“It’s better this way. I can stare into Nate’s eyes sitting across from him.”
“Most of all, it will keep her from molesting me under the table,” Nate replied, with a wink.
Emma snickered and slid in beside him. Casey eased down across from them. After the waitress left with their drink orders, a sharp pain seized Emma’s abdomen, and she gripped her menu tighter.
Casey immediately picked up on her distress. “What’s the matter?”
She cut her eyes over at Nate and then back to Casey and shook her head. The last thing she wanted was to discuss womanly issues in front of him—intern or not. And even though he was more than just Casey’s fiancée—he was a good and trusted friend—it still bothered her. “Oh nothing.”
“Shit, you aren’t cramping, are you?”
Emma felt her cheeks warming as she tried to hide behind her menu. “I said it’s nothing.”
Casey rolled her eyes. “Oh for f**k’s sake, Em. Nate knows all about vaginas and ovaries, so quit acting embarrassed in front of him.”
“I’m not acting embarrassed…I am embarrassed!” Emma replied.
Ignoring Emma, Casey looked pointedly at Nate. “You know how Em’s been hitting it with Aidan to get pregnant?” He nodded. “Well, she’s two days late for her period now.”
Emma closed her eyes, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Nate cleared his throat, trying to ease the tension. “If you are cramping, it could be a good thing. Sometimes when the egg implants into the uterine wall, you’ll experience moderate to severe pain that is similar to menstrual cramps.”
Casey gave Nate a beaming grin. “Baby, you’re so sexy when you spout that medical jargon.”
Emma snorted as Nate leaned over the table to give Casey a lingering kiss. “You guys are seriously sickening.” Once they had stopped making out, she smiled at Nate. “But thanks for the information. I’m hoping that’s what it is.”
“I’m hoping for you, too. You’ll make a wonderful mother, Emmie Lou. God knows, you deserve some happiness,” Nate replied, squeezing her hand.
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” She was interrupted by her phone buzzing in her purse. She glanced at the text and smiled.
I don’t know if you’re still speaking to me or not, but I’m thinking of you today. No one, besides my own mother, meant as much to me as yours did. She always loved and accepted me for who I was. Not to mention she made the best damn chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had! I love and miss you, Emmie Lou!
It was from Connor. He had even used her nickname. When she started to text him back, Casey cleared her throat. Emma snapped her gaze up. “Sorry, I didn’t think—”
Casey motioned over Emma’s shoulder. When she turned around, Connor stood with a bouquet of lilies—her mother’s favorite flower. Tears filled Emma’s eyes as she popped out of her seat and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re here!”
“I’m just glad you’re hugging me, rather than slugging me.”
As she pulled away, Emma giggled. “I guess I left things pretty bad between us, huh?”
“Dude, I thought I was a goner between you and that guy—oh what was his name again? The one who thought I was your boyfriend and was going to kick my ass.”
Casey snickered. “His name is Aidan, but I think we can refer to him as Em’s prospective Baby Daddy.”
Connor’s eyes widened, and he staggered back. “You got that guy to be your sperm donor?”
Emma shot Casey a murderous look before jerking her out of the booth. “No, not exactly.” She motioned for Connor to have a seat. “I think I need to fill you in on some things.”
Connor waved the waitress over before sitting down. “I’m going to need a beer…actually, go ahead and bring me the pitcher!”
CHAPTER TEN
Aidan hustled off the elevator from his last meeting of the afternoon. With his new promotion, his days were slammed from the moment he walked through the door until he clocked out. Thankfully, it was only half an hour until he could leave.
He stopped at his secretary’s desk. “Any messages, Marilyn?”
She shook her head. “But there’s a Ms. Harrison waiting for you in your office.”
Aidan’s c**k twitched at the mention of Emma. The last time she’d been in his office they’d had a mind blowing quickie. He sure as hell hoped that was what she was back for. “Thank you.”
He licked his lips in anticipation and pushed open his office door. Any hopes he had of getting laid were dashed the moment he saw Emma sprawled out on his couch, sobbing hysterically. His throat closed in horror, and he struggled to breathe. He’d been accustomed to scenes like these when he was growing up. With four sisters, he’d seen and heard just about everything.
But usually whenever an estrogen shit-storm rose on the horizon, he and his father got the hell out of dodge by escaping to the ballpark or pizza place. No matter how successful in business he was, there was one thing he couldn’t handle: emotional females.
Emma glanced up to see him standing in the doorway. Their eyes met, and she broke down again. “Oh shit,” he muttered, running his fingers through his hair. He hesitated before slowly walking over to the couch. As he stared down at her, he rocked back and forth on the heels of his feet. Finally, he took out one of his monogrammed handkerchiefs from his suit pocket and handed it to her. “Emma, what’s wrong?”