“Women,” he muttered under his breath as he pushed through the bathroom door. Emma sprawled out on the tapestry settee with a wet paper towel over her eyes. On one side, her skirt was jacked halfway up her hip, giving him a fabulous view of legs and thighs. At the sound of footsteps, she gave a frustrated grunt. She stabbed the air in front of her with her index finger. “I swear if you don’t leave me alone, I’m going to kick you so hard in the balls there will no longer be any question about whether you can father my children!”
Aidan chuckled. Her deep auburn hair so foretold her fiery personality—one she’d showed him at the Christmas party. All her bashfulness had evaporated in an instant when she told him in no uncertain terms that she had no desires to be one of his conquests or one night stands.
“Actually, it isn’t Connor.”
At the sound of a stranger’s voice, Emma snatched the towel away from her eyes. Horror washed over her face at the sight of Aidan standing before her. Quickly, she jerked her skirt down and ran a hand through her disheveled hair. “I didn’t expect to see you, Mr. Fitzgerald,” she said, meekly.
A grin slunk across his face. “No, I imagine you were expecting to get to castrate Connor.”
Emma’s cheeks and neck flushed the color of her hair. “I’m sorry you had to hear that, and I’m so sorry you had to get in the middle of our argument. As embarrassing as it was—it is—I appreciate what you tried to do.”
He shrugged. “I was happy to help.”
“Well, I am grateful. And I’m sorry for ruining your evening.”
Never one to forgo an opportunity, Aidan grinned. “You haven’t ruined my evening. In fact, the night is still young, so why don’t you let me buy you a drink?”
She twisted the paper towel in her hands before tossing it into the trashcan. “Um, that’s nice of you to offer, but it’s been a long day. I should probably get home.”
“We could walk right across the street to O’Malley’s.” At her continued hesitation, he laughed. “I promise it’s not an offer to try to ply you with alcohol in your weakened emotional state to get you to come home with me.” Secretly, he hoped a drink or two might be able to thaw her icy veneer and give him a chance to move in for the kill.
He wasn’t too surprised when shock flooded Emma’s face. “Really?”
He crossed his fingers over his heart. “Scout’s Honor,” he lied.
The corners of her lips quirked up like she was fighting a smile. “Okay then. After the day I’ve had, I could sure use one.” She glanced back at the mirror. “Oh, I’m a mess. Could you give me a few minutes to freshen up?”
“Of course. I’ll be right outside.”
CHAPTER TWO
When the door closed behind Aidan, Emma released the breath she had been holding in a long, exaggerated whoosh. Deflated, she leaned against the bathroom counter. Drinks with Aidan Fitzgerald, are you insane? Every woman in the building knew his reputation of screw-em-and-leave-em, and unless you wanted your heart broken, you steered clear of him. Thoughts of their encounter at the Christmas party flashed like a lightning storm through her mind.
Being new at the company, she had her eye out for any potential single men. After catching him staring at her several times, she’d innocently questioned Casey about who he was. She had shaken her head so fast Emma was sure she was going to get whiplash. “He’s a sex on a stick, Em, so you need to stay the hell away from him unless you wanna get used!” she had replied.
The other ladies chimed in with very detailed descriptions of some of Aidan’s infamous exploits with different women at the company. So when he came sauntering over with his bedroom eyes and swagger, she sent him on his way, tail between his legs with her hard rejection.
She dug her make-up bag out of purse. Gazing in the mirror, she reapplied some loose powder on her face. Her tear-stained eyes needed the works of new eyeliner, mascara, and eye-shadow. As a finishing touch, she rolled a tube of rose colored lipstick across her lips.
Emma surveyed her reflection and groaned. Why are you even bothering with your face? All he cares about is what you look like from the neck down, preferably the waist! God, of all the men in the building, it had to be Aidan that came to her rescue. Mr. Manwhore Fitzgerald himself. He was the type of man who wasn’t used to ever getting rejected, so he must have a score to settle with her.
She tossed her makeup bag back in her purse. With a deep breath, she headed outside. True to his word, Aidan sat on one of the benches outside the bathroom. He shot up the moment he saw her. “Ready?”
“Sure.”
They pushed through the revolving doors and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Emma’s heels clicked along the pavement. The warm air from the heavy traffic rushing past them ruffled the bottom of her short skirt, and she fought to keep from having a Marilyn Monroe Seven Year Itch moment. “You go to O’Malley’s often?” she asked, trying to make conversation.
Aidan nodded. “A couple of nights a week me and some of the guys from my department have a beer. Maybe catch the latest game.” He punched the crosswalk button. “What about you?”
Emma wrinkled her nose as they started across the street. “Not really. I’m not much on the atmosphere.” When he raised an eyebrow at her, she quickly said, “I mean, it’s fine going with you tonight. It’s just not some place my girlfriends and I like to hang out.”