Page 17 of Fallen Hearts

“Right. But not mine, thankfully.”

Mason was nowhere to be seen. He had said nine o’clock, and Mason didn’t strike me as the kind of guy to be late. I pulled out my phone. Eight fifty. Oops. I’d overestimated how long it would take to walk here. Just the fact that I could walk to work was a huge change from any other job, and one I was going to enjoy.

“Are you insinuating that because I’m not your employee it’s okay to hit on me?”

Beck plopped down onto a couch. “Yep. Exactly. Glad we’re on the same page.”

This guy was something else. “We’re actually not on the same page at all. The only thing I’m interested in here is making Heritage Hill the premiere Cedar Falls destination.”

“And that’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“If I were to ask you out?—”

“I’d politely decline.”

“Beck. May I speak with you?” a voice called from the hallway.

If I remembered correctly, this one’s name was Cole.

“Sure, go for it.”

Since Beck clearly wasn’t moving, he stepped into the room. “Beck?”

Sighing like a wayward child, Beck didn’t move. “Is this about the dishes in the sink?”

Cole cleared his throat. “Yes, it is.”

“Then you’re gonna want to talk to Parker. Those are his.”

“Please ignore both of them,” a deep voice said from the entranceway.

Mason. My heart had no business thumping as if my current crush had just entered the room. Yet that’s exactly what it did. Though Mason was not—I repeat, not—my current crush. In addition to being borderline brash and smiling too rarely, with a few exceptions at dinner last night, he was also my new boss.

“Do they live here?”

“Nah, they’re just staying temporarily.”

“We do live here,” Beck said.

“Speaking of.” Cole crossed his arms, still glaring at Beck. “I have to head back in a few days. No time like the present to clean out the basement.”

“We did say we’d tackle that today.” Beck didn’t seem pleased by the prospect, though I didn’t blame him. It sounded like a daunting task.

“You guys don’t have to—” Mason started, but Beck cut him off, standing.

“Not listening.” He breezed by Mason and Cole, presumably to tackle the basement. Cole looked like he was heading to a polo match and not at all ready for the task at hand. As they left, Mason shook his head.

“Are they really cleaning the basement?” I asked.

“Apparently. Though I have no idea how they plan to accomplish that. Not even I would be able to make heads or tails of what’s good down there.”

“That’s actually really sweet of them.”

Mason pushed away from the doorframe where he’d been standing. With a fitted pair of navy sweats and white tee, he was more casually dressed than I’d seen him yet. Unsurprisingly, it was a good look on him.

Not that I noticed.

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