Page 20 of Fallen Hearts

Without looking back to see if I was coming, he took off down the hall. I’d have to convince him it really wasn’t a big deal, but if there was anything I’d learned spending the morning with Mason, it was that he didn’t convince easily of anything. Once his mind was made up, it was an uphill battle to unmake it.

Especially concerning me.

8

MASON

“Pia thinks we renovate in phases but prioritize the ground floor and kitchen so that, by spring, we can begin hosting bigger events, including weddings.”

The guys and I sat around the kitchen island, takeout containers and empty beer bottles littered everywhere. Thursday nights didn’t get any better than this. The only exception would have been if my dad were to walk through the door and say something like, “Looks like a beer bath in here. Get it? Beer bath, not blood bath?”

“Look at him smiling when he talks about Pia,” Parker said.

“Yeah, like you’re talking about a fish you caught.” Beck reached for a cold French fry in a Styrofoam container. He kissed the fry. “You gorgeous thing.”

“I haven’t once kissed a fish. Or called it ‘gorgeous.’ You’re ridiculous.”

“That’s more like you,” Cole added, drinking beer instead of Scotch for a change, “with any marginally pretty customer.”

“Marginally pretty?” Beck popped the fry into his mouth. “My standards are much higher than that.”

“Too high with Pia. Not sure if you noticed.” Parker took a swig of beer. “But she’s not into you. Despite your best efforts. She is, on the other hand, very into the boss man.”

It took all of my discipline not to ask, “You think so?” like some eager fifteen-year-old. And that was the exact reason I shouldn’t have hired her. Instead, I said, “First of all, that’s not true. Second of all, it doesn’t matter. She’s my employee.”

“Third,” Cole said, “she isn’t going to be for long if you sell, so what does that matter?”

I hated when Cole got logical on me.

“I got the leave,” I reminded them. “And intend to follow through as if that leave might be extended. Or maybe Pia will be so good I can keep the place and my job.”

“Is that what you want?” Parker asked.

“Who the fuck knows?” I reached for my beer. “In the meantime, what does your calendar for the next few months look like?”

Parker screwed up his face the same way he always did when he was thinking. I could practically see steam coming from his ears. “Busy. But I have a thought.”

“Look out,” Beck teased.

“What if I stay here? Work on the place in my spare time. With the rent money I save, I can work for materials only.”

“No way,” I said, automatically rejecting the idea. “You can stay, of course. But you’re not doing a job without getting paid.”

“I will be getting paid cause you’ll be feeding my ass too. Honestly though,” he added quickly, knowing I was going to refuse again, “I’ve been talking about starting my own construction company for too long. Renovating Heritage Hill would be my job alone, something to put on the resume if I do venture out.”

“Oh shit.” Beck looked impressed. “I honestly never thought you’d pull the trigger. No offense, but I thought Jack had you by the balls.”

“Jack does have me by the balls,” Parker said. “As bosses go, he’s not great. But he’s also the biggest player in town and pays the bills.” He shrugged.

Parker was being nice. His boss, the owner of the construction company he worked for, was a total dickhead.

“Anyway.” Parker actually looked serious. “Let’s do it.”

I could tell he was for real. Being friends for an entire lifetime with someone meant you could read them pretty easily. Though I didn’t love the idea of him working for free, I needed the job and was short on cash. But I did have a place for him to stay and guests’ mouths to feed for breakfast anyway, and if it was a stepping stone for Parker…

“I’m in.”

“Hold on a second.” Beck leaned forward. “In case you forgot, we’re roommates. You honestly think the two of you are going to recreate college days here in this massive inn without me?”

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