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I stretched my arm along the back of the booth, earning myself another glare from Poppy, and smiled easily. “Everything’s fine. Poppy had to talk to me about our dog.”
Morgan’s eyebrows rose. “You guys share a dog?”
Poppy shook her head. “No, it’smydog. We—”
“We practically live together, so Bogie may as well beourdog.” I loved the way her cheeks darkened when she was angry, but I was typically not the one making her angry. I did my best to take care of Poppy and make her happy, so pissing her off on purpose was alien to me. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it, though. “We’re good dog parents together, I think.”
Poppy pinched my side under the table. “You’re being silly, Sam. We don’t spend that much time together.”
Morgan had already been eyeing Joey, I’d noticed, so I didn’t feel bad about what I was doing. Poppy was too wrapped up in her anger to notice the connection happening across from us. I shifted closer to Poppy and smiled down at her. Sure, I was messing with her, doing everything I could to teach her a lesson about setting me up on dates, but I was going to fully take advantage of the chance to be closer to her.
“Only because you haven’t given in to my charms yet.” I grinned at the shocked expression on her face and dropped my arm over her shoulder. Tugging her into my side, I kissed the side of her head and laughed quietly. “Maybe someday.”
Our drinks were refilled and our dinner orders taken while Poppy seethed next to me. When I asked her if she wanted to share a plate with me, she grabbed my thigh under the table and squeezed. I took it as my chance to hold her hand again and the expression in her eyes when I intertwined our fingers hit me square in the chest. There was a softness there that was so foreign between us.
“I can’t believe you’ve never been sailing.” Joey’s conversation with Morgan drifted over to us. “I’ll take you.”
“Joey’s family also owns an orange grove that you have to see to believe. It’s beautiful.” I tightened my fingers around Poppy’s. “Didn’t one of the schools in that area used to take field trips there?”
Poppy pushed against my side suddenly. “I need out for a second.”
I let her out of the booth and followed her when she walked away from the table. It didn’t cross my mind to excuse myself from our dates. I didn’t care about Morgan or Joey when Poppy was concerned.
She knew I was following her and as soon as she got to the bar, she spun around and poked me in the chest. “What the hell are you doing, Sam?”
I caught her hand so she couldn’t poke me again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“There’s a way you act on a date and there’s a way you don’t act on a date. You’re being a terrible date! Morgan is going to think I’m a monster for agreeing to set her up with you when you’re making it seem like there’s—”
“Like there’s what?”
She growled. “You’re acting like we’re together.”
A couple of guys moved up to the bar behind Poppy and I watched one of them look at her ass. Narrowing my eyes at him, I tugged her a little closer to me.
“I’m just having fun, Poppy Jo. I don’t think Morgan minds, either.” Someone bumped into me from behind so I shifted closer to Poppy.
“She wanted to date you!” Taking her hand from mine, she crossed her arms over her chest. “She’s beautiful, don’t you think?”
Frowning, I grabbed her waist to keep her close. “Morgan? She’s fine, I guess. I wasn’t looking.”
“Why not?”
More people moved in behind Poppy and she moved closer until she bumped into me. She tried to back away but I held her against my front. “I was looking at you.”
Poppy stared up at me with wide eyes. She licked her lips and gently shook her head. “Be serious, Sammy.”
Everything in me said to tell her the truth. It would be too easy to lower my mouth to hers and kiss her until she understood how serious I was. Losing her was too great a risk, though. I forced myself to smile and lean back slightly. “She’s just not my type, Poppy.”
Turning away from me, Poppy stared out at the rest of the bar. Her hip pressed into my dick, but she didn’t seem to notice. “You’re being weird.”
I shifted my hips away from her soft body and grunted. “I’m always weird.”
“Even if she isn’t your type, Sam, there are rules for dating. You can’t pretend flirt with me in front of her.” Sighing, she kept her eyes anywhere but on me. “And you should stop holding my hand. They can’t even see it under the table.”
“I can do whatever I want. Flirting with you, holding your hand, holding you close…I can do it in front of them or when no one is watching. That’s my prerogative.” I shook my head. “I don’t date for a reason, Poppy. I’m not interested in anyone else.”
I stilled at my slip of the tongue and watched Poppy to see if she’d caught it. The way she slowly turned to face me with her lips parted told me she’d heard what I said. I swore under my breath. My control was shit after kissing her and I was having a harder and harder time hiding my feelings.
