The Proposition (The Proposition #1)(9)

“I can walk you.” When she eyed him skeptically, he grinned. “You know, to prove chivalry isn’t dead and all.”

“Okay then.”

Their shoes echoed off the pavement, filling the silent parking deck. “So, um, do you live nearby?” he asked.

“No, I’m about thirty minutes away in East Cobb.”

“That’s not too bad a drive. You know, when there isn’t any traffic.”

Emma ducked her head to keep from giggling at Aidan’s bad attempt at small talk. She must not have hid her amusement very well because he suddenly asked, “What’s so funny?”

She smiled. “Oh, I was just wondering when you might mention the weather.”

“I was that bad, huh?”

“It’s okay.”

He grinned at her. “I guess I’m off my game because you’re not like the women I usually come in contact with.” When she opened her mouth to protest, he shook his head. “Trust me, Em, it’s a compliment.”

“Oh, I see.” Emma motioned to her Accord. “Well, here I am.”

“Connor would be proud I got you here safe and sound.”

Emma grunted as she fished her keys out of her purse. “If he lives to see tomorrow after blabbing to you like he did. I’m surprised he hasn’t taken out a billboard on I-75 saying, “Please Knock Up My Friend!”

Aidan laughed. “Go easy on him. He cares about you.”

Her eyes widened in surprise at the tenderness of his tone. “I know he does.” They stood awkwardly for a moment, staring into each other’s eyes. “Well, thanks again for tonight and for walking me to my car.”

“You’re welcome.” While Emma pressed the unlock button on her key fob, Aidan started walking away, but then he stopped. He turned back and shook his head. “Oh f**k it.” Taking Emma totally off guard, he shoved her against the car. He wrapped his arms around her waist, jerking her flush against him. Electricity tingled through her at his touch, and his scent invaded her nostrils, making her feel lightheaded.

She squirmed in his arms. “What are you—”

He silenced her by leaning over and crushing his lips against hers. She protested by pushing her hands against his chest, but the warmth of his tongue sliding open her lips caused her to feel weak. Her arms fell limply at her sides.

Aidan’s hands swept from her waist and up her back. He tangled his fingers through her long hair as his tongue plunged in her mouth, caressing and teasing Emma’s. Her hands left her side to wrap around his neck, drawing him even closer to her. God, it had been so very long since someone had kissed her, and it had taken Travis a week to get up the nerve to kiss her like this. Aidan was hot and heavy right out of the gate.

Using his hips, Aidan kept her pinned against the car as he kept up his assault on her mouth. Just when she thought she couldn’t breathe and might pass out, he released her lips. Staring down at her with eyes hooded and drunk with desire, Aidan smiled. “Maybe that will help you with your decision.”

And then he pulled away and started off back down the aisle, leaving her hot, bothered, and alone against the car.

CHAPTER THREE

During the next day at lunch, Casey strolled through Emma’s office door and tossed her wallet on the desk. “Do not under any circumstances let me near the vending machines. I have another dress fitting in a week, and it’s salads and celery until then.”

Emma half-heartedly chuckled. Her mind was still reeling from the previous night’s events to be too involved in Casey’s wedding dress diet drama. She had spent the night tossing and turning as her mind whirled with Aidan’s proposition. But mainly she’d been kept awake by her lips still burning from Aidan’s scorching kiss. Her body had ached with longing most of the night as well until she had finally broken down and dug her vibrator out of the nightstand drawer.

After plopping down in the chair, Casey cocked her head at Emma. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing,” Emma lied.

Casey eyed her while opening up her Tupperware container. “Bullshit. You look like hell.”

“Thanks. I’m going to assume that’s the low carb diet stress talking, and you’re not just intentionally being bitchy?”

“Ha, ha. You look like you’re having a baby shower emotional hangover today,” Casey replied, through a forkful of lettuce.

“No, it’s nothing like that.” She doodled mindlessly on her desk calendar. Although she wasn’t really sure she was ready to say anything to Casey about her evening with Aidan, she would burst if she didn’t tell someone. At the same time, she knew she needed her best friend’s advice if she was really going to take his offer seriously. “Case?”

“Hmm?” Casey didn’t look up. Instead, she stared at her salad with a disgusted expression. “You know, I’d kill for some ranch dressing right now.”

“I need to tell you something.”

Casey snatched her gaze from the Tupperware over to Emma. “Oh shit. I don’t like your tone. What is it? You’re getting fired? No, wait, I’m getting fired?”

Emma waved her hand dismissively. “No, no, it’s nothing like that. It’s just…” She drew in a deep breath. “After the baby shower, I had drinks with Aidan Fitzgerald.”