CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Two Months Later
Soaking in the oversized tub, Emma eyed her swollen feet with disgust. She had thought she wouldn’t have to face the particularly unattractive side effect of pregnancy until she was much farther along. But as she moved out of her first trimester into her second, her feet had started going under daily transformations. Since she had spent most of the day on them doing back to back advertising presentations, they were worse than usual.
Beau lounged on the tile in front of the tub, snoring slightly. With Aidan traveling out of town every other week with his Vice President status, Beau had become as much her dog as his. She picked him up from Doggy Daycare, and he helped pass the lonely nights without Aidan by sleeping by her side.
Emma had just rewarmed the water for a longer soak when Beau raised his head up. After giving a yip, he ran to the bathroom door. “Oh, I bet Daddy’s home from New York,” she said. As Beau wiggled all over and swung his tail to and fro, Emma couldn’t help sharing his excitement.
“Em?” Aidan’s voice bellowed from the hallway.
“In the bathtub,” she called.
He threw the door open and grinned broadly at her. “Hey baby!” Beau yapped at Aidan’s heels as he started over to the tub. He gave her lingering kiss before turning his attention to Beau.
“How was your trip?” she asked, as he scratched Beau’s ears.
Aidan groaned. “The same ol’ shit.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Which means the same ol’ shit of leaving back out of here next week, right?”
“Unfortunately yes. I guess that’s what they pay me the big bucks for.” He eyed her bubble bath covered form. “Isn’t it a little early for that?”
She giggled and pulled one of her legs out of the water. “I suppose it is, but I thought I would soak awhile to make my swollen pregnancy clown feet go down.”
Kneeling down, he took her foot in one of his hands and kissed the instep. “I’ll massage them for you when you get out.”
Emma cocked her eyebrows at him. “Uh-huh, and what do you want in return for such treatment?”
Aidan chuckled. “Who said I wanted something in return? My Baby Mama’s feet are swollen, so I feel a responsibility to make things better.”
She grinned. “Water’s still warm. You could join me.”
His fingers immediately went to his shirt buttons. “You don’t have to ask me twice.”
Emma gazed appreciatively at him while he stripped. Each time he was gone, it made her miss and crave him all the more. After stepping into the tub, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her onto his lap. He surprised her when he kissed her tenderly, rather than with his usual hungry passion. Of course, when he ran his fingers up her spine, it caused her to shiver with anticipation.
“Are you going to tell me what’s on your mind?” Aidan asked.
“Huh?”
He chuckled. “You feel a little tense, that’s all.”
“Just a stressful day at work,” she lied.
“And what else?” he prompted.
“Fine. There’s something I’ve been waiting to ask you.”
“Okay. Shoot.”
“So about this next business trip?” she asked.
“Hmm?” he murmured, tangling his fingers through her damp hair.
“Do you have plans for the weekend after you get back?”
“Not that I know of. Why?”
Emma knew it was now or never to approach him with this potential bomb. Sure two months had rolled by where they had been spending more and more time together. He kept his devotion to monogamy, even going so far as to skype and call her late nights when he was away. Most nights he was in town, she slept over or he slept at her house. But they still hadn’t quite breached the level of commitment she wanted, nor had they said the “l” word that she so craved to hear.
“Well, it’s my family’s annual Barn Dance up in the mountains. My mom’s family that is.”
Aidan snickered. “And what exactly is a Barn Dance?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. My cousins’ band plays music, people dance, there’s usually homemade BBQ…and moonshine.” Emma grinned at Aidan’s wide eyes. “Mainly it’s a family reunion of sorts. I planned on going up on Saturday afternoon and coming back Sunday evening. I would really like it if you joined me. My grandparents are especially interested in meeting you.”
Aidan smiled. “Sure.”
“Really?” Emma squeaked, unable to hold back her shock.
Aidan nodded. “You’ve suffered through meeting most of my family. I should repay the favor. Besides, I always love getting out of the city for the mountains. We could even take Beau with us.”
Emma laughed. “Oh, he’ll be in doggie heaven at my grandparents. They have about thirty acres of land along with a pond.”
“That sounds amazing for more than just Beau.”
Emma couldn’t still the fluttering of her heart at his excitement about meeting her family. “So I can tell Grammy we’re coming?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”