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Mason
Mason locked the door to the bar and turned around to help Finn as they closed The Shipwreck for the night.
Finn wiped down the counter. “You look like shit, man.”
Mason grumbled, “Thanks.”
Finn crossed his arms over his chest. “Everything okay at home?”
“Sure. Pippa and Aspen are getting along great. Aspen is excited to be a big sister. And things have been . . . really good with Pippa living in the guest room these last couple weeks.”
Finn’s brows rose. “So what’s the problem?”
Mason picked up a chair and tipped it upside down on the bar. “It’s temporary.”
“So, make it permanent. Did you ask her to move in?” Finn moved around the bar with a mop.
“I can’t do that. She told me she wanted space. I broke her trust, and I don’t know if I can fix it.”
Finn held the mop handle to his chest. “You know when I fucked up things with Charli, you’re the one who told me not to waste my chance because life was short. If you love her, then show her by being what she needs. Show her what life can be like with you. And invest in a florist. It’s probably gonna take a lot of groveling.”
Mason chuckled with his friend. “Yeah . . . You’re right. I just don’t know what I can do to prove to her I mean it this time.”
“If I learned anything from my marriage, it’s that trust takes time and consistency to rebuild. You just gotta be willing to put in the work.” Fin swished the mop across the floor.
“You’re right.” Mason walked to the front door. Ideas swirled in his mind. How could he prove to her he’d carved out a permanent place for her in his life? There was one thing he could do.
It was a risk—but it had to work.
And she was worth risking everything for.
“Where are you going?” Finn called after him.
“To win my girl back.”
The next day, Mason wrapped his arm around Pippa as she walked into the bookstore for the first time in weeks. Lady entered, her tail wagging as she sniffed the empty bookstore.
“I’m okay; you don’t have to hold me. I won’t fall.”
“Do you want me to let go?” he asked, turning towards her. There was so much more weight in that question than just a simple palm to her waist.
She blinked, her mouth opening and closing before her gaze softened.
He leaned in. “I’m never letting go again.”
She inhaled a shaky breath and turned her attention to sweep the room. “Looks like in my absence, everyone has kept the store in order.”
“Troy has been a great manager,” he admitted begrudgingly.
Her eyes lit with amusement as she smiled. “Maybe I should give him a raise.”
“Come on, let me show you why we’re here.” He took her hand and led her to the new bookshelf—with a twist. He’d worked with his friend and co-owner of Sea View construction company, Andre, to build Pippa the secret door she’d envisioned.
Pippa’s eyes grew wide as her gaze swept over the space that now looked like a regular built-in bookshelf, matching the wall beside it.
Her hand covered her mouth as her gaze darted to him. “Did you do this?”
He reached out to brush a piece of stray hair from her face. Locking eyes with her, he said, “This is the first of many dreams of yours I hope to be by your side when you realize. I know you don’t need me. You’re a strong and independent woman who can take care of herself. But I’m the lucky bastard who’s in love with you so much so that I’ll be happy if I can just live in your shadow.” He stepped closer, her scent infiltrating his senses. His fingers threaded through the hair at the back of her neck as he angled her chin towards him. Her eyes darkened with lust, lined in hesitancy.
