Page 29 of Touch My Shelves

“I didn’t flirt with Adan. Kimberly and Bode practically threw us together. Adan couldn’t refuse to take me out without it making him look like a jerk.

And that,”—she ran a finger over her lips—“was a really good kiss.”

Her admission releases the catch that has been keeping my defenses in place. “Are you still going out with him?”

“I don’t know how to get out of it. I suppose I can call Kimberly to beg off, but I’d need some excuse.”

I don’t even think before I say, “Because you’re going to be spending the day with me and Freeya on our yacht. We may even spend the night aboard if the weather is good.”

She looks at me doubtfully. “You need me. I mean, you’ll need help with Freeya?”

“Yeah, I’ll need you,” I echo, and then feel bad when she shivers and bumps appear on her arms.

I’ve kept her from getting dressed after her shower, which is fine with me, but she’s obviously uncomfortable. “You’re cold?”

“Maybe,” she says with a shrug, but then her blue eyes take on a teasing light. “I am standing here in a towel, which is major awkward.”

I run my gaze over every exposed inch of her flesh. “Not awkward at all. I think the look works for you. But I don’t want you catching a chill. Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight?”

I’ve stunned her with my invitation, but she recovers enough to say, “Okay. I’d like that.”

Before I can tear myself away from Poppy in that towel, she asks, “What are you going to do about Freeya attending school here?”

I rub the back of my neck. “I don’t really know.”

“Would it be a bad thing to let her go?”

Probably not, but I’ve gotten used to her being around and I’d miss her. That’s not a good enough reason to keep this new experience from my daughter. “She’s never attended a formal school. I thought I was keeping her safe and happy, but in retrospect, I’m afraid I’ve been overprotective.”

“Of course you want the best for your child. That’s what a good parent does. Besides, don’t you always want what you don’t have? I always wanted to go to daycare when I was in elementary school. They always did such awesome activities and all I ever got to do was ride the bus home.”

“Your parents worked?”

“Yeah, something like that. It’s a good school and she already knows Carly and Sherin. If you want my professional nanny opinion, I think it would be good for her. Of course, the final decision is yours.”

I notice she didn’t answer the question about her parents. There’s more to her story I’m interested in learning. “And you’ll cancel that date on Saturday?”

She replies with a grin and one single nod of agreement. Her bottom lip disappears between her teeth and I want to suck on it too. I lean closer to do just that and a high-pitched voice startles us apart.

“Hey, Poppy, are you coming to dinner? Chef made pizza and it’s getting cold. Do you know where daddy is?”

Poppy and I jump apart like we’d been caught kissing in middle school. I didn’t realize how closely a second kiss was to happening.

“I’m starving,” Poppy calls out. “I’ll be right there.”

* * *

Poppy pulls the cover up beneath Freeya’s chin and leans over to kiss the top of her head. I hear a sleepy, “Good night, Poppy,” coming from my daughter just before she falls asleep.

“Good night, kiddo. Sweet dreams of castles, dragons, and headstrong princesses that protect them,” Poppy whispers.

This woman… I’m at the end of my rope when it comes to staying away from Poppy. The fact that she’s become important to Freeya should keep my thoughts from continuing to go there. She gets my daughter in a way that no one else has. Freeya is happy now, like she was before Lena left.

Poppy joined us for dinner and I couldn’t keep my mind from straying to her in nothing but a towel. Her skin rosy and warm from the shower, she smelled like a lavender field with hints of coconut.

When she steps into the hallway and lifts her eyes to mine, I can’t look away. My hands shake from fighting to reach out to touch her. The culmination of the past weeks of sexual frustration explodes in a torturous need.

She groans, the sound encompassing the desperation we both feel. With chests heaving, we take a step toward each other. She swallows hard and I know we’re on the same page. I touch her cheek and she trembles beneath my fingertips.

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