AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Doesn’t anyone get hurt?” Worry was evident in her voice.
“Nothing serious. The water is really deep even when the tide is out and there aren’t any rocks.”
She shivered. “Have you ever done that?”
He shook his head. If he jumped and something went wrong, Aspen would be left without any parent. He couldn’t take a risk like that. “Nope.”
After a few more minutes of comfortable silence, Mason kept her in the corner of his vision, but he turned to get a better look and check on her. A few seagulls cawed above as they passed. The blue-green water rippled and crashed against the distant shore.
“Aspen seems like a great kid.”
A swell of pride filled his chest. “She is.”
“She adores you.” Pippa switched sides she was paddling on.
He’d do right by his daughter. That was the promise he’d made after his wife passed. He owed her that much.
“We should probably head back.” He glanced towards the beach, not able to make out Aspen from this distance.
“Okay.” Pippa paddled, maneuvering her board towards the beach as he followed beside her. “This was fun. Easier than I thought.”
Lady barked.
“Is she—“
Before he could finish his question, a big wave lurched in front of them. Pippa’s board flipped upside down and she and the dog disappeared into the green murky depths. Mason dove into the water without hesitation. His arms raced around Pippa’s body. He pulled her towards the surface, her life jacket pressed between them. He broke through the water a second before the dog swam their way.
“You okay?” Mason asked. Her back was to him, so he couldn’t see her face.
“Yeah.”
Mason flipped the paddleboard over and used his other hand to push the dog on top to safety before grabbing the oars and placing them on as well. Pippa started shaking in his arms. Oh no! He spun her around, worriedly checking her over.
She was laughing. Saltwater spilt down her face, her white teeth peeking out from her pink lips.
“I guess I spoke too soon about this being easy.” She giggled, holding tighter to his shoulders. The extra contact stoked a fire inside him, chasing the chill of the cold water from his body.
Something snapped in his chest. He smiled and laughed with her, relief pouring over him. “Aren’t you scared of man-eating sharks?”
Her smile faded as her eyebrows drew together. Golden-brown orbs locked on to his, lighting with arousal. “I guess not with you here.”
Something akin to pride welled in his chest.
“You should do that more.” Her pink shiny lips glistened in the sun. He wanted to taste the saltwater on her kiss.
“Do what?” he grated, his face only inches from hers.
“Laugh. Smile.” Her gaze dipped to his mouth that he hadn’t realized was still turned up.
Electricity buzzed along his arms where he held her against him.
He leaned in. Seawater dripped from the tips of his wet hair onto his forehead, doing nothing to cool the burn that raged in his body. Her hot breath tickled his lips, her wide amber eyes meeting his.
The dog barked and he jerked away.
What the fuck was I thinking?
As he packed up the boards in the truck, Aspen happily chatting beside him, he resolved to push Pippa from his mind.There was no way that beautiful young Pippa wanted him.And the last thing he needed was a distraction. He only had room for one girl in his life—Aspen. She would always come first, and no woman wanted to play second fiddle. Besides, the last time he’d had two women in his life, he’d screwed up and a killer had taken his wife from him.
Pippa needed to stay far away from him—for both their sakes.
