Page 60 of I'll Keep Her Safe

“Oh my God,” she whispers, transfixed. It’s a rooftop design we did for a hotel in Brooklyn, utilizing the industrial features of the roof to create a space that was both functional and beautiful. The owner was a real pill, too, initially wanting a vegetable garden and farm animals up there, which, while not realistic, was definitely ambitious, but we talked him down to something more practical.

“And the winner is…”

Poppy’s hand slips into mine, squeezing hard, and my chest does the same. I look at her, the nervous purse of her lips, the way she’s holding her breath, waiting to see if I’ve won. I’ve never had someone beside me, wanting something for me so badly, and all I can think about is leaning in and brushing my mouth across hers.

“Tisdale Landscapes Limited!”

The room erupts into applause. Bruce booms a loud laugh across the aisle from me, rising to his feet. He winks on his way past, and I send him a tight-lipped smile. Looks like he finally schmoozed his way into an award.

Beside me, Poppy deflates like a balloon. “I can’t believe it,” she whispers. Her gaze swings to me, shaken. “You should have won.”

I chuff a quiet laugh. “It’s okay. These things are so political.”

“It’snotokay.” Her eyes shine in the dark. “I can’t believe they gave it to that jerk over you. Yours was way better.”

I study her; the sincerity in her gaze, the fierce determination on her face. I’ve lost awards before, many times, but not once have I had someone beside me who believes I deserved to win. Someone who believed inme, without me needing to prove myself. Emotion rushes through my chest, and I swallow. It’s too much.

The lights come up as the awards end, applause ringing through the room. I blink against the brightness, eying the exit as we go to the bar for more drinks. And when I see Bruce waving to me across the crowd, my shoulders sag.

I don’t want to deal with that asshole right now. Not when all I can think about is Poppy.

“I’m going to get some air,” I mutter, and she glances at me.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine,” I lie, because I’m not fine. I’m here with the most amazing woman I’ve ever met, and I can’t kiss her. She’s not even my date.

I can’t keep doing this, can’t keep pretending she’s nothing more than my daughter’s friend. I need to get away from her and take a breath to clear my head. I need to find a way to stop feeling the things I feel for Poppy.

“I’ll be back soon,” I grate out.

Poppy nods, regarding me warily, and my heart shrivels. So much for making tonight better than her shitty prom.

But either I leave, or I kiss her.

And I’m running out of reasons not to.

I slip outside into the warm night air, desperate to stop feeling like this. It doesn’t help, as all I do is pace back and forth across the gravel of the parking lot, agitated. I haven’t smoked in almost two decades, but, fuck, I could use a cigarette right now.

The sound of shoes crunching over gravel makes me glance back at the entrance. Poppy picks her way across the parking lot, watching me with concern. The moon is high and bright, bathing her in a silver glow. She looks like a goddess, and my heart twists, forcing me to look away.

“I’ll leave if you want,” she says when she reaches my side. “But I needed you to know… you don’t have to be alone in this. You deserved to win.”

How is it possible she believes in me this much? That she sees the goodness in me that no one else does?

“I mean it, Wyatt.”

God, she’s using my name again. I clench my jaw hard, my chest rising and falling rapidly. I’m on the edge of a cliff, barely holding on, and one wrong move could push me over.

Poppy’s hand brushes my arm gently, and that’s all it takes.

I turn to her, my heart beating wildly, and capture her mouth with mine. She lets out a tiny yelp of surprise, then her arms twine around my neck, pulling me into her. I lose myself to the heat of her mouth, the sweet taste of her kiss, the feeling of her soft body pressing into mine. Her tongue nudges into my mouth, and when it strokes mine, heat spills through me.

Fuck.

It’s better than I imagined, kissing her. The way she moans as I tilt my head to deepen the kiss, as I slide a hand into her hair. I forget all the reasons I shouldn’t be doing this and let myself have one moment. One moment to forget everything but her.

“And I thoughtIwas the winner.” A familiar voice pierces through the fog of lust, and I pull away from Poppy’s lips to see Bruce sauntering past. In his hand he holds his award and on his face he wears a shit-eating grin.

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