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She cuts straight to the chase, her button nose scrunched up. No hi, no good morning, nothing.
“Out at the barn.” I swallow down my nervousness as she scowls at me from across the room, the massive island physically separating us.
“I take it you’re sleeping together then.” She folds her arms over her chest, juts out her chin. It’s not a question, more of a statement. My face burns, my mouth going instantly dry.
“Um ...” I go to fiddle with the hem of the shirt, then think better of it due to the length—or lack thereof. The last thing I need to do is give Poppy an up-close view of my bare everything.
She frowns, shaking her honey-blonde head. “It’s fine. You don’t have to say it. In fact, I’d rather you not. It’s kinda weird hearing about your brother’s sex life, to be honest.”
She takes a step, then another, inching closer to me, closing the distance. A sliver of tension releases from between my shoulder blades, and I can kind of sort of breathe.
Tilting her head, she narrows her bright-blue eyes. “Do you love him?”
I ignore the pitching of my stomach as I meet her gaze.
“Yes. I do.”
“Good. Because if you didn’t and you were just using him for his connections or whatever, we’d have a real problem.”
We stare at each other, woman to woman, and I swear she’s sizing me up. Gauging my sincerity or something. After what feels like an eternity, she tosses her hair back over her shoulder and starts to turn toward the door, presumably to go find King.
Then she freezes.
Her hand darts out, and she snatches up the ultrasound photo, staring at the image.
“Ohmygod—are you pregnant? That’s why you’re here?” Her eyes fly to my face, searching for answers.
“What? No!” My voice tips up in shock, sweat forming under my arms, slicking my palms.
I can’t believe I left that sitting out there on the counter.
“Then explain this!” She waves the paper through the air, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re pregnant, and that’s why the two of you are together!”
“No, it’s not what you think.” I try to explain, panic clawing at my chest. I don’t want to get into my history with King. He obviously never told her about the baby for a reason, and it’s not my place to do it.
“It’s all making sense now. There’s no other reason for King to be with a Capelli. Unless you’re having his baby.”
“Poppy. Enough.”
King’s voice bellows from the doorway, and I almost collapse onto the ground with relief.
Poppy whirls on her brother, flashing the ultrasound in his face. “Explain this, King!”
His face blanches, turning the same shade as the kitchen cabinets, and I worry he might faint. But he calmly steps forward, takes the paper from his sister, and slides it into his back pocket.
“That’s none of your damn business, Poppy.”
“My brother’s baby is most definitely my business. Unless it’s not yours.” She spins back on me, eyes narrowed. “Is it? Is it my brother’s?”
“I told you, I’m not pregnant.” I keep saying the words, but she’s not believing them.
Poppy shakes her head, blonde hair swishing behind her. “Someone needs to start talking. Right now.”
King straightens his shoulders, his lips a tight, thin line. “I don’t need to tell you anything. But I’m certain that if I don’t, you’ll never stop hounding me about it. So sit down.”
32
KING
