“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!”
Emma grinned. “Who knew it would take casual sex to get you so sentimental.”
“I’m just so happy for you, and that I’ll get to be an auntie.”
“Godmother, remember?”
Casey wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know if I want all the moral and ethical responsibility that comes with being a godmother. I’m more the naughty aunt who sneaks them into R rated movies and buys them booze when they’re underage.”