“Not really. It’s all you, in the end. You’re what I want here, Lila Ford. And I think you feel that way, or you wouldn’t have come here with me. You wouldn’t have kissed me like that.”
“You’re cocky.”
“No. I’ve just gotten to know you, Lila. I know you, and what I don’t know? Well, that’s just a matter of time. It’ll be the same for me. You’ll know everything there is to know about me one day. I think it’s worth it for us to take a shot at what we could be.”
“What if one of us leaves?”
“Then the other goes.”
He knew the question she was asking.What if one of us doesn’t fall in love? What if we don’tstayin love?
“There are no guarantees in life, Lila. But I think that there are sure shots. This is one. I feel it. Here.” He pressed his hand to his heart before moving it over to hers. “Don’t you?”
“Maybe,” she whispered.
He smiled softly. “That’s why you didn’t want me around, huh? Kinda hard to avoid me when I’m working at your diner and totally killing it.”
“I’ll give you that. You’re a hard worker. It’s great. Then, of course, there were all of those invasions of privacy. Like breaking into my house to give me a morning off.” She laughed and shook her head. “That was a good one. No one’s ever done something like that for me. Not…” She swallowed.
“Not the guy who broke your heart? That’s why he isn’t here, darling. Because he doesn’t deserve you or this town.”
“You’re sweet to say that.”
“Is it sweet if I mean it?”
“Yeah,” she giggled. “It’s sweet if you mean it, Mason. I did appreciate it, you know. Moony’s is a whole lot better because of you. Hiring those high school students was a good idea. It’s helped, and you taking some of Bobbie’s shifts has been good for her. And you know that you’ve made things better for me. I don’t have to tell you.”
Didn’t she? He was curious. Would she admit she was into him?
Mason didn’t know how much to push. Did he wait? Was he suddenly that patient?
“But in case you haven’t guessed, because I’m … not exactly an open book, I like having you around. You make me feel like I matter. I’m terrified, Mason, but only because I know that if you walked away, it would hurt like hell. I’ve lost everything one too many times already.”
He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her softly.
You’ll never go through that again, his heart promised hers.
TWELVE
LILA
Lila was floating on a cloud of pure happiness. How could one date with a man turn her head so completely? She had no clue, but it made sense that it would be Mason who would have her feeling like her body was full of fuzzy, happy vibes.
“What’s with you?” Danielle asked, coming into the diner. She placed her sun hat onto the counter and fluffed her long hair. “You look like you’re in a very good mood.”
Lila waved her off. “Nothing, nothing. I’m just well-rested.”
Danielle pursed her lips. “I’ll say. Word around town is that you went out on a date with Mason Pierce.”
“Word travels fast, as always.”
“Cohen told me,” Danielle shrugged.
“Oh? He told you this during dinner last night?”
“He sat at my booth. What was I supposed to do?”
“Literally sit anywhere else but that booth. Unless youwantto sit with Cohen …?”