Page 71 of Fallen Hearts

“Well, it got to the point that it was impossible to ignore. My mom and sister came in for the weekend to surprise me, and since the apartment is so small, Mason offered for us to stay at the inn.”

Her jaw dropped, so I added, “Nothing happened there. Except for a brief conversation in his bedroom and two very long nights knowing he was sleeping right down the hall. Oh, and maybe one kiss.”

“Oh my God, I wish I had popcorn for this.”

Smiling, I thought about last night. “I asked if we could talk and he basically called out the attraction between us. One thing led to another and… he came to my apartment.”

“And? You cannot possibly stop there.”

“And… all I can say is that if I look like shit today, there’s a reason for it.”

“First of all, you don’t look like shit. Just the opposite. Second of all, holy crap.”

“Yeah, I know. We really need to talk though because I had no idea how to act at work today. If we were going to keep it from the boys?—”

“The boys.” She laughed. “I love how you refer to Beck as a boy. Since he kind of is still.”

“I actually adore him. And Parker, who you have to meet someday.” The waitress returned with our lunch, but I was too wrapped up in my story to eat. “Anyway, he came to my office this morning, and I had no idea what to expect. He was really hung up on the idea that he’s my boss, which, to be fair, does complicate things a bit.”

“So what happened? I can see you grinning like the cat who ate the canary so…”

I simply could not stop smiling. “I guess the workplace is not off-limits.”

“No you didn’t?”

I nodded.

“In your office?”

“On the desk,” I admitted as our food was brought to us. I hadn’t planned to reveal so much, but Delaney’s expressions were killing me.

“I can’t even,” she said, taking a bite of her tuna sandwich. “That’s hot.”

“Agreed, but we really do need that talk. He’s making me dinner tonight.”

Delaney took a sip of her drink as I finally dug into lunch.

“For what it’s worth, I thought there were some serious vibes between the two of you, so I’m not surprised. It was inevitable, in my opinion. Secondly, talk about complicated. Not only the boss thing, but I thought you said he might be selling and heading back to the city?”

“I honestly have no idea what he’s thinking there. But I’m really liking the job, and Cedar Falls, so I’m hoping that’s a part of our discussion. I’ve been thinking a lot about this and wonder if he’d consider not selling and letting me oversee the renovations if he goes back. That way he can stay the owner, which I know a part of him wants to do for his dad.”

“So you would be the innkeeper and manager? Seems like a tall order.”

“It would be,” I admitted between bites. “But it’s possible. His father did it for years.”

“Possible, sure. But he lived and breathed Heritage Hill. Are you ready for that kind of commitment? And what about Mason? He just goes back and the two of you…”

That was a big question mark, for sure. “I don’t know. It’s too early to be thinking like that. We’re just having fun for now. I’m trying really hard not to have expectations since they’re usually a major source of disappointment.”

Delaney peered up at me as she took another tuna sandwich bite. When she finished chewing, she said, “Agreed.”

“So tell me about you. What’s up with the boyfriend?”

We chatted for a while, and though Delaney was off for the day, a mix-up in the schedule accounting for her last-minute text, I still had to get to the grocery store and wine store. We finished lunch, paid and walked out into the crisp fall air.

“I really do like this place,” I said. Its grassy square with gazebo centerpiece gave it a quintessential small-town vibe.

“I honestly never thought I’d come back. But as they say, greener pastures and all that. I’m actually glad I didn’t stay. It’s easier to appreciate now.”

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