Pesh took her chin in his fingers and forced her to look him in the eye. “I want you to think about this for a minute? What would you rather have? Words that can be spoken lightly and then taken back so easily, or would you rather actions?”

A reel of images of Aidan’s behavior over the last weeks flickered through her mind. He had risked his job to take care of her. Not to mention, he had cooked everything and anything she wanted, made midnight runs for bacon and ice cream, massaged her feet while watching chick flick movies he hated and held her when she had felt despair.

He smiled. “I don’t know why he can’t say the words, but I know without a doubt he loves you. For most of his life, Aidan probably loved himself more than anyone else in the world. And now he loves you more.” His hand briefly touched her belly. “And he loves his son.”

A sob tore through her chest, and she didn’t fight the tears that came. She threw her arms around Pesh and squeezed tight. “Why do you have to be so wonderful? You should be mad as hell and turning over furniture, calling me a tease or something!”

Pesh laughed. “The last thing I am is a hypocrite. I know exactly how you feel.”

“You’re going to make someone a wonderful husband.” She pulled away to cup his face in her hands. “I want a wife and family for you more than you can ever imagine.”

“It’s just not time, yet, Emma.”

She kissed his cheek tenderly. “I’m going to pray for your heart to open to someone. Jade would want you to be happy.”

Pesh clenched and unclenched his jaw, and Emma knew he was fighting his emotions. “I know she would,” he whispered.

“Then make two women who adore you proud and find yourself a wife.”

His mouth fell open as he stared at her. Emma smiled and nodded. “I do care for you, Pesh. I realize now the feelings I had for you weren’t entirely romantic, despite my behavior in the carriage or here on the porch. Regardless of the fact I love Aidan, I can’t help but care for you deeply.”

“I care for you, too. And I want you to be happy more than anything in the world.” He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “And I think that happiness is right inside that door.”

Tears stung Emma’s eyes. Unable to speak, she bobbed her head in agreement. When Pesh pulled back, he winked at her. “Hurry on in and make Aidan’s night.”

She gave him a final kiss on the cheek before digging the keys out of her coat pocket. “Thanks again for everything.”

“You’re welcome.” He then waved good-bye before hurrying down the porch steps to his car.

Emma’s fingers trembled as she unlocked the door. Tentatively, she stepped inside the house. Darkness enveloped her as she made her way through the living room. She was surprised not to find Aidan awake. Her nose wrinkled as she eyed the beer cans littering the coffee table.

As she took off her coat, something warm and furry brushed against her leg. “Aw, boy, were you waiting for me to come home?”

Beau whined and nudged her belly. “We’re home now. You don’t have to worry anymore.” She reached over to scratch his ears. “Where’s Daddy, boy?”

He yipped and then started for the stairs. With the way they had left things, she wasn’t too surprised that he wanted to be apart from her so he hadn’t slept in his bedroom. Taking the stairs one at a time, she then crept down the hall to the guest room. Beau’s claws clacked behind her. When she reached the door, she turned back to him. “Stay boy.”

He reluctantly slid down on his paws to lie outside the bedroom. She smiled at him. “Good Beau.”

Her shaky hand worked hard to turn the doorknob. Aidan’s soft snores met her as she stepped inside the darkened bedroom. Since he hated sleeping in the dark, the nightlight next to the bed lit her way across the floor. She eased down on the bed beside him. Lying on his back, the sheet was bunched around his waist while one arm was thrown lazily over his head.

As she gazed down at him, she wondered how she had ever thought she could want anyone else. Mortification caused her to shudder when she thought of how she had kissed Pesh when all along she had only wanted it to be Aidan’s lips and Aidan’s hands on her. Just like Aidan had fought his feelings for her by taking home a stranger, she had tried to do the same thing with Pesh. And like him, nothing she could have ever done with Pesh would have driven away her true feelings for Aidan.

In the end, there would only be two loves in her life—Travis and Aidan. She rubbed the back of her hand along his cheek. It brought a smile to her lips because she realized how he was keeping a close shave because he knew she liked it.

When he didn’t wake at her touch, she leaned over and kissed his lips. She pulled away and stared into his sleeping face. “I love you, Aidan Fitzgerald. I always have, and I always will. I’m sorry for hurting you,” she whispered.

He grimaced in his sleep, his hands fisting the sheet. “Em…Em please…I…I love you.”

Emma’s heart jolted and then restarted. Her hand flew to her chest and rubbed where the slow, aching burn filled her. He was calling out to her. Somehow, somewhere in his subconscious he really did want her, and he had said the words she had longed to hear. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to make love to him and truly cement their feelings for each other.

With another kiss, Aidan still slept soundly. Biting her lip, Emma knew the one way she was going to have to wake him up to ensure he would be ready and willing. Leaning over she began kissing a moist trail down his bare chest. When she reached the waistband of his underwear, he still hadn’t stirred. Easing it down, she took his c**k in her hand. Working her fingers over him, his length began to swell. Aidan shifted in the bed, but his breathing didn’t change.

When she slid him into her mouth, his h*ps bucked. Then a low groan rumbled through his chest. “Emma,” he murmured, and she paused. Her heart stilled when she realized he was still asleep and calling out for her.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Aidan tried shaking himself out of his dream. Once again, his nights were filled with Emma. His days were consumed by the growing ache of his feelings and now he was even tormented in his dreams. Tonight was physically painful as he could actually feel her lips on him, moving him in and out of her warm mouth.

He groaned. “Emma,” he murmured. God, he wanted her. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and bury himself deep inside. He wanted to hear her cry out his name again like she had before. “Emma, I need you.”