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He checked on Willow in her room, and she slept as well. Where did the noise come from?
He descended the flight of stairs, running his fingers down his face, and doubting a burglar had made it past security and broken in. What if Poppy had injured herself?
She’d been working for him for three days now, and even though he hadn’t seen her much on those days, the little he saw taught him she was prone to little accidents, like bumping into furniture, etc. No wonder Archie was smitten by her, the little guy could certainly relate.
He knocked on her bedroom door gently, but didn’t hear anything. Then, he saw a ray of light in the end of the hallway. The laundry room. Maybe she forgot to turn off the light? Though that didn’t account for the thump.
She was probably still sleeping. He walked up to the laundry room and opened the door, to find—
A naked woman. She jumped, covering her breasts and private parts, shrieking.
Poppy.
“I’m so sorry. I was doing laundry, and thought why not just add the clothes I was wearing?” she said, nervously. “E-everyone was sleeping, anyway.”
Desire punched him in the gut, and his cock moved. Fuck. He stepped back slowly, like he was in a minefield and something would explode if he didn’t tread carefully. He willed himself to look in her eyes and erase the image of her sexy lithe body, the curves of her small but perky breasts, the gentle curve of her hips. Heat flooded his chest, his cheeks, his whole damn body.
“I’m sorry for barging in… I heard something,” he hissed out, fully aware his brain imprinted images of her nakedness this very moment. The freckles peppering the curve from her neck to her shoulders. How her hips were surprisingly curvy to her otherwise slim body—hinting at a nice ass if he had been lucky enough to see it.
“I-I dropped my suitcase from the chair to the floor as I was trying to get some stuff out. Sorry,” she said in a rush of words.
Moisture evaporated from his throat. Did she unpack naked or clothed? The idea of her strolling around without a stitch of clothes squeezed air from his lungs. “It’s okay.” He drew in a breath. “At least you’re doing… good.”
She flashed him a nervous smile. “Again, I thought everyone was sleeping. I removed my nightgown because I figured I had enough time to toss it in the washer then jet to my bedroom. A mistake I won’t repeat. Promise.”
He turned around, disappointed in himself, but sure he wouldn’t be able to close his eyes without thinking of her. Not tonight. “Fully understand. Good night.”
“Good night,” she said, her voice low and throaty.
One week.
One week since he’d seen her in her birthday suit. Poppy drummed her fingers on her legs, as she sat in the back of the car. She shouldn’t think about that horrific episode anymore, yet the memory of him walking in on her kept popping in her mind.
The next day, they both avoided talking about it, and she had the sensation he’d avoided her completely. He barely talked to her, and that only heightened the tension on the few moments they shared together or she briefed him about the kids. When she’d gone to her apartment during the weekend, she’d avoided telling Billie about it.
If Billie knew, she’d tease her to no end.
Don’t think about it,she told herself. He probably wasn’t thinking about it. Maybe she wasn’t curvy enough for him. She always wished for bigger boobs, and maybe—so did a guy like him. Maybe he’s just a decent guy. And your employer.
Not that any of it mattered. Focus on the present.
Poppy finger combed her hair as she slid out from the car and walked up to the wrought iron gates of the children’s preppy private school. Poppy appreciated that Drake, the driver, did a drive around the corner so she could walk and grab the kids instead of him.
She enjoyed being able to get a feel for the school, the students, and the vibe. Though it didn’t take her long to understand the vast majority of kids there belonged to uber privileged parents, and she ended up meeting nannies rather than parents.
The school attendant saw her school issued identification card, and called the kids. Within seconds, Archie and Willow showed up. Archie, as usual, looked disheveled, sweaty and happy. He’d probably been playing with other kids at dismissal. Willow’s expression was serious, shoulders tight.
Poppy’s chest felt small. She’d hoped to make some head way with Willow by now, after watching her for ten days. Sure, she didn’t expect them to be best friends, and totally understood the girl’s skepticism in opening up to yet someone new. But the way Willow behaved just wasn’t healthy.
Of course she didn’t have reasons to be jumping with joy. But she still deserved to smile more often, to experience the silly worries that a girl her age should. Things like the cute singer of a boy band, or whatever the latest TikTok dance trend was. And if Poppy would teach her anything, maybe that would be it. She’d try, anyway.
A warm glow fluttered inside her. She felt invested in these kids’ happiness.
“Good day?” she asked when the kids slipped into the car. She enjoyed the disheveled hairs, the weight of their backpacks, the way they seemed to sigh just to be away from school. Reminded her of her brothers. Many times, her mom was working after school, and they all took the bus home.
Archie began telling her an endless story about how his classmate created a rocket in science class, and she listened to his every word, but her focus remained on Willow and the blank stare. She waited until Archie stopped talking to give him his iPad and tilt her head closer to Willow.
“How was your day?”
