Page 6 of Forever Starts Tonight

His eyebrows rose. “You saw them?”

“Just one.” I took a long drink of my beer. It was the ominous way I answered that told him exactly which of the sisters I’d seen.

Cameron grinned. “Oh, I bet that made her happy.”

I glared, which made the asshole laugh heartily. “It’s not funny. I thought she was … not her. I bought her a drink before I realized it.”

His laughter faded immediately. “Poppy?”

I gave him a short nod, my gut churning with unease.

Cameron eyed me, a healthy dose of brotherly protectiveness sparking in his gaze. “Do I need to worry about that?” he asked lightly.

“No.” I met his look steadily. “No. I promise. I’ll never … I wouldnever.”

His expression eased. “I know you wouldn’t. Poppy is just … she’s got stars in her eyes, man. She wants the fairy tale. Always has.”

There was no need to respond, but I knew that too.

I wasn’t in the business of delivering anyone’s happily ever after unless their happy ending came in the form of one really great night. I didn’t want the fairy tale. I just wanted my freedom.

Cameron knew that too.

“Why don’t you go find someone?” I said, voice tense and tight.

Cameron laughed under his breath. “I’m too damn busy to date anyone.”

I gave him a look. “I didn’t say date.”

“I know,” he answered easily.

Wilders didn’t do casual. It was like embedded in their DNA or something.

I couldn’t pinpoint what was embedded into mine. Never really wanted to.

But when I took a drink of my beer, I closed my eyes, and stamped on the back of my eyelids was a blue dress, long hair, chest-tightening smile, and great fucking legs.

No.

No.

I set the beer down, a plan formulating in my head before I had the chance to think it through. “I, uh, think I might get away for a bit,” I told him. “I was thinking about heading up to Washington for a couple of weeks.”

Cameron nodded. “No problem. Just let me know when you’ll be back.”

I slapped him on the back, smiling when he winced. “That’s why you’re the best boss ever,” I told him.

Cameron rolled his eyes. “Give me a break. You and I both know you’re doing me the favor in this situation.”

“True. I am a very benevolent friend.”

He snorted. “I’ll remember that the next time you piss me off.”

“That won’t take long,” I said.

His sisters arrived at the table in a loud, giggling blur of dark hair and big smiles, dragging Poppy behind them, who was now wearing a twenty-first birthday sash over her blue dress. I kept my facial expression even, noting the pink tinge to her high cheekbones when she glanced over at me.

On second thought, maybe I’d leave for Washington now. Because I should’ve been out of this bar ten fucking minutes ago. At the moment, it felt like being in the same state as Poppy Wilder was a horrible idea.

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