The Proposal

She grinned. “And I love that you have to tease me so mercilessly.”

His thumb came to caress her cheek. “And I love you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

After dropping Aidan off at the airport, Emma hurried back home. She had just enough time to get ready before the doorbell rang, announcing Casey’s arrival.

Beau trailed down the hallway behind her as she went to answer the door. On the second ring, Emma cried, “Would you give me a break? I’m moving slow.”

She heard Casey’s laughter out on the porch before the doorbell began to go on and off at lighting speed. “Don’t be a twatwaffle, Case!” Emma said, as she threw open the door.

Casey wiped her eyes from her amusement. “I had to tease you.” She then took in Emma’s appearance. “Aw, Em, you look beautiful,” she squealed, kissing her cheek.

“Thanks. I feel like I threw myself together.”

“What do you mean? You had all afternoon to get ready before you took Aidan to the airport, didn’t you?”

Emma ducked her head, a flush creeping across her cheeks. “Well, I might’ve given Aidan a going away present.”

Casey once again roared with laughter. “Em, you naughty girl.”

“I can’t help it. Even though I’m exhausted, stupid pregnancy hormones have me horny all the time!”

“Hmm, I’m horny all the time, and I don’t even have the benefit of being pregnant,” Casey mused.

“Then you’ll kill poor Nate when you’re pregnant. It’s insane. Trust me.”

Wrinkling her nose, Casey said, “Well, that’s something I’ll have to worry about in the far distant future. It sure as hell ain’t happening now.”

Emma grabbed her purse. “Ready to go?”

“Yep. Let’s go get Connor.”

Fifteen minutes later, Casey swung into Connor’s driveway. He was insistent on driving them in his brand new Lexus 350 SUV. “Sweet ride, buddy,” Emma said as she climbed into the backseat.

“Thanks. Jeff and I really like it.”

“Everything still going well with you two?” she asked.

Connor glanced back at her and grinned. “Yep. In fact, we’re talking about getting married.”

“Really? That’s wonderful.”

“Yeah, obviously we won’t be able to do it around here, but we’re all about making the commitment.

“That’s awesome,” Casey said, buckling her seatbelt.

“I’m going to expect you two to be my bridesmaids…or groomsmen…hell, something in the bridal party.”

Emma and Casey laughed. “It would be our pleasure,” Casey replied.

“As long as it’s after I’ve had enough time to get some baby weight off,” Emma teased.

Connor eased up to the red-light. “Oh please. Like you’ll have that much to lose.”

Emma groaned. “Trust me. It’s more than you think.” Leaning forward in the seat, she waved her swollen fingers at Connor. “See some of the lovely fluid retention.”

“Ew, that’s disgusting.”

“You should see my feet.”

Casey shook her head. “Oh please, Em. You’re weight gain is basically only tits and belly.”

Emma wrinkled her nose as Connor snickered. “And you’ve had a bodacious set of ta-ta’s since 7th grade.”

“Connor!” she cried before smacking his arm.

“Please, you know that from the time you turned twelve, every guy was talking to your boobs and not your face.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay. That’s enough talk about my br**sts for one evening. I think it’s time for a conversation change!”

“Fine,” Casey and Connor murmured in unison.

“So where are we off to eat?” Casey asked.

“There’s two new restaurant openings downtown tonight. Might be some celebrity sightings, too,” Connor said. He glanced back at Emma to gage her response.

She wrinkled her nose. “Can’t we do something more familiar with less of a crowd?”

“Jesus, you already sound like an old-fart married woman,” Connor moaned.

“I can’t help that being pregnant makes me tired.”

“Oh no. Don’t be blaming it on the pregnancy. It’s your fault for giving Aidan a sexy send-off complete with cowboy boots,” Casey said with a wicked grin.

Emma flushed as Connor groaned. “Oh God, I could have lived a life-time without that one.” He shook his head like he was trying to shake himself of the thought. “Okay, so no high-end, glitzy places for Miss Banging Boots back there.”

“Ugh, I can’t believe you two sometimes,” Emma grumbled as Casey snickered.

“Well, it’s your night, love, so you can pick,” Casey said.

“How about the Cheesecake Factory?” Emma suggested.

“Fine, we’ll go to the uber not happening Perimeter location,” Connor joked.

“Good. I’m excited,” Emma said with a grin.

When they got to the restaurant, they had to fight their way through the teeming crowd. “Doesn’t look so uber not happening to me!” Emma shouted over the noise.

“It’s Friday night. It’s going to be crazy anywhere.”

Thirty minutes later when they finally got a table, Emma’s feet were screaming in agony. As she flopped down in the booth, pain shot up her lower back. “Ow!” she yelped.

“Are you okay?”

She giggled. “Yeah, I was expecting a little more cushioning—not that I don’t have enough padding back there.” When Connor started to open his mouth, she wagged a finger at him. “I don’t need any comments about how I’ve always had junk in my trunk either, thank you very much.”

“You’re such a prude,” he replied with a wink.

By the time they finished their meal and Emma had gorged herself on her favorite Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake, she was exhausted. She wanted nothing more than to go home, get into her pajamas, and curl up on the couch. She just hoped that Casey and Connor didn’t have anymore big plans for the evening.

As they got up, Emma winced as her hand flew to rub her back. What had been a dull throbbing during dinner was now pulsing. She hobbled out of the restaurant and tried desperately to keep up with Connor and Casey.

“Guys, we’re not running the Peachtree Road Race. Would you slow down!” she called.