Page 61 of Half Baked

With a sigh, I admit, “I was there that day, at town hall. I saw you crying outside of Fitzy’s office, and I couldn’t live with myself being the reason for that. So, I went in and forfeited the location.”

“Why do that for someone you despise?”

Shaking my head, I say, “We’ve been over this, Pop. I’veneverdespised you. Sure, you drive me up a wall at times. You’re stubborn, set in your ways, you can be completely impossible?—”

“Thanks,” she scoffs.

“And worst of all”—I lift her up onto my lap with ease—“you get under my skin in a way I didn’t think was possible. And I’ll fight all day with you just to end up giving you any damn thing you want. Every time.”

She cradles my face in her hands. “What happens if we fight less, now that I know this?”

“I have a few ideas,” I whisper, sliding my hands under her sweatshirt and pressing them against her bare back. She arches into my touch and pulls my face to hers. Her kiss is devastatingly slow and sweet when all I want to do is devour her.

“But honestly. Do you really think we’ll fight any less?” I murmur into her mouth. “I personally love how hot you get for me.”

“That’s the wrong kind of hot, Baywatch,” she purrs into my ear before sinking her teeth into my neck. A groan escapes me as she takes control, holding my head just where she wants me while she kisses her way down my jaw.

“Is it?” I challenge hoarsely, wrapping my arms around her and flipping her onto her back.

She looks up at me, the shock in her eyes quickly shifting into that fiery heat I crave. I smirk as I settle over her. I’ve got Poppy right where I want her.

“Thompson—you in here, man?” I hear Nash shout from the common space. Footsteps come down the hall, but there’s no way he’d barge in. “You just kicked ass out there! They’re reporting twenty-six foot waves.”

Poppy looks up at me in horror now instead. “You were just swimming around intwenty-sixfoot waves?” she hisses.

I drop my chin to my chest in frustration. Why are Texans so loud?

“Looks like you haven’t missed a beat since the—” He throws my door open and skids to a stop. “Oh shit. Sorry, man.”

Rolling onto my back beside Poppy, I huff. “Thanks for mentioning the twenty-six foot thing.”

“We were looking for you to debrief but…”

“Yeah, I’m coming. I didn’t realize you were ready.”

“Lost track of time?” he smirks, closing the door on his way out. From the hall, he calls, “Nice to meet you, Poppy!”

I roll my head to the side, coming face to face with a beautiful, triumphant grin. “He knew me,” she snickers, reaching out and toying with my hair.

“They all know about you.” Catching her hand, I bring it to my lips and press a kiss into her palm. Then I rise, pulling her with me. “Can I take you home before I have to get back to work?”

“Oh no,” she says quickly. “You don’t need to. I shouldn’t have come and interrupted.”

“I am thrilled that you came here. And I am going to take you home to make sure you get back safe in this weather.”

“Hayden, I don’t…”

“Please just let me.”

She bites her lip and nods, allowing me to lead her into the hall.

“Poppy, I thought you had better taste than this,” Wes taunts with grins as we approach.

She laughs, stealing a glance at me. “He’s not half bad,” she shrugs.

“High praise, coming from you,” I reply. Then turning to the team, I ask, “Any chance I can borrow some wheels? Both of ours are at the wharf.”

Nash pulls his keys out and tosses them my way. “Consider this an apology for walking in on you.”

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