‘‘Anna, it doesn’t matter what I wear if he doesn’t want to be there.’’

‘‘Of course it matters.’’ As a woman who had a longterm love affair with clothes, she was very nearly shocked at the suggestion. ‘‘Men don’t think they notice what a woman wears—unless it’s next to nothing. But they do, subconsciously. And it helps click the mood or the image.’’

Lips pursed, she added fresh basil to the sauce and got out a skillet for sauteéing onions and garlic. ‘‘I’m going to try to get him over there close to sunset. You should light some candles, put on music. The Quinns like their music.’’

‘‘What would I say to him?’’

‘‘I can only take you so far here, Grace,’’ Anna said dryly. ‘‘And I’m betting you’ll figure it out when the time comes.’’

She was far from convinced of that. While new scents began to romance the air, Grace worried her lip. ‘‘It feels like I’d be tricking him.’’

‘‘And your point would be?’’

Grace chuckled. And gave up. ‘‘I have a pink dress. I bought it for Steve’s wedding a couple years ago.’’

Anna glanced over her shoulder. ‘‘How does it look on you?’’

‘‘Well . . .’’ Grace’s lips curved slowly. ‘‘Steve’s best man hit on me before they cut the cake.’’

‘‘Sounds like a deal.’’

‘‘I still don’t—’’ Grace stopped as her mother’s ear caught the tinkling music from the living room. ‘‘That’s the end of Aubrey’s show. I have to finish up in there.’’

She rose quickly, panicked at the thought of Ethan coming home before she was gone. Surely everything she felt must show on her face. ‘‘Anna, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I just don’t think it’s going to work. Ethan knows his own mind.’’

‘‘Then it won’t hurt him to come around to your house and see you in a pink dress, will it?’’

Grace blew out a breath. ‘‘Does Cam ever win an argument with you?’’

‘‘On the rare occasion, but never when I’m at my best.’’

Grace edged toward the door, knowing that Aubrey’s sit-and-behave time was nearly up. ‘‘I’m glad you came home early today.’’

Anna tapped her wooden spoon on the lip of her pot. ‘‘Me, too.’’

TEN

THE FOLLOWING DAY AS sunset approached, Grace wasn’t certain she was glad at all. Her nerves were stretched so tight she could feel them straining and bubbling under her skin. Her stomach continually jumped in quick little rabbit hops. And her head was beginning to throb in a sharp, insistent rhythm.

It would be just perfect, she thought in disgust, if Anna managed to get Ethan over, and she simply pitched forward, ill and babbling, at his feet.

That would be seductive.