Page 46 of Home Field Advantage
“Dallas?” Poppy says, forcing me to turn around quickly. I didn’t even hear the door open. “Are you okay?”
I’m stuck where I stand on the little walkway leading to the street, and I swear the air just jumped twenty degrees. She’s only wearing a pair of black sweatpants and a sweatshirt that’s about three sizes too large on her, but I barely register the words out of her mouth because I’m taken aback by how stunning this woman is.
“Dallas?”
My name from her lips again snaps me from my trance. “Yeah?”
She steps out of her house and onto the porch, closing the door behind her. The light makes her look like an angel in the night.Fuck my life. “Is Sage okay?”
My eyes fall to the grass as I walk back to her porch, staying on the walkway but close enough to converse with her. My heart hammers in my chest at her asking about my daughter. When I gaze back at her, Poppy has her arms crossed over her chest before leaning on the porch railing. I knew this was a terrible idea. I should never have walked over here in the first place, because seeing her again only makes the reason I’m here harder to ignore.
“Is everything okay?” she repeats.
“I wanted to talk about our meeting at the school.”
She remains silent, as if she wants me to continue.
I clear my throat, and my nerves spike. “I don’t want things to be awkward for us. We shared a drink and I had a really good time, only to learn you’re Sage’s teacher. The last thing I want is for things to be…well, awkward.”
She still says nothing, just continues watching me with curious eyes.
“I came here to keep things simple. I guess I wanted to ensure we’re on the same page. But now that I’m standing here, outside your house, I can’t stop thinking about how this would be a hell of a lot easier if you weren’t…you.”
She stands straighter, lips slightly parted as if I’d surprised her.
Fuck, I surprised myself, too.
It feels like minutes have passed, eyes locked on each other, while my racing heart doesn’t let up for one second. My palms feel even more clammy than before, and even with the chill in the air, there may be sweat on my eyebrows.
“I…I mean. I’m just. We can’t. I’m Sage’s teacher, and I’m…” she fumbles over her words before her voice trails off as if she wants to say something but can’t bring herself to say it.
“A professional?” I raise an eyebrow.
“That too.” She blushes, turning her face to the side to avoid eye contact.
I nod repeatedly, choosing not to press her about what she wanted to say but didn’t. Instead, I offer a comforting smile. Something that’s not hard to fight back when she’s around, as her presence could bring even the strongest man to his knees.
The only thing I’ve learned from walking over here is that I’m weak for her, even though she clearly stated that I barely know her. Irecognizethat I’m weak for my neighbor—for my daughter’s teacher. I’m weak for her, knowing that I will be leaving.
I retreat a few steps backward but don’t take my eyes off her. Ready to say precisely what I was thinking before even decidingto try to dull the flame by coming over here. It wasn’t my intention, but seeing her, I can’t help myself.
“Just so we’re clear, Poppy,” I murmur, keeping my gaze locked on hers. “I still haven’t stopped thinking about you since the day I moved here. And every single thought I’ve had is veryunprofessional.”
She sucks in a breath before I wink and turn on my heel to head back to my house.
Poppy Barlow is the most unexpected thing to show up in my life. And damn if I don’t want to explore it more.
So much for keeping it stuffed down.
CHAPTER 12
THAT BASEBALL DADDY IS SOMETHING ELSE.
Poppy
Lily
How’s the plan for avoiding your neighbor going?
