The Proposition (The Proposition #1)(76)

“Oh wow,” Casey said.

Janine smiled down at Emma. “It looks and sounds very strong, too.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Pressing the wand harder on Emma’s stomach, Janine peered at the screen. “Well, you’re in luck. Your baby is giving us a pretty good shot between the legs.”

“Really?”

Janine nodded. “Sometimes they’re lying at angles which block the gender, or they’ll just be stubborn and turn where we can’t see. But yours must want us to know without a shadow of a doubt.”

Emma’s chest tightened. Her mouth ran dry, and she licked her lips. Glancing over her shoulder, she eyed Casey and Connor. They both leaned forward so far in their chairs that Emma feared they would fall in the floor.

“So what it is?” Emma croaked.

Janine smiled. “It’s a strong, healthy….boy.”

A sob erupted from Emma’s throat as happy tears stung her eyes. Patrick and Grammy had been right. It was a boy. She was going to give Aidan a son to carry on his family name. She closed her eyes and gave a silent prayer of thanks to God that her son was strong and healthy.

When she opened her eyes, Connor and Casey were at her side. Both leaned over to hug her. “Congratulations, Mama!” Casey said, kissing Em’s cheek.

“A boy, huh? Hope he’s as handsome and smart as his Gunkle Connor.”

“Gunkle?” Emma questioned.

“You know, ‘gay uncle’.”

Casey snickered. “I’m not sure how Big Papa Fitzgerald is going to feel about that one.”

Emma laughed. “I think he’ll be okay with it. I mean, who doesn’t appreciate people to love their child?”

“Hell yeah, I’m going to love him! He’s part of you, so that makes him all the more loveable,” Conner said, with a wink.

Janine handed Emma a DVD along with several print-outs of the ultrasound. “Congratulations again.”

“Thanks,” Emma murmured, her gaze honing in on the grainy images in her hand.

“So when are you going to tell Big Papa?” Casey asked.

“Oh, um, I guess when he gets in tonight. I don’t want to tell him over the phone or by text or something.”

“You should go surprise him at work,” Connor suggested.

Emma ran her fingers over the ultrasound picture. At any moment, she expected it to evaporate and for it all to have been just a dream. After Casey cleared her throat, Emma bobbed her head. “That sounds like a good idea. From the way he sounded, it could be pretty late.”

Casey pulled Emma into her embrace and then kissed her cheek. “I’m so proud and happy for you.”

Emma grinned. “Thank you.” She squeezed Casey tight. “Most of all, thank you for being my rock through all of this, especially today.” She smiled at Connor. “And you, too.”

“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” Casey replied as Connor nodded. She kissed Emma’s cheek. “Now go on and tell Big Papa the happy news.”

“I sure will!”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

“I want to thank you all for staying late. I’m thrilled at how everything has panned out, and I look forward to a successful merger.”

As soon as the CEO exited the boardroom, Aidan dug his phone out of his jacket pocket. Glancing down at the time, he grimaced. There was no way in hell he could get across town to Emma’s appointment. Shame echoed through him when he felt relieved at missing the ultrasound. Confirming the baby’s sex made its impending arrival all the more real. Loosening his tie, he fought the choking feeling that continued to plague him. His hand tingled again, and he was right back on the dock feeling the baby move with Emma.

He was rubbing his fingers under his collar when someone cleared her throat. He glanced up to find the boardroom empty except for a stacked brunette who was new to his department.

“I don’t think we’ve been formerly introduced,” the brunette said with an inviting smile. “I’m Heather Donnovan.”

He extended his hand. “Aidan Fitzgerald.”

“Oh, I know who you are,” Heather replied, letting her hand linger on his a little longer than it should have. “You have quite a reputation here.”

Aidan’s eyebrows arched. “Do I?”

She nodded. “Both in and out of the boardroom.”

For the first time in his whole life, Aidan was completely inept at how to handle a woman’s advances. Normally, he would have taken the initiative from the moment she stayed back to be alone with him. But now he was at a total loss for words.

She tilted her head to the right and grinned coyly. “You know I’m new here in Atlanta, so I don’t know a lot of people. Would you like to have a drink with me?”

Aidan’s heartbeat accelerated as the weight of Heather’s question crashed over him. His mind and heart battled against each other. It sent his blood pumping harder and harder through his veins until it pounded like a brass band in his ears. He had been down this road many, many times before. He knew exactly what Heather was insinuating, and it wasn’t just a harmless drink after work.

He could almost taste the need radiating off of her. If he made the move, she probably wouldn’t object to him f**king her right on the boardroom table. The very thought of pushing up her skirt, tearing off her panties and devouring her sent heat stirring below his waist.