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Mason
Mason checked his watch for the fifth time before his gaze flicked back to the door to the bookstore. Where is she? Aspen was supposed to be here ten minutes ago. That was the deal—he gave her space in the bookstore if she kept to their timeline. He’d been in here a few times to make sure this was a safe space for Aspen to be in alone. He’d never run into Pippa though; there had always been another woman here before, Tammy. She was probably done now that she was due to give birth any day.
He was trying to balance giving Aspen space for her blossoming need for more independence and still managing to keep her safe while he sat across the street in the café nursing a coffee and catching up on news and projects he worked on the side as a private security contractor.
He’d give her five more minutes and then he was going in after her.
The door across the street opened and his daughter’s strawberry-blond hair blew in the breeze as she smiled, her mouth going a mile a minute. Pippa came out behind her. Mason’s chest tightened. She was wearing a pair of white shorts and a blue flowy shirt that rippled in the summer breeze. Her hair was down, waves of natural curls falling just past her shoulders.
Had she gone home with Ricky? Green jealousy swirled in his gut—and he had no right to it.
Aspen stepped into the crosswalk without looking either way. His heart lurched to his throat. Pippa’s hand shot out across his daughter’s chest, holding her back as a car drove past. Her dog waited patiently by her side.
Some of the tension left his body in a relieved exhale. Guess I need to talk to my thirteen-year-old about how to cross a road again.
Once it was clear, Pippa led Aspen across, nodding and smiling at whatever his bubbly daughter was going on about. He sat back at his table in the café closest to the register, drinking his coffee as they entered. Aspen’s attention flicked to him before she gave him a quick smile. Pippa’s gaze stayed on the chalkboard menu as both ladies walked to the cash register to order.
“I’ll take a large latte with a shot of coconut. And we’ll take two cookies. I’ll have a chocolate chip mermaid, and what kind do you want, Aspen?”
His daughter shrugged. “No cookie for me, thanks.”
Mason’s brows drew together. Since when did his daughter turn down sweets?
Pippa turned towards her. “Does this have anything to do with the 3 Cs?”
What the fuck is a 3C?
Aspen’s head dropped and her shoulders sagged.
Pippa bent to get on Aspen’s level and tipped her chin up. “You are perfect just the way you are. This body is capable of amazing things, and it’s all yours. Don’t let anyone make you feel less for how you look. You. Are. Beautiful.”
Whatever defense Mason had patched together to keep this woman out just crumbled until nothing was left but debris.
“So, which cookie?” Pippa asked, gently.
“A mermaid one.” Aspen beamed up at Pippa as if she hung the moon.
“You heard the woman. Two mermaid cookies, please,” Pippa said to Remy.
“Here you ladies go. Enjoy.” Remy slid the goodies over.
Pippa sipped her coffee and pushed the bag over to Aspen. His daughter opened it and grabbed her treat out before handing it back to Pippa. They turned around, and Aspen walked over to him.
“Dad. Guess what?”
Pippa’s eyes caught on his, widening for a moment as surprise flickered in them.
“Pippa let me use the register while someone paid today at the bookstore. Isn’t that cool?” Aspen asked quickly before biting the head off her mermaid.
He nodded. “That’s awesome.”
“I want to own a bookstore when I get older.” Aspen beamed up at her as if Pippa was her own personal superheroine.
“I better get back. Have a good afternoon.” Pippa offered him a tight smile before Aspen wrapped her arms around the woman.
Pippa’s grin softened, her neon-yellow nails contrasting with his daughter’s red hair as she hugged her back.
“Bye, Pippa,” Aspen said, releasing her.
