Page 76 of Fallen Hearts

I cocked my head to the side. “No?” I asked, trying to keep it casual sounding but wanting to know more too.

“No.” Emilio shook his head. “Never remarried.”

That I knew.

“Carried a torch for her until the day he died.” Sighing, he seemed to snap out of the melancholy mood. “Poor kid. Losing two parents so young.”

And without siblings, too. I wondered if his mom was too sick to have another? I supposed it didn’t matter, but the thought of losing my mom and dad, and not having my sisters to help cope or to be there with me…

“What about extended family?” I asked, realizing he didn’t talk of aunts and uncles or cousins.

“You’ll have to ask him, but I think his mother was an only child as well. His father had one brother who I met at the funeral. Lives in California, I think.”

Poor kid indeed. No wonder he was so close with Beck, Parker and Cole. They were, for all intents and purposes, like his brothers.

“Well.” I held up the wine. “Thanks for your help with this.”

“Anytime, Signorina Pia. I hope you enjoy it, and your celebration.”

I was pretty certain I would. “Grazie.Ciao, Emilio,” I said, leaving the store.

“Ciao ciao,” he said, waving.

As I made my way down to the inn—the few blocks’ walk away from the main square and toward the lake was one I could do in my sleep now—I was amazed at how quickly I’d acclimated to Cedar Falls. I’d always heard the east coast and west coast were so different, and while this town was much smaller than where I grew up, it wasn’t foreign at all. The people had been welcoming—with the exception of Mason—and I could absolutely see myself settling here.

Maybe it was making a friend on that first day. Or little things like Emilio’s Italian that reminded me of my family. Or likely, my boss. The one that had kicked me to the curb on that first day but had since become much more. I didn’t know where things would go with him, but I did know two things for certain. One, that Heritage Hill was going to become an award-winning inn, and Richard Sterling and his good ol’ boys club could shove it.

And two… it was going to be an interesting night.

26

MASON

It was impossible not to think of my father as I cooked as the smell of garlic wafted through the kitchen. One that was suddenly occupied by Parker, who said he was heading to O’Malley’s for the night.

“Smells good. Maybe I’ll join you and Pia for dinner before I head out.”

“Funny,” I said, my phone lighting up.

On my way.

I gave Pia’s text a thumbs up and turned on the water to boil pasta.

“Time for you to bounce, hotshot,” I said as Parker opened the silverware drawer.

“I will. Just have to test this out.” Putting his fork in the pan, he cut off a piece of chicken scampi and took a bite. “Not bad. Just like the big guy.”

“He was one hell of a cook, wasn’t he?”

“The best. He’d even put my mom to shame, but don’t tell her I said that.”

“Pretty sure I won’t since she’s in Rochester, and I never see her.”

“Speaking of Rochester, when the indoor renovations are done, I’m gonna head there for a weekend. She’s been after me to visit and won’t wait till Thanksgiving.”

“Go anytime. I’ve got things under control here.”

By now, Parker had gotten a plate out, pulled the rest of the piece of chicken onto it and was eating at the island.

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