Page 30 of Spotlight on Poppy

"Hey," she sounded like she was yelling over loud music. "Where are you?"

"Josh and I got locked in the prop room, can you send someone to get us out?" She looked over at Josh who was giving her the classic Josh Turner smile. The smile that just radiated his goodness, she had to smile back.

"Oh my gosh, yeah, I’ll send someone over."

"Thanks, see you guys soon."

She hung up the phone and sat it on the table.

"So, it looks like someone is coming to let us out."

"So, it would seem," said Josh. He got up from the stairs and walked over to her. "Then it looks like I’m almost out of time to do this." He reached up his hand and cradled the back of her head and claimed her mouth. While their first kiss was all spark and exploration, this kiss felt like he was claiming her. That he was afraid this would be their last kiss. Like if they walked out of that door it would all be over and they would go back to just being Josh and Poppy, but Poppy knew in her heart there was no turning back after that kiss, or this one for that matter.

He brought his other hand up and cradled her face. She gave a little moan and put her hands on his hips and pulled her to him.

The door clicked open and the two pulled apart.

"Hey, sorry, I didn't know you guys were in here. Luckily, I was still here cleaning up," the box office manager said.

"No harm done, Ken," Josh said with a smile.

“Just lock it back up when you guys are finished. I’m just about done here for the night.”

“You got it. Do you need any help?” Asked Josh.

“I’m just about done, finished vacuuming the foyer now and that’s about it. Thanks for the offer but I will see you guys over at the Elbow Room."

"See ya there," Poppy said as she flashed him a smile.

"I'll walk you over, are you ready?" Josh asked.

"Yep, I just need to grab my bag." Josh put his hand on the small of her back as she made her way back to the dressing rooms to get her stuff.

Well, this night didn't turn out as Poppy had intended, but she thought she knew what the witch meant now. Follow your heart. She still wasn’t sure what her heart wanted. Whether she wanted to stay here in Mystic Falls or head out on her own, but Josh Turner was a definite twist in the script she hadn’t planned on. While he may not have been the object of her desire, things could change. And if Josh Turner kissed like that, things could definitely change.

They made their way over to the bar where neither of them really knew how to act around each other. Everything was so new, and Poppy was just trying to play it cool, Josh seemed to be following her lead.

Poppy could only hope that things changed soon, because she wasn’t sure how long she could play it cool.

CHAPTER15

Josh

Country music blared as Josh wiped down the bar. He was picking up a daytime shift at the Lucky Saloon, the bar he worked at in the next town. It was always quiet during the day which gave Josh plenty of time to think. Last night had been incredible, that kiss with Poppy was amazing, but the earlier events in the week not so much.

"Hey, Josh, if you wanna ride the bull at two I'll do it at one," said Jess, the waitress on today. She looked the part when she came in with long blonde hair in low pigtails, tight jeans, and a flannel buttoned down, but tied right above her belly button.

"That works."

Part of this place’s appeal was the mechanical bull right in the middle. The staff took turns riding it on the hour. When Josh first started, he wasn't very good, but after some practice he was probably the best bull rider in the place. Now he loved getting up there, his hips took over and he rode. He had even gotten good enough that he could do some tricks. Josh used his day shifts to practice and then on the night shift he could rake in the tips. On a good night he could make over six hundred dollars. All the money was going straight to the bank. He had his eye on a very special house in the heart of town, not too far from his sister, but far enough they could both get a little bit of space. And if riding this bull for people would help, it was something he would gladly do.

The bell rang and Jess entered the ring and hopped on the bull. The small lunch crowd cheered, and she rode and smiled. Josh continued making drinks and working the bar.

When the next bell sounded an hour later, it was time for Josh to get out there. He hopped in the ring and climbed onto the bull. It started out slow and he easily kept pace, but they soon turned it up a bit. Josh smiled. He liked it when things got a little hard to hold onto. Raising his hands in the air he rode it out, his hips rolling in time with it.

As the music changed, he decided to practice some of the more complicated moves. He used the handle that hung above the bull to lift himself up, turn around, and drop himself on the small area on the bull ahead of the handle. When the next big buck came, he propelled himself off and caught himself with the mere strength of his thighs on the back of the bull. He heard Jess call his name and cheer. He then turned himself back around and stood on the bull like a surfboard and got the small crowd to cheer. He let one of the big bucks take him back into sitting as he finished the song out.

When the song was over, he dismounted and headed back to the bar, but someone standing there pulled him up short. There he was, looking right into the face of Poppy. She was looking at him with her perfect red lips slightly parted and a flush that was crawling up her chest to the tips of her ears. Something about the sight of her here and the look on her face did something to his heart, it just swelled, and that wasn't the only thing swelling at the look of those perfect pouty red lips.

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