Page 72 of Fallen Hearts

“I bet.”

Hugging, we parted, and I walked to the wine store thinking to get some bottles to drop off at my apartment before heading to the grocery store and then back to Heritage Hill. At least, that was the plan, until I saw Mason clear across the square.

In an embrace.

With a woman.

24

MASON

“How’d you do?”

Beck had just finished reinstalling the new baseboard when I came back with more nails. “Good. But I swore Parker just got some. No idea where they went.”

Grabbing a water from the cooler, he looked around the room. “You’ve got me for an hour or so before I have to wrap up. Early shift tonight.”

I sat down on the cooler and tossed the bag of supplies next to it as Beck took a break.

“I’ve got this. Go do what you need to do.”

“I’m good.”

“Thanks, man. I appreciate you helping out.”

“And I appreciate the entertainment.”

“I assume you’re referring to Pia?”

“Jackpot.”

“Let’s get back to work,” I said.

“Not so fast. You’ve been tight-lipped since this morning.”

“With good reason.”

“Mace.”

“Beck.”

“Come on,” he said. “Kindergarten, buddy.”

Since Ranger training, I considered myself impervious to any kind of manipulation tactics, but there seemed to be an exception. His name was Beck Claymont, who refused to take a dime off his richer-than-Croesus father and was currently helping me renovate the inn for the cost of breakfast and board. What a winner.

“Fine. But you’re not getting details.”

“I know, I know. You’re not a kiss and tell guy. Gimme something.”

“We got together last night.”

“And this morning, from what I could tell. Well done on trashing your father’s old office.”

Unfortunately I’d thought of that only after the fact. But I didn’t think Dad would have minded. “He’d have loved Pia.”

“What’s not to love? The woman is smart. Beautiful. Only downside I can see is that she seems to think highly of you. I tried to talk her out of it but?—”

“Hey, asshole. That’s enough.”

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