Page 100 of Fallen Hearts

“Mason is more than my boss. And may be going back to the city, back to his job and his real life. Even if he doesn’t…” I shook my head. “I shouldn’t be telling you this.”

“Why not? If not an old man who’s seen all of the good, and bad, life has to offer, who else?”

I laughed. “My mother. My sisters. My friends.”

He waved that away. “They are too close to you. Even if he doesn’t?” Emilio prompted.

“Even if he doesn’t, I’m worried I may have caught feelings for him.” Realizing at Emilio’s confused expression he didn’t understand, I added, “I may have fallen for him.”

The words “fallen in love” refused to come from my lips.

“This is troublesome, no?”

“Very much so. Either way, he’s still my boss. Which is exactly what Mason tried to warn me about. Turns out, he was right.”

“And you are certain he does not feel as you do,signorina? I am an old man, and my eyes are not as sharp as they once were, but I’ve known Mason my whole life. And I would not presume to speak for him but…”

Emilio didn’t speak for Mason, at least not with words, but his face said it all. Trouble was, it didn’t matter. Even if there were feelings there—and I honestly believed there were, if just a little bit—he wouldn’t allow himself to follow in his father’s footsteps. Which I understood, or tried to. Mason made decisions based on calculation and risk, not emotion. It had kept him alive on probably more than one occasion. He’d opened up about at least one of those times—his Ranger life was something Mason was typically tight-lipped about.

“I am sorry to have burdened you,” I said, meaning it. And then I remembered Mason’s admonition about apologizing. That might work for him, but it didn’t for me. I truly hadn’t meant to make things awkward. Emilio knew Mason, as he’d said, his whole life. “I’m sure it will all be fine.”

Emilio might not have the sharp eyesight he once did, but judging from the way he looked at me, there was nothing lacking in his ability to read a situation. He didn’t believe me, rightly so. Nothing felt fine at the moment.

“The heart cannot be commanded, Pia. Do not judge yourself too harshly for attempting otherwise. My other advice, if you would have it?”

“Of course,” I said, not foolish enough to look a gift horse in the mouth. Emilio had much more life experience than me.

“Talk to him. And when you’ve finished the discussion, talk more. It is the only way, especially for two people still learning to love each other.”

“He doesn’t?—”

“Talk to him,” he interrupted. “Capice?”

I had a feeling Emilio wasn’t going to take any other response than my own, “Capice.”

“You want wine to take to him?”

I hadn’t planned on taking wine to him. Or even seeing him. But one thing Emilio said had penetrated. Avoiding the discussion wasn’t going to solve anything. “Yes, please,” I said, and he scurried away.

Heading to Heritage Hill with the guys there, or at least Parker, not to mention the distraction of an inn full of guests, wasn’t going to cut it. Not for this talk. I pulled out my phone.

Plans tonight?

I was surprised to see text bubbles form immediately.

Nothing I can’t change. What are you thinking?

That sounded so much like Mason that it made me smile, despite everything.

My turn to cook.

He was avoiding me as much as I was avoiding him. Maybe he’d say no. Maybe this was the worst idea on the planet. It felt a little like I was laying the groundwork for my own heartbreak.

Talk to him.

Such simple, but wise, advice. And I hadn’t come to Cedar Falls to hide in a corner, professionally or otherwise.

What time?

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