Page 116 of Fallen Hearts

To get engaged after so short a time? On the same night I thought we were breaking up? It was madness. But life was short, and nothing felt more right than being with Mason.

“Yes,” I said, the tears flowing before he could get the ring on my finger. It didn’t fit, so he put it on my pinkie.

“We’ll have to fix that.”

It was so imperfect. Our relationship. Our engagement. Not at all like the movies or the way things were supposed to go. But none of that mattered. Only he mattered.

Mason stood up, reaching for me. I was in his arms, our mouths melding, before either of us could say another word.

A bang at the door, followed by a loud curse and exclamation of “Beck, seriously?” had Mason pulling away. With a look ofsorryhe stalked to the door.

Parker and Beck all but tumbled inside.

Mason folded his arms but neither of his friends seemed at all contrite.

“Well?” Beck asked. “We couldn’t hear a thing. Guess these old doors are made pretty well.”

I stifled a laugh and held out my hand. “Didn’t quite fit,” I said. “Was his mother’s.”

The brevity of that statement wasn’t lost on them, even Beck. He whistled and came into the bedroom. There were hugs and congratulations all around, and it wasn’t until Parker looked at the room that he said, “Guess we’re interrupting here.”

I changed my mind. It wasn’t imperfect, just unconventional. These guys were his family, and I knew Beck usually closed on Friday which meant he had left early to be here.

“Not at all.”

Mason cleared his throat, glaring at me.

I smiled. “I know you have at least one bottle of champagne downstairs. Let’s go celebrate. After I get some clothes on,” I said, the oversized tee with my legs sticking out not exactly a party outfit.

“You sure?” Mason asked.

“Absolutely. We’ll meet you downstairs,” I said to the guys. When we were alone once more, I confessed what I’d been about to do. “I thought we were going to break up tonight,” I admitted.

As expected, Mason didn’t seem very pleased. “Is that why you didn’t want to go out?”

Suddenly, the look that passed between Delaney and Jules flashed back through my mind. “You got Delaney to ask me out to dinner.” I waved my arms around the room. “To do this?”

“Guilty as charged. You said no to the boys so…” He shrugged.

“She knew? Jules too?”

“I assume so, but can’t say for sure. But I will tell you, Delaney gave me an earful first about treating you right. And something about you being so brave, and she hoped I appreciated that. She was talking so fast I couldn’t really catch it all.”

I’d have to thank Delaney for that one. “I’ll explain later.”

“Why don’t you change, and I’ll blow out these candles.”

Though I said, “Good idea,” I didn’t move.

He seemed to understand. Mason scooped me up in his arms, kissed me again, and we stayed that way with the scent of vanilla and roses around us.

No, not imperfect at all. Just the opposite.

43

MASON

It was done.

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