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“It’s nothing much,” I say, trying not to let my friend see me wipe my suddenly sweaty hands on my trousers.
Poppy folds her arms. “Lies.” She nods to my neck. “That little love mark right there says lies. You know the one that looks like it was left by a horny teenager.”
Heat burns beneath my skin as I try not to touch the tender place on my throat where Poppy’s eyes are focused. I remember exactly when Travis had bitten down. And I shiver at the reminder of the way I let him take control.
“You’ve had a crush on him since before you started working here.”
“I know.” I look at the monitor in front of me, determined to push through the embarrassment. “You know my nightmares?” Of course Poppy does. Working together for twelve hours a day sort of requires honesty between us. “I had one and he comforted me and… we may have finished an entire bottle of whiskey.”
“That’s not all…?”
“I… we… you know.”
“I know, girl. And I want all the dirty little details that you won’t tell anyone else.”
Shit. Even knowing I’m going to have to say it, what happened is something private, something mine, and the details special. I settle on the right words. Because it isn’t about the mechanics, it’s everything.
“It was hot.” I glance up at Poppy. “He’s the one who wanted more.”
Poppy nods. “Go on…”
My cheeks burn. “Well, you know what happened next.”
“Those aren’t details.”
I suck in a breath. “This is all you’re getting.” I blow out the air from my lungs. “And… you know how I thought he hated me? He told me I looked like his ex-wife.”
“Wait, he’s beenmarried?” Poppy says, her eyes wide and questioning.
I take that and run with it because I don’t want to discuss the other part. The looking like the ex-wife thing. No matter what he said to me, it still feels like I’m out of my element. “Yeah, get this. She left him for his brother. Histwinbrother.”
“Omigod! This is juicy! He’s a twin?” Poppy leans in as close as she can. “Shit, like identical? Is his brother still with the ex? If not, is he single? ’Cause Travis is pretty hot. I wouldn’t mind biting off a piece of something that looks like that.”
“Poppy!”
“Well, I would!” Poppy giggles, and her face lights up. Pale, with freckles sprinkling her cheeks and nose, she looks a lot younger than she actually is. “Damn, girl, think of the fantasies.”
“He wants to do it again. Not like things with his twin.” The heat leaps higher. “Go on a date, you know…”
“When? Where?”
“I don’t know. It’s a bad idea.” I bite my bottom lip and shake my head. “We work together.”
“Not really, not like you’re his partner or anything. You work here and he’s out there, and… What are you saying? What am I saying? Are you insane? You have to go! And then I definitely want all the details, woman.” Poppy stops. “You’re going, no question about it.”
“Ugh. You’re not helping my situation here. You’re supposed to talk me out of it.”
“Sorry, peach. I’m totally for the date and the let’s see what happens between the two of you vibe. What’s the worst that can happen?”
My loneliness, my need for someone to chase the monsters might make things complicated, and we work together, kind of, so… But I keep that to myself, settling on something more generic. “He stops talking to me?”
Again, I add silently.
“Ha. So that means you’ve lost nothing. Go for it.”
Before I can say anything else, the 911 phones start ringing.
And I throw myself into my work.
