Page 69 of Finally Mine
“Thank you. I really enjoyed it,” Gloria said, flushing with pleasure. She remembered this feeling. Approval.
“Don’t be surprised if I call you about Christmas.” Kate gave her a wink and then hustled the kids off in the direction of the taco truck.
Gloria had to admit the carnival-like atmosphere was magic. Dusk was falling, and the lakefront park was lit up with neon lights and carnival music. There were rides and games and food stands everywhere. It looked as though the entire town had turned out for it.
Flying high on accomplishment and praise, she laughed while Claire and Joni fed the kids dollars to win the requisite carnival fish. “Guess you’re going aquarium shopping tomorrow,” Gloria teased Harper when Robbie’s ping pong ball splashed into the fishbowl.
“Crap!” Harper said in exasperation before perking up. “Laugh all you want. Because here comes trouble for you.”
Aldo Moretta, clean-shaven and sporting cargo shorts, boat shoes, and a navy-blue t-shirt that molded itself to his chest, was walking toward her. Not just walking. Striding. A man on a mission. An Italian god among mortals.
Gloria briefly considered dropping her funnel cake on the ground and running in the opposite direction. But his speed this morning had looked good as he crossed the finish. She wasn’t sure she could outdistance him.
“Oh, God. Why do I have this reaction to him?” she whispered.
“Just enjoy it,” Harper hissed at her. “Ask him if he wants to watch the fireworks with us.” And with a helpful shove forward, her traitor friend disappeared back to the goldfish stand where the children in her care were racking up a school of fish.
“Hey,” Aldo said, closing the distance between them.
Yep. He was definitely talking to her. On purpose. “Hi,” Gloria croaked.
“Do you have a minute to talk?” he asked, nodding his head in the direction of the lake.
Big Chicken Gloria reared her terrified head for a minute. It was safer to be mad at him. Easier to keep her distance. She should brush him off like he’d done to her.
Her lack of response had him stepping a little closer. She could smell his soap.Who knew soap could be sexy?
“I believe I owe you both an apology and an explanation.” His voice was low and a little rough. It stroked over her skin.
“You know, I don’t think you really owe me anything—” she began.
He closed his eyes for a second. “Come on, Glo. Don’t chicken out on me now. You have no idea what it took to get me here to you right now. The least you can do is listen to me before you decide to blow me off.”
“Blow you off? Who blew who off?” she demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.
Aldo blinked then grinned.
“And don’t even think about making a blow job joke,” she said, poking him in his chest with her finger.
Aldo captured her hand, engulfing it in his. Everything about him was so big, solid.
“I’m not making blow job jokes,” he promised.
“Then what are you smiling at?” She pulled her hand back and was marginally disappointed when he let her have it.
“You’re yelling at me,” he said. “You’re not apologizing.”
“What doIhave to apologize for?” she gasped, incensed.
Aldo winced. “I’m doing a really bad job of complimenting you.”
“You’re damn right you are,” Gloria snorted. “Say something nice about my hair or my shoes or my eyes. Don’t ask me why I’m not apologizing to you.”
He stepped in on her while she was too incensed to notice the danger of a full-court press from Aldo Moretta. He slid his hand into her hair behind her ear, and her body went on sexy time alert. Holy hell. They were standing in the middle of the festival she’d organized, and she felt like they were alone in the summer night.
“Your hair is so soft, I spent hours every day while I was gone wondering what it would feel like to bury my hands and face in it.”
“Oh,” Gloria choked out.
