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Pippa
Pippa swished another coat of mascara on her lashes and blinked before checking her appearance. Her belly flipped with anxiety. She took a deep breath and let it out as Lady whined and nudged her.
“I’m okay, girl. Just nervous for my date. Or, well, non-date—whatever this is.” Her eyes flicked to the mirror and she turned sideways. Was the emerald-green dress too much? He was probably going to take her out and feed her before telling her this couldn’t continue and that what had happened between them couldn’t happen again. That would be fine. She’d been the one to pull away first. So why does this make me feel so disappointed?
Pippa shook her head as if it would help relieve some of her jitters. She walked over to the box on her coffee table, filled with battery-powered fairy lights, rainbow curtains she’d sewn, hanging beads, and even a book sculpture she’d made especially for Aspen to have in her tree house. A few colorful pillows stuck out from the top of the container.
A knock at the door had her stomach leaping to her throat. Lady walked over, sniffing before she sat.
“Here we go.” Pippa took another fortifying breath as she opened the door with a trembling hand.
Her eyes ran from the shiny dress shoes up his black ironed slacks with the impressive bulge below the belt. The scent of fresh rainwater filled her senses as her gaze roamed farther, up the matching black button-up shirt that stretched across Mason’s massive torso. Folded sleeves near his elbows revealed veined forearms that had once held her.
He cleared his throat, and her eyes darted to his. A smirk played on his lips, but his eyes were dark with his own lust. Good to know I’m not alone in this.
“Beauty, you look . . .” Those orbs dropped down the length of her before returning to her face, singeing every inch of her with desire. “. . . breathtaking.”
Heat rose to her cheeks. Arousal bloomed in her core.
“These are for you.” He thrust a bouquet of peach-colored roses already in a vase towards her.
She accepted them and inhaled their sweet fragrance. “Beautiful. Thank you.”
“Ready for dinner?” he asked.
“Let me just put these somewhere.” She darted to the kitchen and set them down on the small island before slipping on a pair of gold ballet flats and grabbing Lady’s leash. “Oh, could you grab that box?”
Mason stepped inside, picking up her surprise for Aspen as his forehead wrinkled in confusion.
“It’s for the tree house.”
His large hand landed on her shoulder, halting her steps. “Thank you.”
She shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, though her heart skipped a beat and a thousand tiny fireworks exploded in her belly.
Mason waited patiently while she set the alarm and then locked her door. His hand pressed to the small of her back as he led her to his truck and opened the door for her and Lady to climb in. He set the box in the back of the vehicle before he got in his seat and started the car. Soft, slow music played on the radio.
“You look really good tonight too.” Did he get his hair and beard trimmed? The top of his head was combed to one side, but the edges were neatly shaved. The man looked like Tom Hardy, but even sexier, if that were possible.
He smiled and reached out to take her hand in his as he navigated through the town. She should pull her hand away, put some more distance between them. His thumb stroked the soft flesh between her thumb and forefinger. Arousal swirled in her belly, unfurling and sending tingles through her. Fuck, I knew I should have worn underwear.
“So, what’s in the box?”
“A few things to decorate Aspen’s tree house. We talked about it at the dinner party and I wanted to surprise her.” Pippa tugged down her dress self-consciously with her free hand.
Mason laughed softly. “You spoil her.”
She shrugged. “Every girl deserves to be spoiled every now and then.”
He squeezed her hand and glanced over before he turned down another road. “Well, tonight is my night to indulge you.”
So maybe he wasn’t going to tell her this had to end? Her sigh of relief was short-lived. Sure. She’d pulled away, but every time she saw him, her resolve wavered. But then that would mean—was this a date?
Mason parked the truck at Atlantis. She had no complaints about the return visit—the food was amazing, and she’d been craving that cheesecake since their last trip here. Mason helped her and Lady out of the car. His hot palm against the small of her back was doing her lady bits no favors. The man barely touched her and she was wet. He guided her through the restaurant.
Mason pulled out a chair for her at the small table they were seated at on the back deck overlooking the bay and the setting sun. She got settled as he took the seat across from her. A candle flickered in the mason jar between them, reflecting in his gaze.
He started with small talk after they put in their drink and meal orders. By the time the food came, Pippa was on pins and needles. Was this a date? It felt like one. But he’d made it clear he only wanted a friend with benefits. This wasn’t how that scenario usually went.
