Page 95 of I'll Keep Her Safe

She leans against the counter, draining her lemonade. “I’m really good. Work has been amazing. Busy, but so good.” She watches as Sugar pounces on her ball in the living room. “They chose me out of like five other people to fly out for our firm at the conference this weekend.”

I hook an arm around her shoulders and squeeze. “Proud of you, honey.”

“Uh, Wyatt?” Poppy calls from the top of the stairs. “I can’t find the air mattress.”

I chuckle. “Back in a sec,” I say to Bailey, ascending the stairs. Poppy stands at the hall closet, her back to me as she hunts through the linen, old camping gear, and Christmas decorations stuffed into a box.

“Sorry,” she murmurs as I approach. “I looked, but…”

“Shh.” It’s a relief to have a moment alone with her, and I reach above her head to retrieve the air mattress, letting my front meet flush against her back. She sighs, leaning into me, and I can’t resist the urge to drop my nose into her hair, breathing in her sweet, peachy smell. I can hear Bailey playing with Sugar downstairs, and despite knowing it’s a bad idea, I just need a few more minutes alone with Poppy.

“Let me set this up for you.” I carry it into her room and she follows, hovering by the door while I plug in the self-inflating bed, letting it fill with air. I stride across the room and, after checking Bailey is still downstairs, nudge the door shut. “Come here,” I say roughly, hauling her into my arms.

Her lips meet mine instantly, her body soft and pliant in my arms as we steal a moment together. She whimpers against me, threading her fingers into my hair, suggesting she needed this as much as me.

“I had to kiss you,” I rasp, savoring the warmth of her skin under my palms, knowing I won’t get to feel that for God knows how long now. And while I should probably use this time to talk to her about telling Bailey, the topic feels far too huge to wedge into a few rushed seconds.

“The things you said downstairs,” Poppy breathes, fingertips soft on the back of my neck. “They were so lovely. It was a struggle not to kiss you right there.”

I take her mouth again, pressing her to the back of the door as my cock stiffens in my jeans, even though I know we can’t do anything. I can’t help myself. I can’t stop myself from being close to her, touching her, tasting her.

“Baby, I need—”

“Guys?” Bailey’s voice sounds from the hall and I lurch back from Poppy, adjusting the front of my jeans as I turn back to the air mattress.

“There’s a spare pillow in the hall closet too,” I say, doing my best to sound natural, despite my spiraling pulse.

“Sure thing,” Poppy squeaks, then heads back into the hall. “Just getting you a pillow,” she mumbles to Bailey on the landing.

Bailey appears in the doorway, her brow knitted. “Everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” Poppy says, bustling back into the room with a pillow.

“Why was the door shut?”

Oh, God.

My pulse goes haywire and I suck in a breath. “Uh…”

“I thought the noise of the air mattress inflating might scare Sugar,” Poppy says, not meeting Bailey’s gaze as she tucks sheets onto the mattress. “I’ll sleep on here.”

Thankfully, that seems to be enough to distract Bailey.

“What? No way,” she protests, but Poppy stands firm.

“It’s your bed, Bailey, and you’ve had a long flight. No arguments.”

Bailey lifts her hands. “Okay, okay.”

Slowly, I let my lungs deflate. The three of us stand in the room, looking at each other, and the air grows so thick I’m sure Bailey can feel it. What on earth was I thinking, kissing Poppy? It’s too risky. Even being in the house with her while Bailey is here feels too risky right now.

“You know what?” I push my mouth into a smile. “Let’s eat out tonight. My treat.”

Bailey shrugs. “Sure, sounds good.”

Poppy breaks the tension by shooting me a teasing smile. “I knew you couldn’t cook.”

Bailey laughs, and I join her, letting it shake the tightness from my shoulders as we all head downstairs.

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