‘‘He was kissing me, and I was kissing him back, and it was wonderful. All my life I’d wondered how it would be, and then there it was and it was better than anything I’d ever imagined. Then he stopped and said he was sorry.’’

Anna closed her eyes. ‘‘Oh, Ethan, you idiot.’’

‘‘He told me to go inside, but just before I did he said he thought about me. That he didn’t want to, but he did. So I hoped that things would start to change.’’

‘‘I’d say they’d changed already.’’

‘‘Yes, but not the way I’d hoped. The day you and Cam came back, I was here when he got home. And it seemed like, maybe . . . but he took me back to my house. He told me he’d thought it through and he wasn’t going to touch me again and I was to steer clear of him for a while.’’ She let out a long breath. ‘‘So I am.’’

Anna waited a moment, then shook her head. ‘‘Oh, Grace, you idiot.’’ When Grace frowned, Anna leaned across the table. ‘‘Obviously the man wants you and it scares the hell out of him. You have the power here. Why aren’t you using it?’’

‘‘The power? What power?’’

‘‘The power to get what you want if what you want is Ethan Quinn. You just need to get him alone and seduce him.’’

Grace snorted. ‘‘Seduce him? Me seduce Ethan? I couldn’t do that.’’

‘‘Why couldn’t you?’’

‘‘Because I . . .’’ There had to be a simple and logical reason. ‘‘I don’t know. I don’t think I’d be good at it.’’

‘‘I bet you’d be great at it. And I’m going to help you.’’

‘‘You are?’’

‘‘Absolutely.’’ Anna rose to fuss with her sauce and to think. ‘‘When’s your next night off?’’

‘‘Tomorrow.’’

‘‘Good, that’s just enough time. I’d keep Aubrey for you overnight, but that might make it too obvious, and we’d better be subtle. Is there someone you’d trust with her?’’

‘‘My mother’s been wanting to take her overnight, but I couldn’t—’’

‘‘Perfect. You might feel inhibited with the baby in the house. I’ll figure out how to get him over there.’’

She turned around, studied Grace. Cool, classic looks, she mused. Big, sad eyes. The man was already a goner. ‘‘You’ll want to wear something simple but feminine.’’ Considering, she tapped a fingertip against her teeth. ‘‘ Pastel would be best, a fragile color, soft green or pink.’’

Because her head was starting to spin, Grace put a hand to it. ‘‘You’re going too fast.’’

‘‘Well, someone has to. At this rate, you and Ethan will still be circling each other when you’re sixty. No jewelry,’’ she added. ‘‘Just the bare minimum of makeup. Wear your usual scent, too. He’s used to it, it’ll say something to him.’’