Page 9 of Slow Kind of Love

“I know. Me too.” Poppy’s grin faded. “How did things go with your father? I know he didn’t take the reading of the will very well.”

He was quiet for a few moments, then shrugged. “Well, it didn’t get any better after that, if that’s what you’re asking. He’s my dad, no changing that, but he’s also an utter prick, and he’ll never change. And now I’ve got a decision to make.”

“About the estate?”

Link nodded. “My grandfather wants me there, but ‘there’ has never brought me the kind of peace that Crystal Lake has. I’m bloody torn. I want to honor my granddad, but I don’t know if I can. I have his dog, by the way.”

“His dog?” Poppy smiled. His friend loved the little creatures and treated her own pup as if it were human.

“Yeah. He loved the fleabag, and now I’ve got him.”

“You’ll figure things out.”

She gave him a pointed look, and he raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“Who’s the redhead?”

For all of two seconds, he was confused, and then he chuckled. “That didn’t take long.”

Poppy smiled wryly as she cradled her mug in her hands. “The gossip machine in Crystal Lake is legendary, my friend.”

“Never disappoints.” He slowly shook his head.

“So who is she?”

“My cousin, Rose.”

“Oh.”

Her brows furrowed, and he saw the surprise. “What? Did you think she was some new shag?”

“No. I…” Poppy’s expression softened. “I mean, I wasn’t sure who she was exactly.”

“Lord knows my life would be easier.” He thought about that. Maybe he should find someone new to shag. Someone who could wipe the memory of Elise Avery from his mind.

“What’s happening with Elise?”

Link glanced away and exhaled loudly. Was he up for this conversation? Poppy was the only one who knew about Elise. And though Elise’s son was Boone, Poppy’s husband, things had never gotten awkward between them. Poppy was his mate and had his back.

“Nothing,” he eventually said, swinging his gaze back to Poppy. He schooled his face and kept his anger in check. “She’s moved on, and that’s that.”

“Huh.” Poppy downed her coffee and set the mug on the counter. “Why do you say she’s moved on?”

He thought of the man at Elise’s place, David. “Trust me, she has.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“No.” His answer was honest and straightforward. “I’m not bloody well okay with that,” he snapped.

“And this isn’t about ego,” Poppy replied.

“If it was about ego, I would be shagging every available woman in town.” He leaned against the counter and looked up at the ceiling. “But it’s not. It never was, and I’m pissed that she won’t let herself be in the moment. Pissed that she cares so much what people think.”

“It’s a small town, Link. And as you already know, the gossip mill, the speculation, and whispered words can make things difficult. Elise might not like being the object of all that scrutiny, and honestly, your age difference alone would give some people a lot to talk about.”

“But—”

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