Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“She even plans to go shopping this weekend to buy stuff for my donation box at school.”
So, California, is not only hot as fuck, she’s also a martyr. Great. Just great.
“And you know how much I love that store,” she adds.
I do. It’s her favorite in town, next to the flower shop. She was ecstatic when she found out it was reopening, which is probably why she chose to use that phone today instead of Ellie’s.
“Can’t I help out Hollis at the store until after the holidays and then go to Ellie’s?” she adds, her voice a delicate plea.
It threatens to erode my resolve, but I manage to stand strong. “I’m sorry, Poppy, but no.”
“Why?” she asks again, genuinely confused.
Because then I will be forced to see the Californian beauty every day and it’s a temptation I don’t need—nor one I can control. Especially now. The more I hear about her, the more I’m drawn to her.
Of course, I don’t tell her that. “Because I want you with someone I know and trust,” I say instead. “Especially after what happened today. I refuse to take any more chances.”
She sinks back into her seat with a deflated sigh, her small frame weighed down by disappointment, and it makes me feel like absolute shit.
“Look, just give me a chance to talk with Ellie,” I add, hoping to soften the blow. “If everything works out, you can always go across the street to visit with Hollis. Deal?”
“Fine,” she concedes with a grumble before adding, “but after you talk to Ellie, you need to apologize to Hollis.”
My back straightens. “For what?”
“You know what,” she counters, giving me a pointed look. One that would make you think she’s the adult and not the other way around. “You were rude to her, even grumpier than usual.”
I’m tempted to deny it, but it would be a blatant lie. How can I explain to her that it’s because this mere stranger stirs up emotions in me that I have no business feeling? Emotions that make no sense, especially when it comes to me. I pride myself on being a rational guy. I don’t let myself get caught up in feelings, except when it comes to my baby sister, but it seems hot California women are the exception.
I look over at her and find her gaze fixed on me expectantly, awaiting compliance. “You do remember she rear-ended me this morning, right?”
She gives me an exaggerated eye roll, as if I’m nothing more than a petulant child. “Whatever,” she mutters before changing the subject. “Can we go get our Christmas tree this weekend?”
I suppress a groan. “Not this weekend. I’ve got too much going on. We’ll see about next weekend.”
“But if we wait much longer, all the good trees will be gone,” she protests, worry creeping into her voice.
“It’s not even December yet,” I argue, trying to reason with her. “We have plenty of time.”
“Tomorrow is the first,” she says. “Besides, Annemarie’s mom put their tree up three weeks ago,” she adds, referencing her best friend with a hint of envy.
“That’s because Annemarie’s mom is nutty about that shit,” I counter. “No one should put a tree up before December. There should be a law against it.”
“Says the biggest Grinch I know,” she tosses back, her tone laced with playfulness.
Yeah, well, that’s what happens when you grow up thinking Santa visited everyone else’s house but yours. When in reality, they just had parents who cared about them. If it wasn’t for the little girl sitting next to me, I wouldn’t even have a tree, but she deserves to have everything I didn’t.
“Let’s focus on finding you a new sitter first,” I tell her. “Then we’ll worry about a Christmas tree, okay?”
She nods her agreement. “Yeah, okay.”
A wave of contentment settles over me, grateful that the tension between us has eased. At least for the time being.
“Hey, Mike?”
The soft sound of my name pulls my attention back to her. “Yeah?”
“Thanks for leaving work to pick me up,” she says, her voice gentle. “I know it’s not easy for you.”
Her gratitude for something she should never have to be grateful for ignites a burn in my chest. “You don’t have to thank me, Poppy. I’ll always come for you, no matter what.”
It’s a promise I made when I first brought her to live with me, and it’s one I intend to keep. For as long as I live, she will never know fear or harm again. I will forever keep her safe.
Hollis
He was the last person I expected to see when I walked into the local pub. Yet, there he was, beer in hand, wearing a sexy grin on his stupid, handsome face because, as it turns out, Officer McGrumpy Pants actually has friends, and one of them is Ellie.
I swear, karma has it out for me even though I haven’t done a single thing to deserve it. It’s the only explanation as to why I am once again being subjected to this man’s miserable presence.