Page 46 of When You Left Me Speechless

LOGAN

Last night was incredible. The image of Poppy standing in front of her door with her hair soaked, her lips swollen from our kiss, and my hoodie covering her small frame has not left my mind. She looked absolutely beautiful, and it took all of my control not to ask if I could follow her inside.

When I got home, I couldn't sleep. I know she is scared, but she is into me. That kiss told me everything I needed to know. When I closed my eyes, I saw her running to get in my truck. Her shirt was wet and nearly see-through. The lace of her bra barely covering her peaked nipples. I saw her pushed up against the door of my truck, kissing me, and I heard the moan she let out. I decided to take a shower to clear my head.

The shower was a bad idea and instantly made me want her more. The water reminded me of the kiss in the rain, and I grew harder at the thought of kissing her again. I did what any reasonable man would do and stroked myself to the mental image of her riding me until I came.

I woke up extra early this morning, still thinking about the kiss we shared last night.

I pull into her apartment complex, hop out, and run upthe stairs to her door. I knock, and after about five minutes, it swings open, and she looks stunning. Her hair is in a high ponytail on the top of her head, and she is wearing a bright yellow dress covered in small white flowers that shows off her curves just enough to make my dick jump.

“Mornin’, ready to go?” I take a step toward her and lean down to try to kiss her again. To my surprise and disappointment, she ducks under my arm and dodges my attempt, moving past me.

“Good morning,” she says with a smile, already moving down the stairs toward my truck.

We both get in, and I see her look at the coffee cup sitting in the cup holder of my center console. “You got coffee without me,” she pouts.

“Figured you would want it as soon as you got in the truck, so I swung by and grabbed it on my way over.”

“Wait. This is for me?” she asks, picking up the coffee, her smile returning to her face. “Where’s yours?” I lift the cup I’m holding and take a sip.

We drive the rest of the way in silence, neither one of us bringing up the night before. I remind myself she wants to be coworkers and friends. That we canonlybe coworkers and friends. That may have been the best kiss of my life, but her reaction this morning when I tried to kiss her again told me we aren’t on the same page. She got caught up in the moment and realized it was a mistake. I was out of line to kiss her.

CHAPTER 30: CALLED TO THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE

POPPY

When we pull into the school, Logan drives over and parks in front of my car. Twenty minutes later, my car is good to go. “If it gives you trouble this afternoon, just text me, and I’ll jump you again.”A shiver runs through my body at the thought of him jumping me.That’s not what he meant. He meant jump the car, not my body.I. Am. So. Incredibly. Fucked.

“Thanks,” I manage to say.

“Anytime, chatterbox.” Man, that nickname is starting to grow on me.I must stop this. I told him we could be friends and friends don’t have these kinds of thoughts about one another. Friends also don’t make out in the rain, but for the life of me I can’t stop thinking about it.

I wave and turn to head to the speech room. I immediately jump in the air, almost spilling my coffee and letting out a loud shriek. Ruth is standing immediately behind me. Her eyes shift back and forth between Logan and me.

“Oh, gosh, Ruth, you scared me,” I say, clutching my chest.

“Oh, good morning, Poppy. Good morning, Logan. Sorryfor the scare.”

He waves. “Mornin’, Ruth.”

I don’t like the look in her eye or the smile on her face. She looks like she just caught us in the janitor’s closet, and she can’t wait to gossip about it. My heart is pounding in my ears, and my stomach flips.

“What are you two doing out here together?” she asks.

My breath catches and sensing my panic, he speaks up, “I was helping her get her car started.” He holds up the jumper cables and then places them in the backseat of his truck.

Ruth smiles, “Oh, Logan, you’re such a gentleman. We are so lucky to have you here at Pecan Grove. Poppy, are you heading to the speech room?”

I nod.

“Great, I need to talk to Beth about something. I’ll walk with you.” She turns on her heels and walks back toward the school. She starts yammering about some drama happening between the cafeteria ladies. I let a small smile creep across my face and glance at him before running to catch up with her.

It’s Thursday, so I will see him later, and knowing that, I can’t help but smile a little more.

I headover to his class early. Beth had work to do and gave me the okay to go without her. Logan is standing by a bookshelf, looking for something. It’s still his planning period, so it’s just me and him. He doesn’t seem to hear me walk in, so I walk up behind him.

“Whatcha looking for?”

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