Page 9 of Midnight & Memories

She smiled at him as he handed her the glass. The ride to Gotham was only a couple of healthy New York blocks, twenty minutes by car. But the deadened silence grew to an unmanageable discomfort. Poppy rubbed imaginary wrinkles out of her dress while trying to avoid Ridge’s gaze. He couldn’t help but smile because her fidgeting was adorable to him.

“How was the rest of your day at work?” After a few moments of watching her torture herself in the silence, he asked the question.

“Oh, it was fantastic! I have emailed a few colleagues already and—” Her voice stopped short as Ridge held a palm in her direction.

“We have plenty of time to discuss the intimate details of you acquiring gifts for this auction, Poppy. I’m merely interested in how your day has gone so far. Do you like the wine?” He asked as he gestured to the glass she was holding that was now half empty.

Poppy blinked and sucked in a breath.

“Work went okay. My boss was a pain in the ass, hovering over my shoulder while I tried to work on your project, but that goes with the territory with him, I guess.” Her voice trailed slightly when she saw Ridge frown.

“Oh? Does he not trust you to take care of the project?”

“It’s not that. Parker’s just been a little lonely since the divorce proceedings.” Poppy cleared her throat before continuing. “But enough about him. I’m excited about this project, Mister—ah—Ridge.” She said, swallowing hard. “The white wine tastes great, by the way. And was the better choice in the limo because I can be very clumsy.” She said with a roaring giggle.

Ridge smiled at the giggle, a clear sign she was becoming more comfortable.

“I’m sorry. As I said earlier, I’m not used to business dinners. Frankly, the mixture of business and pleasure eludes a Southern Belle like me. I’ve always separated the two. But now that I live in the city that never sleeps, I probably should start getting used to interchange the two.”

“Well, that’s understandable. Your boss doesn’t seem to be the type of person you’d consider a friend.” Ridge’s gaze locked onto hers.

“No—definitely not.”

“Poppy, we didn’t realize that we had already been speaking to each other for several weeks when we talked on Facebook last night. I think we hit it off as friends. So technically, we aren’t blending the lines between a working relationship and friendship because we didn’t know.”

“I suppose you are right. I just never mixed the two. My mother taught me you don’t shit where you eat.” She widened her eyes and covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m sorry! Normally, I’m not this brutally blunt with colleagues! And that was a little crass!” She said through her hand. Her cheeks turned a few shades of bright pink.

Ridge chuckled.

“I actually welcome this bluntness, Poppy. It’s rather refreshing. Typically, I meet with a bunch of stuffed shirts like your boss. They all like to yes me to death, and I’d much rather talk to someone who can give it to me straight.”

He filled her glass with another drink that she guzzled in one shot.

Ridge laughed again.

“You are cute when you are nervous.”

“Okay, perhaps I am just a tad bit nervous, but in my defense—”

Ridge put up a palm between them.

“I get it. In your defense, you haven’t done many business meetings before. The thing is, Poppy, you don’t have to be nervous around me. I enjoy your company and intellect, and I think we will work well together.”

The limo stopped completely, and the driver got out of the car and opened the back. Ridge stepped out first and reached for Poppy’s hand to help her. Once she reached the sidewalk, a couple of cameras flashed.

“Mr. Turner! I’m Gerald from the Daily. Care to comment on what the celebration is this evening?”

“I am discussing business this evening with the extremely talented Poppy Lee of Creative Collabs. We will hold a gala event around the holidays. Once we establish when this event will take place, we will give you an exclusive, Gerald.” Ridge said with a confident grin.

A myriad of questions arose from a gathering crowd of more reporters.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m afraid that’s all the time we have for questions. Thank you.”

Ridge shielded Poppy from the crowd and led her into the restaurant.

“I’m sorry about that.” He whispered in her ear.

“It’s fine. I know you get that all the time.”

---