Excerpt of Newton Neighbors by Suzy Duffy

"Hubba–hubba!" Rick said, making Maria smile.

She still knew how to work her charms—hands on hips, subtle breath in through parted lips to elevate bust, chin raised, head tilted. She could do it all in a microsecond but make it look natural.

Tonight she was wearing a brand new, figure hugging scarlet–red dress with a plunging neckline. "You like?" She pouted for extra effect.

Rick crossed the room in three strides. "Baby, you're still my weapon of mass seduction." His voice had dropped an octave already. Blood was on the move. Damn.

Maria pushed against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her, because she knew where this was going. "Ricky, I was looking for your approval, not sex. Look, Cody's downstairs, the sitter's due here any moment, and we don't have time."

"Oh, come on." He kissed her neck and nuzzled into her long, wavy hair, but she pushed him away.

"What if your son walks in?"

"We can lock the door?"

Maria tried to laugh it off, knowing it was her fault for giving him the come–on.

NEWTON NEIGHBORS

"No! You grab a bottle of wine for the party and I'll check on the baby." She walked away without giving him a chance to argue. Everything she had said was correct—they didn't have time for sex—but that wasn't why she'd pushed him away. The truth was she had a secret. If Ricky thought she was a weapon of mass seduction, it was because Maria had upgraded her ammunition.

It looked like a gymnast's leotard, but it was made by NASA and the ad had promised to reduce her waist by at least two inches. The fact it took fifteen minutes to squeeze into and she had no idea how long before she might asphyxiate was academic. Maria was thrilled with the result. She looked like her old self, with curves hauled back into the right position, and that was all that mattered. But there was no way she was showing it to Ricky. The plan was to wear it to the party, look amazing, and then when they got home, she would peel it off in the bathroom before he ever saw. Easy but spontaneous seductions were not part of the agenda.