The Proposition by Katie Ashley Read Free Book Online

mother’s
voice echoed through her mind the same as it had that day in the
store. Oh Em, honey, that dress is to die
for! You’ll take Travis’s breath away. She
closed her eyes, trying both to savor the memory and keep her
emotions in check. When she was sure she wouldn’t cry, she opened
her eyes and smiled at Casey. “You’re
right. It needs some more wear and some more memories with
it.”
    “That’s the spirit!” Wrapping her arms around Emma, Casey squeezed her
tight. “Damn, I’m proud to call you my best friend. You’re so
strong and resilient with all you’ve been through, and then
deciding to have a baby on your own like this. You’re my own little
Steel Magnolia!”
    Emma grinned. “Who knew it would take casual
sex to get you so sentimental.”
    “I’m just so happy for you, and that I’ll get
to be an auntie.”
    “Godmother, remember?”
             
    Casey wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know if I
want all the moral and ethical responsibility that comes with being
a godmother. I’m more the naughty aunt who sneaks them into R rated
movies and buys them booze when they’re underage.”
    Emma giggled. “We’re going to have to work on
that mentality, especially before you become a mom!”
    “Bite your tongue on that one, missy. We’ve
got to get Nate through his internship before we even think of
kids.”
    Emma went back to working on her make-up
while Casey started in on her hair.
    “What do you think? A lose knot?”
    “No, Aidan likes my hair down and wavy,” Emma
replied as she applied some eye-shadow.”
    “Ah, there’s my girl thinking of what Aidan
wants. You’ll have him eating out of the palm of your hand in no
time!”
    Emma rolled her eyes. “Why
do I feel like Scarlett O’Hara in Gone
with the Wind all the sudden when she
bemoans why women have to act so silly to catch a
husband?”
    “Well, technically you’re not doing all this
for a husband—you just want Aidan to spring an erection…or
two.”
    Emma’s body shook with laughter, sending her
eyeliner arching up her temple. “Case, dammit, look what you made
me do!” she said when she finally caught her breath.
    “Me? I didn’t do anything but state
facts.”
    After cleaning off her smudged eyeliner, Emma
flicked her wrist over and glanced at her watch. “Shit! We have to
get a move on, or I’m going to be late!
***
    Emma stared down at her phone for the
millionth time. “Shit, shit, shit !” She was now fifteen
minutes late, and her original text to Aidan had gone unanswered.
She feared he was going to get pissed off and just leave. After
all, he didn’t have to wait for women—they were usually willing and
able at his slightest command. Her phone buzzed as her car eased up
to the valet stand. Fumbling inside her purse, she dug it out.
    One glance down at the message and her heart
stilled and then restarted. “ You sure as hell better get here.
Fast. Not settling for a cold shower tonight. ”
    “Ma’am?” the valet asked.
    With her thoughts consumed by Aidan, she
didn’t even realize her car door had opened and a young man now
stared expectantly at her.
    “Oh, I’m sorry.”
    Emma took the ticket from him and hurried
into the hotel. Her gaze swept over the mass of strange faces in
the lobby. When she didn’t see Aidan, she craned her neck,
searching through the crowded room.
    Finally, her eyes met his, and she gave a
tentative smile. He strode determinedly towards her. At his
frustrated expression, she held up her hands. “Oh, Aidan, I’m so,
so sorry I’m late. Traffic was a nightmare and –”
    He silenced her once again by crushing his
lips to hers. He kept this kiss a lot more chaste than the night in
the parking deck since they were in the middle of the teeming hotel
lobby. When he pulled away, Emma smacked his arm.
    “You’ve really got to stop doing that!” she
protested.
    “Kissing you?”
    “No, interrupting me.”
    “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help