out into the hall and cleared her throat. Four pairs of eyes focused on her. “What’s going on?”

“So, she’s why we can’t go swimming!” the middle boy exclaimed.

“Ooh, Uncle Aidan’s got a girlfriend!” Georgie said before dissolving in giggles.

Aidan groaned in frustration. “Emma, these are the monsters I mentioned earlier: John, Percy, and Georgie.”

Stepping forward, Emma waved and gave them a bright smile. “Hi guys.”

“Hi,” they murmured. They seemed almost mesmerized by her presence. It made Emma wonder if they’d ever seen a woman at Aidan’s house before.

She cocked her head at them. “Let me guess. Any chance you guys were named after the Romanic poets?”

The tallest one rolled his eyes. “Yeah, unfortunately our parents have a major thing for boring, stuffy British dudes.”

Aidan gave an exasperated grunt. “What he means to say is my sister and brother-in-law are both English professors at Georgia State.” Pointing to the tallest one, he said, “The thirteen year old with the mouth is John Keats. My middle man, Percy Shelley, is eleven, and George Byron, or Georgie, is five.” He turned back to her. “And guys, this is my friend, Emma Harrison.”

“It’s nice meeting you. Looks like you were all set to swim, huh?”

“Yeah, until Loverboy over here decided to ruin it for us,” John replied, scowling at Aidan.

Jabbing his finger in the air, Aidan practically growled, “Watch your mouth.”

Emma hid her amusement behind her hand. Once she recovered, she said, “In his defense, your uncle didn’t know I was going to have such a bad day today and need some company. But I don’t mind one bit if you guys stay and swim.”

Aidan’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “You don’t?” he asked at the same time Georgie squealed, “Really?”

“Sure why not.”

“All right!” Percy exclaimed before barreling past Emma. John and Georgie were close on his heels.

Emma laughed at their excitement while Aidan shook his head. “I can’t believe you just agreed to have them stay.”

“They’re here to swim, so I highly doubt they’ll even bother us.”

“Famous last words,” Aidan muttered as he ushered Emma back outside.