Page 105 of Poppy Kisses
Hassie put her arm around his bony shoulders and scowled at us. “You’re confusing him.”
“He’s a smart kid.” I looked her in the eye when I said that. Then I turned a smile to Auggie. “Hey, bud, I fell hard for Poppy, and I want to marry her. She’d be my wife and your stepmom.”
He scrunched his face up. “For a year?” His gaze darted back and forth like he was worried he’d spilled our secret.
He didn’t need to worry, and I gave him a smile to let him know. He’d done nothing wrong. “No, Auggie. For forever.”
He cast a worried look at Poppy. “Would you still tutor me?”
“Absolutely,” Poppy said. “You’re still going to be the first student at Poppy’s Brilliant Minds Tutoring.”
“Poppy’s Brilliant Minds?” I asked.
She nodded and placed her hand on my chest. “You’re making my sign, like you said, and Auggie will be my first official kid getting tutored in my new office. I’ve talked to five families who are changing centers officially, and two more queries are waiting in my inbox. I haven’t been able to tell you with everything going on.”
This woman drove me wild.
Auggie grinned at Hassie. “Mom, I get to have Poppy as a stepmom.”
My ex’s expression flickered through shock and dismay before she forced a pleasant facade. “Yeah, hon. I heard.” The muscles in her jaw popped. “It’s…exciting.” She swallowed. “I hope it works out.”
“Thank you,” Poppy said to her and gave my fingers a squeeze. “It means a lot.”
Hassie offered a small smile. “I should take my seat.” She tugged Auggie with her and led him back to his spot.
Poppy turned her attention to Linda. “I’m sorry for the trouble, Aunt Linda. Next year, you might feel like you’re in a tough spot, but it won’t matter if you don’t sign off. I’ll find another space to rent. Do what you feel is right. No one is telling us whether we’re legit or not.”
Indecision rippled over Linda’s delicate features. Her gaze softened. “I really do want the best for you.”
“When it comes to Poppy,” I told Linda, “my competitive side comes out. I’ll make damn sure there’s no one better. Now, if you all don’t mind, I’d like to watch a gorgeous woman walk down the aisle to me.”
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Poppy
The sun was sinking. Most of my family hung out chatting with each other. The kids played outside, kicking around soccer balls, throwing frisbees, and hunting for fireflies.
I was sitting on Jensen’s lap on the porch of the Perez house. He was chatting with Alder, but the whole time, he held me as I talked to Clover. Elijah, now—ugh—her fiancé, had left early, claiming he needed to get online in the morning for a meeting. He’d probably been bored when he saw he was unable to impress my family with his business acumen.
Hassie had left already. Erin was grabbing Auggie to get him to the fort she’d made in her living room. Hassie had been stiff all the way through the ceremony, and when Jensen and I had been presented as husband and wife, her eyes had misted over.
Hopefully someday she’d find her person, but he wasn’t Jensen.
He was mine.
I leaned back on him. The sheer pleasure I’d gotten out of holding his hand in public, kissing him when I wanted to, and cuddling with him made me think I was part exhibitionist.
“Ugh.” Clover rose and smoothed her skirt. “You two are making me miss my man.”
She would be the only one.
She gave me a quick hug and lightly punched Jensen on the shoulder. “Welcome to the family, brother.”
One by one, my siblings left, all indicating that Jensen was now part of our big, unwieldy crew.
Mom took the key to the house from Jensen. “We’ll clean up the place tomorrow. You two take the weekend for yourselves.” She tapped the metal against her palm. “Does the ‘no honeymoon’ thing still stand? I can always come babysit if Erin can’t take Auggie.”
I exchanged a glance with Jensen, excitement building.
