AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Smell like an airplane?”
“No, it smells like stale perfume.”
I still, blowing out a deep breath. “I had an unpleasant run-in at the airport.”
“With who?”
“Rina Lewis.”
She strips off the shirt like it’s got a disease. “What kind of run-in?”
“The kind that left her with no misconceptions of where I stand.”
“Tell me.” She crosses her arms, taps her foot, and narrows her eyes.
“I never saw her coming. They delayed the flight in Atlanta, and I went to the closest bar, finding a table. The bitch plopped right in my lap and threw her arms around my neck, leaning in for a kiss. My instincts kicked in, in time to turn my face, but she got my cheek before I stood and gently put her on her feet.
“She wobbled, giving away she was drunk or close to it. I saw two women at the bar watching us curiously. When she spotted my ring, things got ugly, and she wanted to know why I hadn’t called. Can’t take a fucking clue I want nothing to do with her. I told her straight out I am involved with someone. Her anger turned emotional. I got out of there.”
Poppy’s stance doesn’t change, but her face softens. “You ran into her in an airport?”
“Yeah, fuck if she wasn’t on my same flight to Vegas. I boarded last and left first.”
“What are the chances you’ll run into her again?”
“Slim to fucking none.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Neither do I.”
“We’re burning that shirt.”
“Start the fire.”
She fights a grin. “Well, it’s expensive, so we’re adding that to our list of dry cleaning today.”
“Whatever you want.”
Her arms fall, and she shakes her head. “That woman is in my town now. If we run into her, she’s gonna hate it.”
I fight a smile, even though my lips curve up. “How about we forget about someone that doesn’t matter and you have no reason to be jealous?”
“I’m not jealous, I’m aggravated. She’s a nuisance that ruined my morning happiness.”
I’m in her space in a flash. “Forget her, wipe it from your mind. Go back to that radiant glow and give me my Poppy and the first morning in her house with her grandmother’s homemade pastries.”
She holds on to my shoulders and cocks her head to the side. “Sounds good.”
I kiss the tip of her nose and follow her out, stopping by the bathroom first.
A mug and plate are waiting for me at her bar top, loaded with a cinnamon roll the size of the plate. “You think I can eat all this?”
“Try it. The recipe makes enough for an army, and I figured we’d drop some off to Dante later.”
My taste buds explode on the first bite and I groan in appreciation. “Fuck, this is delicious.”
She beams proudly, popping a strawberry in her mouth.
“Seriously, Poppy, my sister is a professional baker and this rivals her stuff.”
“I don’t know about that, but it’s quite a compliment.”
“You like to bake?”
“I like to cook in general. But with my schedule it’s difficult.”
“Beautiful, sweet, funny, kind, flies through the air with a killer body, wears flowers in her hair, and she cooks. It keeps getting better and better with you.”
A flush creeps up her neck and she grins shyly. “Ditto.”
“Did you have any plans today?”
“I need to do a little shopping for the trip. If you’d prefer to stay here, it won’t take me long.”
“I’ll take you shopping, but give me a head’s up. Are we looking at an all-day adventure where I’ll need to find a bar?”
“Nothing that bad. The most important is a suitcase.”
“You need a suitcase?”
“Another suitcase.”
“This is crossing into woman’s territory because I’ve seen the way my sister packs, but how much are you bringing?”
“Oh, my personal items aren’t that bad. But I went a little overboard.” She signals behind me, and I twist to find three stacks of decorative bags and boxes against the living room wall.
“What the hell is all that?”
“Little presents and gifts I picked up at the market.”
“And they’re going to Charleston?”
“Yes.”
“Are you prepping for Christmas?”
“No.” She giggles. “I found some adorable things for the babies, a few things for your mom and the girls, and even though you took care of the wedding present, there’s a small gift for the couple.”
My face swings back to her. “You did all that for my people?”
“I enjoy giving gifts and this is a special occasion.”
“How much did you spend on your Santa Claus mission?”
She shrugs, her eyes twinkling smugly. “It will not break me.”
I glance back between her and the pile and blow out a breath. “Nicely played. Should I thank my sister for this?”
“Nope, I’m learning all on my own.”
I shove another piece of roll in my mouth and enjoy her gloating. Truth is, whatever is in those packages will thrill my family. It could be pet rocks and incense burners, and they’d be the center of mantle pieces. “Since you’re in a generous mood, I have a job for you.”
