Page 8 of Revived My Heart

“Mason,” the man said, holding his hand out. “And Patty, a pleasure to have you in my bar,” he told me, taking my hand after shaking Mason’s. “No one mentioned how gorgeous the new owner of the diner was.”

I rolled my eyes at his obvious flirty nature, but I also couldn’t help the laugh that came out at Mason’s growl.

“Thanks, Charlie. And thanks for chatting with me. I just had some questions about your food deliveries.”

“Why not come back to my office and we can chat?” He leaned closer and nodded his head at Mason. “I also think that might piss him off a whole lot more and I kind of like that idea.”

“You’re evil,” I told him, jumping off the stool. “I’ll be back in a few, Mason. Just going to talk.”

“About whatever pops up,” Charlie hollered back, making Mason clench his hand again.

Twenty-five minutes later, I walked back to the stool, a game plan in mind for food and an ally behind me. Charlie was great, funny, but serious about his work and the bar. We came to a great agreement that would lower both our costs and should bring in even higher revenue for both of us.

“Did you two have fun?” Mason spat out and I slapped his arm.

“We talked business.”

“Sure,” the big man grumbled and I tugged on his arm.

“Swing me around the dance floor, maybe that will help with your sour mood.”

He rolled his eyes but took my hand and led me to the small area. I grabbed his arm, snaking it around my waist tightly and waited for him to lead us around the floor. Just moments later, he relaxed, a smile tugging on his lips.

“Sorry,” he muttered, making me shake my head.

“Nothing to be sorry about, Mason. Really, Charlie and I talked about the trucks, about how we could help each other. It was all business. He’s a great guy.” I bit my lip to stop from saying that he wasn’t my type.

He wasn’t, but he also wasn’t quite different from Mason. It’s just Mason I wanted, and no one right now was going to go do.

“I’m glad you both can. He did great when he took the bar over from his dad before the man passed.”

“Is it a family business?”

“I believe so. Think Charlie’s grandfather built it and started it. Great story if you ever get Charlie drunk enough to talk about it. Also, believe it’s been burned down once, too.”

I looked around the place, unable to see how fresh the wood was, but I could understand it. Buildings like this always had issues.

Rather surprised that there wasn’t much work that needed to be done for the diner. And that all the labor for that came cheaply, though I was planning on paying Mason more than he thought. He’s been such a sweet guy helping me with everything and he didn’t need to.

“This little town of ours has been around for ages,” he told me, spinning me out and then back in, making me laugh.

“Always attracts the rough and tough type too, I gather.”

“Maybe. It’s a quiet place to settle down. But it sucks when it rains or snows.”

“Which is going to be often. Guess those days I better be ready for.”

He grinned as he spun me again, pulling me back in tighter and closer. I stayed rooted, my eyes locked on his and our grins faded.

The music and noise died around us and the only two people were us.

His head slowly descended and I rose on my toes, not sure what was causing this rush between us, but I was here for it.

I was ready to feel his lips on mine.

I was ready to feel his hands and arms wrapped around my body.

I wasn’t ready, however, for the cat calls and the look of horror in his eyes at what he had been about to do.