Page 80 of Mail Order Valentine (Hawthorne Billionaire 2)

“Asher is texting me now. It appears he is going to Rome with Imogen. That’s good, it will give you a reprieve from watching over them,”Mom shared her text with me.

“I really have to run to a meeting now. I’ll message you in a few days,”I said.

“Thanks for your help with your brother, August. Talk to you later.”

I was tired of texting, but I found myself sending my brother a message. I needed to just tell him the truth about how I was feeling.

“Ash, I can’t do this much longer,”I texted Asher.

“Can’t do which thing? Can’t keep lying to everyone or can’t give the girl up to me?”Asher asked.

“Both.”

“I knew it. You’re in love with her,”Asher said, followed by smile faces with kisses and hearts.

“You are super annoying and childish. I have to go to a meeting. Later.”

The words echoed in my head. He wasn’t the only one being ‘childish’.Just tell her how you feel. Maybe she won’t be mad if I explain the whole thing.

Chapter 59

IMOGEN

The ice cream shop was relatively empty, and we were without our Hawthorne men, so we snuck in the corner booth while Gunner went to get our ice cream. Poppy had gone back and forth on which flavor she wanted, but in the end she went with four scoops, each a different flavor.

“You were not kidding about your need for ice cream,” I shook my head chuckling. “Do you always eat this much?”

“Nah, I don’t usually eat ice cream. I’m more of a salty food person, but right now I seem to really want this ice cream.” She dug into her bowl again. “We should get some lunch after the last shop.”

“Strewth Crickey girl, you still want lunch after all that?” I laughed. “What about elevensies instead of food?”

“Tea will be great, but with lunch.” She winked at me.

How is she so thin, eating like this?

The last dress shop was the jackpot. I had been confused between liking how a mermaid dress fit and still wanting that dress the little girl in me wanted all those years ago. The owner of the shop assisted us. She understood me immediately and brought out a form fitting mermaid style dress covered in Swarovski stones with a princess ball gown attachment, also covered in Swarovski stones. We went out to show Poppy and Gunner, only to find Poppy asleep on the lounger.

“I must say, Solitaire, that dress seems perfect.” Gunner looked at me with a super silly grin on his face.

“It really, really is, Bond,” I said, feeling dreamy. “I can walk down the aisle as a princess, then have the form fitting dress for the reception and dancing.”

Poppy stirred, then opened her eyes.

“Crickey Imogen, that dress is amazing. I’m so glad you waited.” Poppy slowly got off the couch and came to get a close-up. “This has to be the dress. It is, isn’t it?”

“It definitely seems like this is it. I feel so pretty in it. It’s my size, so not too much to alter. It’s a yes” I said, looking at a text from Victoria. “Hey, Victoria just messaged me. She said I need to make sure Asher is in photos with me when we go out,” I said, confused. “He’s always in photos with me. That’s a strange statement.”

“Ah, Victoria gets so busy. I’m sure she misspoke.” Poppy rubbed her stomach. “I’m ready for lunch.”

“Okay that’s it. Do you always eat this much food, or is there something going on that I think is going on?” I eyed her suspiciously “And don’t bulldust me.”

“I do love to eat, but I also have a secret,” Poppy said. “I can’t tell you yet.”

“You don’t have to tell me. How about you answer me if I guess?” I asked playfully.

“I suppose that would be ok.” Poppy worried at her lip. “I’ll deny anything you say to the family, too.”

“So, what you’re telling me without telling me is that I’m the only one that has figured it out,” I said, looping my arm through hers this time. “Should I say it out loud or assume you know that I know?”

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