Page 70 of This Time I'm Keeping You
“So someone actually has eyes on Davy, right?They’ve knocked on his door and spoken to him?”Nick asked.
“They are watching him is all I know, but I’ll check on that.”
“Thanks, Billy.”
“Bye, Poppy.Don’t take any crap from this idiot.”
“I won’t.Bye, Billy, and thanks.”
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“It’s okay not to be, you know, Poppy.This shit has been dogging your life for years.It’s all right to be angry and scared.”
“I know, and it feels like I’ve been both those things for so long.”
“It’ll be over soon, Tinker Bell, I promise.”
He pulled into a parking lot before the large open space that would soon have offices.Directly across the road was a café.
He leaned closer, and brushed her lips with his.“Come on, you can take notes for me.”
“I’m working.”
“Tough.”
He got out, went around to her door, and opened it.She’d locked it.He had the keys in his pocket, so he unlocked it and pulled it open.
“Very mature of you, Miss Sylvester.”
“I don’t want to come with you.I’m not a builder-type person, and I know nothing about wood.”Arms folded, chin elevated, radiating irritation—she looked like the kids in the Atherton clan when they were being asked to do something they didn’t want to.
“No time like the present to become a builder-type person and learn about wood.FYI, we’re a construction company, so we deal with more than just wood and builder-type people.”
He unclipped Poppy’s seat belt and lifted her out, standing her on her feet.
“You’re always handling me and towing me about the place.”
“That’s because you’re so small and easy to move around.Plus, I like you, which is why I want you with me, and believe me when I say that’s a novelty.I tire of people real quick.”
“Nick, please let me stay in the car.”
“Nick?”
He turned to see a tall, long-legged brunette coming toward them.Shit.She wore nosebleed heels and tight jeans.On top was a long, draped knitted thing that he had no idea the name of.
He turned, blocking Poppy.He and Cassie had spent two months having fun a year ago, and lots of that fun had been in his bed.
Chapter28
The woman standing before them was stunning.A beauty that was deep in the ridges of her spectacular cheekbones and pouty pink lips.Her legs were long and lean in slim-fitting denim.
“Hey, Cassie.Good to see you again.”Nick shot a look over his shoulder at Poppy.He then grabbed a handful of her sweater and tugged hard so she staggered forward.Slipping an arm around her waist, he then anchored Poppy to his side.
Cassie’s eyes slid over her.She wished she’d taken the time to put on something more flattering than Aunt Jenny’s old green sweater.She called it her comfort sweater.It’d had a lot of use in the last few years.
“This is Poppy, my friend,” Nick said.
