Page 70 of Poppy Kisses
“Yeah, that’d be cold. I’ll be in the car!” He sprinted outside, forgetting his shoes. I’d grab them when I left.
She shot me a dirty look. “Thanks for throwing me under the bus.”
I let my laughter free. “The look on your face was worth it.”
“I almost told him that I can’t be getting naked around his dad.”
I closed the distance between us. She tipped her head back to look up at me. I liked having her attention on me, just like I could get used to the security of her keeping her word. “You can get naked around me all you want.” I dropped my head farther. Our lips were inches apart. “Just remember the rules and that Auggie’s bedtime is nine in the summer.”
I got even closer. A puff of her minty breath hit my chin. I could claim her mouth so easily. A quick kiss, or hell, a long one. Auggie wouldn’t be back inside. But I’d been thinking about her naked and sprawled on the couch. How her mouth had dropped open as I plowed into her. The way she took me and called my name.
Her pupils widened. Good. She was thinking the same thing.
Just as she swayed forward, I grabbed the insulated cooler she packed. “Last one to the pickup is a rotten egg.” I raced outside.
“You play dirty, Hollis!”
With Poppy, I couldn’t help myself. If that was what it took to get that hot look in her eyes, then I’d do it every day.
* * *
I hadn’t dated since my divorce. The loneliness sucked, and so did jacking off by myself when I just wanted to go to the bar and find someone to fuck. But I refused to leave Auggie with some stranger and then I hadn’t wanted him to think I was more interested in my social life than him.
Now, seeing Poppy and my son splashing around in the water, giggling and screeching about the temperature, was reassuring. I’d made the right decision for me and Auggie. I had to wait until I was comfortable enough with someone, and it had helped that there were no expectations. To Auggie, she was my friend.
They high-kneed out of the water, their feet bare.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch.” Poppy stopped at her sandals and stuffed her feet in. “Those rocks are sharp.”
Auggie had brought his water shoes, but he’d taken them off for solidarity.
He picked up the frisbee. “Go long, Dad.”
I jogged away, and he tossed the neon yellow disc. It curved right back into the water.
“Oh no.” Poppy had a teasing note in her voice. “It’s your turn to get it.”
“Yeah, Dad. It’s your turn.” Auggie propped his hands on his hips like my mom would when she expected me to do something.
Poppy grinned like she thought I wouldn’t get my feet wet with cold water.
I held eye contact while I shucked each shoe and peeled my socks off. She was practically vibrating with energy by the time I trotted to the shoreline. The frisbee was rocking on the gentle waves and getting carried farther out.
Frigid water licked at my feet, then my shins. It was refreshing, but since Poppy was watching, I refused to give her the satisfaction of a squeal. She’d been frolicking in the waves a couple of times already.
“Go, Dad!” Auggie jumped up and down.
I spun and let the frisbee fly, purposely overshooting him. He jumped for it, then spun and ran. That was when I picked up my pace.
“Whoa,” Poppy said, turning toward me. “A little long—” She screeched as I charged her.
Rocks bit into my feet, but gleeful laughter burst out of me. She hadn’t seen me in time, and I wrapped my arms around her waist. I swung her into the air and curved around to head for the water.
She started wiggling, half laughing and half screaming. “No— No! Jensen, you can’t. We’re supposed to go out to eat.” She kicked her legs.
I ran into the water until the chilly line licked my knees. “We can run home so you can change.”
“Don’t you dare!”
