“How in the world you don’t like fish but you do like canned tuna is one of life’s big mysteries for me.”
Laughing, I grabbed the veggie tray as Pia spooned dip into a small bowl. “What else can I bring out there?”
“If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were changing the subject.”
“The chip bowl? Got it.”
Ignoring Pia’s frown, I carried both out of the kitchen, congratulating myself on successfully changing the subject.
Parker’s secret was safe with me.
8
PARKER
With the day off, I’d planned to work at the inn but Mason put the kibosh on that idea. Most of my spare time in the past few months had been taken up with renovating Heritage Hill, and apparently he and Pia had decided it was time for a break. We’d take the next few weeks off and jump in after Valentine’s Day. Typically the winter months were slower for tourism, but mid-February was an exception.
Unlike Beck, who had a constant desire to stay busy, I relished a slow day with no responsibilities. Hitting the gym early, I headed back to shower and considered texting a buddy of mine for some ice fishing when I entered the kitchen and heard Pia talking.
“Can’t, sorry. I’m meeting Delaney for lunch.”
“Speaking of Delaney.” Mason smiled at me.
Fucker.
“Not in the mood,” I said. “Morning, Pia.”
“Morning. Coffee’s fresh.”
“Thanks.” I headed to the coffee pot. “Beck still sleeping?”
“Yep.” Mason pulled out a carton of eggs. “Scrambled with cheese. Interested?”
“Esther didn’t cook today?”
Typically she made breakfast in the second kitchen which we’d renovated after the holidays. Now that Heritage Hill was hosting parties, and weddings soon, it had been industrially retrofitted, which Esther didn’t love. Like Mason’s dad, she hadn’t wanted anything to change, but that was how Heritage Hill had fallen by the wayside in the first place.
“No guests this weekend,” Mason said, obviously not pleased by the fact.
“It’s the only one,” Pia pointed out. “And by next winter we’ll have a plan in place for the slower months. Baby steps,” she said as I poured my coffee.
Mason grunted.
“I’ll have two,” I said as Mason began cracking eggs. “No cheese though.”
“Duh.”
“I swear the two of you sound like twelve-year-olds sometimes.”
I flashed Pia a grin. “Only sometimes?”
“Back to Delaney.” Mason whisked the eggs the exact same way I’d seen Esther do it a hundred times. “Did you hear our two lovebirds met before yesterday?”
“I did.” Pia peeked up at me above her coffee mug. “Funny she didn’t mention it before last night.”
“I must have made one hell of an impression,” I said wryly, remembering last night when I’d gotten to the bar. Mason and Beck made a huge show of pretending to be Delaney and me, me asking if I could carry her bag. I smiled at the memory of Beck acting like a woman.
“Actually,” she hedged. I looked up. “You did.”
