Souvenirs by Mia Kay Page B

had made a hash of it before he could. The relationship was on the verge of collapse faster than it had begun. Twenty-four hours had to be a record. Fe would never let him live it down. She’d make him a commemorative t-shirt for Christmas.
    For the rest of the evening, he stayed close to Grace without hovering, touched her but didn’t linger, asked her opinion about everything. He had to fix this.
    By the time she and Nora went to powder their noses, she was relaxed and he was a wreck. Staring into his drink, he heaved a deep sigh.
    “What gives?” Adam asked.
    “Umm.” Ben rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. “Our mothers volunteered to swap so Grace and I could share a room.”
    Adam choked on his drink. “Those are a couple of understanding mothers.”
    “Yeah,” Ben sighed, “and it’s left me feeling like I’m a dragon waiting to devour the sacrificial virgin.”
    Adam sat his glass aside. “There’s a visual I didn’t need.”
    Hot, sweaty, naked, tasting her skin, feeling her body give beneath me. Ben shifted in his chair. “Me neither.”
    The other man didn’t say anything for several minutes, but he squirmed like he was sitting on tacks. He chewed his lip and looked over his shoulder, only to twist back. “We know who you are,” he blurted.
    Ben froze. Bollocks.
    “Nora knew first,” Adam bashed on. “She’s seen a few things you’re in, and she’d kill me if she knew I was telling you.”
    Nora knew? Grace was alone with her. He was screwed.
    “Adam, mate, this is—”
    “Everyone deserves a vacation. It’s not our story to tell, and I don’t believe everything I read.”
    Ben ran his fingers down the sides of his whiskey tumbler. “If you’ve read any of it, you know why I’m worried.”
    “She might take it better than you think,” Adam encouraged him. “She might even surprise you.”
    In the ladies room, Grace stared at Nora’s reflection in the bathroom mirror. Her tattoo peeked from under the edge of the shrug covering her strapless dress while she bounced enough to jiggle her earrings.
    “And?” Grace whispered.
    “And what? It’s not our secret to tell.” Nora’s grin morphed into a full smile. “But I have to admit it’s cool. Adam’s a huge fan. Given half a chance he’d pump you for plot points until you ran screaming.”
    Grace turned a panicked gaze toward the door. She’d left Adam alone with Ben. Adam knew.
    “He won’t say anything,” Nora reassured her.
    “Really?”
    “He’s a minister, they’re used to secrets. Besides, he’s more worried about pissing me off on our honeymoon. What are you going to do about your mother’s offer?”
    If he’s half as good at sex as he is at kissing . . . Grace shoved the visions from her brain, closed her purse, and stood. “Think about what you’re asking.”
    “Dreamy guy, romantic cities, room service.” Nora opened the door. “It could be wonderful.”
    The suggestion tempted Grace as they left the restaurant and walked through Vienna. Things had been going so well. How on earth was she going to get her mother’s foot dislodged from her mouth? The imagined conversation was just as embarrassing. Grace isn’t going to meet a guy unless he has car trouble in the driveway. If Ben’s game, why not? Couldn’t Mom have let it happen on its own?
    Then again, it had been happening on its own. His hand was warm in hers, and his quiet voice tickled her skin as they whispered in conversation. She couldn’t imagine the rest of the cities being any better than this.
    Would waking with him be as good as spending the day with him? Did he snore? Hog the covers? Would they get tired of each other? Then what? This was too fast.
    They passed a park where an orchestra congregated in the amphitheater. All the musicians were in casual clothes and a crowd had gathered. Some were sitting in the seats provided, others were lounging on quilts while they enjoyed picnics.
    Ben led her to a vacant seat in the theater’s