Page 19 of An Heir For Her Enemy

“Are you close with your parents?”

“Sort of. They live in Ohio, so I don’t see them all that often, but we keep in touch and I try to visit at least once a year. They visit me in New York, too. I don’t think they understand what I do exactly, but they try. How about you? Are you close with your parents?”

“Sort of,” Delaney echoed. “I think they don’t understand what I do exactly, either. I’m the youngest of four, and my two older brothers and older sister all went into ‘safe’ professions — my sister is a nurse, one brother is a mechanic, and the other runsa sporting-goods store. My parents are a little worried about me making my way in the art world.”

“Wow, three older siblings.” Logan whistled. “I can’t imagine.”

Delaney shrugged. “It felt normal to me. And it was nice to always have someone around to talk to or ask for help. Do you have siblings?”

“One little sister,” Logan said. “We have a big age gap, so she’s just starting college.”

“What’s she studying?”

“Anthropology.” Logan grinned again. “I’m so proud of her.”

“I bet.” Though Delaney wondered how Logan had been so careless with her feelings when he had a little sister. At least he hadn’t brought up what she’d said last night.

As if he’d read her mind, Logan leaned forward. “About last night…”

Delaney’s stomach dropped but, thankfully, their food arrived before he could say anything else. Logan ended up with a steaming plate of short, thick pasta covered in a fragrant green pesto and studded with potatoes and green beans, while Delaney had a dish of gnocchi with cheese, tomatoes, and crisp pancetta.

“This smells amazing.” She lifted her fork to try a large bite. Gooey cheese and zingy tomatoes exploded in her mouth. “And it tastes even better.”

“This is really good as well. I’ve never seen potatoes in pasta before, but I like it.” Logan took another bite. “Would you like to try?”

“Um, sure.” Delaney speared a piece of pasta and a green bean. Logan was right — it was delicious. “Do you want to try mine?”

“Yes, please.” Logan savored a bite of gnocchi. “Delicious. Surprise lunch is going well.”

And it was. Now that they were chatting easily and enjoying amazing food, Delaney began to soften again. Logan had been to the basilica before, after all. Perhaps it was understandable that he’d taken a little time out of the day to work.

They chatted easily as they ate their pasta, then Delaney ordered a tiramisu.

“Nothing for me,” Logan told the waiter.

“Oh, come on. We’re in Italy. The desserts are amazing. You should try something.”

“Fine. I’ll have the… raspberry and pistachio cake.”

“Good choice, sir.” The waiter disappeared with their order.

“Are you determined not to have any fun?” Delaney asked.

“Just because I wasn’t going to order dessert doesn’t mean I’m not having fun.”

“Are you?” Delaney raised her eyebrows. “Or are you working?”

“I can do both.” They looked at each other for a long, intense moment, then Delaney shrugged.

“Anyway, you got dessert, so I’m calling that a win.”

The waiter reappeared with their desserts a few moments later and set them carefully on the table. Delaney tried a bite of her tiramisu, which was absolutely delicious.

“Would you like to try mine?” Delaney asked, looking up from her beautifully cocoa-powder-dusted tiramisu. Logan wasn’t looking at her, though, or at his dessert; he had his phone out again.

“No, thanks.” He typed quickly. “There’s a problem with one of our stocks.” His phone began to ring and he looked at Delaney. “I’ll be right back.”

He got up and walked away without waiting for an answer. Delaney sighed. She shouldn’t have expected anything else, but it was still disappointing that Logan was walking away again. She finished her tiramisu, then, when there was still no sign of Logan returning, she ate half of his raspberry and pistachio cake as well. It was delicious, but less so with no one to share it with.

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