“Not if I can help it,” Aria replied. “I can’t handle seeing him. He makes me do stupid things.”

“Live a little,” Sophie urged. “Be wild. Hot rich guys don’t come around too often.”

“You’re a bad influence, Soph.”

“You know you love it.”

“Whatever. I’ve got my family dinner soon. Got to get ready.”

“Sure, babes. Make sure to hug those sexy brothers of yours for me.”

They hung up, and Aria went to check the pasta bake in the oven. It smelled delicious and would taste even better. Luckily, she still had time to prepare the family dinner and avoid any awkward explanations.

CHAPTER 15

Eli found Aria’s house easily. A quick check of the phone book, and he was on his way. He knew he had the right place when he spotted her ridiculous green Volkswagen parked at the curb along with three other cars. The weatherboard house was painted off-white with pale blue trimmings. Although the garden was weedy, and the grass several centimeters taller than it ought to be, it looked pretty, in an unkempt sort of way. A bird fountain stood beside the porch, and several pairs of shoes were lined up at the door beside a ratty old couch. Perhaps she had friends over. It didn’t matter. Eli needed to talk to her.

The door was slightly ajar, but he knocked anyway. A man with unruly black hair and a scruffy beard opened the door, his broad shoulders blocking the doorway so Eli couldn’t see inside. As he gave Eli the once-over, the man’s upper lip curled into a sneer.

“Who are you?” The question was abrupt to the point of rudeness, but Eli didn’t notice; he was too preoccupied with finding out the identity of this man who was in Aria’s house, answering her door and looking so damned comfortable about it.

“Eli Lockwood,” he said, extending a hand. “And you?”

The man shook his hand with a vice-like grip and glared down his crooked nose. “Justin Simons,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

Simons? As in Aria Simons? If she was married, it certainly explained why she’d run from his bed. Eli felt a flash of fury. He hated unfaithful women. Now he needed to see her even more urgently.

“I need to see Aria.”

“She’s busy.”

“Can I come in?” Whatever the situation, he wasn’t going to be put off. For a moment, he thought he’d have his ass handed to him, but Justin Simons made no move except to lean a forearm casually against the door frame so he loomed over Eli.

“What’s this about?”

“That’s between Aria and me.”

“Humor me,” Justin said. “Or you can bloody well piss off.”

“It’s work-related.”