Page 54 of A Dream for Daphne

“Does his first name start with the letter A?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m dating Abe Cooke.”

Poppy jumped up and did a booty shake. “I knew it. I had a feeling. You two are perfect for each other. I called it. I said I’d help. I’ve been helping, right?”

“Sure,” she said. “It’s all on you.”

“Now you’re humoring me,” Poppy said. “It’s all good. I’m used to it. My sisters and husband do it to me all the time. Trust me, I know when it’s happening.”

She smiled. “It did help that you had a lot of nice things to say about him,” she said. “Really. He’s a great guy.”

“But you needed some convincing?” Poppy asked. “I can see it in your eyes. Can I ask why? Or you can tell me to mind my own business. I get that a lot too.”

“I won’t say that to you.” It was still her boss. “I don’t know a lot of people around here. And I’ve never dated much. I’ve never had the time.”

“Now you’ve got the time and I see you’ve been going out.”

She’d have to keep that in mind that her employers could see her. “I won’t bring him back here. We’ve been going to his house or out.”

Poppy reached her hand over. “Daphne. I trust you. I know Abe. I don’t care if you have him at your place. It’s your home. Maybe you’ll have him spend the night. Then he’s right here for work the next day.”

She felt her face blush. “I don’t know about that.”

“You slept with him,” Poppy said, pointing her finger. “I know you did. I have radar for this. I normally just jump right into it with people, but I don’t know you as well and didn’t want to offend you. Hope I’m not doing that now.”

“No,” she said. “I don’t normally have anyone to talk to about these things.”

“You’ve got me,” Poppy said. “Ilovetalking about men and relationships. More so when my husband and sisters aren’t around to tell me to put a cork in it.”

“I don’t know,” she said. “It’s weird to me.”

“Don’t be a party pooper. I need some fresh info. I’m not going to tell your brother, don’t worry.”

Crap. She’d have to let Aster know.

“I’ll tell him soon. I just thought of that.”

“It’s hard because you haven’t been around him much for him to know,” Poppy said. “I understand that.”

“That’s part of it. It’s new yet. And yes, I did sleep with Abe. You don’t think poorly of me, do you?”

“God, no,” Poppy said. “You’re a beautiful woman with needs. He’s a hot guy. I can say that even though I’m happily married. Reese and I, we had a history that you wouldn’t know about. It’s not a secret but not readily known. Reese was my first. He was on summer break from college and I was in high school. We only knew each other for a week. Then he left and broke my heart.”

She hadn’t heard this, but now all the little jokes between the two of them made more sense.

“Looks like he mended it well,” she said.

“He did. My point is,” Poppy said, “sex shouldn’t be looked at negatively. It’s a human action that carries a lot of feeling. Some women just feel more than others, but that doesn’t mean they have to feel it here.” Poppy laid her hand to her heart.

“I always have to be with someone that does or can,” she said.

“Which is why you’re good for Abe. He’s the same way. I’ve never heard a bad thing about him when it came to women. He’s been in relationships, sure. Who hasn’t at his age? But he’s not someone who just goes out to have fun.”

Poppy could have no idea how good it felt for Daphne to hear that.

Though she believed Abe when he’d told her he’d never had a one-night stand before, having it verified felt so much better.

“I’ve had a few relationships but nothing serious,” she said. “I haven’t had time or men haven’t liked that I didn’t have time.”

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