Page 28 of Yuletide Acres

I open my mouth to retort, but her sharp glance forces it closed again. She’s right. I’ve been terrible to Poppy.

Time to fix that situation. Hell, I’m the most charming man in Yuletide Acres, when I want to be.

* * *

Itake a few deep breaths before walking into Poppy’s store. Why can’t I relax around this woman?

Oh yeah, because my dick is screaming to be inside her 24/7. That might be the reason.

The front door is locked, but I find Poppy struggling to open the rear entrance, her hands overladen with packages.

“Here, give me those.”

Poppy jumps at the sound of my voice. “Oh, hi.”

I watch the smile fall from Poppy’s face, and I hate how hard I’ve been on her. A single apology will not come close to fixing this situation. I better be ready to grovel. I try to wrestle the bags from her hands, but her grip remains strong. Stubborn, as always. “Since you won’t let me help with the bags, give me the keys. The least I can do is unlock the door.”

The alarm peals out the second I push open the door. Christ, it could wake the dead. “What’s the code?”

“5410.” Poppy bites her lip. “I just gave my enemy the code to my alarm system.” With a final sigh, she hefts the packages, slipping past me into a back room.

Ouch.

I trail after her, pulling items from the grocery bags. “I’m not the enemy, Poppy.”

“You’re not? You hate me and everything I stand for, remember? Your definition of enemy must differ from mine.” She pivots in front of me, placing her hands on her hips and sending off one hell of a glare.

“I have never, not one day, hated you.” For the first time since I left her in California desert, I realize it’s the truth. I never hated Poppy, I hated how lost I felt without her. How addicted I was to every facet of her.

Her eyes glaze as she turns back to the task at hand. “That’s nice to know.”

I pull some cider from the bag, along with cinnamon sticks and oranges. That means one thing. “Ah, your famous mulled cider.”

“Yep. This is the virgin version. I’ll throw in the rum at home.”

“I loved that stuff.”

“I have some from yesterday. Want a mug?”

I lean against the counter, allowing myself to really bask in her beauty. Take her all in. After all, the woman always was my sunshine. “Sure.”

“Let me warm it up. Make yourself comfortable.”

She disappears into the kitchen area while I peruse the store. Everything is still in a state of disarray, likely because of my stubborn inability to let the women proceed in peace. Instead, like a chump, I add fuel to the fire. “Did you and Troy have a nice dinner?”

Poppy reappears, a scowl crossing her features. “You drove down here to inquire about my dinner?”

“No.” I shove my hands in my pockets, feeling like a schoolboy in front of his first crush. Come to think of it, that’s not so far off. “I come bearing good news.”

“Really? That’s a change for you.”

Okay, I deserve that biting remark. “We have approved you to open the clinic.”

A wide grin crosses Poppy’s face as she claps her hands in glee. “Oh, that’s fabulous! Thank you!” She raises her arms up, but thinks better of it, dropping them back to her sides.

Poppy is a hugger. She gives love to everyone. Apparently, I’m too prickly for her to consider anymore. Yet another fact I’m going to have to rectify.

I grasp one side of a rickety wooden ladder, leaning against the wall. “Please tell me this is for decoration only.”

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