Page 50 of Fallen Hearts

The door opened. Parker and Mason walked inside.

When I’d seen him last, Mason had been covered in paint splatters. Not anymore. Wearing navy pants and a white button-down with a camel sport coat, he was a walking billboard for the phrase “cleaned up nicely.”

More than nicely.

Before he caught me staring, I buried my face in the menu.

“Oh boy,” Mom said. “I wish I could stay beyond tomorrow. Looks like things are going to get interesting in Cedar Falls.”

“Great,” I said just as the guys got to our table. “Now you too. Traitor.”

Mom didn’t appear at all guilty for teasing me herself even though she’d told Sophia a minute ago to knock it off.

“Mind if I sit with you?” Parker asked my mother.

“Not at all.”

He slid into the booth next to her as Mason assessed the situation. Mom and Parker on one side of the booth, Sophia and me on the other. There was room for him in both spots.

Our eyes met.

Maybe he read my silent “sit with me” or did it of his own accord, but for whatever reason, he sat next to me.

Be careful what you wish for, Pia.

As the conversation swirled around me, I somehow managed to order a wine and pretend, for a few minutes anyway, not to notice how good Mason smelled. Or the fact that, if I moved my right leg even the slightest bit, we’d be touching.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying our little town,” Parker said as Sophia regaled him with our afternoon’s adventures.

“Little being the operative word,” Sophia said. “I can’t imagine what the dating pool is like in a town this size.”

I was going to kill her.

“Small,” Parker said. “Very small.”

“How many graduated in your high school class?” my mother asked as our drinks came and we paused to place our orders.

“Oh, I’m not actually from here. I met this guy”—Parker indicated Mason—“in college.”

“How did you end up here?” Sophia asked.

“Beck was looking for a roommate. I was a business major in college and always knew I wanted to work for myself but wasn’t sure of the industry. My dad owns a car dealership, and if I went back home he’d be all over me to work there. So I came here, got into construction, which I’ve always enjoyed, and am biding my time until I can start my own company.”

“Basically,” Mason added, “he wasn’t ready to leave college so he and Beck came back here for round two.”

“And that,” Parker admitted.

My mother, true to her nature, asked Parker and Mason about a billion questions. After we ordered and got our food, I was just beginning to breathe and act like a normal human being when Mason shifted in his seat. His leg now touched mine. Subtly. And barely. But definitely touching.

I should have pulled away. Instead, I let my leg relax into his. He probably wouldn’t even notice. We stayed that way through dinner.

“So Pia’s doing a good job so far?” my mother asked. “I heard you two were off to a rocky start.”

I groaned. “Mom, please.”

“It’s okay.” Mason’s hands wrapped around his beer bottle.I should absolutely not concentrate on his fingers or imagine what they could do to me. As he lifted the bottle to his lips, I snuck a peek at his face, something I’d mostly avoided doing since our legs began to touch.

He took a sip, looked me straight in the eyes, and then glanced under the table. It was so quick, I couldn’t imagine anyone else noticing.

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