She grinned. “Since when do I have to have alcohol in me to get your libido kicking?”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Never.”
A squeal drew their attention to where Jenny was bouncing Noah on her hip. He was reaching for one of the balloons that the bartender was blowing up for him. Aidan couldn’t help smiling at the look on Noah’s face as he kicked his legs excitedly.
Emma cleared her throat, and Aidan glanced over at her. “I’m sorry, babe. Now I’m the one not doing a good job at date night.”
“Well, speaking of your libido…” Aidan watched as she shifted her menu and chewed her bottom lip.
“Em, what’s the matter? You look a little pale. Are you all right?”
“I need to tell you something.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Aidan saw Jenny with three bobbing balloons walking Noah over to a group of admirers. He held up a finger. “Just a second, Em.” He rose up from the booth. “Jenny, don’t get him so close to the smoking section,” he called.
She glanced back at him over her shoulder and nodded. Once he felt like Noah was safely away from the second hand smoked danger, he turned back to Emma. “I’m sorry. What is it?”
“Well, it’s…I know we weren’t actually planning on this, but—”
“Aw, look, Em. Noah’s blowing kisses to all the old men at the bar.”
The next thing he knew she had grabbed both of the sides of his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “Would you please listen to me!”
“Jesus, what is the matter with you?”
Her green eyes narrowed at him. “I’m pregnant! That’s what is the matter!”
His heart jolted to a stop. “Y-You’re what?”
Emma’s expression momentarily softened. “I just came from the doctor. That stomach flu I thought I had...yeah, that’s not what it was. I’m six weeks pregnant.”
“Holy shit…but we were using condoms.”
Pink tinged her cheeks. “Not the weekend at the lodge.”
He leaned over and lowered his voice. “Yeah, but I pulled out.”
Emma cocked her brows. “And you’re Mr. Super Potent Sperm, remember?”
Aidan swallowed hard. His mind whirled with out-of-control thoughts. He was going to be a father again. He hadn’t even thought of the prospect of having more children until Noah was at least two, if not older. Sure, his sisters Angie and Julia were fourteen months part, but he had never imagined having two so close together. Noah would still be in diapers when the new baby arrived. Jesus, he could barely survive all of Noah’s changings…what would it be like with two?
“Aidan?” Emma prompted. When he met her gaze, he could immediately read how she was feeling. She was thrilled at the prospect of another child to love, but she was also fearful of his reaction.
He brought his lips to hers and gave her a deep, reassuring kiss. When he finally pulled away, tears shone in her eyes. “Does that mean you’re okay with this?”
His hand went to tenderly touch her abdomen. “I’ll admit I’m scared shitless at the prospect of another child, but we’ve already been through so much. Another baby will just mean more love.”
Her bright smile warmed his heart. “Oh, Aidan, you made me the happiest woman in the entire world by giving me a baby. Then you made my life complete by giving me your heart and your love. I can’t imagine anything more amazing than another child of yours.” She then gave him a lingering kiss.
When she pulled away, he grinned. “Does this mean I can expect your libido to be kick-starting soon like when you were pregnant with Noah?”
She gave him a sly grin and then winked. “Oh yes.”
He closed his eyes in exaggerated bliss and brought his hand to his chest. “Be still my heart.”
She nudged him playfully as Nikki returned to take their orders. When Emma ordered her usual Rib-eye, Aidan stared at her in surprise. “You’re ordering a steak?”
“Sure, why not?” she replied as she handed the menus back to Nikki.
“I thought meat made you sick in your first trimester when you were pregnant with Noah.”
Emma shuddered. “Oh it did. I couldn’t even stand the smell of it, remember?” Surprise flashed on her face as the wheels turned in her head. Without missing a beat, a smile spread across her face. “I guess that means this baby is a girl!”
“Oh God,” he moaned.
Emma tilted her head to the side and gazed up at him. “What’s the matter, Big Papa? You don’t think you can handle a girl?”
“I think I’ll be fine until she gets to be a teenager, and then I may end up in prison for cutting some little horndog’s dick off!”
Emma laughed. “Poor thing. With you as her daddy, she won’t get to date until she’s thirty.”
“And it’ll be a good thing because if she’s half as beautiful as her mother, she’ll have all the boys chasing after her.”
Tears sparkled in Emma’s eyes at his compliment. “You’re so sweet.”
“It’s the truth.”
“But I do remember you saying you would bring some mighty fine genes as well.”
“We’re a good baby-making pair, aren’t we?”
Emma snorted. “In more ways than one.”
Aidan laughed. “Who knew you would be so fertile and I would be so potent?”
“That just means after this baby, we’ll have to be more careful or consider more options.”
Aidan shook his head furiously back and forth. “Don’t even think about suggesting a vasectomy!”
Emma rolled her eyes. “I was thinking either birth control pills or something for me. Don’t get your balls in a twist that I want to take your manhood or something.”
Aidan couldn’t help sighing with relief. “That’s good to hear.”
“But don’t think just because I’m going on birth control, I’m finished with baby-making.”
He arched his brows at her. “Oh really?”
“Mmm, hmm. I want a big family just like yours.”
“Em, I don’t think I ever signed on to father five kids.”
“Oh but you’re so good at it,” she teased.
He groaned. “There goes you and that mouth again.”
“Well, I’ll think of cutting myself off at three if you’ll shut me up and kiss me.”