The Proposal

Although his attention should have been on his ailing father, Aidan couldn’t take his eyes off of Emma. Any anger he felt for her quickly evaporated, and his heart constricted with love for her. God, he had missed her. He didn’t realize just how much until she was standing right in front of him like a vision. She could have been one of Patrick’s roses in bloom. Her br**sts were fuller, her stomach was rounder, and her h*ps wider. He fought to catch his breath.

When Patrick cleared his throat, Aidan quickly gazed over at him. Patrick smiled. “Yes, Noah Patrick, after his grandfathers. Don’t you think that’s a fine name for your son?”

“Yes, it is,” Aidan murmured, glancing back at Emma. When she finally dared to look at him, he bobbed his head. “Noah Patrick Fitzgerald is a very fine name.”

Her eyes widened at the insinuation of his last name. Aidan braced himself for her to protest, but she started inching for the door instead. “Um, I’m going to go get something to drink.”

“I’ll get it for you,” Aidan offered.

“No, no, I’m fine. You need to be with your father.”

When she swept by him, Aidan fought to keep his arms pinned at his side so he wouldn’t reach out and grab her to him. Her perfume filled his nostrils and invaded his senses. He closed his eyes in agony. Once she was safely out the door, his shoulders sagged in defeat. “She really hates me,” he croaked.

“No, son, she doesn’t.” When Aidan snorted with self-contempt, Patrick shook his head. “As much as she would love to hate you, she can’t. She’s just gun-shy about you right now because of the dumbass move you pulled on her.”

“Actually, it’s me who should hate her.” He grimaced. “Acting like I was diseased and naming our son without me!”

Patrick grunted. “Whenever you’re done with your little tirade, might I remind you that I’ve been hospitalized?”

Aidan widened his eyes. “Shit, Pop, I’m so sorry. Seeing Em again knocked me on my ass.” He closed the gap between them. “You look okay, but are you? I mean, was it a heart attack?”

Patrick started to open his mouth when a knock came at the door. A tall, dark-headed doctor smiled at them. After his eyes made a quick sweep over the room, his smile faded a little. “Hello again, Mr. Fitzgerald. You’re looking much better now than when I first saw you today.”

“I believe I have you to thank for that, Dr. Nadeen.”

Dr. Nadeen strode into the room. “We have your test results back. It appears that you have two arteries that are eighty percent blocked. I’ve consulted with our head cardiologist, and just to be on the safe side, we feel it’s best to keep you overnight and schedule an angioplasty for the morning.”

Patrick grimaced. “Not one of those again?”

With a chuckle, Dr. Nadeen replied, “Yes, I noticed from your records you had the procedure before.”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“You’re going to have to start taking better care of yourself and maintaining a heart-healthy diet, so you won’t be back here again.”

Aidan snorted. “Good luck with that one.”

Patrick chose to ignore him. “At least it’s not something major like open heart surgery.”

Dr. Nadeen nodded. “I’m sure this news will make your granddaughter feel better.”

Patrick’s brows furrowed. “My granddaughter?”

Dr. Nadeen ducked his head but not before Aidan caught a faint smile on his face and gleam in his dark eyes. “Emma—the beautiful redhead who almost passed out because she was so worried about you.”

“She almost fainted?” Aidan questioned at the same time Patrick replied, “Aw, bless her heart, I sure hate that I upset her so much.”

“It’s okay. I got her to lie down for a while, and I got her little guy—I mean, her, something to eat.”

Aidan’s chest clenched not only at Dr. Nadeen’s familiarity with Emma, but the mention of Noah. This dude was getting under his skin and fast. Even though Aidan was a guy, he knew competition when he saw it. It wasn’t just the fact that Dr. Nadeen had the looks that made women’s panties ignite, but the f**ker was kind and considerate. Throw in the fact he was a doctor, and he was a triple threat.

Finally, Aidan found his voice. “That was very kind of you. I appreciate you taking care of her,” he said, trying hard to speak without gritting his teeth.

A warm smile spread across Dr. Nadeen’s face. “I was happy to do it for her. Your sister is a kind young woman—her spirit shines from within.”

Aidan’s mouth gaped open. What the hell? He thought Emma was his…sister? “Did you just say…?” Aidan sputtered.

Patrick shook his head. “Emma isn’t my granddaughter, Doc.”

“Oh, my apologies. You have a very sweet daughter then.”

“No, no, she isn’t even related to me.”

“Ah, I see. Well, you’re very fortunate to have someone in your life who cares that much about you.”

Patrick glanced from Aidan to Dr. Nadeen. “Did I hear you call her beautiful?”

Pesh’s expression turned apologetic. “I’m sorry. That was entirely too forward of me.”

“It’s all right, Doc.” Rubbing his hands together, Patrick said, “Hmm, I can’t help but play matchmaker while I’m laid up here. Would you be interested in dating Emma? She’s single, you know.”

Aidan glared at his father, which only caused Patrick to widen his grin. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Aidan hissed.

“Forcing your hand.” A mischievous gleam burned in his eyes, and Aidan knew there was no stopping him. He didn’t know how after everything Patrick had been through that day he could still find the energy to goad his own son. He knew what a sore spot Emma was.

At the moment, she was more like a gaping hole in his chest. “You better be damn glad you’re in the ER right now,” he muttered under his breath.

Patrick ignored him and focused his attentions on Pesh who was staring strangely at the two of them. “Whatcha say, Doc?”

“Uh, well, I don’t normally pick up women in the emergency room, Mr. Fitzgerald,” Dr. Nadeen murmured, shifting uncomfortably on his feet.

“Oh please. This isn’t picking up. It’s a fix-up. That’s totally different,” Patrick argued.

“Pop,” Aidan growled.