Simply Sensual (Simply 3)

“I take it that’s him now?” Emma asked.

“Yes, and behave yourself.” Not that Grace believed her warning would do a bit of good. If Emma wanted to be precocious, nothing could stop her.

“I always do. Is this the neighbor your brother met?”

“Yes,” Grace said quickly before Emma could elaborate on what else Logan had seen. She only hoped her brother had been discreet.

“Grace?” Ben’s voice carried into the apartment and his footsteps followed. “We need to talk.”

“There seems to be a lot of that going around,” Emma said with a laugh.

“Hush.” Grace grit her teeth. Although she couldn’t be happier to see her grandmother, Emma’s nosiness was the one negative aspect of her surprise visit.

“I hope now’s a good time…” His voice trailed off as he entered the living room, stopping short at the sight of Grace and her guest.

“Hi, Ben,” Grace said.

He nodded at both women. Shock registered on his face.

She supposed he’d had his fill of surprise Montgomery visits in the past few days. “I’d like you to meet my grandmother.” Grace rose and helped Emma to her feet. “I’ve told you so much about her I’m sure you feel as if you know her already.”

Ben’s smile froze on his face.

Meeting the family, Grace thought. Ben couldn’t possibly be happy about this turn of events. Still, she was thrilled that the two people she loved most in the world could actually meet face-to-face.

She turned to Ben. “Ben, this is my grandmother, Emma Montgomery. Gran, this is my… new neighbor, Ben Callahan.”

Since Ben’s possession of her key made his relationship to Grace more than obvious, she opted just to call him a neighbor to spare him any further embarrassment. Emma would draw whatever conclusions she chose anyway, regardless of the words Grace used.

“A pleasure.” Her grandmother beamed at Ben.

The sight of a man in Grace’s apartment obviously did Emma’s heart good. After Grace’s dateless years and the lack of information Grace gave the older woman, her grandmother’s teeth were probably chattering with excitement over the prospect of a live date to interrogate.

Emma extended her hand and he grasped it, shaking gently. “Same here.”

Emma shook her head. “I’d expect a stronger grip from the man my granddaughter chose.”

Grace was unable to stifle a laugh.

Ben colored and pumped Emma’s hand with more gusto.

“That’s better. Now, sit and regale me with details. At my age, I don’t get near enough exposure to pheromones at work. The good Lord knows your parents sleeping in separate bedrooms hardly gets my blood pumping.”

Grace rolled her eyes. Her parents had been in separate bedrooms for as long as she could remember—except when they were arguing. It wasn’t a secret, but she didn’t like her grandmother to reveal private family details or embarrass Ben with her penchant for sexual innuendo at the most inopportune moment. And based upon his uncharacteristic silence, Emma had not only embarrassed him, but she had him at a loss for words.

Grace sighed. If she wasn’t careful, Emma would drive Ben away long before the words I love you even left Grace’s mouth. “Behave yourself, Gran.”

The older woman snorted. “Okay, then you two sit together and let me revel in young love.”

“Mrs. Montgomery…”

“It’s Emma,” her grandmother said pointedly. “And I’m genuinely glad you’re here. If my granddaughter likes you, that’s good enough for me. Gracie, open a bottle of wine.”

Grace narrowed her gaze. She’d expected Emma’s approval, if only because her grandmother trusted Grace’s judgment. But she’d also expected Emma to hit the man up with twenty questions, not accept him at face value.

And it bothered Grace beyond reason that Emma was so accepting. Not because she wanted to subject Ben to an Inquisition but because she didn’t understand why her grandmother wasn’t pushing harder. Grace’s prom date had gotten a more difficult time, and he’d been nothing more than a close friend.

“Why don’t you two get to know each other and I’ll see if I can find a decent bottle of wine.” Maybe if she left them alone, Emma would talk. And maybe then the uneasy feeling in the pit of Grace’s stomach would disappear.