smiles. “See you soon.” He was opening the door, ready to walk out, when he stopped and turned toward her. “Wear the red lace today.”
A pleasurable g rin spread across Poppy’s face—the only thing he needed to see to know that she would do exactly that. Then he was gone, leaving her alone. “Welp,” she said, looking down at Bo, who sat at her feet, tail wagging furiously. “It looks like it’s just you and me again. What do you say we go for a walk?”
Bo answered with a sharp bark and followed Poppy upstairs to begin getting dressed.
***
Juggling a stack of files heavy enough to break her arm, Poppy leaned down and fluttered her fingertips over the polished brass knob, looking for purchase. When she finally managed to give it enough of a twist, she booted the door with the pointed toe of her red patent leather pump.
Felix jumped as she barged in. “Poppy,” he said, looking flustered.
Her female intuition spiked at the unusually high pitch in his voice. “Felix,” she returned her eyes wide and mocking.
“I didn’t expect you back so soon.” Grabbing the edge of his computer monitor, he twisted the screen away from her line of sight.
Lugging her burden across the room, Poppy made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat as she slammed the stack on the edge of his sprawling desk. “No, no. Don’t get up. I wouldn’t want you to strain yourself.”
As if only just realizing she had carried anything at all, Felix popped out of his chair. “I’m sorry, honey. Is there anything I can help you with?”
Poppy eyes narrowed a fraction. “Seems I got it all.”
Giving her a pensive look, Felix reluctantly sat back down. “Are you mad at me?”
She busied herself with organizing the massive amount of paperwork Jonathon, her dickwad, sweet as pie, brand new father, friend, and boss, had gifted her moments before bolting from the office and the building because his fiancée had texted him a photo of their two week old son’s first, non-gas related smile, and he had missed it.
Breathe, Poppy .
She supposed it was sweet… Okay, it was tooth-achingly adorable. Even though it meant more work for her, she was happy to step in and give the happy couple a hand, so they could share this special moment together…as a family.
Her stomach ached with an emptiness she didn’t quite understand.
“Are you feeling okay?” Felix asked her.
Glancing up at him, she was prepared to find Felix’s concerned frown—something any good, long-time boyfriend would do—aimed at her. So, it was a huge letdown when she saw that he hadn’t even graced her with a cursory look. Instead, Felix was glued to his computer screen, one hand on the mouse, the other on the keyboard.
“Fine,” she managed through the tightness in her throat, burying the hurt somewhere down deep. “Just a little tummy ache.”
Nodding absently, Felix continued to type away. “Maybe you should make a cup of tea or something.”
Taking that as her cue to get the hell out of there, Poppy stood and headed for the door. “I think I’ll do that.” She waited a beat to see if he would say anything else. Maybe a “Love you, kitten,” or “How about I take you out for lunch?” but he just sat there with his back to her, as though she were invisible.
Sighing, Poppy opened the door to walk out when Felix called her name.
“Hey, hun, could you bring me back a coffee?”
Wow, okay. Definitely not what she was expecting. With a tight smile, Poppy said, “Sure, sweetie. Anything else?”
Leaning back in his chair, Felix turned to look at her, his soft gaze holding hers. “Just coffee. Thank s, kitten.”
Damn her heart. Why did it always jump to forgive him even the slightest grievance? With her stomach giving a little flutter, Poppy promised to return shortly and ducked out before she did something stupid, like kiss him. With her emotions in turmoil, that just wouldn’t do.
2
Poppy dropped by
A pleasurable g rin spread across Poppy’s face—the only thing he needed to see to know that she would do exactly that. Then he was gone, leaving her alone. “Welp,” she said, looking down at Bo, who sat at her feet, tail wagging furiously. “It looks like it’s just you and me again. What do you say we go for a walk?”
Bo answered with a sharp bark and followed Poppy upstairs to begin getting dressed.
***
Juggling a stack of files heavy enough to break her arm, Poppy leaned down and fluttered her fingertips over the polished brass knob, looking for purchase. When she finally managed to give it enough of a twist, she booted the door with the pointed toe of her red patent leather pump.
Felix jumped as she barged in. “Poppy,” he said, looking flustered.
Her female intuition spiked at the unusually high pitch in his voice. “Felix,” she returned her eyes wide and mocking.
“I didn’t expect you back so soon.” Grabbing the edge of his computer monitor, he twisted the screen away from her line of sight.
Lugging her burden across the room, Poppy made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat as she slammed the stack on the edge of his sprawling desk. “No, no. Don’t get up. I wouldn’t want you to strain yourself.”
As if only just realizing she had carried anything at all, Felix popped out of his chair. “I’m sorry, honey. Is there anything I can help you with?”
Poppy eyes narrowed a fraction. “Seems I got it all.”
Giving her a pensive look, Felix reluctantly sat back down. “Are you mad at me?”
She busied herself with organizing the massive amount of paperwork Jonathon, her dickwad, sweet as pie, brand new father, friend, and boss, had gifted her moments before bolting from the office and the building because his fiancée had texted him a photo of their two week old son’s first, non-gas related smile, and he had missed it.
Breathe, Poppy .
She supposed it was sweet… Okay, it was tooth-achingly adorable. Even though it meant more work for her, she was happy to step in and give the happy couple a hand, so they could share this special moment together…as a family.
Her stomach ached with an emptiness she didn’t quite understand.
“Are you feeling okay?” Felix asked her.
Glancing up at him, she was prepared to find Felix’s concerned frown—something any good, long-time boyfriend would do—aimed at her. So, it was a huge letdown when she saw that he hadn’t even graced her with a cursory look. Instead, Felix was glued to his computer screen, one hand on the mouse, the other on the keyboard.
“Fine,” she managed through the tightness in her throat, burying the hurt somewhere down deep. “Just a little tummy ache.”
Nodding absently, Felix continued to type away. “Maybe you should make a cup of tea or something.”
Taking that as her cue to get the hell out of there, Poppy stood and headed for the door. “I think I’ll do that.” She waited a beat to see if he would say anything else. Maybe a “Love you, kitten,” or “How about I take you out for lunch?” but he just sat there with his back to her, as though she were invisible.
Sighing, Poppy opened the door to walk out when Felix called her name.
“Hey, hun, could you bring me back a coffee?”
Wow, okay. Definitely not what she was expecting. With a tight smile, Poppy said, “Sure, sweetie. Anything else?”
Leaning back in his chair, Felix turned to look at her, his soft gaze holding hers. “Just coffee. Thank s, kitten.”
Damn her heart. Why did it always jump to forgive him even the slightest grievance? With her stomach giving a little flutter, Poppy promised to return shortly and ducked out before she did something stupid, like kiss him. With her emotions in turmoil, that just wouldn’t do.
2
Poppy dropped by
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