Page 15 of Fallen Hearts

As if she’d admit it. “You could have told me that earlier rather than, ‘No thanks. Go home,’” she said, her hands flailing up in frustration.

How I’d love to take those pretty hands, hold them above her head and pin them to the wall, our bodies pressed together. I would devour those full lips of hers and absolutely not think of them wrapped around my dick.

Fuck. This was such a bad idea. “I don’t remember it quite like that.”

“Close enough.”

Stalemate.

Damned if I didn’t want to go back inside. With her.

“Come back in,” I said. “We can talk specifics.” Remembering Parker and Beck, and not wanting to endure the two clowns’ commentary, I had a better idea. “Did you eat dinner yet?”

“No. I was actually planning to grab something in there.”

“O’Malley’s is fine if you like chicken fingers and fries.” I pointed to a restaurant on the other side of the town square. “The Big Easy has much better food.”

She hesitated. Not that I blamed her.

“Let me tell the guys, and I’ll grab you dinner. It’s the least I can do after this morning.”

“That is true.”

I smiled. Pia didn’t pull any punches. Before she could change her mind, I headed back inside.

“Hey, taking Pia to the Big Easy,” I said to Parker as I walked up to him. “You’re on your own for the night.”

“The whole night, huh?”

“Don’t be an ass. I’m rehiring her. We have some things to discuss.”

“Did he just say he’s rehiring Pia?” Beck asked.

The innuendo in Beck’s tone was one of the reasons I hadn’t taken her back inside. “Tell Cole I’ll catch him at the house later.”

“Will do,” Parker said.

Back outside, glad to see Pia was still there, I resolved to try to make up for earlier. While it was true I still didn’t think working with Pia was the best idea in the world, what was done was done. I’d make the best of it, stop picturing her naked and keep our relationship professional.

“This is the best of the three restaurants in the town square, but there are a few others within walking distance that aren’t bad. And you probably already know the Coffee Cabin has decent coffee but even better coffee cake.”

“You don’t look like a guy who eats a lot of coffee cake.”

“Eh, not usually a fan of empty calories, but I indulge every once in a while.”

“That’s what I thought.”

I opened the door to the Big Easy, a New Orleans-themed restaurant with colorful shutters and wrought-iron accents that more than hinted at its roots.

As usual, the owner was standing behind a hostess stand.

“Pia,” I said as we walked up to the stand. “Meet Maggie LeBlanc. She’s graced Cedar Falls with her Cajun and Creole cuisine for more than twenty years.”

Pia stuck out her hand, which Maggie took. “Pleased to meet you.”

“Same here.” Maggie frowned at me. “I’m so sorry again about your father, Mason.”

Dad. For the briefest of moments, I’d almost forgotten, pretending my life was the same as it had been last time I visited home. But nothing would ever be the same again. Fuck, but it hurt. “Thanks, Maggie.”

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