Page 50 of I'll Keep Her Safe

“I got you something,” she whispers, taking me by surprise.

“What? Why?”

“Why?” She laughs, shaking her head. “Because you’ve been so kind and generous and… I wanted to.” She turns back to the counter and rummages around, moving trays of cookies, until she finds what she wants. When she turns back to me, she’s holding the invite to the landscaping design awards. “I think you should go to this.”

I blow out a breath. “It’s not necessary, really.” The truth is, I’ve won several of these before, but instead of feeling good, each one feels hollower. It should be rewarding to get recognition for my work, but lately, my heart hasn’t been in it. The more time I spend managing people and projects, the less time I spend with my hands in the soil, and the less I love my job.

“I disagree,” Poppy says. “You’re being honored for your work, and it’s important to celebrate that. So…” She sucks in a deep breath. “I spoke to Bailey, and one of her clients has a house in Napa Valley we can stay at. I bought us tickets for the weekend, figuring we can see Bailey, and you can go to the ceremony.”

I stare at her. “You bought us plane tickets to Napa?”

“Well, we’re flying into Sacramento, but… yes.” Her gaze moves uncertainly over my face as I process. She spent what little money she has to buy us tickets. No one has ever done something so generous for me before, and I don’t know what to say.

“Poppy…”

“I understand if you don’t want to go,” she mumbles, backtracking. “It’s none of my business, but I’ll still go visit Bailey.”

I shake my head, and without giving it another thought, haul her back into my arms. What Ireallywant to say is that I can’t possibly let her pay for this, but I get the sense it’s important to her that she does.

“This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me,” I murmur into her hair, and her hands tighten on my back. I can feel her heart beating against me, her breath hot against my shirt, and the tiniest sigh escapes her as the warmth of her body melts into mine. I force myself to release her and step back before I do something stupid.

“So you’ll go?” she asks hopefully.

“I’d love to go.” My voice is hoarse, and I clear my throat. “On one condition.”

She raises her brows in question.

“You come to the awards ceremony with me.”

“Oh.” Her mouth opens and closes. “Are you sure you don’t want to take Bailey?”

Shit. That’s a good point. I probably should take my daughter.

But there’s no one else I want there with me. I can’t describe how close I feel to Poppy, how important it is to share this with her. Even if she’s the last person I should share anything with.

“You bought me the tickets,” I reason. “So I want to take you.”

Her eyes search mine, as if looking for the answer to a question she’s too afraid to ask, and it hits me. I need to clarify.

“Not as a date,” I add, shifting uncomfortably, even though that’s exactly what I want.

A pink blush creeps onto her cheeks as she gazes at me, her dark espresso eyes boring into mine. She can read my thoughts. I’m sure of it.

“I’d love to.” Her voice is husky in reply, but her brows draw together into a frown. “I don’t think I have anything fancy enough to wear.”

Hmm, she’s right. These events are always formal, and I’d love to buy Poppy a dress, especially since she’s paid for our tickets. It’s the least I can do for her. Maybe Bailey can help me figure out what she’d like.

“Leave it with me,” I tell Poppy.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

She stares at me for a long moment, her gaze shifting from grateful to something else, something that ignites heat low in my abdomen. I swallow, and she glances away at last, turning to run the sink for the dishes. My gaze strays to the apron tie at her waist, the curve of her ass as she leans over the sink, and I’m almost certain she’s doing it on purpose.

And as much as I want to step behind her and tear that apron right off, I force myself upstairs. At least there, I won’t touch her.

19

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