“I take it back. She can do better than a prick like you, even for a hookup.”
I lunge for him like we’re sixteen again, acting like idiots because we can. He laughs, hauling himself onto the dock and darting away. “Better choose quick. When I turn on the charm, ladies listen.”
“I can’t believe you’ve been using the same lines since high...” I completely lose my train of thought as Poppy strolls onto the dock.
She smiles at me serenely. “Good morning.”
“What the hell are you wearing?” I have to admit, I expected a bikini. Probably pink, and definitely tiny. I warred with myself last night, trying not to imagine what her ass would look like in a thong.
This, however, looks like something an Amish woman would wear to a lake. I can’t imagine she owned it already, which means she took advantage of the afternoon off to go shopping. She quirks her head to the side, a smug smile on her coral-pink lips.
“What, you don’t like it?” She frowns down at the black fabric. Long sleeves. Full coverage. A zipper that goes all the way up, practically to her chin. Her damned braid bobs behind her like a fishing lure. “I wanted to make sure I was wearing something practical, since you didn’t give me any details about today’s... outing.”
Somehow, she manages to make that word sound filthy. My mind starts wandering in unfortunate directions. I grit my teeth, jerking on my sunglasses.
Beside me, Chester hoots with laughter. “Darlin’, I like you more and more every time I see you.”
Poppy beams at him.
“You look like a nun on vacation,” I say caustically.
“A runaway nun. She’s missing her habit.” I hear Kiara’s voice first, and then I see her, clad in a sports bra and athletic shorts, her black hair in a messy bun. She loops her arm with Poppy’s.
“What are you doing here?”
Kiara’s voice is as dry as overcooked chicken. “Poppy asked me to stop by after my run. Good morning to you, too.”
I drag my hand down my face, chastised. “Good morning.”
“That’s better.” She leans over, kissing my cheek.
“Do I get one?” Chester asks.
“No,” she says sweetly. “I still haven’t forgiven you for asking out my receptionist.”
“She didn’t say yes.”
“Obviously not. I’ve warned my staff away from you.”
I watch with amusement as they continue to bicker. I wonder what Kiara would say if Chester asked her out—really asked her out, on a proper date. She never talked with me about her crush on him ages ago, but I could tell whenever she hung out with us. And something about her energy around him now tells me that those feelings haven’t gone away completely.
“We’ll leave you to it,” I say eventually. “Poppy, get on the boat.”
“Two things first.” She crosses her arms, tilting her head to the side. “One, do you have any connections to the mafia?”
“You can’t be serious.”
“‘Poppy, get on the boat,’” she imitates, deepening her voice as much as she can. She doesn’t come anywhere close to my register. “I’ll have you know that Julia is ready to call the cops if I go missing.”
Chester and Kiara break away from their argument, laughing like a pair of hyenas. I shut my eyes briefly, then open them with effort. Poppy’s barely containing a shit-eating grin.
“What’s the other thing?”
“Ki and I came up with an idea after you so rudely sent me home yesterday.”
“What kind of idea?” I ask warily.
“We do a pop-up event at the restaurant. An exclusive dinner for invited guests, ahead of the official opening. Tasting menu, special cocktails, the whole nine yards. We could generate a lot of buzz and be completely booked for opening night.”
