Page 88 of Poppy Kisses
She checked the pan of what I assumed must be oil on the stove. “I heard. Auggie has lots to say about his lessons.”
“He’s a wonderful pupil. I really enjoy working with him.”
Her smile seemed genuine. “He’s a good kid. Just wish we could work the same magic with horses that you can with reading.”
Was she afraid the only thing that could link her and her son was a love for the equine world? “I’m sure he’ll come around. It’s gotta be in his blood.” I let out a nervous laugh.
She shrugged and dragged a drumstick through the egg and flour bowls she had prepared. When the meat was sizzling, she washed her hands and pulled out a chair at the table. She wasn’t in booty shorts today, but her jeans barely hid how nice her figure was. Her blonde hair was thrown in a ponytail, and compared to mine, it looked like one of us walked out of the salon. It wasn’t me.
“How have things been with you?”
“Oh, you know.” She scrunched her face up as if she was debating what to tell me. “Jensen and I married pretty young, and that’s probably why we didn’t last. Two kids trying to act like grown-ups.”
Two kids? If they divorced five years ago, they would’ve been in their late twenties. Still, I couldn’t argue that age might’ve had something to do with the dissolution of their relationship.
She crossed one long leg over the other and bounced the heel of her square-toed cowboy boot. “For the last three years, I've been networking to open my own barrel racing school. I have clients willing to come from all over the country to learn from me.” Pride shone from her blue eyes. “Look at us. Both going into teaching of some sort.”
“We were always the bossy type.”
Laughter chimed out of her, and I grinned. I needed this moment of camaraderie, but it didn’t loosen the knot in my chest. She wanted Jensen back. She didn’t have to say it. Showing up on the doorstep after hearing about his impending nuptials was the first sign. Add in the way she commented on how young and immature they’d been, that she was cooking for him in his kitchen, and the hard glances she shot my way when I had joked around with her ex, and I could only think one thing.
She let out a soft sigh. “Marriage, huh?”
“Yeah,” I said slowly. “It seemed like a two-birds, one-stone kind of thing.”
“Jensen always wants to care for those around him.”
“He’s a really good guy.” I didn’t know what else to say.
Not only is he nice, but he’s good in the sack.
Your loss is my gain.
Your arrival is putting a cramp in our style.
I definitely couldn’t say one of those lines, even though I keenly felt each one.
“He’s the best. He’s someone who’s easy to take for granted.” Her attention turned inward, and she dropped her attention to the floor. “I made a lot of mistakes.” She lifted her gaze to meet mine. “But I intend to fix everything.”
* * *
Jensen
Poppy had been quiet all day. We were attaching the last section of crown molding and then we were done for the day. I had looked forward to being alone with her in the Perez house, but if we weren’t talking about carpentry, she wasn’t speaking.
I’d already asked if everything was okay, and she’d shrugged and given me thatwhy wouldn’t it be?look. I hadn’t pushed. We both knew what was going on.
Hassie had stayed at the house most of yesterday and into the evening to tuck Auggie into bed. Poppy had disappeared into her bedroom before Hassie had left, and I’d had to kick my ex-wife out so I could get some sleep.
I pounded the last finishing nail in. “That’s all she wrote.” I tucked my hammer into my tool belt and stood back to study our work. “That really dresses the room up.”
Admiration brushed across her face. “Some of the house’s old elegance has been returned. Thank you,” she finished, almost shyly.
I didn’t like her shyness. Her quiet and subdued demeanor dimmed everything in my world. The fiery Poppy, ready to leap to any challenge, was the original Poppy. Hassie’s arrival stole her sunlight, and I wanted to be the one to wrestle it back.
“You can talk to me.” I loosely hooked my thumbs over my tool belt and waited. If she didn’t talk, was there much hope for us? Were we a flame that couldn’t survive a breeze?
She didn’t speak for a long time. Neither of us moved as we stared at the new crown molding.
