*
Aria didn’t wantto need Ryan’s help.She was very good at fending for herself and her daughter.But here, in a new town where Ryan was essentially the only person she knew, she almost had to depend on him.Why hadn’t she thought of that before she moved?
Because a huge part of her wanted to see Ryan again.Wanted to see if she still had the same feelings for him that she’d had when he left her.And damn it, she did.Well, she might be a fool but she wasn’t so foolish as to start things up again with a man who’d proved he didn’t really care about her.No matter what he said, she knew that if it hadn’t been for Sophie he’d have no interest in her.
But maybe she was worrying unnecessarily.After all, Ryan hadn’t acted as if he was ready to pick up where they left off.And that was a damn good thing.So far he’d only expressed interest in Sophie.She hoped that if he did decide he wanted to start things up with her again that she’d have enough sense to say no way.But she wasn’t at all sure she would.
Because she still loved him.She didn’t want to but she did.
Her phone rang.Caller ID showed a number she didn’t recognize.Figuring it was spam, she answered it anyway.“Hello.”
“Aria, hi.It’s Sierra.I’m off work today and I wondered if you and Sophie wanted to have lunch?”
She had to let the construction crew in but they were supposed to show up at any moment now.“That sounds fun.Where should we meet you?”
“There’s a new sandwich shop out by the grocery store.Want to try it?”
“Sure.”They settled on a time and Aria thanked Sierra and hung up.Picking up Sophie, she held her up and said, “Guess what, baby girl?We’re going to lunch.”
She dressed Sophie in one of her cute outfits—a pink and white short set with a matching pink sweater—and after laying her down in the crib, went to reload the diaper bag and get dressed herself.
*
Aria walked intothe shop with Sophie in her carrier.She was ridiculously excited to be meeting Sierra for lunch.They’d hit it off the other night and she hoped they’d become friends.Sierra was waiting for them, and they ordered lunch and found a table in the corner where Aria could put the carrier on the seat beside her.
“How are you liking Marietta?”Sierra asked her.
“So far so good.It’s a big change from Denver.”
“I moved from Dallas so I know what you mean.”
They chatted about a variety of things and then Sierra said, “Can I ask you something personal?”
“Depends on what it is.”
Sierra laughed.“You don’t have to answer.”
“Ask away.”
“Are you and Ryan really not together?”
“We’re really not.”
“The reason I ask is because we’ve had several friends try to set him up with a date, and he says no every time.He dated some before you got here, although I never heard that he went out more than once with the same woman.”
“I don’t think it’s because of me, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I think it is.”
“Why?”Damn, she wished that idea didn’t make her feel good.
“Because of the way he looks at you.Especially when you’re not looking.”
She snorted.“I doubt it.For one thing, I told him there’s nothing between us but the baby.So even if he wanted it’s not happening.”
“Well, crap.I like Ryan and I think he needs a nice woman to settle down with.Since you’re the mother of his child that seemed the logical choice.But if you’re sure…”
She was sure, even if she sometimes didn’t want to be.“You know that song, ‘A Bad Goodbye’?”
