CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Halfway to Aidan’s office, Emma thought of Beau stuck at Doggy Daycare. “Shit!” She whipped across two lanes to the symphony of honking horns. Her mind had been so occupied with her new baby, she had forgotten all about her old one.
She screeched into a parking space and hurried out of the car. The moment Beau saw her through the fence his entire body started wiggling all over, bringing a grin to Emma’s face. “Hiya boy, did you think I’d forgotten you?”
He gave an appreciative bark and ran over to the entrance door to wait for her. Sandy, the owner, greeted Emma with a smile. “I was just beginning to think Beau might end up spending the night with us.”
“No, I’m so sorry. I had my ultrasound this afternoon, and it got delayed.”
“And what are we having?” Sandy asked.
“A boy.”
“Oh that’s wonderful!” She opened the door and clipped on Beau’s leash. “Did you hear that? You’re going to be a big brother.”
Beau ignored her and headed straight for Emma. He nudged her belly with his wet nose as if saying hello to the baby. Sandy’s eyes widened. “That is so sweet!”
Emma laughed. “He’s just started doing that in the last few days. Ironically, after I felt the baby move for the first time.” Emma shook her head. “It’s like he’s finally sensing something is different, and it’s not just fat inside this belly!”
Sandy chuckled. “He probably didn’t notice anything because you’re barely showing!”
“Aw, I appreciate that. I feel like I’m ballooning up.”
Beau jerked on his leash. “All right, boy, we’ll go home and see Daddy.” His ears perked up at the mention of Aidan. “Night, Sandy.”
“Night!” she replied, waving.
Emma wrestled Beau to the car and got him inside. “There’s no way I’m taking you to Daddy’s office. I guess I better drop you off at home before I go see him.”
Beau whined at the prospect as they pulled out of the parking lot. Since Aidan’s house was closer, she figured she would take him there.
At the sight of Aidan’s car in the driveway, Emma’s heart shuddered to a stop. The fact a silver Audi sat next to it caused her lungs to constrict. She fought to breathe. Thoughts flashed through her mind like a lightning storm. He said his meeting was running late. He’s supposed to still be at work. He’s at home.
With shaky hands, she killed the engine and opened the car door. Beau lunged out, but Emma didn’t even bother holding his leash. Instead she focused on trying to put one foot in front of the other up the sidewalk.
Using the key he’d given her, she pushed open the front door. The living room was bathed in darkness except for the muted lights from the chandelier. Aidan lounged on the couch while a leggy brunette straddled his lap. He was still fully clothed except his shirt was unbuttoned and untucked. The woman, on the other hand, had stripped off her shirt, and her short skirt had ridden up her thighs. Aidan’s hands were on her forearms as if he was about to push her off of him.
For a few agonizing seconds, Emma could only stare in disbelief. Blinking, she tried waking herself up from the nightmare in front of her, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t. It was all too real. The man she loved and the father of her child had stood her up on one of the most important days of her life to screw another woman. A strangled cry erupted from her lips.
At the noise behind them, Aidan startled. When he saw Emma standing there, his eyes widened in horror, and he sucked in a breath. “What are you doing here?” he demanded.
Tears pricked and stung her eyes, but Emma gave a maniacal laugh. “What am I doing here? I think the better question is what the hell are you doing?”
The sound of another voice caused the brunette to whirl around. Her gaze trailed from Emma’s face down to her swollen belly. A hiss erupted from her lips before she shook her head. “I don’t f*cking believe this.” She turned her head and then her wrath on Aidan. “No wonder you couldn’t get it up! The guilt of cheating on your pregnant wife must’ve really been eating at you!”
“She’s not my wife…yet,” Aidan replied, his voice hushed.
The brunette sent a stinging slap across Aidan’s cheek, and Emma had to bite her lip not to thank her for doing it. At that moment, she would have loved to have done far worse physical harm to him. “I don’t care what she is! You’re a f*cking bastard!” She jerked herself off Aidan’s lap and snatched up her shirt. After throwing it over her head, she grabbed her heels and stalked towards Emma. The fury in her face melted a little. “I’m really sorry. I heard at work he was a player, and I wanted a play. I had no idea…” her voice trailed off as she glanced at Emma’s stomach.
