“Okay. But just amend the part about being able to see the child. I don’t want any part of changing diapers or middle of the night feedings, got it?”

She smiled. “I understand.”

“So how do we proceed?”

“Actually, I was hoping as soon as possible—well, as soon as our test results come back. I should be ovulating then.”

“Huh?”

She flushed. “It’s the time when it’s easiest for me to get pregnant.”

“So we won’t be banging 24-7?” Aidan asked with a grin.

“No. That’s not how conceiving works.”

“What a pity,” he mused.

Emma went back around her desk to glance at her calendar. “Would a week from Monday be okay?”

“Sounds good to me.”

Chewing on her lip, she hesitated before outlining for him the rest of her baby-making demands. She was embarrassed to talk about some of it in front of him.

“Spit it out, Em,” Aidan ordered, his tone laced with amusement. She momentarily narrowed her eyes at him since he was all too good at reading her body language.

“Okay, so here’s the deal. It’s best if we have sex every other day during my fertile period. Having sex everyday can be counterproductive for conceiving. So would you be willing to meet me again on Wednesday and potentially Friday?”

“A MWF sex schedule? How efficient,” he mused.

“Please be serious.”

A wicked grin flashed on his face. “Fine, pencil me in. I’ll be ready and erect whenever you need me.”

“Thank you,” she replied, with a tight smile. “Now that’s taken care of, where should we meet?”

“I’m thinking you want to keep this as businesslike as possible, so it’s probably best we use some neutral ground like a hotel room, rather than one of our homes.”

She nodded. “That sounds good.”

“Why don’t I make us a reservation at the Grand Hyatt?”

Emma’s mouth dropped open. “The Grand Hyatt?” she repeated.

Aidan chuckled. “I’m not a Best Western/Holiday Inn sort of guy, Em.”

“Oh, no, that’s fine. It’s just I thought since you were helping me out and all, I would take care of the hotel fee, and several nights at the Hyatt is a little out of my budget.”

Aidan shook his head. “No, I’ll take care of it.”

“But—”

“I think it’s safe to say I make a lot more money than you, so let me take care of this.” At her sharp intake of breath, he held up his hands. “Besides, you need to be saving your money to take care of the kid.”

Even though she didn’t like his salary reference, she realized he had a point. “Fine then. You can pay.”

“Thank you.”

“So Monday night at seven?” she asked.

“It’s a date.”

CHAPTER FIVE

At the sound of the doorbell, Emma threw on her robe and hurried down the hallway to let Casey in. She barely cracked open the door when Casey demanded, “How are you holding up?”

Emma groaned. “I’m supposed to meet Aidan in an hour, and I feel like I’m going to puke at any moment. I may need a Xanax to make it through the night!”

“I imagined as much,” Casey replied as she stepped into the foyer. “Never fear. I’m here now to talk you down from the ledge and to ensure you’re looking fabulous.”

Emma gave Casey a quick hug. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“Don’t mention it.” She patted Emma’s back. “Besides, you’ve put up with a lot of my relationship bullshit over the years. I figured I owed you!”

They strode down the hallway and into Emma’s bedroom. “So what are you wearing?” Casey asked.

Emma motioned to a rather demure black dress hanging on the closet door. Casey shook her head. “No, no, no! That one is way too understated for something like tonight!”

“Honestly, Case, he knows I’m a sure thing. Why does it matter what I have on? It’s not like I’ll be wearing it long.”

Casey rolled her eyes. “Don’t be silly, Em. Men are so visual. You’ve got to get him raring to rip your clothes off and ravish you the moment he sees you.”

“But we’re having dinner first,” Emma protested as Casey barreled into the closet and flicked on the light.

“Good, let him be at half-mast the entire time and wanting to eat you for dessert!”

“I seriously cannot believe you thought that, let alone said it!”

Casey gave a contemptuous snort. “Well, one of us has to think of these things.”

Emma ignored her and went back to the bathroom to start on her make-up. She slid rose-colored blush across her ivory cheeks when Casey finally burst through the door. “Ooh, this one!” She thrust out a short, strapless emerald chiffon dress.

The lilac colored walls of the bathroom suddenly began to close in on Emma. She shook her head wildly at Casey. “No, I can’t wear that.”

“Why not? It’s sexy, but not slutty, and it’s his favorite color on you. Plus, it’ll show off that fabulous rack of yours!”

A slow, emotional burn radiated through her chest, and for a moment, she was so overcome she couldn’t speak. When she finally did, her voice was strained with emotion. “That’s the dress I wore to mine and Travis’s engagement party.”

Casey’s beaming expression momentarily faltered, but then she quickly plastered back on a smile. “You should totally wear it again. That was a happy night, and tonight is a happy one because it starts a new chapter of your life, the one where you become a mom.”

Emma stared at the dress for a moment. A crystal clear image cut through her mind of her mother, clutching her heart, and smiling broadly. Her mother’s voice echoed through her mind the same as it had that day in the store. Oh Em, honey, that dress is to die for! You’ll take Travis’s breath away. She closed her eyes, trying both to savor the memory and keep her emotions in check. When she was sure she wouldn’t cry, she opened her eyes and smiled at Casey. “You’re right. It needs some more wear and some more memories with it.”

“That’s the spirit!” Wrapping her arms around Emma, Casey squeezed her tight. “Damn, I’m proud to call you my best friend. You’re so strong and resilient with all you’ve been through, and then deciding to have a baby on your own like this. You’re my own little Steel Magnolia!”