Yep. Up close, the truth was even more apparent. She’d never seen a more attractive man in her life. Including the Hemsworth brothers.

Aldo Moretta was something special. And he was her boyfriend. Her boyfriend that she was this close to dry-humping in his sleep.

She closed her eyes and gave herself another moment to enjoy being wrapped up in strong arms that she thought could never harm her. Warmth, security, peace. She’d use this to steel herself against the day. Work would surely involve a rehashing of the Mrs. Diller confrontation. But for now, everything in the world was perfect. She was safe. Happy.

Gloria gave herself another ten minutes before slowly wriggling free of Aldo’s grasp. His hold tightened on her and then relaxed as another little snore escaped his beautiful lips.

Gloria tiptoed into the bathroom to wash her face and comb her hair into a semblance of cuteness. She tied it back in a high top knot, leaving the rest loose, and snuck back out to the living room. She sat on the coffee table and watched him sleep, an arm thrown over his head. His big body sprawled across her couch. One foot poking free from the blanket.

“I can feel you staring,” he murmured, eyes still closed.

“Good morning, sunshine.”

He cracked an eye, rolled to his side.

“G’morning.” His reply was muffled by the pillow he snuggled up to.

“Thank you for staying,” Gloria said, rubbing her palms down her thighs.

“Mmm.”

Morning Aldo was freaking adorable. And if Gloria didn’t stop swooning over him, she would end up hungry and late for work.

“Breakfast?” she asked him.

He yawned mightily. “Yes, please.”

She jumped to her feet. Happy to have a task that would take her away from staring at his sexiness. “I’ll make eggs. And bacon. And toast. Coffee, too,” she called over her shoulder.

She was in the midst of brewing coffee and layering bacon into her pan when Aldo came into the kitchen. He was fully dressed—to her great disappointment—and his prosthesis was attached.

“Does your couch emit carbon monoxide fumes?” he asked.

She laughed. “Why?”

“Because I haven’t slept like that since before I left for Afghanistan.”

“Definitely carbon monoxide,” she told him.

“What can I help with?” he asked, eyeing her breakfast assembly line of toaster, plates, and utensils.

“You’re a guest,” she insisted.

“I’m the boyfriend,” he shot back. “Boyfriends help cook breakfast after Pride and Prejudice sleepovers.”

“Then you can be the Toast Master General,” Gloria said, pointing at the bread. “So what did you think of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth?”

“They wasted too much time being in their own way,” he said, loading the toaster and then opening the refrigerator to hunt for butter.

“Maybe they needed that time to make sure they were right for each other,” Gloria suggested.

Aldo grunted. “And maybe they were just chickenshit.”