Page 26 of This Time I'm Keeping You
Poppy then listened to the Atherton siblings argue.She had to admit it was entertaining, but she felt that pang she always got when Poppy wondered what her life would have been like if her brother had lived.
“I need to get to work now,” Nick said when he’d finished his coffee.Getting to his feet, he pulled out a card from his wallet and handed it to her.“This is my number if you need anything.”
“Thank you.”Poppy took it and knew she’d never call him.
They headed to the door, and Nick turned on the step while his sister kept walking to his pickup.
“Take it easy, Poppy, and I’ll be in touch.”
“I don’t have a phone yet.”
“Then I’ll call by and see you.”
“Nick, it’s okay.I’ll be fine.Really.”
“I will call by and see you,” he said slowly.
“I—” He kissed her and then walked away.Poppy watched until they’d disappeared and wondered why him checking up on her made her feel so good.Possibly because no one but her aunt had done that for years.
Chapter11
Nick hammered in another nail.They’d arrived at their job to find the client wanting yet more changes to plans she’d already adjusted twice.They’d spent an hour talking things through until she was happy and now would be putting in a long day.
“You know we could just get the boys to do this, right?”
“If you stopped moaning, we’d be done by now,” Nick said.
It was true he and Sam had made a success of their business and didn’t need to work the tools anymore if they didn’t want to, but both enjoyed it.Nick loved the physical side of building.
“How’s Poppy?”Sam asked.
“How should I know?”He’d gone to see Poppy three days after the accident, and she wasn’t home.He was going by again today after work.That woman needed a new phone, and he wanted her number.
“Em said you were pissed when she left the hospital before you arrived and that you went to see her.”
“If you knew that, then why are you asking me about her?”
His family had a grapevine that could spread quicker than smooth peanut butter, and Em was usually the one with her finger on everyone’s pulse.
“Yeah, but it’s more fun trying to get the story out of you.”
Nick glared up at his brother perched on the top of a tall ladder, he was grinning like an idiot.
“What story?For fuck’s sake, I helped a friend.Is that a crime in this family?”
“Em said you kissed her.”
“So what?She’s hot.”
“And that’s another thing,” Sam continued.“You’re angry, which means you’re invested.”
“How do you figure that?”
Nick knew he was making things worse.He usually ignored this kind of teasing, but he was hot and, yes, worried about Poppy and her sore body all alone in that house.
If it were him injured, his family would have started a roster system, and he’d have a fridge stocked with chicken dumplings and a dozen cakes by now.But Poppy didn’t seem to have anyone to look out for her but her aunt, and she was living in another state.It was just plain wrong.
He wanted to see her.It was that simple.A few kisses, and he couldn’t stop thinking about the woman.
