Page 22 of Fallen Hearts

“Not me.” Parker stood up and went to the fridge for another beer. “Someone to complain I’m fishing all day? No thanks.”

“Mason?” Cole peered at me through his dark-rimmed glasses.

“Cole?”

“You’re still on board?”

“Obviously.” Was that really a question?

“Even if a certain dark-haired inn manager makes the move on you?” he countered.

“Seriously? Not you too.”

“Sorry, buddy, I’m with them on this one. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other.”

I sighed. “How many times do I have to remind you she is my employee?”

“So you don’t mind if I take a shot with her?” Beck asked.

He had no chance. She wasn’t interested. “Not at all. But please just don’t do it here. This may be your new home, but it’s work for her, and I won’t have her be uncomfortable at work.”

I caught Parker looking at me strangely. “What?” I asked him.

“What about me? There’s a lack of hot women in Cedar Falls, if you haven’t noticed. And Pia fits that bill very well.”

My chest tightened. Parker was every woman’s type, unless she hated the outdoors. As good-looking as Beck without the cockiness. Pia could easily go for a guy like him. Not that it mattered. Except, the thought of Parker and Pia naked in bed together made me want to vomit.

But with all of the guys, Cole especially, looking at me so intently, waiting for my answer, there was only one to give. “Same as I said to Beck. Keep work and play separate, please.”

“You sure?”

I couldn’t tell if he was serious or testing me. Either way, the answer was the same. Even if I didn’t like it much. “I’m sure.”

With that matter dropped, Beck and Cole went back to fighting about whether or not Cole liked his job. For my part, I tried like hell to get Pia with any of these guys out of my mind.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work.

9

PIA

“Yes, Mom, things are fine.”

I popped her on speaker and glanced around the office, which had clearly been Mason’s father’s. He’d emptied the desk but his bookshelf was still intact, something I was inclined to leave even though Mason told me I could box anything else I’d like.

It was a cozy, well-appointed space with a view of the lake that Mason assured me he didn’t need, saying there was a desk in his bedroom, though he hardly seemed to use it. Anytime I had seen Mason doing paperwork this past week, it was at the kitchen island.

“Your apartment looks small in the picture you sent yesterday.”

I logged into my computer. “It’s fine, trust me. I’ll send one of my office. It’s got a gorgeous lake view.”

My mother was a sucker for the water, just like me.

“Oohhh, nice. Have you met anyone there yet?”

“That woman I told you about, Delaney. We have dinner plans Saturday night.”

“That’s great.”

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