Aria shook her head, then nodded and shrugged. “Yes, no, maybe, I don’t know. I would if he were anyone else. But he’s an important guy. Rich. Powerful. You know how I feel about guys like that. Anyway, he’s not interested. He thinks he would be a bad dad, and I know I’m all wrong for him.”

“He’d be lucky to have you,” Avery said matter-of-factly. “It’s obvious he wants you, and you shouldn’t deny yourself because of this bullshit phobia you have of powerful men.”

Aria swallowed her surprise. “It’s not bullshit. I have my reasons for feeling the way I do.” Perfectly logical reasons based on past experience, not some random fear with no basis in the real world. “Anyway, he’s not interested in me for anything more than sex.”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “Are you nuts, Ri? He was sniffing after you as soon as he arrived. Of course he wants more than sex. You’re lovely. How many times has he asked you out?”

“A couple,” Aria admitted. “And thank you. But you’re my friend. You have to say that. He doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore. He wants to write a cheque once a month and send me on my way.”

“Hey, cheer up.” Sophie sat next to her and put an arm around her waist. “If anyone can convince him otherwise, it’s you.”

“Haven’t you been listening? I don’t want to change his mind.” Her protest sounded weak.

“Of course you do,” Avery said. “And you’ve got several months to do it.”

Aria laughed. “You guys are insane. You know that, right? Okay, if I agree to consider it, will you stop talking? We’ve got a nursery to decorate.”

“Seriously?” Sophie asked, grinning widely.

“Well, yeah. Why did you think I invited you here? I’m going to put you to work. I emptied out the spare room this morning and shifted everything into the garage. We’ve got a blank canvas, girls.”

Even Avery cracked a smile. Before much longer they were busy, and by the end of the day, all that was missing from the nursery was a baby.

Aria sat back after her friends had left and smiled to herself. She was going to make this work, and she was going to be a kickass mother.

In the days since Aria had delivered the news, Eli had revised his budget, freeing up money to cover the exorbitant cost of a new baby, and rescheduled his time, allowing himself one weekend every two months to visit Itirangi. But he found himself wondering if he wanted to do more. Take a chance on being a father and a lover. With Aria around, he’d begun to feel like he could.