She poured herself a glass of wine and surveyed the space. Dinner was ready. Grilled chicken, Caesar salads, and oven-roasted vegetables. And for dessert: whipped cream.

Aldo Moretta didn’t stand a chance.

She hit play on her phone, and low, bluesy music played softly through the little wireless speaker she’d borrowed from Harper. The sheets on the bed were freshly laundered. She’d even sprung for new pillows in case dessert turned into an all-night feeding frenzy.

There were candles ready for lighting if the mood needed a little boost and more wine for nerves.

Harper was a diabolical genius. Gloria had no problem seeing how she’d landed the reluctant, reclusive Luke. No one could withstand her. She was glad Harper was on her side.

The knock at her door startled her, stirring up her nerves again. It was showtime. Aldo Moretta had no idea how lucky he was about to get.

She opened the door with a flirty smile. “Hi, handsome. Right on time.”

“Wow.”

That was exactly the right reaction, she decided, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Are you hungry?”

She watched his eyes dip into her underwire-aided cleavage.

“Aldo?”

“Huh? I mean, yeah?” He already looked dazed, and Gloria hadn’t even gotten started. Whew. Okay. She could do this. She could seduce a man for the first time in her life.

“Listen, about tonight,” she began. “I have an ulterior motive for asking you to dinner.” She turned away from him. “Would you like a glass of wine?”

She could feel his gaze on her butt and resisted the embarrassing urge to shake it.

“Wine would be good. What’s your ulterior motive?” he called after her.

“Have a seat,” she told him from the kitchen and then took her time pouring him a glass. When she returned to where he sat nervously on the couch, doing her best saunter, he licked his lips.

“Isn’t it obvious?” She handed him the wine. “I’m seducing you.”

He went rigid. Gloria thought about straddling him but decided she should get his consent loud and clear without physical coercion. She sat next to him and smiled.

“Gloria. I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he began nervously. She was surprised he didn’t start inching away from her on the couch. “This relationship is so new.”

“Ten years is a long time to wait for anything, don’t you think?” she asked conversationally.

“Yeah. But this is moving pretty fast, and I want us both to be sure.”

Gloria rolled her eyes. If she got any more sure, her pants would catch fire from the smoldering happening down below. “Is this an ‘I don’t find you attractive’ rejection or an ‘I have a legitimate concern about moving our relationship forward’ rejection?”

“It’s not a rejection,” he said, putting his wine down abruptly and wiping his hands on his shorts. “It’s not. I swear.”