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“Stop, right now.” She stepped between them. “I don’t ever, ever, want to see the two of you get physical with one another. I don’t care how mad you are at each other. You have no right to raise a hand to someone else. Do you understand me?”
Dot opened her mouth.
“She started it,” Otis argued.
“Doesn’t matter.” Poppy sighed. “No matter who started it. Talk, argue, scream if you have to. There’s a right and a wrong way to argue. Getting physical is wrong. Okay?” She was suddenly aware of Toben and Rowdy standing in the door to the kitchen.
Toben was watching her, his blue eyes unwavering—and far too intense for her liking.
Poppy tore her gaze from his and placed a hand on Otis’s and Dot’s shoulders, squeezing. “You two are just like me and your mother. In time, you’ll realize how lucky you are to have each other—become trusted friends.” She and Rose had been that way. They’d been each other’s biggest fans, building each other up. Until Poppy got pregnant. Her pregnancy had forever changed their dynamic. “You need to have each other’s backs, not go for each other’s jugulars.”
“What’s a jugular?” Rowdy asked.
“She means throat,” Toben clarified.
“Oh, right.” Rowdy nodded. “That makes sense.”
“Ribs are ready.” Mitchell entered, carrying a tray stacked high with food.
She frowned, knowing damn well there was enough food for Toben to join them. “No corn tonight.” She pointed at the stovetop covered in white foam. “Salad.”
“And leftover pie,” Rowdy offered. “Sure you can’t stay?”
Toben eyed the mountain of ribs and shook his head. “Not tonight.”
“Maybe you can come grill. Mitchell’s the best at it—no offense, Mom—but he’s leaving soon for work.” Rowdy was offering up far too much information. “Where are you going again, Mitchell?”
She heard the tightness in Mitchell’s throat as he said, “Montana, then Wyoming.”
“I’ll be here.” Toben smiled. “If that’s all right with you, Poppy?”
Poppy couldn’t resist the eagerness on her son’s face. In two days, Mitchell would be gone and she’d have to face Toben alone. His smile, his eyes, his far-too-temp
ting body... A body that seemed to ignite something molten deep inside her. She needed to get a handle on that, and fast. If Toben was going to be part of Rowdy’s life, that was one thing. But inviting Toben back into her life was a mistake she couldn’t afford to make.
* * *
A THOROUGH INSPECTION of Poppy’s barn had revealed some wood rot on two of the stalls. Whenever Toben came upon some wood scraps or hardware he thought were useful, he’d throw it in the back of the truck. Why he felt compelled to fix her barn, he didn’t know. It was her place, a damn fine place at that. And knowing her, he was sure she’d want to keep it that way. So...he wanted to help.
For Rowdy.
Keeping Poppy happy kept Rowdy happy.
Or at least, that was what he told himself.
The only thing he was dreading was the conversation he needed to have with his twin sister, Tandy. She’d never been a fan of Poppy White. In her mind, Poppy was the one who broke Toben’s heart and put him on the path to destruction. But then, his twin didn’t know he’d been the one who did the actual leaving. Maybe she was right. Maybe loving—and losing—Poppy had been the tipping point.
It didn’t matter now. Best to leave the past in the past—for the future’s sake.
He found her at the vet hospital, viewing blood samples through a microscope. “Hey, sis, what’s up?”
“Um, I’m in shock. What brings you here?” She slid off her stool and hugged him. “You’d think I’d see more of you since we’re in the same town. Other than the monthly get-together, that is.”
Toben frowned, staring at the floor. “Yeah, well, I’m sorry about that. I get busy.”
“I know. I hear all about it,” Tandy returned, shooting him a disapproving look.
He grinned. Some of his favorite late-night sports included veterinary students. “Never heard any complaints.”
