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Billie made a face. “I am saying that.”
Poppy rolled her eyes, studying her swimsuit options in front of her. The man had already seen her naked, but she supposed modesty wasn’t dead yet, and she had to dress more appropriate because of the kids. “I thought he wasn’t your type.”
“He isn’t. Doesn’t mean I don’t have eyes and a heartbeat.”
She picked a black one piece with a conservative neckline, a good amount of coverage on the back, and tossed it over her arm. “I have those too, and also common sense. Even if I met him in a different way. He has two kids. I couldn’t possibly hurt them,” she said, and her heart shrank a little. Archie’s way of seeing the world reminded her of her brothers growing up. Okay, so maybe he was less attentive and managed to get distracted more easily… but being with him reminded her of all she’d sacrificed. She wanted kids of her own one day, yes, but not yet.
“No one is asking you to. The kids don’t need to know anything.”
“For someone who hasn’t been dating much, you’re quite the matchmaker.”
“It’s more fun when it’s other people doing it.”
“Sure.” She only hoped she could return the favor and tease her cousin about it.
Billie enjoyed joking around and making comments about hot guys, but she was always so guarded when it came to trusting someone and being in a relationship. Bile rose in Poppy’s throat. She’d always blamed Poppy’s dad, who had to be a caveman who had time traveled to the twenty-first century. That was the only explanation.
Why would he be such a grumpy man who made it clear he’d preferred that his only kid had been a boy? Or how he deep down blamed her for losing his beloved wife during childbirth.
Poor Billie. She sighed.
“One day, when you meet the right guy, it’ll be fun when you do it,” she said.
“Okay, Mom.” Billie held up a bikini. “How about this? The green would bring out your eyes.”
Poppy studied the small little number. It was a deep, rich green color, and obviously Billie heard nothing she said about looking modest, because this two-piece left little to imagination. It was the type of swimwear one would buy for a sexy getaway with a boyfriend, and not a work trip. “It’s beautiful, but I can’t wear it around the kids or his employers. Would be inappropriate.”
Billie nudged her elbow. “Aren’t you getting any time off when you’re there? A couple hours so you can go to a beach by yourself and feel like a goddess?”
A goddess? Billie obviously knew nothing about nanny duties. Though Ethan had told her she could take a couple of short breaks to sightsee or relax when he spent time with the kids. Still, she couldn’t justify having him pay for a bikini that she most certainly would not use for work. “He mentioned I’d have a little bit of alone time here and there, but—”
“Then do it.”
Poppy gave the bikini one last lingering look, like she was silently saying farewell to a dear friend. What would Ethan say if he saw her wearing this? No. She’d already dropped the ball too many times. She had to get this trip right. “I’ll pass. I can’t justify spending his money to buy something not for work.”
Billie shook her head. “You’re no fun, you know that?”
