Tears of elation streamed down her cheeks as she threw her arms around his neck. “YES! Yes, I will marry you!”
The room erupted again with applause. Emma brought her lips to Aidan’s. Just when he started to deepen their kiss, she pulled away to feather kisses over his cheeks, his nose, and his forehead. Finally, she brought her lips back to his.
He pulled from their embrace to take her left hand in his. His thumb tenderly ran over her knuckles before he slid the ring on. “There. Now we’re officially engaged.”
She giggled before grabbing him by his shirt and jerking him to her again. As she kissed him passionately, he laughed against her lips. “Em, you do remember we’re in a room full of people, right?”
She squealed and then pulled away. Laughter echoed around them. “That’s a mighty fine yes, don’t you all agree?” he called the crowd.
“Hell yeah!” Connor called from his table.
Emma covered her face in embarrassment. Fortunately, the band leader came over and took the microphone back. “How about a song for the newlyweds and the newly engaged couple?” he asked.
“No! I don’t want to take away anything from Casey’s day,” Emma protested.
“Babe, she and Nate knew all about this. That’s what I called to ask her about.”
“Really?” Emma then glanced past Aidan to where Casey stood with a broad grin on the dance floor. When Emma raised her brows questioningly, Casey nodded and then blew her a kiss. Looking for Nate’s approval, he smiled and gave her a thumbs up.
“Okay then. Let’s dance.”
Aidan then led her out onto the floor. As she brought her arms around his neck, she couldn’t help but stare in wonderment at her ring. From time to time as they swayed to the music, she would momentarily forget about it until the light caught the diamond, and it sparkled back at her. She felt the urge to pinch herself to make sure it hadn’t all been some wonderful dream.
“You like it?”
“It’s beautiful.”
Aidan beamed. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so Connor helped me pick it out.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “He has damn good taste.” A grin cut across his face. “Of course, each time I tried to go for a cheaper ring, he liked to remind me of things from our past.”
Emma laughed. “I don’t think I even want to know what all he said to induce you into buying such a large diamond.”
“He should think of a side career for the CIA. His powers of persuasion are intense.”
The song then came to a close. “All right everyone. It’s time to cut the cake. Does anyone wanna put good money on the fact that Nate will be drenched in icing in about two seconds?” the bandleader questioned to a chorus of laughter and catcalls.
After the cake was cut and everyone stuffed themselves on the sugary, decadent deliciousness, Emma once again returned to the dance floor with Aidan. As they swayed to the music, Aidan smiled down at her. “So future Mrs. Fitzgerald, when are we going to tie the knot?”
Emma tilted her head to the right, lost in thought. “As much as I’d like to not be pregnant in a wedding gown, I want us to do it before Noah’s born.”
“Ah, legitimize the Little Man and all, huh?”
She giggled. “Exactly.”
“Do you want something like this?” he asked, motioning around the swanky ballroom.
Emma wrinkled her nose. “I had something like this planned many years ago.” Aidan tensed at her alluding to her wedding with Travis. “I want something simple with just our closest family and friends.” She glanced up at him. “We could get married at my church and have the reception at the barn.”
Aidan inhaled sharply. “Pop’s gonna shit a brick when I don’t get married in the Catholic church.”
“Then we can think of something else.”
“What about the meadow that overlooks the pond?”
“You don’t think it’ll be too cold?”
“We’ll keep the ceremony short and sweet,” Aidan joked.
Emma grinned. “Okay, that sounds good. Then we can have the reception in the barn. Will that suit you better?”
“All I care about is the part where you say ‘I do’ and become my wife.” Aidan brought his lips to hers. When she darted her tongue in his mouth and pressed herself against him, Aidan pulled away in surprise. “Are you trying to start something with me, Ms. Harrison?”
Not taking her eyes off of his, she bobbed her head. “Take me upstairs.”
“You’re joking?”
“Do you want me to beg?”
“Emma,” he growled.
“Aidan,” she began sweetly, “Will you please take me upstairs to our big rented suite and make love to me until I pass out from exhaustion?”
His eyes widened like she had lost her mind. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
“Would you rather me be dirty and say please take me upstairs and f**k me until I pass out from exhaustion?” she teased.
“You’re killing me, Em. Absolutely and completely killing me.”
“Then do something about it.”
“Aren’t we supposed to stay until Casey and Nate leave?”
“Nate’s family is Italian. They’re going to be drinking and partying until two in the morning.”
Aidan’s blonde brows furrowed. “Like Mafia Italian?”
Emma giggled. “I don’t think so.” She nudged him playfully. “Just go on over and make them an offer they can’t refuse on taking your fiancée upstairs to consummate your engagement.”
He scowled at her. “You’re supposed to consummate a marriage, not an engagement.”
“Fine. I’ll do it.” Emma took his hand and led him off the dance floor.
“At least the crowd is thinning out,” Aidan noted.
“What are you so worried about?”
“I just don’t want to piss Casey and Nate off. They’ve already been forgiving and generous enough to agree to share their day with my proposal.”
When they walked over, Casey was licking the icing off Nate’s cheek where she had previously smashed him with it. Emma leaned over and whispered something in her ear. Casey grinned broadly and nodded her head. Aidan shot Nate a helpless look to which Nate winked. “I gotcha man,” he mouthed.
Emma tugged on Aidan’s hand. “All right, Big Daddy, you can take me upstairs and ravish me now.”