Page 6 of Poppy's Place

There was still a lot to do to get my apartment the way I wanted it before I went back to work again on Monday, and midnight on Friday seemed like the perfect time to get going on it.

Chapter 6

Carter

The electrician finally closed his toolbox and looked up at me. “I spliced the wires back together, so we should be fine for now, but you’re gonna need to do some serious rewiring. Old buildings like this are always gonna get you out of bed in the middle of the night for some reason or another. Here’s my card.” He handed me a business card even though I already had his number on my phone. “If you want a quote for the full building, let me know. If not, I don’t mind the emergency after-hour visits.” He chuckled. “My youngest still has two more years of college, and if you wanna cover the tuition, that’s fine by me.”

I rolled my eyes and faked a smile. “I bet it is. I’ll give you a call during the week and you can work out an estimate. There’s never a good time to shut down the store, but the work has to get done.”

He nodded. “Should only be a day or two if we have all the material ready, but we always do our best to minimize disruption to your business.”

“I appreciate it. And I appreciate you coming out tonight.”

He grabbed the rest of his tools, and I walked him to the front door.

When I got the call from the alarm company at eleven thirty about the system shutting off, I was afraid someone had cut the lines. I was glad to know that it was just a faulty wire and not an actual burglary attempt. It was almost one in the morning, and I stretched my back as I stood in the doorway to lock up after Carl. With my back arched, I couldn’t help but notice all the lights on in Poppy’s apartment.

She didn’t have curtains up yet, so I could see her bouncing around in her living room. I couldn’t help but smile as she danced with a watering can and filled some house plants along her mantle. She was adorable. Especially in the cute little nightie she was wearing.

My eyes narrowed as I realized it was basically sheer, and I could see the perfect outline of all her luscious curves even from my spot on the other side of the street.

Annoyed that she was on display for the world to see, I surveyed the area around me, making sure nobody else was out there gawking at her the way I was.

I stepped fully outside and then leaned on the glass door with my arms folded as I continued to watch her.

That girl needed someone to remind her to be safe, especially if she would be living alone. It was a quiet street with an equal mix of businesses and residential units, but the street was totally dead at this hour, so at least I didn’t have to kick any asses of strangers looking at what was mine.

Or should be mine.

Wouldbe mine.

I was about to walk away and leave her to her chores in peace when she opened the window and leaned out to water the flowers in the planter box below it.

With the glow from her apartment backlighting her, she was almost ethereal. Her hair was down and a bit wild as it flowed around her head and shoulders in a ginger halo.

An absolute angel.

And then the little devil hopped up onto the windowsill with her ass hanging half off it and reached way over to water the planter box under the other window.

She wiggled farther out and her arm windmilled when she almost lost her balance. She caught herself when the watering can slipped out of her hand. “Whoa.”

“Poppy!” I immediately crossed the street, ready to catch her if she fell.

I stood below her with the dented can on the ground at my side. “Are you okay, Poppy? Can you get back inside?”

“Uh, Carter?” She seemed shocked to see me standing below her but also a little bit relieved as she exhaled loudly. “Yeah, that was close, but I’m fine.”

“Get your ass off that ledge and let me up, please, before I have a heart attack down here.”

“Oh.” She stared down at me, looking right into my eyes for a long moment before she nodded and scooted back inside. “Yes, sir.”

I picked up the can that wasn’t completely destroyed and held it up to her.

Poppy nodded and pointed to the door. “Go in that door and turn right. Then follow the stairs up.”

I heard the lock buzz, so I opened it up and headed to her apartment.

Poppy was standing at the open doorway when I approached, stuffing her arms into a zip-up hoodie. I was happy to see she had the self-awareness to know she was practically naked…but disappointed that she was covering up for me. “Thank you for bringing that up. I hope it didn’t hit you.”

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