“Thank you,” Emma whispered as the woman started on by. She jumped at the slamming of the front door. On wobbly legs, she took a few step forwards, closing the gap between her and Aidan. He rose up on the couch, fumbling with the buttons on his shirt.
When she stood there, just staring, he exhaled a ragged breath. “Say something.”
Emma raised her eyebrows at him. “And what would you like me to say?”
“I don’t know…just anything to keep you from looking at me like that.”
“Well, frankly, I think your female friend said it best. You’re a f*cking bastard!”
“I agree.”
“And that’s all you have to say for yourself? Not that you’re sorry you valued the importance of today so little you skipped out on the ultrasound to cheat on me?”
Aidan shook his head. “I didn’t sleep with her.”
She threw her hands up in exasperation. “You were going to before I interrupted you!”
“I swear to you I was not going to screw her. I had just told her I couldn’t, and that she should leave. Jesus, you heard her yourself say I couldn’t get it up!”
“And that’s supposed to make me feel better about the fact you had some skank riding you when I walked in here?”
“Look, I admit I f*cked up. But I am sorry.”
“Oh, I guess you’re also sorry you lied to me when you said you would change. God, I was so stupid to believe you would treat me any different than Amy or the other women. I should have realized this is who you are and what you do.”
“Emma, please, I am sorry!”
“Really? Do you honestly feel that or are those just some words you think you can say to make things right between us?” Her voice choked off with the sobs rising in her throat. “Are you really and truly sorry you broke my heart?”
Aidan winced. “You have no idea what I’ve been going through lately. I’m never going to be all that you need me to be, Emma. And the pressure from trying just broke me.”
She didn’t bother wiping away the tears streaming down her cheeks. “So what you’re saying is trying to have a relationship with me drove you into the arms of another woman?”
His expression became anguished. “No, that’s not what I mean.” He shook his head wildly. “I’m f*cking up what I need to say and do. And you’re making this harder on me. I feel bad enough for what I’ve done.”
“Harder on you?” she questioned, her voice raising an octave. “How could this possibly be hard on you? I’m the one who opened myself up to all this pain despite my better judgment.” She ground the tears out of her eyes with her fist.
He took a step towards her, but she backed away from him. “Don’t you dare touch me after your hands have been all over that whore!”
“Emma, please don’t do this. I told you I was sorry. I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you.”
Without even thinking, Emma blurted, “Tell me you love me.”
He stared at her, unblinking and unmoving. “What?”
“You’ve been emotionally shut off from me since the day I told you I loved you. So if you really mean it when you say you’re sorry and you really don’t want me to go, then say the words. Tell me you love me.”
At his hesitation, stabbing pain crisscrossed through her chest. The silence echoed through her as loud as a freight train. She shook her head. “That’s what I thought,” she murmured.
Her hands went to the purse at her side, and she fumbled for the DVD of the sonogram. Using all the hurt and anger welling inside her, she chucked it at him. It smacked hard against his chest, causing Aidan to wince. “Not that you’re even interested, but that’s a video of your son. I can only hope and pray he grows up to be nothing like his father!”
Sobbing, she turned and fled from the room. Beau followed her out the door, howling and crying right along with her. As she fumbled with her keys, Aidan called several times for her to come back, but she refused. Then he started calling for Beau.
“Go back, boy,” Emma instructed, pointing a shaky finger to Aidan. She flung open the car door, but he still wouldn’t leave her side.
“Dammit, Beau, I said come!” Aidan shouted, stepping off the porch. He stalked over to them and tried dragging Beau back by the collar.
But Beau jerked away. His nose nuzzled Emma’s belly, and he whined. Emma met Aidan’s horrified glance. “Yeah, that’s right. Your dog is even more loyal to me and your son than you are!”
With a defeated look, Aidan hung his head and released Beau’s collar. “Fine, take him.”
