The contentment on Mason’s face tells me he’s happy with this decision. “Yup. That’s why I’m wearing this monkey suit. I had to pull it out of hiding. I met with the loan officer today and then the property owner. Well, ex-property owner. I bought the vacant building down on Third.”
“Old man Dave’s office? He was an accountant.”
“Yeah, I think that’s him.”
“He retired a few years ago. It’s a great location. What are you going to do with it?” I pull down the drive of Benton’s one and only bed and breakfast just as the sun starts to set. When I park in the driveway, Mason runs a hand through his hair, mussing it up.
“I’m still going to practice law, but no more of that big, corporate shit.”
“What will that look like?”
He chuckles. “Estate planning, contracts, and business law. I might do some criminal and adoption law too.”
“Mrs. Baker always said she wanted to divorce her husband, but she didn’t want to drive into the city to do it. Maybe you’ll get her business.”
“Maybe,” Mason says with a laugh. “See? That’s good news already.”
“Well, we’re here.”
We look out the front window to see a small elderly woman open the front door and hop down the steps.
“That’s Louise. You’re going to love her. She’s a fifty-year-old in an eighty-year-old body, and she’s the best damn cook.”
“I’ve never seen an eighty-year-old move that fast. I hope she doesn’t break a hip.”
I laugh and open my door to greet Louise.
“Come here, you sweet thing,” she says, pulling me into a warm hug.
Louise was a godsend after my father’s death. She’s one of the only reasons I ate halfway decent in the months following his funeral.
“Who is your handsome friend?” she asks, turning toward Mason as he climbs out of my car. When she stops in front of him and holds out her hand, he takes it and pulls it to his lips. Forever the charmer. “Oooh… a man hasn’t done that to me in years.”
Mason gives her the smile that makes me squirm. “My name is Mason.”
“Welcome, Mason. Jules texted me and told me you need a place to stay. She specifically said you wanted a room that wouldn’t have bedbugs.” We all laugh, and she continues. “I promise my inn doesn’t have bedbugs. How long will you be staying?”
“Just until I can find a place of my own.”
Louise’s face lights up. “You’re moving to Benton?”
“I am.”
“Welcome! We’re so glad to have you. Jules, will you show him around and I’ll grab his things out of the car?”
“Sure thing.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Mason insists. “I can get it.”
But Louise is having none of that. She takes Mason’s shoulders and directs him to the house. “Let Jules show you around. He’ll be in room three. Are you hungry?”
“Starved,” Mason says, following me toward the house.
“Great. Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes. It’s almost done baking.”
As soon as we walk through the front door, Mason pulls in a deep breath. “It smells amazing in here.”
“You’re going to eat good. Louise is going to pamper the hell out of you. You probably won’t ever want to leave.”
Mason smiles and follows me through the house. I show him his room first, and then the kitchen, living room, office, and library area. Finally, I take him out back and show him my favorite part of the property.
A small lake sits at the back of Louise’s grounds. “It’s beautiful out here.”
Mason walks beside me toward the dock. “Gorgeous.”
When I look at him, he’s staring at me. “I meant the lake.”
Lifting a hand, he tucks my hair behind my ear. “The lake is beautiful too.”
We stand silently and watch the water lap against the dock. “I used to date Louise’s grandson. His name was Brandon. We were high school sweethearts and had our whole lives planned out. Right out of high school, I worked two jobs to help put him through college.”
“What was he going to school for?”
“His MBA. He finished, and then it was my turn. He was going to work while I went to school.”
“But that didn’t happen, did it?” Mason’s fist clenches at his side.
“No, it didn’t. He decided small town life wasn’t for him. He wanted to move to the city and get a corporate job. He asked me to go with him, but my mom had just been diagnosed with cancer, and I didn’t want to leave her… And he wasn’t going to stay. Long story short, I took