Chapter 14
Capital Hotel
Little Rock, Arkansas
The flight from New York to Little Rock was filled with hungry looks and unfulfilled desires. Poppy brought a book to read and a headset to listen to classical music, but neither was used.
Bennett and Poppy were the only passengers other than the pilots.
Once airborne, Bennett softly took her hand and held it the way he had the first time they had flown together all those years ago when she had left for art school.
It was too loud for conversation, so neither tried.
Instead, they spent the whole time innocently touching each other's hands, arms, and faces.
The looks they shared said more than a thousand-page book.
Poppy nearly came out of her seatbelt when Bennett reached out, took her hand, lifted it to his lips, and licked her wrist before kissing it softly.
When they landed, Bennett and Poppy loaded up in his SUV and drove to the Capital Hotel.
Poppy knew it was a terrible idea for Bennett to follow her to her hotel room. God forgive her. She was too far gone to do anything other than follow his lead.
Bennett had held several lunch meetings and attended functions there for years.
He knew he couldn't just walk in the front door unnoticed.
Instead, he had Joules check in early and then meet them in the parking lot with the key.
The look Joules gave him could have taken two years off his life, but if Bennett saw it, he did not respond to it.
Once they slipped inside Poppy's hotel suit without being seen, they fell into each other in a passionate embrace. Picking her up, Bennett carried her into the bedroom. Laying her on the bed without breaking the kiss, he reached for her zipper. It was then that Poppy pulled back.
"We can't do this," said Poppy breathlessly.
Leaning toward her to recapture her lips, Bennett responded, "Oh yes, we can, and we are going to, several times."
Rolling away from him and jumping off the other side of the bed, Poppy said, "I don't mean we can't, I mean we aren't. I am not going to be your piece on the side. You are still married, in case you have forgotten."
Groaning loudly, Bennett said, "Not this again. I told you. I am getting a divorce. It is you. It has always been you. We belong together. We are going to be together."
Poppy said, shaking her head, "That may be true, but we are not going to have sex. Not today. Not any day until you are free. It almost destroyed me when you cheated on me. I won't do that to Taylor."
"Hate to break it to you, but she is convinced we already have,” replied Bennett, sitting on the bed and putting his head in his hands. "And for the record, I have never cheated on you. Never. I don't know why you keep saying that."
"Because I saw you," replied Poppy, almost crying, thinking back on that day.
Bennett took a deep breath and said, "Okay, since this,” he pointed between himself and her and the bed, "isn't happening. Let's get a drink and go over what it is you think you saw when you say I cheated on you."
Thinking it over, Poppy nodded.
"Also, I know that it is 2:00 in the afternoon. However, if I have to spend my time with you in a hotel talking instead of doing what I want to be doing, then I will do it lying next to you in bed.”
Looking at her dress and heels, he added, "Change into something comfortable, and by that, I mean a whole lot fewer clothes. I promise to be good, but it has been a long time since I laid beside you in a soft bed. I am not waiting another minute to do that. I am going to fix us a drink. Wine okay?"
Poppy nodded and then went into the bathroom to change. She changed into an oversized T-shirt. She took off her bra but left on her panties. When she came out, Bennett was standing in his boxers with two glasses of wine in his hands. He handed one to her and kept the other.
"Did you forget about the part where I said no sex? I mean it, Bennett," declared Poppy as if she were repeating this as much for her sake as for his.
Frowning, Bennett replied, "If I had forgotten, you would already be naked, on your back, three seconds from screaming my name in ecstasy. So chill. We are just going to talk."
Seeing her T-shirt, he said, "I know it is wrong to ask, but it has been so long. Please take off the T-shirt and let me see them. I have missed them so much."
Poppy did not need to ask whom or, rather, what he was talking about. She hesitated for a moment, and then, seeing the almost begging look in his eyes, she shrugged and pulled off her T-shirt, giving him a full view of her luscious breasts.
He audibly gasped. He came toward to touch her.
Poppy scooted out of reach. "Oh no, you don't. No touching."
Bennett frowned and then nodded. Moving to the side of the bed, he threw back the covers on the bed and said, "Get in. Let's talk."
Once they were both comfortable, Bennett hauled her in and snuggled her. At first, Poppy tried to argue, but Bennett kissed her softly and said, "I just want to hold you. No funny business. I promise. Now tell me why you think I cheated."
"Because you did. I saw you," replied Poppy.
"You saw me when and with whom?" asked Bennett.
Poppy recounted the story of how that long ago Thanksgiving holiday when she had seen Taylor in his shower, the indentations on the pillows in his bed, and him in a towel in the kitchen, whistling.
When she finished, Bennett sat up in the bed, looked at her hard, and said, "Now, would you like me to tell you what really happened that morning?"
"What do you mean really happened?" replied Poppy. "All of that really happened."
"Yes, but not the way you think," said Bennett.
"First of all, you are right. I did lie down with her the night before, but just as friends.
It was her first Thanksgiving without her family.
She drank too much and was crying. I was comforting her.
We were looking at old yearbooks and photo albums. I stayed with her until she fell asleep in her clothes.
I slept upstairs in the guest room. I took a shower there.
I was so excited about seeing you that I decided to drive to Memphis and talk you into coming back to Searcy early.
Just thinking about you got me excited. I was wrapped in a towel because I needed to get some clothes out of the laundry.
