Page 48 of Poppy Kisses
I turned to leave, but the lonely creep in me snuck one more glance at her skull-crushing legs. “I’ll leave you to it.”
“Jensen.”
I didn’t turn around. I’d violated enough of her privacy, and I wanted to do it again. “Yeah?”
“You were kidding, right? I didn’t moan your name in my sleep?”
I should be a standup guy and spare her, but Poppy was one of the only people I could actually be myself around. “No, Poppy.” Before I closed the door behind me, I said, “You moanedafteryou said it.”
* * *
Poppy
My blood pressure hadn’t returned to normal levels after my meeting with Miss Whitfield. There hadn’t been much more new information. The city was willing to work with our little ragtag group, and Aspen—Miss Whitfield—had flyers already printed to recruit kids. It was coming along, and as long as she was in charge, my anxiety was kept at bay.
I moaned Jensen’s name in my sleep? That part didn’t surprise me. That he heard was a total embarrassment. What were the odds that one of the dreams plaguing me, where he peeled a wet shirt off me, happened exactly when I had overslept and he walked in?
Why else was I slumbering too long? I hadn’t wanted to wake up from that wet dream.
But I had, and he’d seen me in all mybonnet, sleep mask, and headphonesglory. And I’d had a wedgie from hell after writhing around.
We loaded back up in his pickup. I couldn’t look at him. He hadn’t minded the wedgie.
“So what’s with the sleep routine?” He pointed to his head.
“My hair’s so fine that it tangles like a nightmare. Mom got tired of fighting me to brush it, so she ordered a bonnet. I’ve been wearing them since. The sleep mask happened when a college roommate used to study all night and her light shone in my face.” My phone vibrated, but I wanted to finish the explanation to save some face after the morning debacle. “Sometimes I wake up too early and I can’t get to sleep if I’m not listening to a podcast or something.”
“Makes sense. It was cute.”
“You don’t have to try to make me feel better.”
“I’m trying not to make you uncomfortable, or I would’ve said it tied with the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. I’ll have to see you in that wet T-shirt again to decide between the two because, with all that leg on display, it’s a tough choice.”
He did not mean that. He’d been married to Hassie Heart of all people. She had more sexiness in her little finger than I’d possessed in my entire life. My phone buzzed again.
I took the distraction and pulled it out of my pocket. “It’s Aunt Linda.” I answered.
“Oh, Poppy.” Her light voice came through the line. “Sorry if I woke you.”
“No, I’ve been up for a while.” I had to twist away from Jensen, or he’d see me blush. Sexiest thing, my ass.
Apparently, it wasn’t my ass but my boobs and my legs.
“The tenant—former tenant—called. Their house closed early, and they said they’d be moved out by the end of the weekend. I didn’t want to tell you if it ended up falling through, but they gave me the keys this morning. Usually, Darren replaces the locks right away, but I thought I’d wait. You might want something else.”
“Yes, I can take care of that.” Excitement swelled inside of me. It was happening. The worry sparked right behind it. I was at the beginning of a long road. “Do you mind if I come by and get the keys?”
“Not at all. I have to warn you, I don’t know the state the house is in. There’s always some sort of mess left behind.”
“It’s fine. I’ll take care of that too.” It sounded like she was sick of dealing with renters. My benefit, otherwise she wouldn’t let me in so Jensen could get to work.
“I’m in town now, and I can meet you in a few minutes.”
“See you in five.” I hung up and spun in my seat. “The house is open.”
Jensen turned at the end of the block without asking. Going straight would’ve taken us to the highway to get to his house.
I pressed a hand to my stomach. “I’m nervous.”
