Page 23 of Faking It With the Grumpy Single Dad

I hold back a full-body cringe at the term of endearment. I can’t believe I ever liked this guy.

“I think you should go,” I say. “As in, back to LA. Without me. I don’t want you here. I didn’t ask you to come here.”

Percy opens his mouth to continue spewing his nonsense, but is interrupted by the sound of heavy boots thudding on the stairs. Both of us turn to find Joe descending from the second floor, brow furrowed at the sight of the well-dressed, perfectly-coifed man standing in the dusty foyer.

It’s only then that I realize how loud I’m being. I’m practically shouting at Percy.

To my surprise, Joe steps down from the last stair and walks right over to me. He stands close to my side, squaring off against Percy. I feel petty satisfaction about the fact that Joe is a couple inches taller than him, and obviously more muscular.

“Is there a problem here?” Joe asks, his voice measured but cold.

Percy snorts humorlessly. “And who the heck are you?”

“Joe Mansfield. This is my job site. It’s an active construction zone, and I’d like to know why you’ve entered it uninvited.”

A thrill goes through me at his words. He’s being all scary and serious, and it’s kind of… hot.

Don’t be silly, I tell myself.

Except, from the look on Percy’s face, I can tell that even Joe’s icy, formal tone isn’t chastising enough. The eternal snob, Percy automatically assumes he’s smarter than anyone who doesn’t at least own a Rolex.

Thinking recklessly fast, I slip my hand into the crook of Joe’s elbow and inch closer. Joe tenses, but he doesn’t take his eyes off Percy, whose gaze immediately zeroes in on the contact.

“Joe is also my boyfriend,” I blurt. Wow, where did that come from?

Percy wrinkles his nose. “Seriously, Poppy? You expect me to believe that you’re dating a construction worker?”

Joe clears his throat lightly. “I’m an architect, actually.”

That gives Percy pause.Architectsounds a lot more impressive to his well-bred ears thangeneral contractor. Somehow, Joe clocked that right away. He’s probably used to people like this. After all, he renovates million-dollar homes in coastal New England.

He probably thoughtIwas like that when we first met.

Percy stares at me. “You’re seeing someone new?”

I brace myself, waiting for Joe to speak up and deny it, but he remains a quiet, unmoving force of intimidation beside me.

When I nod, I swear that Joe nods along with me.

“For how long?” Percy asks.

“That’s none of your—”

Joe cuts me off gently. “About a month.”

Percy frowns. I cringe inwardly. I haven’t even been in Mermaid Shores for a month.

Even so, Percy doesn’t seem to be capable of pausing to do the math. He simply stares at Joe, sizing him up, and narrows his eyes at the way I’m clutching his arm.

The fact that he’s more willing to respect another man’s claim on me than to respect my own wishes is so infuriating that I swear I’m seeing red.

“I think you should go now,” I tell him.

“Hm.” Percy purses his lips. “Perhaps I should. I’ve got a suite at the Hyannis Harbor Hotel, Poppy. It’s not exactly the Four Seasons, but you’re welcome to come stay with me there. Breathing in all this construction air can’t be healthy for you.”

“I’m good, thanks.”

Percy looks like he might continue arguing his case, but one more look at Joe—and the suspicious silence that’s fallen upstairs—tells him that his time is up.

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