If you had just stopped and talked to me, our whole lives would have been different. "
Poppy looked at him for a moment and said, "Oh my God. So you didn't cheat on me?" The look of shock on her face was genuine.
"No, Red, I would never have cheated on you. You were my whole world. When you left, it nearly destroyed me."
"Oh, Bennett, I am so sorry," said Poppy as she wrapped her arms around him and held him close. "Things would have been so different if I had known. I am sorry I did not talk to you."
Bennett held her without saying anything, then said, "You were not the only one who jumped to conclusions."
Looking up at him, Poppy said, "What do you mean?"
"Well, after you went MIA that Thanksgiving and stopped taking my calls, I flew to New York.
I hid out at your school and planned to demand you tell me why you left.
I saw you with the guy you married. You came out of the building.
Before I could approach you, he hugged and kissed you.
I was close enough to hear him say, "Come on, you hot momma.
Let's get home. I am freezing out here.”
“I hate to admit it, but I followed you.
You stopped off at the grocery and picked up food.
Once you returned to the apartment I figured out was his, I waited outside for you to leave all night.
I saw you the next morning, leaving with him for class.
He kissed you and said he would see you for dinner.
I could not believe you were living with a guy so quickly.
I was so angry and hurt. I went home to Searcy to lick my wounds.
At first, I vowed to never speak to you again.
Then, I decided to wait for you to get this guy out of your system.
You were young. Maybe you felt like you needed some more life experiences before you settled on one guy.
So, I decided to wait. Then, my dad told me you were married and had a baby coming in June.
I literally threw up at the club after he told me.
I did some quick math. I knew the baby wasn't mine.
I knew it was over. It was the worst day of my life.
If I had gotten up the courage to approach you and forced you to talk to me, our lives would have been different. So, see, we are both to blame."
Poppy was quiet for a moment and then said, "Well, as much as I hate to say it, I just don't think it was our time.
You would not be a current US Senator if we had gotten together eleven years ago.
You would have had to give up on your political dreams. I could not have been responsible for that.
Also, remember, I was only a nineteen-year-old orphan kid.
I did not have the life experience to deal with all that.
Please forgive me for not telling you about Ben.
I did what I thought was best based on what I knew then. "
"I know, baby." Taking her face in his hands, he looked deeply into her eyes and said, "I know. He is such a great kid. You have done an amazing job. Thank you. What a gift you have given me."
They kissed long and softly. When they pulled back, Bennett said, "We have to talk about when you plan to tell him I am his father. I want him to have my name. The sooner, the better."
Poppy shook her head and pulled back both mentally and physically.
"We can't do that as long as you are campaigning for Anderson.
As a candidate for a cabinet position, you are a fodder for the press.
They would love nothing more than to run a story about your baby momma and bastard son.
I won't let that happen. As long as you are married, we keep this to ourselves.
We will tell him when the time is right. "
Bennett pulled her back to him and then placed his forehead on hers. "I hate it, but you are right. The best thing to do is to call Anderson and take my name off all shortlists. Then, resign my post and ask Taylor for a super quick divorce."
Poppy pulled back so fast that she almost fell out of the bed, "Oh no, you won't. You have worked your whole life for this moment. I refuse to be the reason you walk away from all you have built. There has to be another way."
Bennett stood and started pacing around the room. "The only other option is to stay married until the end of the election. After I am confirmed for a cabinet post, Taylor and I can divorce quietly. You and I could then marry. No one gets fired up about divorces of cabinet members."
Considering what he said, Poppy asked, "How long would all that take?"
Bennett was quiet for a moment and then said, "Well, it is March now. The election is in November. Cabinet members will be confirmed by February. So, a year at the most. Maybe sooner."
"A year?" The words sounded hollow to Poppy. She had gone eleven years without, and now the thought of going one more was unfathomable. "Have you talked to Taylor? What does she say about all this? Will she even agree to a divorce?"
"I have told Taylor that I am in love with you and want a divorce.
She is processing that. In the end, she will grant the divorce.
She is not in love with me and never has been.
We should have never married. It was a rebound thing to try and get over you.
It did not work. I hate to say this, but I am glad we could never have children.
I would have hated to put them through a divorce.
But I would have. Now that I have you back, I am never giving you up. Do you understand?"
Poppy nodded. "Just promise me we will both ask questions and demand answers before jumping to conclusions.”
Bennett said, "I promise. I think I have an idea of how we can navigate the next few months.
What do you think about taking Ben out of school and homeschooling him for the rest of the year?
I have a buddy who has a fabulous house on Caswell Beach.
You two could stay there. It is only a short flight from DC I could come down and stay on weekends.
I could get to know Ben. It is a three-bedroom house.
We would all have our own rooms. You could paint.
The house is right on the beach. What do you think? "
Poppy gave him a look that said he was insane. She took a deep breath, let it out, and said, "I will think about it."
"Well, okay then," replied Bennett. Checking his watch, he said, we have about three hours before we have to head to Searcy. "Want to fool around?" He winked at her, and she could not help but laugh.
"As long as our underwear stays on. I am serious about not having sex until you are free."
Bennett said, "Okay, underwear stays on. For tonight. I reserve the right to re-negotiate in the future." With that, Poppy and Bennett spent the afternoon reacquainting themselves with each other, sharing stories, kisses, and laughing at the most surprising things.