AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Summer Solstice.” Aspen picked up a shiny, sequined white dress and then put it back.
“Can I help you?” Mason’s voice was no longer light and easygoing, but curt like it had been the first time she’d run into him in the café.
She turned as a thin woman with a name tag shook her head and glanced over to Pippa.
“No need to follow her. We’ll let you know if we need anything,” Mason said, his message of get away clear as day.
His gaze followed the retreating store clerk and then snapped to her. Was he protecting me?
She was used to being followed around in stores so much so that sometimes, she avoided going altogether. Having Mason stand up for her made butterflies tumble in her belly and her chest fill with warmth. He nodded to her, not breaking the stare.
“What about this one?” Aspen held up a red mini dress with a cheeky smile as Mason growled. This little girl knew how to press her dad’s buttons.
“You know what would look amazing?” Pippa asked, her eye catching on just the one.
“What?” Aspen followed her to a row of green dresses.
Pippa pulled out an emerald-colored velvet dress with lace three-quarter-length sleeves and a V-neck. “This will really make your eyes pop and go fantastically with your hair color.”
Aspen smiled and plucked it from her hands. “Can I try it on?”
Pippa pointed towards the changing room signs and followed her, along with Mason. Aspen disappeared into the changing area alone while Pippa took a seat on a bench. Mason settled beside her, his thigh pressed against hers. Heat bloomed from his touch. Liquid fire spread over her skin. Get it together.
“Thank you for coming today,” Mason said, his arm stretching out on the bench behind her.
Arousal skittered across her skin like electric lust, gathering in her center. She blew out a breath, trying to calm her raging libido. He’s just a man. He’s a single dad. He’s not interested.
Maybe it was time she downloaded a dating app. She needed something, or someone, to help take this edge off.
“I was happy to come . . . She seems very educated.”
He smirked, and damn, it did things to her body that not even her vibrator had achieved lately. “I’ve always encouraged a healthy debate with her. I bought her a bunch of books, hoping to make up for the lack of female influence in her life. She took a strong liking to Gloria Steinem, Malala Yousafzai, Angela Davis, and that other one that gave that TED Talk about how we should all be feminists.”
“Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Of course, I wanted to read those books before handing them over so we could discuss them. It’s something we seem to do together a couple times a month—or whenever I try to take her shopping.” He chuckled.
Pippa joined in. His eyes caught on hers, darkening.
“I think you’ve done a great job with her,” Pippa complimented, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I know I said it before, but I mean it. My dad tried, but he wasn’t able to really be there for a lot of my formative years.” Guilt flashed in her mind, heavy and potent. She didn’t want to ruin this beautiful afternoon, so she shoved it aside. It would be there later—it always was.
“That means a lot.” Mason’s voice softened. His gaze pierced through her as if trying to read her soul.
She blinked away and turned towards the changing room where Aspen was staring at them. The green dress fit to her body, not too tight, and flared out at her waist, stopping just above her knee.
“You look gorgeous!” Pippa grinned.
Mason didn’t say anything for a second, so she elbowed him in the ribs.
“Wow. You look beautiful, sweet pea,” Mason grated.
Pippa glanced at him. Were those tears in his eyes?
He cleared his throat and stood. “Is this the one?”
Aspen’s nervous smile widened as she spun around. “It’s perfect. Thank you, Pippa.”
Pippa shrugged. “I’m just glad we found one that you both liked.”
