He nodded and plopped down on the coffee table. His knees knocked into hers, and she fought the urge to pull away from the closeness of him. He leaned in on his elbows. “Picture this outfit. Cut-off, Daisy Duke’s with the ass cheeks hanging out—”

“Short shorts? It’s late October!”

Aidan held up his hands. “I’m not finished.”

Crossing her hands over her chest, she huffed out a frustrated grunt. “Fine.”

“Anyway, so like I was saying, there were the Daisy Dukes, cowboy boots, and to top it all off there was the halter top with the bare mid-drift…” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Man, I was looking good!”

His eyes snapped open, and then he winked at her. Emma stared at him in disbelief. “There wasn’t a girl wearing that…you mean you…”

Aidan laughed. “I was just teasing you, Em. I went over to Pop’s, and we watched the game. I sure as hell wasn’t out with a woman.”

The prospect of him being on an actual date had worked her into such an emotional firestorm that along with the relief she felt, she also knew she was going to be sick. She had only a moment to panic about whether or not she would make it to the bathroom before she leaned forward and threw up in Aidan’s lap.

He gazed from his soiled pants back up to her eyes. “Damn, Em, I know my joke was bad, but did you seriously have to puke on me?”

Tears of mortification stung her eyes. “I-I…I’m sorry.”

His expression turned from amusement to compassion when she burst into tears. He reached over and rubbed her arm. “Hey, don’t cry. You’re not the first person to puke on me. I did belong to a fraternity back in the day. Nothing is worse than drunk guy vomit.”

“I can’t believe you’re being so nice about it,” she sobbed.

“Well, it’s not like you did it on purpose.” He raised his eyebrows at her. “Did you?”

“No! I would never do that!”

He rubbed her cheek with his thumb. “I know. I was only teasing you again, Em.”

“I don’t think the food agreed with me—too many different spices and sauces,” she replied, wiping her nose with the back of her sleeve.

“Hmm, I think that speaks volumes about the company as well, don’t you?”

“Aidan,” she warned, her embarrassment fading into anger at his assumptions.

He cocked his head at her. “Sounds to me like Noah is trying to tell you something. I’m glad the Little Man already has his dad’s back.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’ve never eaten Indian food before. It has nothing to do with my feelings or Noah’s. It’s my digestive system speaking, thank you very much,” she snapped.

Aidan grinned. “Ah, there’s those lovely pregnancy mood swings I love so much.”

She sniffed in a frustrated breath. “Come on. You need to get cleaned up, and I need to go back to bed.”

When Aidan stood up, vomit slid down his pants legs. He made a face. “Jeez, I think that’s seriously about to trigger my gag reflex.” His hands went to his button, and he unzipped his pants. He quickly stepped out of them and balled them up. “I better throw these in the washer.”

Emma leaned forward to get up off the couch just as Aidan turned. Her face grazed across his crotch. At his sharp intake of breath, she jerked back. “Uh-sorry,” she mumbled.

“This night just keeps getting better and better,” he grumbled. Before he started to the bedroom, he turned back and offered Emma his hand. Her heart kick-started at the small gesture.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Listen, I’ll grab my stuff and hit the shower upstairs so you can have mine.”

Her hormones went into overdrive. “Aw, that’s so sweet,” she murmured.

Aidan gave her a playful smirk. “Damn, babe, it doesn’t take much to impress you, does it?”

She rolled her eyes. “Excuse me for being grateful for your kindness,” she huffed before stalking into the bathroom and slamming the door.

Aidan poked his head in just as she swept her top off. She squeaked at the sight of him. “Um, you do remember I need to get my shit from in here, right?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Only in her bra, Emma began brushing her teeth. Once Aidan swept up his shampoo and body wash, he leaned to grab his toothbrush before bestowing a kiss on her bare back. Longing shuddered through her. If Aidan realized her reaction, he didn’t say anything. “Now don’t stay on your feet too long.”

Giving him a salute, she mumbled through a mouthful of toothpaste, “Yes sir.”

He shook his head. “Always you and that mouth.”

She grinned at him before he headed out the door.

***

When Emma finished showering, Aidan was still upstairs. Exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster ride of the day, she fell immediately into a deep sleep. But it wasn’t restful. Dreams plagued her. First, she had one where Aidan and Pesh were fighting over her with a duel to the death like in the olden days. Then she dreamed that when Noah was born, he looked just like Pesh, rather than anything like her or Aidan.

Finally, her mind reeled into another dream—one that was all too surreal since it had once happened.

Cool water lapped against her bare neck and shoulders as she kicked her legs to stay afloat in Grammy and Granddaddy’s pond. She could almost touch the bottom if she let the water cascade over her head. As she treaded water, Aidan swam up to her with a predatory gleam in his eyes. A shiver of anticipation ran through her.

“Are you cold?” Aidan asked.

“A little,” she murmured.

“Then let me warm you up.” He pulled her into his arms and brought his lips against hers. “Mmm, you taste sweet…a little sweeter than usual.”

She grinned against his mouth. “I might have made a pit-stop for some cake before I came to your room.”

Aidan chuckled. “Midnight craving for food and sex, huh?”

“Yep.”

“I think it’s time we fulfilled that second craving, don’t you?”

“Please.”

“Wrap your legs around me, babe.”

She did as she was commanded. Aidan grunted as he started walking them through the water to the shore. “Am I too heavy?”

“No, not at all,” he murmured through gritted teeth.

She laughed. “Aidan, I can make it myself. You don’t have to carry me.”