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Aaron patted David on the shoulder before the boy wandered over towards Finn, who was holding the now sleeping Jamison. Aaron slid closer so that he was across from Mason.
Mason’s eyes darted to the tree house. Aspen was waving her arms and laughing with Pippa before she started climbing the ladder he’d built himself.
“Can’t keep your eyes off her,” Aaron commented before taking a drink of his beer. Aaron’s head swiveled around to the back door of Mason’s house as Brynn walked out, carrying a glass of lemonade.
Mason snorted. “I could say the same for you.”
Aaron turned back, shaking his head. “Something tells me I’d have a snowball’s chance in hell with that one.”
Mason didn’t doubt it. Brynn had become a part of their circle because of David’s friendship with Aspen. And she flinched away from any man who got too close to her. She clearly had demons that put his to shame.
His gaze wandered back to the tree house, seeking Pippa out for the hit of calm her existence always brought him. She’d fit right in with his friends. But Aspen was the one who’d benefitted most from her presence. He swallowed as a flicker of hope he hadn’t been ready to consider lit in his chest. What if I could have both? What if this could be more?
The real question was, would he take the chance?
“Dad!” Aspen screamed.
Mason shot to his feet. He raced towards the tree house, his heart sprinting.
“Daddy, help!” Fear bled from her sweet voice.
Terror gripped him like a vise as he moved as fast as humanly possible up the ladder. His little girl needed him. Was she hurt? Had she been stung by a wasp? Maybe a window had broken and sliced her arm open? A million scenarios raced through his mind.
As he peered over the top rung, Aspen’s chalk-white face came into view. She was scared—yet she was fine. But her gaze was locked on a writhing woman on the floor.
Oh, God, no.Pippa.
