The Proposition (The Proposition #1)(77)
And then the image of Emma lounging on her grandparent’s dock, her hand tenderly stroking the belly that carried his child, flashed before his eyes. She loved him, and deep down, he loved her. He shouldn’t take Heather’s offer. No, he couldn’t take her offer.
But then the suffocating weight of a relationship and impending fatherhood once again bore down on him. He had never asked for any of it. All he wanted was to finally get Emma into bed and then move on like he always did. He clenched his teeth. Damn, Emma, for making him want more with her…for making him love her.
No, he would not drown himself in his feelings for Emma. He would get out now while he still could.
“There’s O’Malley’s across the street,” he croaked.
“That sounds wonderful,” Heather replied, her voice a throaty purr.
When he started to walk around the side of the desk, Aidan found himself rooted to the floor. His brain screamed at his feet and legs to pick themselves up, but they refused. It was as if they owed some strange allegiance to his heart and to Emma. At Heather’s puzzled expression, he forced a smile to his face. “Sorry, sitting in meetings like that always makes me a little stiff.”
“In some places that isn’t a problem,” she replied, with a giggle.
He laughed at her innuendo while his legs and feet finally worked. He grabbed his briefcase and started out the boardroom door with her.
Even though Heather chatted non-stop the entire elevator ride down, Aidan didn’t hear her. He bobbed his head at certain points or smiled, and that seemed to be enough to pacify her. All he could do was focus on what he was trying to accomplish. He had to purge Emma from his system, and if it took f**king Heather to do it, then he was going to do it.
He held the door open for her as they swept into O’Malley’s. He cringed at the sight of Jenny behind the hostess booth. At the sight of him, her eyes lit up. Her face started to break into a wide grin, but then she noticed Heather. Her expression immediately darkened, and anger flashed in her usually cool blue eyes.
Aidan cleared his throat. “We need a booth, Jenny.”
She shook her head furiously, causing her blonde ponytail to swish back in forth. “I’m sorry, but we seem to be full tonight.”
Staring past her, Aidan eyed the half empty bar and turned his pointed gaze back on her. “Looks to me like you’ve got plenty of room.”
“No, I’m sorry we don’t. I guess you and your friend will have to go somewhere else.”
Heather clicked towards Jenny on her high-end heels that Aidan wagered probably cost more than Jenny made in a week. He held his breath as Heather surmised Jenny. Then her plump red lips curved into a cat-like smile. “Looks like someone is a little jealous that we’re here together, Aidan. What’s the matter, honey? Are you one of Aidan’s spurned lovers or former one night stands?” Heather ran her acrylic nails up his back, causing him to shudder. “I’m glad to see you live up to your bad boy reputation. I’m pretty much guaranteed an interesting evening now.”
Jenny sputtered something under her breath that Aidan didn’t catch. Heather cast one last superior glance at Jenny before saying, “I’ll wait for you outside. I’m sure you’ve got a well-stocked liquor cabinet at your house. No need to waste our time here.”
At Heather’s departure, Jenny’s eyebrows shot up so high they disappeared into her hairline. “Where is Emma? Better yet, what the hell are you doing with her?”
Aidan narrowed his eyes. “Frankly, it’s none of your damn business!”
“Well, I’m sorry, but when one of my friend’s is about to f**k up his life royally, I make it my business!” Jenny countered.
A growl erupted deep in his throat. “I don’t need this bullshit from you.”
Sadness washed over Jenny’s expression. “I’m begging you, Aidan. Don’t do this. I’ve never seen you as happy since you’ve been coming in here with Emma. She’s so good for you, don’t you see that?” When he started to walk away, she grabbed his arm. “Before you go home with that skank for a night of mindless and meaningless sex, think long and hard about what you have with Emma, and don’t break her heart…and yours.”
Aidan stared into Jenny’s pleading eyes before slinging her arm away. Without another word, he stormed through the door and out to Heather’s side.
***
After Heather followed him home, Aidan got out of the car. He had barely closed the door when Heather launched herself at him, pinning him to the car. His mind instantly flashed back to his and Emma’s first kiss in the dingy parking deck. An ache rolled through his chest.
Grabbing Heather to him, he tried to make himself forget. Her tongue swept into his mouth as her fingers went to his hair. Her lips were harsh, and it lacked the tenderness he had with Emma. He shook his head, trying to rid any thoughts of her.
At his reaction, Heather broke their kiss, tugging his bottom lip between her teeth. “Take me inside and f**k me until I scream!”
He chuckled at her directness. “I think I can do that.”
It had been so long since he had been with a demanding female. Aidan could barely get up the front walk with Heather running her hands over him as well as rubbing her h*ps against his. “I have nosy neighbors, you know,” he said, when her hand caressed his bu**ocks.