AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Climb inside. It’ll take me a couple of minutes to do this.”
She didn’t argue with him, and took her seat. He loaded up the bags and then took the trolley back to the stack.
“Hey, handsome,” Melissa said, coming up behind him.
She grabbed his ass, and he caught her wrist as she went to move toward his junk. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Oh, so you’re fucking the trailer trash now.”
“Back off.”
“You’ll come begging for me. I know you will. Your sort can’t help it,” Melissa said, snatching her hand back.
“My sort?” Casey threw his head back and laughed. “Honey, I’ll never want you. I’m surprised even your husband wants you. Now, stop hassling me, and if I find out that you’ve said anything to Poppy, you’ll find out that I’m a nightmare to have as an enemy.”
He’d never screwed Melissa. She’d offered herself plenty of times, but he’d never been interested. Married women were not his thing, and since wanting Poppy, no one else would ever do.
There was only one woman destined to be in his bed and his life, and she was waiting in his truck.
Chapter Two
Standing in the Smith brothers’ kitchen felt incredibly … weird to Poppy. For so long she was used to being at the Smiths’ house with Louise cooking everything, all of the ranch hands doing their thing, and eating, complimenting the cook. She stared at the ovens waiting for food, and the kitchen.
It was straight out of a dream.
“Hey, honey,” Louise said, startling her.
She turned to see Louise standing there, watching her. “I’m sorry. I should be cooking, right? Not just standing here, looking at it all.”
“It’ll get easier. I know a lot of people say that, and for the longest time you always think how can it possibly get easier. It kind of has to.” Louise moved up toward her, cupped her face, and smiled. “I wanted to see how you were getting on.”
“Not very well. I’ll get cooking. I just…”
“Don’t worry about it. Come on, we’ve got plenty of time. Let’s have a drink. I made us a pitcher of iced tea.” Louise held up a travel pitcher and some glasses. “It’s hot outside, so come on, let’s go have a few minutes to call our own.”
She didn’t argue, and followed Louise outside. They sat in a couple of deck chairs, and Poppy stared out over the vast fields. “It’s beautiful.”
“I love it here. The moment Elijah and Bruce brought me to this place, I knew I’d found home. I’d found the loves of my life, and I’d found home.”
“It must have been hard for you. The town is pretty judgmental.”
Louise giggled. “I know. I was public enemy number one. All of the women hated me, but you know what? I didn’t care. I knew each and every single one of them wanted what I had.”
“Is that how you were able to cope with everything?” Poppy asked. “I was walking around the store today with Casey, and the women were judging me.”
“The one thing I’ve noticed is it doesn’t matter if you have the perfect rep. Someone will judge you no matter what. You’ve got to decide your own life.”
Seconds passed, and Poppy sipped at the fruity tea, loving the taste.
“Can I ask you a question?” Louise asked.
“Sure.”
“If my sons were to pick you as their one woman, how would you feel?”
Instant heat filled her cheeks. Poppy didn’t know how to answer that, or what to think. Long ago she had decided she wouldn’t be like other women and fawn all over the three men. They were all sexy, all handsome, and commanded attention no matter what. Each of them were all the same and yet all so very different.
Casey with his stern and serious attitude. Even when he was trying to be playful, like today, there was always an edge of responsibility about him. There were many times she tried to get him to joke around. Often, it would end up with her submerged in the lake.
Parker she thought of mostly as “Playful Parker.” He was a flirt, and she just adored him. Even when life seemed to be so hard, he’d say something or do something that would make her smile, and then it wouldn’t feel as hard, or as difficult.
Then she came to Shawn. Her best friend. One of the most caring and loving men she had ever known. He’d stayed with her whenever he could, holding her close as her mother went through different tests. He was her strength when she wasn’t there.
“I don’t think that will ever happen,” Poppy said.
“Why not?”
“I’m just me.”
“Poppy, you’re a beautiful woman. You have a kind heart and a loving soul. My boys couldn’t do any better.”
“I’m from a trailer,” she said.
Louise burst out laughing. “Do you really think I’m the kind of woman to judge a person on where they come from? I don’t do that, honey.”
