The Pairing
Page 8Without taking his eyes off the screen, John replied, “We’re fine.”
“Are you sure he’s not bothering you?” What she wasn’t asking was if John was actually keeping an eye on Mason between playing on his phone.
John glanced up. “Considering I have two younger brothers, I think I can handle him. Besides, he’s really into this game.”
“Okay then,” Megan replied.
She spoke to John’s brothers, Percy and Georgie, before making her way around the room. All her relatives were interested to hear how her schooling was going and how Mason was. She had just turned away from talking to her great aunt and uncle when someone pressed up against her back.
“Don’t look now, but there’s Dr. McDreamy Bollywood now,” Casey whispered into her ear. Without hesitation, her eyes scanned the crowd. And then she saw him. Ankle was taking him around and making introductions.
Pesh was impossibly tall and wearing a tailor-made black suit. Even beneath the lines of the clothing, she could make out his large biceps and thick thighs. He obviously spent his downtime between hospital shifts working out. His wavy, jet-black hair was cut short, and his dark eyes took in all that Ankle was saying.
And while she may have been in a church about to stand up as a godmother, she couldn’t help the ni**les tightening and panties moistening reaction of seeing him. He was all the way across the room, but he had the same effect as if he were standing by her side, rubbing against her.
“See what I mean?” Casey questioned.
Megan licked her lips. “Oh my,” she finally managed.
Fighting the urge to fan herself, Megan quickly replied, “I’d like to give him many, many chances.” Chances at ripping off my clothes, chances at kissing and licking me all over my body, chances at allowing his hands, fingers, and the promising bulge in his pants to stroke me until I orgasm…yep, many, many chances.
As if she could read Megan’s mind, Casey laughed. “Oh girl, this has trouble written all over it.”
Chapter Three
Pesh paced nervously around the back of the cathedral. The fact he was in a Catholic church wasn’t the only reason he felt out of his element. As he eyed the massive statue of Jesus, he fidgeted absently with his tie. Although Emma had sworn Aidan was fine with the idea of him as godfather, he was still a little apprehensive about seeing Aidan again. The last time they’d been together, Pesh was the hero flying Aidan from North Carolina to Atlanta just in time for Noah’s unexpected birth. But that was six months ago. The euphoria of the moment now had time to fade, and to Aidan, Pesh could still be the man who almost stole Emma away.
A side door opened, and Aidan stepped out. He immediately met Pesh’s anxious gaze. When his lips curved into a wide smile, Pesh exhaled the nervous breath he’d been holding. “Well, there you are,” Aidan said, as he strode up. He bypassed throwing out his hand, and instead, he pulled Pesh to him for a bear hug. “Emma was worried about you.”
“She was?”
“Yeah, she asked me to come out and see if I could find you.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure where to go, and no one was out here.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Aidan pulled away. “So how the hell are you?”
A beaming smile lit Aidan’s face. “I’m absolutely fantastic. I never could have imagined that being a father would be this…amazing.”
Pesh nodded. “I want you to know what an honor it is for me to be Noah’s godfather.”
“We’re glad to have you.” Aidan patted Pesh’s back. “And I do mean that.”
“I hope you do. I have had my concerns…”
Aidan shook his head. “Well, don’t. I’ll admit I wasn’t too thrilled with the prospect at first, but Em was able to make me see the light. You were there for us when we really needed you. I mean, besides my wedding day, I would’ve missed the most important days of my life—my son’s birth. I can never thank you enough. So when it comes down to it, I don’t think I could ask for a better godfather for my son.”
Aidan’s words touched Pesh. “Thank you. That means a lot. You have my word that I will always do what is right by Noah.”
After giving him a hearty thump on the shoulder, Aidan said, “Come on back with me. I want to introduce you to everyone.”
“Do they…” Pesh wasn’t sure how to ask if Aidan’s family knew the story of how he and Emma truly knew each other.
Aidan chuckled. “Let’s just say that Pop’s the only one who knows the truth. The others just think you met us when Pop had his heart attack.”
He followed Aidan back into a large room filled with chattering people. As he craned his neck, he saw Emma in the corner with Noah in her arms. She looked radiant as ever in an emerald suit. Noah, however, didn’t seem too thrilled to be outfitted in the lacy gown that flowed over Emma’s arms and stopped mid-thigh. His tiny brows wrinkled as he waved his fists back and forth as if any moment he might let loose with a scream.
Taking him by the elbow, Aidan guided him over to a group of men and women. Aidan introduced him to his four sisters and their husbands. Pesh smiled, nodded, and shook their hands before being bombarded by a hoard of Aidan’s nieces and nephews.
“Now I want you to meet my niece, Megan. She’s the godmother.”
“It would be my pleasure.”
Aidan surprised Pesh by leaning in and whispering in his ear. “I’m pretty sure over half of the people here are gunning for you two to get together. You know, a real romantic story to tell future kids about how you two met being the godmother and godfather of this sweet and adorable kid.”
Pesh gulped. Why was everyone he knew hell-bent on setting him up? Had Emma harbored some secret, ulterior motive in asking him to be Noah’s godfather? “I’m flattered, but I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
Pulling back, Aidan surmised him before winking. “Normally I would agree because she is, after all, my niece—my favorite one if I’m being honest. But as much as it pisses me off to admit it, you two would make a great couple.”