The Proposition
Page 59Tilting her head, she gave him a sad smile. “I’m fine. Really. I always come out here when I visit.”
Aidan gazed at Emma’s father’s death date. “Your mom never remarried?”
“For a little while. It was about five years after my dad died. I was in middle school then. It only lasted a couple of years. Not that Paul was a bad guy or anything. I still talk to him from time to time. Mama just said there wasn’t anyone in the world for her but my dad.”
Aidan nodded. “Sounds like Pop.”
They stood in silence for a few moments, the wind rippling their hair and clothes. Aidan’s heartbeat accelerated when Emma reached out and took his hand in hers. “I don’t remember much about my father, but I know my mother would have loved you,” she whispered.
He squeezed her hand. “I’m glad to hear that. Considering how much Pop adores you, there should be no doubt how my mother would feel.”
Emma smiled at him. “It’s good our baby will have lots of guardian angels to watch over him or her.”
Thinking of his mother made Aidan’s throat close up. He could barely croak, “Yes, it is.”
“Come on. We better get back. Grammy’s got a feast waiting on us at the house.”
Aidan bobbed his head and let Emma lead him back across the cemetery.
After making their goodbyes, they all piled into the car to head back to Earl and Virginia’s. The moment they entered the house, the wonderful aroma of a roast wafted back to Emma. Grammy had risen early not only to prepare breakfast, but lunch as well. Even after the insanely large breakfast she had devoured, Emma’s stomach still rumbled. Inhaling sharply, Aidan moaned in appreciation. “God, that smells like Heaven.”
Grammy smiled at him. “Thank you, son.” She then wagged a finger at Emma. “You’re going to have to start cooking more for your man.”
While it was silly, Emma still felt her cheeks flushing at the mention of Aidan being her man. He raised his eyebrows. “You mean you know how to cook like that,” he said, jerking his thumb towards the kitchen.
She giggled. “Of course I do.” She nodded her head at Grammy. “I had the best culinary teacher anyone could have.”
“Hmm, I’m in for a treat then.”
“Yeah, don’t hold your breath on that one. Between work and the pregnancy exhaustion, I don’t have a lot of time or energy for cooking.”
Grammy tsked as she wrapped her red gingham apron around her waist. “You better start making time, sweet girl. After all, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” She then winked at Aidan before heading into the kitchen.
When Aidan snickered at Grammy’s admonishment, Emma nudged him in the stomach with her elbow. “Don’t make me tell her the way to your heart is through your dick,” she whispered.
Aidan’s eyes widened, and he made a strangled noise. He glanced left and right before hissing, “I cannot believe you just said dick in your grandparent’s house!”
He scowled before easing down into one of the dining room chairs. On her way into the kitchen to help Grammy, she ruffled his hair playfully. He glanced at her over his shoulder and grinned.
Two of her uncles along with their wives and families sauntered in, filling the massive antique table to its capacity. Emma edged Mary out of the way before she could plop down next to Aidan. Even though she had won the bet, Mary seemed hell-bent on continuing to see how far she could get with Aidan, and Emma was happy to draw the line. Mary scowled at her before stalking down to the “kids” table.
At the scuffle between the two, Aidan chuckled. Emma responded by rolling her eyes. “Wipe the sexy little smirk off your face, or you’ll keep encouraging her.”
“Nothing wrong with her stopping by to say hello.”
“Oh really? Last night you didn’t seem too taken with her attention.”
“And last night, you were encouraging her, not me.” Leaning over, he nuzzled her neck before she shoved him away. “Besides, I’m still not taken with her. It’s just hilarious seeing you get your panties in a twist over a fawning nineteen year old girl.”
“My panties are not in a twist,” Emma huffed, smacking her linen napkin down in her lap.
He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. Kissing her knuckles, he gave her his best puppy dog expression. “You know you’re the only one I want, right?”
Emma struggled to breathe. Even though he was joking around with her, his words hit straight home. “Yes, I know.”
After Granddaddy gave the blessing, they started passing the bowls and plates of food around. Filling hers to the brim, Emma let the familiar portions melt on her tongue. Glancing over at Aidan, he seemed to be enjoying the meal and conversation just as much as she was. For a moment, she tried to imagine what it would be like if this were every Sunday. Even if she didn’t move back to the mountains, it was comforting to think of Aidan being by her side for future Sunday dinners or family events. She just didn’t know if that was getting her hopes up too high.
When the main course and dessert were finished, Grammy and her aunts started gathering up some of the dishes. Emma rose out of her chair. “Here, I’ll help you clean up,” she said.
“Thanks, honey,” Virginia replied.
While the rest of the men started vacating the table to duck-out of cleanup duty, Earl nodded at Aidan. “Come on out on the porch with me and the boys, son,” he suggested.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
Earl nodded. “We can leave the women folk to the dishes while you tell me a little more about yourself.”
Emma couldn’t fight the smile spreading across her cheeks. She knew if Granddaddy wanted to know more about Aidan, then he had really made an impression. At his momentary hesitation, she gave him a gentle nudge. Aidan finally put one foot in front of the other to follow Granddaddy outside.
Once the dishes were done and the kitchen cleaned, Emma hurried to check on Aidan. She skidded to a stop at the sight of him lounging in the porch swing with a pocketknife in one hand and a piece of wood in the other. Her mouth gaped open. Before she could ask what the hell a city boy like himself was doing whittling, he grinned. “Your granddaddy is teaching me.”