Emma nodded. “Good idea. Have a seat, Ben.”
Grace let out a long stream of air. So, there was hope for Emma yet.
Ben edged closer to Emma on the couch slowly as if facing a firing squad instead of her eighty-year-old spitfire o
f a grandmother. “Don’t let her intimidate you, Ben,” she called over her shoulder, then disappeared into the kitchen.
Grace knelt and began a search of the one cabinet that might have some wine or something Emma would enjoy drinking. Coming up empty, she rose and glanced through the pass-through. Emma and Ben sat together on the couch, deep in conversation.
Like two co-conspirators.
The uneasy feeling returned. She rounded the corner and joined them in the living room. Silence surrounded them. A silence so unlike Emma that a proverbial tingle raced up Grace’s spine.
“No wine,” she said inanely.
Emma shrugged.
“I know you two must have a lot of catching up to do so…” Ben began to stand.
Grace stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “Please, don’t go.”
He eased himself back into the seat beside Emma. “Your grandmother said she’d like to see my truck sometime.”
“Oh, really.”
“Yes. I adore high up trucks. If only your father would let me drive one.”
Grace narrowed her eyes. “Since when? You like a good, fast, sports car. Isn’t that what you said when the judge refused to let you behind the wheel of his McClaren? And when he bought a Range Rover you turned up your nose at it.”
“Well, yes, but your father’s a stick-in-the-mud. Ben here’s truck would have character.”
“You barely know Ben, so what makes you say that?” Grace placed her hands on her hips and faced her grandmother. “And you haven’t asked him a single prying question since he walked in the door. That’s unlike you, even with someone you know well. And you never met Ben before today so he’s a prime candidate for your meddling…” Grace’s voice trailed off.
She froze. Without warning, snatches of conversation came back to her. My grandmother handpicked Cat. Set them up and locked them in a closet together. Her matchmaking shenanigans would put the most seasoned pro to shame…
Impossible. Her grandmother and Ben had never met before today.
Emma patted Ben’s hand. “Gut instinct, dear. He seems like a good boy and I trust your judgment. You know that.”
Grace suddenly recalled with startling clarity Logan’s wedding reception on the beach, along with Emma’s teasing words: Grace, you’re my final project. I refuse to leave this earth without seeing you happily settled down. I think a trip to New York City is in order.
She shook her head harder. Impossible, she thought again. Then why did the two of them look so guilty? What are they hiding?
“We’re not hiding anything. I’m just pleased that everything worked out the way I’d hoped.” Emma spoke at the same time Grace realized she’d asked the question aloud.
“And how’s that?” Grace asked, still wary.
“You know me. I just want you settled and happy.” Emma shifted in her seat, fidgeting uncomfortably.
“And what did you do to make that happen?” Grace glanced back and forth between Emma and Ben. “What could you possibly have done? Because it’s obvious to me you’re hiding something.”
“Nonsense.” But Emma didn’t meet her gaze.
“Ben?” Grace captured his attention. “What is it my grandmother won’t tell me?”
“Grace, can we talk about this later when we’re alone?”
Her mouth grew dry. “Up till now, I was working on a hunch. On gut instinct and no concrete evidence. But since you’ve just all but admitted there is something between you two, it’s time you filled me in.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Right now.”