Page 123 of Finally Mine
He really liked her. “Let’s call it a combination of both.”
She picked up her wine and sampled it. “I like your honesty.”
“I love your daughter.”
Her smile was slow and knowing. “Good. You will marry her and make sure she is safe and happy for the rest of her life then.”
“That’s where my head is at,” Aldo acknowledged. Saying the words, admitting what he really wanted, felt…good. He’d been dancing around it long enough.
Sara gave him another hard-won smile of approval over the rim of her glass. “I hope she doesn’t make you work too hard for it.”
“I can be patient,” he said. And he would.
“Thank you for showing my daughter what a real man is,” Sara said, pressing a quick kiss to both his cheeks.
He felt himself flush at the praise.
“Now, pour yourself a little more wine and go kiss my daughter in the dark. Give her a little romance.”
69
“If he had an older brother, I would take him dancing. Does he have an older brother?” That was how Sara Parker gave Gloria her blessing on the subject of Aldo. And Gloria—between busy work hours and long, cozy nights with Aldo—breathed a sigh of relief.
She knew it was silly to be an adult and still crave her mother’s approval. But seeing as how she’d done nothing but disappoint the woman for a decade, it felt like a very large, very satisfying win.
Especially since winning involved having a mysterious date with Aldo tonight. He’d given her no details, only the instruction “Prepare to be wowed.” Gloria couldn’t be giddier if a litter of puppies appeared at her feet.
She was climbing the final steps on the third flight of stairs to her apartment, still thinking about what she should wear when she spotted it on her door. A big, glittery heart taped to the center.
Pick you up at 7.
Exactly what kind of date was this going to be, she wondered, fingering the lacy edge of the heart. She couldn’t wait to find out. Digging through her purse, Gloria pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of the heart.
Gloria: What’s a girl supposed to wear to a glitter heart date?
He responded as she was unlocking her front door.
Aldo: I hope you don’t mind, but I took care of that, too. Look inside.
Gloria couldn’t get the door open fast enough. She’d given him a key as much for romantic relationship purposes as for convenience’s sake. Apparently, it had paid off big.
There was a garment bag hanging from her bedroom door with another red heart.
Wear me, please.
Giddy ramped up into ecstasy. Gloria dumped her purse and coat in a heap on the floor and ran to her bedroom. “What are you?” she asked, unzipping the bag so fast that she could have lost a finger. “Oh, my!” Chiffon, in a lovely soft rose, exploded out of the bag. Gloria worked the dress off the hanger and nearly swooned. The skirt was chiffon and light as air, but the bodice glittered like diamonds with hundreds of silver sequins over a sheer lining.
It was breathtaking and, with a quick peek at the tag, her size.
On a girlish squeal of delight, Gloria wrestled her sweater over her head and headed in the direction of her bathroom, the dress clutched to her chest.
* * *
“Where are you taking me?”she demanded, opening the door before Aldo could even knock. She didn’t know if he answered her or not because she’d been struck dumb by the man in the tuxedo.
“Holy crap,” she breathed.
“You look incredible,” Aldo said, taking her in. She indulged them both with a little twirl.
