Harper’s eyes lit up at the idea of not having to walk any farther. “That would be great, thanks! What time does it start?”

“It starts after the last finisher of the 5k. They call it leading the parade,” Gloria explained.

“Do you have room for one more? Maybe two? My mom’s a sucker for parade candy.”

Gloria jumped at the sound of Aldo’s voice. Was he talking to her? She turned around slowly and felt her eyes pop out of her head.

He’d taken off his shirt and stood on the sidewalk in all his ripped, sweaty glory. She’d never seen a man look sexier or stronger. If she kept staring at him, she was going to pass out.

“Hi, Aldo,” she said politely through her tight throat.

“Hi, Gloria. You look beautiful and festive.”

She blinked, wondering if this really was Old Aldo that she was staring at. Or if New Aldo was playing a game. “Thank you. You look…good.” Understatement of the year. But it was all he was getting from her.

He grinned, and her knees nearly gave out. “Do you mind if I join you for the parade?”

Gloria breathed in a little too sharply and choked on her own spit. She covered it with a cough. “Sure, I mean. Not at all. The more the merrier.” No! Why was she saying that? She would be perfectly within her rights to figuratively kick him to the curb. Or off of it.

“Great. See you soon.” He walked off.

It took Gloria a full ten seconds to notice she was fanning herself. “Oh my. What just happened? Did I pass out?”

Harper laughed and dragged herself to a standing position, delight written all over her flushed face. “I think this is Aldo coming around and pulling out all the stops. Prepare to be swept off your feet.”

“I don’t think I’m ready for that. Can’t he just say hello to me once a week for a year or so until I get used to looking at him?”

“I don’t think that’s how he works. You’ll be married in no time,” Harper predicted.

“You’re such a weirdo.”

“You love me,” Harper countered.

“Yeah, maybe.” Gloria was still staring at the crowd where Aldo had disappeared.

She felt the weight of a stare and turned to face her mother.

Sara’s eyebrows were an inch higher than usual. “And what do you want to say about that?” Sara asked quietly, nodding her head in the direction Aldo had gone.

“About what?” Gloria asked innocently.

“I might be your mother, but I am a woman first. I recognize that look. The handsome, sweaty athlete likes you.”

Gloria laughed. “Yeah, he likes me today, and then tomorrow he’ll be back to pretending I don’t exist.”

“Maybe he needs a good woman to help him find his way,” Sara suggested pointedly.