Page 76 of I'll Keep Her Safe

Poppy hovers by the truck, nervously watching them devour her cooking, and I head over, taking my order from her.

“This is the best lunch I’ve had in months,” Nikolai declares, half his pasta already gone. Shawn and Diego nod in fervent agreement, mouths stuffed too full to speak.

I lean close to Poppy, taking in the pink tint of delight on her pretty cheeks. “I told you.” Her scarlet lips curl into a relieved smile, and without thinking, I lift a hand to brush a stray lock of hair from her forehead. Her breath falters as my fingers brush her skin, and I lower my shaking hand to my side.

“Thank you, Wyatt. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“This is all you.” My lungs are so full with pride, watching my team love her food every bit as much as I knew they would. I might have given her the idea, butshemade this happen, made it real. She’s stronger than I give her credit for, and all I want to do is pull her into my arms and show her how I feel.

Which is… fuck, it’s so much. I feel so much for this woman, no matter how hard I try not to. I don’t know how this will get any easier, and I don’t know how much longer I can tell myself that not being with her is the right thing to do.

It feels anything but right.

I force my gaze to the food in my hands, my chest hot with emotion. Somehow, I keep my tone professional as I ask, “You know how to get to the other job sites?”

She nods, grasping the keys to my truck in her hand.

“I can come with you, if you need,” I offer, despite myself, but she shakes her head.

“I’ve got this.”

I can’t help but smile as I watch her go, with a new pep in her step.

Yes, baby. You do.

We’re definitely goingto need to find that commercial kitchen for Poppy. No doubt about it.

The guys spend the afternoon raving about their lunch, and two other crew members decide to sign up for lunches. Who knows who else has joined from the other job sites, but at least three guys have texted to thank me for organizing the catering, and my bet is at least a few more will sign up. I want to rush home and celebrate with Poppy, but force myself to hang back, finishing up a few odd jobs around the site. I know if I go home to her now I’ll do something I can’t take back.

Again.

After running out of things to do at the Park Slope site, I head to the community garden to buy myself more time. That, and I haven’t checked on my plot in a few days, and I’m anxious to make sure my plants are healthy.

Marty is there when I pull up on my bike. He watches with interest as I tug off my helmet, combing a hand through my hair. I don’t have my usual wagon and supplies, but that’s not a problem. I’ll do what I can without them.

“Hey, Marty.” I close the creaking gate with a smile. “How are you?”

“Not as good as you, it would seem.” He motions to my bike, glinting in the evening sun. “New toy?”

I chuckle. “Old toy, actually. Haven’t been on it in forever, but it’s good to take it out again.”

“I bet.” Marty’s eyes gleam. “It’s good to have something you enjoy. Makes life worth living.”

I hum in agreement, bending to inspect my cauliflower. Poppy has a dish she wants to try it in, but it’s not quite ready. I give my plants a quick water, then join Marty on the bench.

“Love is the other thing,” he murmurs, almost to himself. I look at him.

“What?”

“Love is the other thing that makes life worth living.”

I think of him losing Joyce, and my heart aches. “It really does,” I say, mostly out of sympathy, because I wouldn’t know.

You deserve to fall in love.

Poppy’s words echo through my head again, chased by Bailey saying she wants me to be happy. I look at Marty, at the sadness on his face as he thinks about Joyce. He’d give anything to have another minute with her. Meanwhile, I have this amazing woman who wants what I want, but I won’t let myself have it. Why am I fighting this so hard?

“Life is too short to miss out on love,” Marty says, as if reading my thoughts. His pale eyes regard me knowingly, and goosebumps rise on my skin.

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