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Pippa
Pippa swallowed nervously. Lady, so attuned to her owner, licked her hand as if to comfort her.
“His bark is worse than his bite,” Remy whispered across the counter.
Pippa gave her a curt nod and straightened her back. That sweet little girl hiding in her shop was relying on her. She stepped towards the giant angry man as he finished cleaning the mess she’d made.
“Uh, Mr. Wright?”
He walked past her and around the corner to hand the mop to Remy, seemingly ignoring her.
Pippa cleared her throat and tried a little louder. “Mr. Wright?”
His blue eyes flashed as he turned back to her, annoyance written across his face.
“Are you Aspen’s dad?”
His expression softened for a moment before concerned lines appeared between his eyebrows. His gaze darted across the street. “Yeah. Why?”
“Aspen asked me to come over and find you—”
“What’s wrong? Did she get hurt?” He didn’t wait for her reply before he was barreling out the door. Pippa ran after him as he darted out into the middle of the road. He jerked his hand up to stop traffic as if he wouldn’t let anything get in his way. A sedan stopped abruptly to let them pass, a horn honking as they crossed.
“She’s fine!” Pippa called after him, waving and mouthing, I’m sorry, to the driver.
Mason pulled on the door to her shop but it didn’t budge. “It’s locked.”
“I know. I thought it was safer to leave her locked in.”
His shoulders straightened as he swerved around and walked up to her. Mason loomed above her, anger once again written in his twisted snarl. She backed up until her shoulders hit the glass window of her store. Lady growled near her side.
“Why did you lock my daughter inside your fucking store?” His voice was deep and dangerous, sending a chill spiraling through her.
Her eyes widened. “Oh, no! I—she asked me to come and tell you something, and she couldn’t leave the store because she’s, uh . . .”
“She’s what?” he demanded.
She winced. “She has her period.”
He blinked as if not understanding what Pippa had said.
“Your daughter became a woman today . . . yay . . .” Her voice was pitiful with false enthusiasm. He seemed volatile. Was Aspen safe with him? How could such a sweet little girl come from . . . him?
Mason backed away, finally giving her some room to breathe. “She started her period?”
“Yes. And she, um, well, it got on her pants, and she was embarrassed to come tell you and asked that I did.”
Panic flashed in his eyes. “I don’t . . . fuck! I thought we had more time.”
“I was about her age when I started . . .” Good job, sharing your menstrual cycle history with a complete stranger. This is why I’m still single. “I don’t have anything here in the shop for her. But if you wanted, I could meet you in the pharmacy and show you what to get for her? Unless you have it covered?”
He ran a hand over his face. “I need to see my daughter.”
“Oh! Right, of course, um, right. Keys.” She pulled the ring from her pocket and moved to put the key in the door. As soon as the lock turned, his arm shot out to the handle. She jumped back. Lady’s eyes darted between her and Mason. His face was open—dare she say, even kind.
He was just trying to be polite. Not trying to hurt her. Phew.
Regret flashed in his expression as he opened the door for her, motioning for her to go in first. Pippa ducked her head and went in, moving to the front desk where Aspen sat, red-faced, her eyes darting to the floor. “Daddy?”