“Come on, boy. Get in the car,” Emma instructed. Beau wagged his tail and eagerly hopped inside. Without another look at Aidan, she slammed the door. Squealing out of the driveway, she tried to keep her emotions in check. But it was no use. She got half a block down the road before she had to pull over. Tears blinded her eyes to where she couldn’t see in front of her, and she couldn’t breathe from the sobs raging through her chest.
A knock at her window caused her to jump. Hope ricocheted through Emma that Aidan had come after her. Glancing up, her heart fell.
Becky stood outside the car, peering curiously at her. “Emma?”
Damn. She hadn’t even thought about the prospect of ending up on Becky’s street. The last person she wanted to see was one of Aidan’s sisters. Mortified, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and tried to compose herself. Finally, she pressed the button to roll down the window. “Hi,” she said, meekly.
Becky sucked in a breath. “Oh God, he didn’t?”
Tears once again filled Emma’s eyes. Unable to speak, she merely bobbed her head.
“I’m so, so sorry. He loves you, sweetheart. I know he does. The whole family knows it. He’s just being a stupid a*shole.”
Emma hiccupped between a sob. “Tell that to him and the woman he was about to sleep with before I walked in.”
Becky’s eyes widened. “I’m going to kill him,” she muttered through gritted teeth. She shook her head. “And if I don’t, one of the other girls will. God forbid this gets back to Pop.” Becky opened the car door. “Get out. You’re coming inside with me.”
“No, I can’t. I’m a mess. What would I say to the boys?”
“Tate’s got them at movies tonight. It’s just me.”
When Emma continued to hesitate, Becky crossed her arms over her chest. “Listen, you’re coming in the house with me if I have to drag you myself.”
“I’m parked on the side of the street.”
“It’ll be fine.” Becky eyed Beau in the backseat. “What are you doing with him?”
“He wouldn’t let me go.”
Becky snorted. “Whoever said men are dogs missed the mark. Beau’s got true loyalty.”
Emma gave a half-hearted smile. “Tell me about it.”
Becky pulled Emma out of her seat and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Listen, we’re going to order in some Chinese or pizza or whatever you and the baby want. Then I’m going to call the girls. We’re going to have a strategy meeting about Aidan.”
Emma threw up her hands. “And just what do you hope to achieve? Hog tie him and force him to be with me? In case you missed the memo, he doesn’t want me! He’s made that abundantly clear not only by almost screwing another woman, but by not being able to tell me he loves me.”
“It’s not like this is the first time he’s done this, Em. Surely he’s told you about Amy?”
“Yeah, how he wouldn’t propose, and then she caught him with another woman and broke up with him.”
“Did he also tell you how he spent the better part of that year drunk and in and out of therapy because he had a nervous breakdown over what he did to her?”
Emma gasped. “No, he didn’t.”
“Hmm, I guess he also managed to leave out the part where he tried over and over again to get her to come back to him, but she refused? He finally had to give up when she married someone else.”
Emma could hardly believe her ears. Aidan had lied to her about what had happened with Amy. He had never allowed the true depth of his feelings for Amy to be known. “He never told me any of that.”
“I know my brother. He did what he did to you tonight to push you away, not because he wanted to screw another woman. He self-sabotages himself every damn time!” She grunted in frustration. “By the way he acts about relationships, you would think he was raised in some dysfunctional home by crack-heads or something.”
Emma leaned against the car and put her head in her hands. “I don’t think I can handle all this!”
Becky pulled Emma’s hands away, and then stared her in the eye. “You’ve got to decide right here and now if you’re going to fight for him.”
“Me? Why the hell do I have to do the fighting? He’s the one who f*cked up royally!”
“I didn’t say he didn’t. But fighting for him doesn’t mean you’re a doormat and go running back to his open arms, Em. It means you’re willing to put up with whatever bullshit it takes to get him to win you back.”
“You actually think he’s going to try?”
Becky grinned. “Oh yes. Tomorrow morning, maybe even tonight, Aidan Fitzgerald is going to rue the day he ever let you walk out of his life, and you’re going to get to enjoy every minute of it!”