Page 13 of Midnight & Memories

Poppy smiled and patted Ridge on the thigh.

“Honestly, Ridge, I liked it.”

Ridge cupped her face and drew her lips to his again. The kisses were slow and intimate. A moan escaped Poppy’s lips, and she tangled her fingers into Ridge’s light chestnut-colored hair. His tongue parted Poppy’s lips, and he deepened the kiss as he pressed her body into his. He let out a moan himself before she released herself from the embrace.

“If that kiss was any sign, we should definitely take things slower. Especially since we are almost at the club.” She said as she pushed gently on his shoulder.

Ridge straightened himself and took another sip from his water.

“I think you are right, Poppy.” He reached for her hand and laced his fingers with hers.

The limo stopped, and the driver opened the passenger door facing the sidewalk. Ridge got out first and then helped Poppy out. He offered her his arm, and she wrapped hers around him.

Chapter Eight

RIDGE

The sensation of having her arms wrapped around him was genuinely intoxicating and familiar. Poppy’s kisses were exactly as he remembered Chelsea’s. He thought this strange, of course, because he never expected a vampire to get a second chance at love. In fact, it surprised him he even had a first. But her kisses were too much like Chelsea’s. In fact, everything about Poppy that he was coming to learn seemed to mimic the only love of his life. Her mannerisms, her quirks. Everything about Poppy seemed to be Chelsea. There was no doubt in his mind that Poppy was his Chelsea reincarnate, but he wasn’t sure if he should believe it.

Especially since the more he spent time with Poppy, the more he wanted her. It bothered him to see her hesitant because he couldn’t help but wonder if her past self was warning her about the monster he was.

He led her to a secluded table inside the VIP area of the club. A waitress quickly came over to ask what they wanted.

“What would you like, Poppy?”

“Some bourbon, neat, would be nice.”

Ridge put a hand to his chest.

“I think I’m in love! You are a girl after my own heart! We’ll have two glasses of bourbon and tell Aden to bring me the good stuff I have on reserve, Cherry.”

“Will do, boss!”

Cherry left after placing two cocktail napkins down.

“So, how long have you had a love affair with bourbon, and should I worry that I’m the other man in this relationship?”

Poppy smiled.

“Not long. I didn’t like it all that much in college. In fact, it wasn’t until I started doing yearly poker nights with the guys—Daryl, Stephan, Ciro, and Carl that I developed an appreciation for it. Our palate for food and drinks refines as we age.”

“I can’t agree with that more. Although, I was never much of a beer or coffee drinker, even when I was younger.”

“I used to love all the fruity drinks when I was 21, but now? I can’t stand the stuff. Not much of a fan of mixed drinks either. Well, unless I’m the one making them. I went to too many bars in college where the bartenders were heavy-handed. I ordered a White Russian at an Asian Restaurant this time, which was awful.” Poppy said as she sucked in her cheeks to mimic the gesture of eating a sour lemon. “The drink was mostly vodka with a splash of milk. It was horrible!”

“I can’t imagine enjoying that myself.”

“Right? I don’t know what they were thinking!”

Cherry, the waitress, returned with two rocks glasses and a bottle of Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey.

“Aden told me to bring you the bottle, and I can collect it when you are done,” Cherry said with a smile. “Enjoy.”

She was gone as quick as she came.

Ridge poured a glass for Poppy and handed it to her. As her hand touched his own, he felt heat surging through him. She smiled at him as she placed the glass on the table, and he smiled back before pouring himself one.

“May I propose a toast?” He said as he raised his glass.

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