He gave her a crooked grin. “You vastly underestimate your allure and sex appeal.”
“If I’m going to even begin to take you seriously, you’re going to have to give me a better reason than that.”
Aidan squirmed a little in his chair and cleared his throat before replying. “Well, there is another reason…”
“And?”
He scowled at her. “Okay, fine. I promised my mother when she was dying of cancer that I would have children some day. This way, I figure I can keep my promise with the least amount of commitment necessary.”
Although he tried to hide it, Emma could see the pain simmering in Aidan’s eyes. It was obvious how much he loved his late mother. “I’m very sorry about your mother,” she murmured.
He shrugged. “It was five years ago.”
“Why did she make you promise to have children? I mean, didn’t she just assume you would have them one day?”
“Not really.”
She gave a disgusted shake of her head. “I bet you can’t even stand being around kids.”
“For your information, I have nine nieces and nephews and a three month old great-nephew. If you talked to any of them, they would tell you what a good uncle I am.” He took out his iPhone and scrolled through a few pictures before thrusting the screen in front of her.
“Oh,” Emma murmured, as she surveyed the smiling faces. “I didn’t realize you had such a big family.”
“Four sisters, remember? Plus, we’re Irish Catholic.”
She nodded. “Aren’t you a little young for a great nephew?”
He pointed to an attractive middle-aged woman. “Angela is fifteen years older than I am, and Megan wasn’t actually expecting to become a mother at twenty-two.”
Emma smiled at the newborn in the young girl’s arms. “He’s beautiful.”
“In nine months, that could be you,” Aidan said softly.
Emotions swelled in her chest, and she felt like she couldn’t breathe. She momentarily closed her eyes, desperately trying to keep the frail thread of her sanity from snapping in two. The answer to all her problems was sitting directly across from her. All she had to do was say yes, and she could finally be a mother. It was all too much to process, and she desperately needed to get away from Aidan to think clearly.
When she finally opened her eyes again, she found Aidan staring at her. She smiled apologetically. “I’ve had a lot thrown at me today. I’m going to need some time to think about this.”
“I understand. Take all the time you need. You know where to find me.”
Emma nodded and then stood up. “Thanks for the drinks…and for listening.”
He nodded. “Anytime.”
And then she did something that surprised herself. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. When she pulled away, Aidan’s eyes bulged. “Goodnight,” she murmured before hightailing it out of the bar.
Late summer heat smacked against her face as she started into the night. Drained emotionally and physically, her legs felt wobbly, and she stumbled a little on the uneven pavement. She had just entered the dimly lit parking deck when someone grabbed her arm. Emma whirled around and used all her strength to connect with the assailant’s face. Hard.
“Damn, you have a good right hook,” Aidan groaned, bringing his hand to his right eye.
“Oh God, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it was you!” she apologized.
“No, it’s okay. I was a dick to not call out your name first.” He peeked at her through one eye. “Let me guess. You took the company up on their Female Assertiveness Training course?” She bobbed her head. “Yeah, well, they taught you well. I’m just glad you didn’t go for the old SING method.”
“Oh, the Solarplexus, Instep, Nose, Groin thing?”
Aidan nodded. “Nailing me in the balls wouldn’t have worked very well with my offer.”
Desperate to change the subject away from his manly parts, she asked, “What are you doing anyway?”
“My car is here.”
“Oh, that’s right,” she muttered, feeling like an idiot.
“And I promised Connor I’d make sure you got to your car okay.”
She tried to resist the fluttering of her heart at his act of kindness. “Thank you. That was awfully sweet of you.” She pointed down the aisle. “I’m just over there.”
“I can walk you.” When she eyed him skeptically, he grinned. “You know, to prove chivalry isn’t dead and all.”
“Okay then.”
Their shoes echoed off the pavement, filling the silent parking deck. “So, um, do you live nearby?” he asked.
“No, I’m about thirty minutes away in East Cobb.”
“That’s not too bad a drive. You know, when there isn’t any traffic.”
Emma ducked her head to keep from giggling at Aidan’s bad attempt at small talk. She must not have hid her amusement very well because he suddenly asked, “What’s so funny?”
She smiled. “Oh, I was just wondering when you might mention the weather.”
“I was that bad, huh?”
“It’s okay.”
He grinned at her. “I guess I’m off my game because you’re not like the women I usually come in contact with.” When she opened her mouth to protest, he shook his head. “Trust me, Em, it’s a compliment.”