Page 47 of Fallen Hearts

“We did. Mom loved the Big Easy, even though it’s not Italian. But I have a horrible wine headache from staying up way too late with Soph.”

Pia was avoiding eye contact this morning.

“If your mom likes Italian,” Parker said, “take her to Bella Luna. It’s in a restored historic building on Lake Street. Very rustic with the best wood-fired pizza around. Oh, and make sure you get the tiramisu. It’s incredible.”

“You wanna come?”

Parker looked at me. Finally, Pia did too.

“You’re more than welcome,” she said.

I began to shake my head—being around Pia more was the last thing I needed—when Parker answered and opened his mouth first.

“Sure, we’d love to. Mason and I will be painting all day, so later is better.”

“I’ll call and see if I can get a rezzie for five of us after seven. I assume Beck is working?”

“Always,” Parker said. “But maybe your mom and sister would like to visit the fine Cedar Falls establishment of O’Malley’s Pub after dinner?”

Listening to Pia’s tinkering laugh was one way to start the day. I was getting fucking hard watching her. Listening to her. Imagining her under me.

“Maybe just Soph. My mom will more than likely want to be dropped off. But who knows.”

Fucking great. Dinner. Pub. And she was literally sleeping down the hall from me.

“You okay?” Parker asked. The fucker actually smirked. He knew I wasn’t okay, and only the fact that he would be painting with me on his day off would save him. And he knew it.

“Come on,” I said. “I’ll get you those towels.”

Without a backward glance, I headed up the stairs.

“Someone is extra cranky this morning.”

“I’m not cranky,” I said, in a tone that defied my statement.

“Whatever you say.”

I headed to the towel closet in the hall next to my room. Pia paused at the open door and didn’t hide the fact that she was peeking inside.

“So this is where the cranky Mason Bennett lays his head, huh?”

I froze, closed my eyes and prayed for strength, and then turned. There was only so much a man could take. Especially one that tuned up for the very woman standing… at the entrance… of his bedroom.

Fuck me. “Nothing special about it.”

“Is that Luke Skywalker?”

I moved closer to her. “Dad remodeled a few years back,” I said. “But I kept that poster from when I was a kid.”

“Star Warsfan, huh?”

I stepped inside the room, fully aware she would follow.

“For life,” I said, thankful I’d made my bed. Aside from that poster, most of the room was nondescript.

“No kidding. Can’t say I’m a huge sci-fi fan. But he is cute.” Pia looked around. “Very neat.”

“Army habit.”

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