Page 24 of An Heir For Her Enemy

“Hold on. I think we need a souvenir. And what better souvenir than a tiny pizza?” Logan led the way into the shop and Delaney followed. After perusing the shelves, Logan spotted a tiny plateof bruschetta and a miniature pizza. He purchased both, then handed the pizza to Delaney.

“Thanks.” She admired it, then tucked it into her pocket. “It’s a little slice of Italy I can carry with me!” She snorted at her own joke, and Logan laughed with her.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Anyway, we’d better continue.” Delaney set off down the sidewalk and Logan fell into step beside her. “Good choice of direction, by the way. You’re starting to get the hang of this.”

“This?”

“Relaxing. Exploring.” Delaney spread her arms and gave a little twirl as they walked, her hair fanning out with the motion and her gaze lifted to the clearing skies. “Fun!”

“I have fun.”

Delaney gave him a look that showed clearly how easily she saw through him. “You told me your hobbies. Work and more work.”

“You said those wereyourhobbies, too.”

“Yes, and I like my work. But I also like not doing my work. Isn’t it nice to put aside all the expectations people have of you and all the things they want from you, and just enjoy the day?”

“It is.” Logan paused. “We’re at an intersection, and I believe it’s your turn, Ms. Cohen.”

“Why thank you, Mr. Banks.” Delaney looked in all possible directions, then chose a street that led towards a park decked in fall colors.

They spent the rest of the day wandering the city. At Delaney’s suggestion, they ate lunch at a small restaurant off a square, where they managed to avoid another rainstorm and discovered a mutual appreciation for spaghetti carbonara. After lunch, they spent nearly an hour in a small bookstore, where Delaney eventually chose a hardcover book full of pictures of Rome that she insisted on buying for herself, even though Logan offered to pay. In the afternoon, they sat on the edge of a fountain enjoying a gelato each, watching kids walk home from school and pigeons circle the skies.

When evening rolled around, they began to walk back to the hotel, stopping to share a double portion of truffle risotto and a plate of bruschetta.

“I am stuffed,” Delaney said. “Do you remember the first night we met, when the gallery served bruschetta?”

“I remember, but it was nothing like this.”

“True. And I remember you said that you never eat at events like that.”

“I didn’t, but I think I will now. I can’t go back to a sad life of milling around not eating.”

“Good.” Delaney smiled at him, then grabbed the last piece of bruschetta. “Too slow.” She winked at Logan, then took a bite of the bruschetta. “Delicious.”

“Oh, what a tragedy. I would have fought you for it.”

“You would have lost. I’d be good in a fight.”

Logan chuckled. “I don’t doubt it. You look like the kind of person who’s secretly taken three years of martial arts.”

“Unless ballet counts, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you on that.”

“Ballet?” Logan grinned and leaned forward. “I can’t believe it.”

“What, I’m not graceful enough?” Delaney raised her eyebrows, and Logan shook his head.

“You are. I just always thought you would have been in art classes.”

“I was. To be honest, I was only in one ballet class, and it was just because my best friend begged me to join her. Did you do any sports when you were a kid?”

“I played a few years of soccer in elementary school, but after that I got too busy and gave it up. I was never very good though, so you don’t have to mourn the loss of talent.”

“I’m sure if you’d kept playing, you would have been a professional.” Delaney giggled at her own joke. Logan tried to look offended, but he knew he was smiling. Delaney had that effect on him.

“Yeah, right. Hey, we should start heading back, if we want to get the most out of sightseeing tomorrow.”

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