Page 70 of Fallen Hearts

“About…” I waved my hand to indicate the two of us. “This?”

“Yeah.” His lips tugged upward. “About this.” He mimicked my hand movements.

“I look forward to it.”

“As do I,” he said, heading back to Beck. “And the island christening,” Mason called, his voice carrying back to me. Hopefully, Beck didn’t hear that.

Taking a few deep breaths, I got myself back under control. To think less than twenty-four hours ago we hadn’t so much as touched, unless our legs at dinner counted, and now… well, things were different.

And more complicated too.

* * *

The Yellow Deli was in the main town square, catty corner from my apartment. I loved that they sourced ingredients locally, and the bright yellow and white interior put a smile on my face as I walked inside to find Delaney already sitting.

Or maybe that smile was from something else.

“Hey there,” I said, sitting. “How’s it going?”

“It’s going. Already ordered you a diet. Why did we pick somewhere without cocktails?”

“I like the way you think,” I said. “And wondered the same thing.”

A waitress brought our drinks, two diet sodas, as I opened the menu.

“So how’s it going down the hill?”

“Great,” I said, scanning the menu. “It’s a little tricky to renovate with guests, but since we were close with Mason’s dad, we didn’t want to disrupt the schedule any more than we needed to. So it’s mostly soft renovations for now, but it’s looking good. I could definitely use your help one of these days making a list of potential local partners. I could ask Mason, but I’d like a woman’s perspective with some of the winery contacts.”

“Oohhh, that sounds like fun. Let’s get a driver and do a proper wine tour.”

Delaney’s bubbly nature was rubbing off on me. I couldn’t quit grinning. “Only for the sake of work.”

“Of course.”

“What else? Has Mason chilled out? Any word on him staying?”

I’d known it would come up and debated telling her. On one hand, I didn’t know Delaney all that well yet. On the other hand, I was bursting to talk to someone who actually knew him.

“Sooo…”

“Are you ready to order?”

Delaney’s eyes were like saucers. I guessed I’d put enough intrigue into my tone, but she had to wait until she finished ordering sandwiches before getting the story.

“Oh my God, tell me,” she said, the second the waitress walked away. “You and Mason?”

I nodded.

“I knew it. The way he looked at you that night at the Big Easy. I just knew it.”

“It’s a very recent development.”

“How recent?”

“Last night.”

“Oh, snap. Thatisrecent. Tell me everything.”

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