Page 40 of Fallen Hearts

Pia rested her hand on the railing, looking out over Heritage Hill’s property. Even more leaves had fallen in the last few days as autumn quickly inched toward an end.

“I can’t believe how much you guys got done. The new floor will look incredible.”

“Parker’s a beast. He’s crazy talented.”

“And went to college with you?”

“Yeah, for business. He wants to start his own company.”

“Seems like a good idea.” She paused. “So, you wanted to talk to me before I left?” Her eyes dipped to my chest and quickly flew up to my face. She didn’t want to look, that much was clear. Which was exactly what I’d planned to talk to her about. We had to address the obvious, that the two of us were insanely attracted to each other, but that attraction couldn’t go anywhere. We both knew it.

The words wouldn’t come. Instead, I pretended to look confused.

“Oh yeah. Can’t remember why now.”

She waited until I said again, “Nope. Nothing.”

“Hmm. Alright then. Well, I’m taking off. Big day tomorrow.”

Say goodbye. See you tomorrow. Sounds good. Something. Anything.

Except, I didn’t want her to go. Pia was like the rainbow after a storm. Since I’d come home, the quiet moments were filled with memories of my father, but when she was around…

I took a step toward her. “We only have a couple of guests. Shouldn’t be too big of a deal.”

“I know, but still. They’re your first guests as innkeeper.” Pia smiled knowingly. “Are you ready for that?”

“Am I ready to be nice to them? Is that what you mean?” I teased, something I seemed to be doing more with Pia than was typical for me. I wasn’t normally the teasing type.

“I wasn’t gonna say it, but…”

Another step, as if I were willing her to stay by my presence. Pia didn’t move. Again, her eyes dropped to my chest, and then lower. A final step, this time coming close enough to her that if Pia reached out her hand, she would be able to touch me.

When she looked up, our eyes met. The air sizzled between us.

Do it, Pia.

Touch me.

“You have a lot of…” She cleared her throat. “Muscles.”

“Have to stay ahead of the curve.”

“A cop thing?”

“Sort of.”

So much for my vow of keeping more distance between us. I’d done the exact opposite. My eyes fell to her lips. Most women with lips that full used fillers, but Pia’s were 100 percent real. What I wouldn’t give to slip my tongue between those lips, devour them so completely that Pia was unable to stand.

“Mason,” she said, her voice thick.

“Yes, Pia?”

How I wanted to grab her hand, put it on my chest and tell her to have a field day. Touch. Explore. Anything she wanted.

“I liked it better when I thought you were an asshole.”

Better she understood her instincts had been correct. “I am an asshole.”

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