Page 176 of Indecent Lies

Sort of sucked it actually and gave her an all over body shudder.

In a sea of people she once claimed to be so alike, she felt claimed under his attention. Fingers gripped her hip bone tightly and she had to swallow a moan.

She was getting wetter by the second and that hotel sounded great right about now. She nearly suggested they go up to her old room but didn’t think her parents would survive that trauma.

When Tait turned his gaze from her, she followed and saw her parents, Ronnie, his parents and all the crowd sneaking glances their way, holding their expensive flutes of champagne and gossiping in hushed whispered behind their hands.

She couldn’t believe this emptiness used to be her life.

Now she got more fulfilment going to the corner grocery store and taking walks in the snow and sitting in a crowded biker bar than she ever did from these kinds of events.

Her family didn’t need to understand how she felt, she didn’t think they ever would, but Poppy was truly and wholeheartedly happy for the first time and content like never before.

“You see this woman, Ronnie? So fucking beautiful that her smile lights up a room. You lost her, bud. That’s going to be on your conscience forever, knowing you let that happen, knowing you didn’t worship the ground her giddy feet walked on.” Oh, my gosh, she swooned on his lap and tightened her fingers in his hair, her face rested against his jawline, loving him, inhaling him, adoring him and all his lovely words. Tait, it seemed, had a lesson to teach and she was an avid listener. As were her parents who she sneaked glances at.

“You don’t know how excited she gets to see the first snowfall or how she drags your ass out of bed just so she can tramp around before anyone else can. You don’t know the pride she takes in cooking, even when it’s bad.”

Hey, she took offense at that, but his hand on her hips told her to shut up so she chewed her smile. Plenty of time later to bust his ass.

“You’ve never been on the receiving end of her taking your back against badass bikers and standing her ground too. You let her go so you have no clue what makes her cry and laugh or how she looks like a queen sitting in a rough biker bar but so fucking at home too. You fucked up, bud and that shit is on you. But you know, I’m grateful to you,” her heart started to thump.

Was it too early to rub all over him?

“Because you couldn’t give a fuck about this perfect woman when you had her, she came to me.To me,” he stressed this and cut a dark glance at her parents too to hammer that point home. “I was a man who didn’t think I deserved something this beautiful—this woman who makes me laugh and gets me to walk a goat in the middle of the night because it makes herhappy. That’s where you missed out, Ronnie, and honest to fuck, I’m so glad you didn’t see her beauty, her perfect light. Because she’s mine now, and what you failed to realize, if a woman this awesome runs from you, there’s a reason. It’s a clue to get your ass in gear and chase her down because you’re not giving her something she needs. Wherever she goes, I’ll be three minutes behind her, that’s a fucking fact. So thank you, Ronnie, for being a shit boyfriend, now I get my chance to make her happy and you gotta live with that.”

Poor Ronnie, red in the face, looking like he wanted to cry into his mom’s chest, didn’t utter a word and probably for the best as he looked at Poppy just once, maybe with regret, she wouldn’t ever know because her eyes were all for Tait as Ronnie slid through the crowd and disappeared.

It was then Tait stood, and held her around the waist. This time he faced her parents. “I don’t like the way you’ve treated my woman, it’s up to you to fix it. To treasure what you’ve got or you lose her.”

The foundation of her love for him just kept right on adding brick after brick, growing stronger and monstrously bigger. Poppy could barely contain her happiness and she pressed her cheek into his chest. “I think it’s time to go, Tait,” she told him. “Mom, you know I’m not happy with what you did but I’ll get over it. I’ll talk to you and dad soon.”

“Only if you don’t pull any shit on her again,” Tait growled.

“Do you think we’re going to take orders from you, boy? I knew you when you were a child running after your brother’s wife.”

Poppy hissed at her father. “He’s no longer a child, dad. And that wasn’t cool. Tait loves me, really loves me. He’s not interested in what he can milk from the family name.”

“He’s a biker,” her father said as if it were an insult.

“Oh, yeah, he is. The best biker there is.” She bragged and slid her hand into his. “Let’s go.”

To her mom, Tait directed his next words. Her mom had stayed silent, choosing to let her husband speak for them both as usual. “Youwill be welcome in our home if you treat my girl well, if not, then don’t bother. That’s on you to decide. I’m her man, I’ll make sure she’s happy, no one, including her parents, will ever treat her less than she is ever again.”

He turned and led her out of the banquet hall, people parting for them.

Poppy didn’t look back.

She didn’t need to.

Her future was forward with Tait.

Just as they reached the doorway she noticed vivid red hair and a body poured into a gold halter top dress and she mentally rolled her eyes.

Of course the redheaded shrew was in attendance.

Addison Hunt would go to the opening of a cereal box if she thought it would get her on the society pages.

Tait didn’t stop his gait, but his hand tightened around hers and he cut a side glance and addressed Addison. “Let Mal know I want to see him tonight; we’ll be at the Radisson.”

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