Page 31 of Poppy Kisses
I would’ve been one of those kids. Auggie too. “They complained.”
“Debbie furnished an office with a waiting room and two tutoring rooms only to be told to leave when her six-month lease was up. You know how much that set her back?”
A lot. And now Poppy was driven to have her own place. She was also scared of failing. The girl who used to take on any challenge must’ve had a few hard knocks on the way.
“Well, dishes are done.” She brushed her hands down her leggings. Could I write the makers of athleisure wear a thank-you card? The way the material clung to her legs and I could witness the flex of her quads was a vision I’d never forget. Then she turned, and I nearly groaned.
Her ass. My palms tingled to touch it, to run my hands over those globes and feel how tight her glutes were. The room grew uncomfortably hot, and I was so busy getting myself under control that I almost missed what she was saying.
“…for the night. Let you be and have your house to yourself.” She threw a parting wave as she headed for her room.
Having this place for just me and my son had never been the plan. “What do you normally do?” I stopped myself from speeding after her. I was casual. Nonchalant. Not at all hoping she wouldn’t squirrel herself away for the entire evening.
“Hey!” Auggie charged in from upstairs. “Can I play outside?”
He knew he could go out whenever he wanted. We’d talked about the rules, and I would often go out with him. As an only child, he could get bored and ten-year-olds with nothing to do usually found trouble.
“I’ll go out with you.” Then I wouldn’t pant after Poppy like the lonely fucker I was.
If only I could blame loneliness. The blood gathering in my dick and my inability to take my eyes off her round ass and her high tits might be an influence.
“Mind if I go out to play with you?” she asked timidly, like she was afraid we’d tell her it was boys’ night.
I’d never exclude her. Every night could be a Poppy night.
I found Poppy Duke sexy as hell.
Shit.
This was a problem. She trusted me. I had to be a good roommate and keep my lusting to myself. But it’d been a while since I’d taken notice of a woman. Sure, my body had been telling me that it’d been more than a minute since I’d been with anyone, but there was no one particular person I fantasized about. That had changed with Poppy under my roof.
ChapterSeven
Poppy
I entered the house and its already familiar warmth surrounded me. I needed a shower after sprinting through the yard for the last few hours. Auggie had been delighted when I said I’d play outside with them and then he and Jensen had dragged out the sports equipment from the garage.
Jensen set up a net for badminton. When we realized the wind was too strong, he’d set up a net for batting practice and weighed it down with a couple of sandbags. First, Auggie had been at bat, and I’d played the outfield. Next, I had goaded Jensen into batting with Auggie pitching. While he might’ve taken it easy to keep from line driving a hit into his son, he’d still kept me running with pop flies in every direction. Then it’d been my turn, and, well, I wasn’t as good at sports that used my arms.
After batting practice, we’d shot some hoops and then Auggie had the bright idea that Jensen and I should race. There’d been no contest other than how long Jensen could make me think I had a chance.
Mostly, I had wanted him to charge ahead of me so I could watch him. His sweats didn’t leave nearly enough to the imagination, as if I needed more reminders that the boy I had known was all man. Powerful legs, thick shoulders, and that voice. When we’d been talking at the sink, the dishes hadn’t been the only thing wet.
I should’ve dated more. I turned the last guy down because he’d been half-lit when he’d hit on me. Clover had come to visit me in Casper, and we’d been out for the night. After I’d turned him down, he’d asked Clover out. I made a few good calls here and there.
I wouldn’t have to worry about that with Jensen. Just like I didn’t have to worry that he was attracted to me. That magazine article of Hassie showed me I wasn’t his type.
“Go get ready for bed, kiddo,” he said to Auggie. “I’ll be right up to tuck you in.”
“Do you need the bathroom down here?” I asked. “I can wait until you’re done. My first appointment isn’t until ten tomorrow.”
“Go ahead. I don’t get started in the shop until Auggie’s off to school anyway.” Jensen went to the cupboard and dug out three glasses. He filled them with water at the fridge.
I stole one last look at his broad back. A man running shouldn’t be such a turn-on, but here I was, salivating over a guy getting me a glass of water. When did my bar get set so low?
More importantly—why was Jensen raising my bar so high?
“Night, Auggie,” I called as he charged up the stairs.
