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Now being cut loose to explore for the next thirty minutes on our own, I head toward Karntner Strasse to browse its menagerie of shops. This street is known as the premier shopping area in the Innere Stadt, and although I didn't initially plan to buy anything, I'm excited to see what I can find.
I take my time as I stroll the pedestrian-only street, browsing a variety of enticing window displays. Passing a Swarovski store,I internally growl since it reminds me of Troy and Lacey, and I quickly quell a string of unpleasant thoughts. I prefer to stay upbeat and happy, and these are the last two people I want to think about.
Finding a candy shop, I step inside, spotting the perfect gift for Romeo—a bag of Manner's Mozart Balls. I vaguely remember him mentioning the confectionery, and now that I see them, I'm positive this is what he wanted. The foil-wrapped treat is an eye-catching ball of pistachio marzipan layered with gianduia cream and covered in chocolate. With the specialty sweet difficult to find outside Austria, I know he'll be thrilled.
My next stop is a small boutique specializing in porcelain, where I discover a three-inch-long German shepherd figurine, the dog lying on a gold tasseled royal-blue pillow. It's the perfect gift for Marie, my second best friend after Lacey. I moved Marie to the top spot after Lacey's tryst with Troy, Lacey dropping to the bottom of my friendship ladder in my "I hope you go to hell" zone. Marie loves German shepherds, and her furry sweetheart of a beast named Rufus is almost like her child. The figurine is so realistic it reminds me of him, so I enthusiastically make the purchase.
Out of time, I head back to our meeting point, and my group walks back to the bus.
It's lunchtime when we return to the ship, so I go straight to the dining room. Surprisingly, Larry and the ladies are there, having finished their palace tour. I join them at the table by the window, tucking my bag and purse under my chair.
"Welcome back, dear. How was your tour?" Iris asks.
"I enjoyed it. I had no idea the roof of Saint Stephen's Cathedral was so beautiful. And at Hofburg Palace, I got to peek at the Lipizzaner horses. Our guide turned us loose to shop before coming back, and I picked up a couple of gifts for friends. Oh, I have to show you one of them. It's gorgeous." I lean over,pull the bag from under my chair, and pull out the figurine. I undo the tape and unwrap the protective plastic, setting the piece on the table.
"That's lovely, dear. Is it porcelain?" Iris picks it up, turning it in her hand.
"It is. The detail alone made it impossible to resist."
"That's pretty," a voice says next to me.
I don't need to look, more than aware it's Dane. His deep, creamy, and way too sexy voice is unmistakable, and the sudden tightness in my lower body is another giveaway.
"It's Brittany's," Iris says. "She bought this lovely gift for a friend."
"It's a porcelain dog." I turn to see Dane's face.Mistake, mistake, mistake! I shouldn't have turned, dammit!I suck in my breath, struck, as always, at how gorgeous he is. And he's standing too close.
Way too close.
"I can see that," he retorts with a smirk.
That's it. I could have done without Dane's irritating tone and expression. Perturbed, I kick the niceties to the curb. "Ah, but this isn't an ordinary dog. Guess what it is." I glare at him, although my voice is drippingly sweet.
"I have no idea. What is it?"
"It's alyingdog. See that? It'slying."
Dane stares at me as he digests my words. Then his expression slowly changes as he gets the gist of what I meant, a scowl replacing the smirk.
"Point taken. Thank you," he grits out between clenched teeth.
"You're welcome. Now, if you don't mind, may I have a glass of wine?"
"Certainly," Dane says stiffly. He pours me a glass and then attends to the others as he works his way around the table.
"There's something clearly going on between you two," Rose says as soon as Dane is out of earshot. "This is only a guess, but I suspect your snipping at each other is to keep from showing how you truly feel. It reminds me of my husband and me after we'd been married for years. We'd bicker and fuss but never meant what we said. We did it as a form of affection."
Iris swings her attention to Dane, studying him as he pours wine at another table. "I agree with Rose."
"How would you know?" Dahlia snaps. "You've never been married long enough to know what that's like."
"Good afternoon, ladies. How was your day?" Luka says, his interruption perfectly timed.
Iris clamps her mouth shut and turns to Luka. "I wasn't having the best day…until now. You've made it better."
"I'm glad I could help." Luka gives her a brilliant smile. "Let me get your lunch orders. Sir, what may I get for you?" He directs his attention to Larry, seated in the chair by the window.
Larry orders, followed by Marigold as Luka goes around the table. After taking Iris's order, he reaches for her menu, only to have it slip from her fingers. He bends to retrieve it from the carpet as Iris's arm shoots forward, her fingers poised…
