2. Poppy
CHAPTER 2
POPPY
He was so stinkin’ cute. The way Crank looked up at me from across the counter, his lips tipping up at the corners into a shy smile, made butterflies swarm through my belly.
“I was wondering…” he started.
“Hey, Poppy, can you top me off over here?” One of my weekday regulars called out from his stool a little way down.
“Be right there.” I shot him a grin, then turned back to Crank. “You were wondering what?”
His smile had faded. “Um, I was wondering if I could get another one of those muffins to go.”
Disappointment flooded through me. I would have bet what little I had in my bank account that he was going to ask me something different—something that didn’t have to do with a coffee or food order. As much as the idea of Crank asking me out made my pulse spike, if he had, I would have turned him down. I didn’t date bikers.
Even though one smile from Crank could light me up inside, my past had taught me a very important lesson that I didn’t intend to ignore. “Sure. Give me just a minute.”
“Thanks.” He picked up his phone and diverted his attention to the screen.
Inhaling deeply through my nose, I grabbed the carafe of coffee and made my way down the counter. It was better this way. Crank was sweet on me. I could tell by the way he hung around the Mercantile every morning and followed me home after my shifts. At one point in my life, I would have encouraged him, maybe even batted my eyelashes at him and flirted a bit.
But I’d changed since then. I’d barely found the strength and courage to piece myself back together after what I’d been through over the past couple of years. Crank might look and act like one of the good guys, but I didn’t trust my own judgement anymore when it came to men. There’s a saying about being once bitten, twice shy. Well, I’d been bitten more than once in my last relationship, and there was no way in hell I’d put myself in a situation where there was any chance of that happening again.
“Here’s your second muffin.” I slid another paper bag onto the counter in front of Crank, along with his tab.
He set down a twenty. “Keep the change. Thanks, Poppy. I guess I’ll see you around.”
I picked up the cash and crossed my arms over my chest as he walked toward the front door. I might not be interested in dating an MC guy, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate the way Crank filled out his jeans. The man looked like he spent all day at the gym, though I knew that was impossible because he seemed to spend most of his time trailing me.
“Hey, sugar. How’s it going this morning?” Ruby brushed past me and set her purse down behind the counter.
“Pretty good. Business has been steady.” I ran Crank’s tab through the register while Ruby tied an apron around her waist.
“I see your not-so-secret admirer stopped by.” She gave me a knowing smile.
“He’s not an admirer.” My cheeks heated as I tried to downplay Crank’s interest. This wasn’t the first time Ruby had mentioned it.
“Oh, honey. That man’s got it bad for you. I happen to know he has access to a high-end commercial grade coffee maker at the MC clubhouse, yet he stops in here every morning?” Ruby clucked her tongue. “My coffee’s good, but we both know that’s not the reason he shows up every day.”
“He’s protective of the Merc. With everything that’s been going on around town, he’s just keeping an eye on things.” I shrugged, trying to keep my tone casual. If Crank ever did ask me out, I hadn’t figured out how to turn him down.
Obviously, I’d let him down easy. The only thing he had in common with the ghost from my past that still haunted me was the fact he belonged to an MC. But that was enough to ensure I’d never be able to entertain his attention. I’d spent too many years walking on eggshells around a man I thought I could trust. A man who turned out to be a monster.
“Mmm hmm.” Ruby poured herself a mug of coffee, then leaned against the counter. “You keep telling yourself that. He might be making sure the Savage Bones stay away from downtown, but he’s definitely making sure they stay away from you.”
The conviction in her tone made my heart race. My hand shook as I reached for a rag to swipe some crumbs off the counter. “We’re just friends, Ruby.”
Her eyes narrowed with interest. “You’ve been living in Mustang Mountain now for how long?”
“Just over a year.”
“That’s right. And in all that time, I haven’t heard you talk about going on a single date. Why’s that, sugar?”
My mouth went dry. I’d been working at the Merc for almost a year and had recently started helping Ruby with the rental cabins she owned. She’d been friendly and looked out for me, but she hadn’t pried into my personal life beyond the details she’d needed when I got hired.
“I’m not really interested in dating right now.” I moved around her, continuing to wipe down a spotless section of the counter. “My ex and I had a pretty bad break up, and I haven’t felt like putting myself back out there yet.”
Ruby’s eyes softened. “That makes sense. Is that why you moved to Mustang Mountain? To get away?”
Biting down on my lip, I nodded. “He was in a MC. Things got,”—I struggled to find the right words without giving too much away—“let’s just say, he ended up not being a good guy.”
“I suspected as much.” Ruby set her hand on mine. “They asked me not to say anything, but one of your friends called looking for you a few days ago. She said you’d been through a lot and wanted to make sure you were doing okay. You’ve got a lot of strength inside you to be able to pull yourself out of a situation like that.”
Feeling completely violated, I pulled my hand out from under hers. I didn’t have any friends. My ex made sure of that. No one knew where I was headed when I fled. That meant he’d found me. “Who called?”
“She didn’t leave a name.” Ruby tilted her head. “Everything okay, Poppy?”
The kindness in her eyes made me feel guilty for reacting the way I did, but knowing someone was looking for me increased the tightness in my chest. I swallowed hard and tried to will my pulse to slow down. “I’m not feeling very well. Do you care if I take my break now?”
Ruby rested a hand on my shoulder. “I’m not saying you have to give Crank a chance, but I do want you to know that light can come out of the darkness. And if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here for you, okay?”
I nodded, my mouth too dry to speak.
“Why don’t you go ahead and head out? I can cover the counter here and you can get out and enjoy this gorgeous day. It’s only a matter of time before the weather turns.” She pulled her hand back and picked up the rag I’d abandoned on the counter.
“I don’t mind finishing my shift.” Plus, I could use the hours. Rent on the small cabin where I’d been staying halfway up the mountain ate up quite a bit of my paycheck. I didn’t plan on spending the rest of my days working at the Mercantile, but it had been the perfect place to catch my breath while I tried to work out a plan on what I wanted to do next. With Ruby confirming my location to a stranger on the phone, it was time to start putting a new plan into motion. If only I had one.
“Maybe just a little early, then. You’ve been putting in a lot of long hours lately. It’s supposed to be beautiful here all week. I hear the wildflowers are still blooming up around Bliss Lake. I’m sure Jonas or Jensen has a community hike scheduled in the next few days you could join.”
The ability to get out and enjoy nature had been one of the big draws that brought me to Mustang Mountain. I always seemed to think clearer when I was outside. “Thanks. I’ll see if they’ve got one going on tomorrow afternoon. That group you rented to is checking out of the big cabin in the morning, so I’m planning on turning it over right away.”
“Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without your help around here.” Ruby put her hand to her temple and shook her head. “You’ve been a godsend helping out with the cabins.”
“I appreciate the extra income. It’s been a win-win for us both.”
“Oh, excuse me, dear.” Ruby looked toward the back door where our regular delivery guy had started bringing in a few boxes. “I need to go deal with some deliveries. Just wait until you see some of the fall items I’m bringing in. You’re going to love them.”
My heart felt heavy as I watched her make her way over to sign for the boxes. It was going to be hard to find somewhere to settle down that I loved as much as Mustang Mountain, but it was time. As soon as I came up with a plan, I’d have to give Ruby notice. Now that someone from my past knew where I was, I wouldn’t be able to stay.