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Pippa giggled and returned her focus to the teens.
She’s growing up whether I want her to or not.
“Can I get you anything else, sir?” Anthony asked him, and Mason gave him extra points for his manners. “Or ladies?”
Lady, by Pippa’s side, perked up and whined. Pippa patted her head. “Not you, sweet girl.”
“Nope,” Aspen answered.
“Are we getting shrimp?” Pippa asked.
“No. We don’t catch Atlantic Northern shrimp because of their dwindling supply. But some of the other vendors get it shipped in fresh from other locations,” Anthony explained.
“Oh, I had no idea. Thank you.” Pippa pulled her wallet from her purse.
Mason held up his hand. “I got this.”
“But—”
“I insist. You’re going to do the cooking, and they’re mostly my friends we’re feeding after all,” he argued, handing over the cash to the young man.
Pippa sighed. “If you insist.”
“I do.” He winked and she smiled.
“Thank you for your business.” Anthony lifted their bags of seafood, offering them up.
“You’re welcome. Thank you too.” Mason grabbed all the bags but one he left for Pippa. She grabbed it and tugged Lady’s leash.
“Bye, Aspen,” Anthony called after them.
“Bye.” She waved.
Pippa nudged her playfully with a smile. Aspen shook her head as her cheeks bloomed bright red.
“I thought you were the grumpiest man in Shattered Cove but you’ve got nothing on Nash,” Pippa teased Mason as they weaved their way through the crowd.
“Losing the woman you love will do that to a man.” At least with Mason’s wife, Amanda, he’d gotten closure. Nash didn’t get that after his fiancée disappeared without a trace.
Pippa’s eyes flashed with something he couldn’t recognize before they darted to the gravel path.
“I’ll run these back to the truck. You get whatever else you need from the farmers, and I can take a run to the grocery store after.” Mason grabbed the last bag from Pippa.
“When are you thinking of doing this dinner?” she asked, still not looking at him, her gaze fixed on the stall on the left.
“Does tomorrow night work?”
“Sure. You guys are gonna get sick of me, you see me so much.” She laughed.
“No way!” Aspen shook her head, reaching out for Pippa’s hand once more.
“Impossible,” Mason added.
Pippa’s smile slipped as their eyes met. Something heated and vulnerable flashed in her gaze.
His chest squeezed tight. He cleared his throat. “I’ll be back. We’ll get lunch from the food truck if you girls want.”
“We want,” Pippa agreed with a grin.
