Chapter Six
Mike
It turns out I’m the only one who didn’t know Ellie was bringing a new friend tonight. I had been rocked to my fucking core when she walked in with the one woman who has invaded my every thought since yesterday morning.
It’s not often I get to meet up with my friends like this, but since Poppy is gone for the night and I’m not on call, I decided to go for a drink to catch up. I also thought it would be the perfect opportunity to talk to Ellie about Poppy coming to hang out with her at the flower shop after school, but then she walked in with Hollis and flipped the entire fucking script. That’s when a new plan was formed, one I had already been considering since last night.
I made the decision while playing pool and felt confident in it. However, now that I have her in my truck, her beauty invading every inch of my space, I’m starting to rethink that decision.
“Don’t you need my address?” Hollis asks, breaking the awkward silence as I turn off Main Street.
“No. I know where you’re staying.”
A bitter sound escapes her. “Of course you do,” she mutters. “I’m sure you ran a full background check on me yesterday.”
You bet your sweet ass I did. Though, not for the reasons she thinks. I found out all sorts of details about the Californian beauty.
I learned that she’s an only child and has lived in California all her life. That her parents are financial moguls who owned several shopping centers in the Beverly Hills area before selling them off for their retirement. I also know she graduated from Stanford University with a major in Political Science and worked for a prestigious ad exec company up until a few weeks ago.
Yeah, I know a lot. More than I should, and yet, I find myself desperate for more. I want to know it all. That’s the problem.
Instead of admitting that to her, I shift the conversation, making an assumption of my own. “And I’m going to assume, you told my friends about your little fender bender yesterday morning.” By the way they were acting, I imagine she told them a hell of a lot more than that.
She shrugs, her gaze remaining out the window. “It’s not like I had much of a choice since you made it more than obvious that we knew each other.”
My brow cocks at the statement. “I made it obvious?”
“Yep,” she retorts, snapping the word.
“How so?”
She rotates in her seat, directing all that sass my way. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because you walked away during our introduction instead of faking a ‘hi, nice to meet you, Hollis,’” she mocks. “Or maybe it’s from all those little glares you love to send my way. Which Harlow thought was us eye fucking each other, by the way.”
My blood ignites to hear foul language escape such innocent lips.
“Don’t worry though,” she adds, holding up a hand. “I set her straight and explained that those were in fact death stares because her friend has his panties in a twist over a little incident that occurred yesterday morning and he has decided to hate me for it for the rest of his life.”
My cock hardens at the dangerous taunt, ready to rise to the challenge.
“First of all, Hollis. I don’t wear panties. Actually, I don’t wear underwear at all, and if you don’t want me to prove it by bringing you over here to ride my cock, I suggest you watch what falls from that pretty mouth of yours.”
Shock flares in the depths of her emerald eyes, but there’s also no denying the flash of heat. It matches the one I have roaring in my veins.
“And secondly,” I continue, “I don’t hate you.”
She scoffs, clearly not believing me.
“It’s true,” I insist. “How can I hate you when I don’t even know you for christ’s sake?”
“Exactly, you don’t,” she snaps. “Yet, all you have done is made judgments about me from the moment we met. As if, I’m just some stupid American who doesn’t belong here.” The underlying hurt lacing those angry words is undeniable, and it makes me feel like shit.
“Look, I had a really shitty morning yesterday and wasn’t in the best mood. I should have handled it better.” It’s a shitty apology and I know it, but I’m a stubborn bastard.
A moment of silence settles between us, her gaze burning into the side of my face. “You weren’t exactly friendly when picking up Poppy either,” she reminds me, though with less heat in her tone.
“Yeah, well, that had less to do with you and more to do with the fact my baby sister was left stranded out in the cold over a fucking cheer practice.”
Just thinking about it sends fire burning through my gut.
“I guess I can understand that,” she says, voice soft and sweet now. “I was mad too. She deserved better. I’m sorry.”
She did and so does the girl next to me. Then tell her that, asshole…
“Where is Poppy tonight anyway?” she asks. “Did she finally convince you to let her stay home alone?” Amusement coats her tone.
“Not a fucking chance.”
She laughs at my response. A delicate sound so addicting I ache to hear it again.
Jesus. I’m seriously fucking losing it over this chick.
“She’s spending the night at a friend’s house,” I finally answer.
“That’s fun for her,” she muses, a wistful smile playing on her lips.
I nod. “It’s not something I usually allow, but I’ve gotten to know this family quite well, and since she’s still pissed at me over yesterday, I made the exception.”
She winces at the confession. “Still mad at ya, huh?”
Mad is a sheer understatement. Disappointed is more like it, and that hits harder for me.
“Did you end up finding a sitter for her?” she asks, carefully.
“Possibly,” I answer vaguely.
“What does that mean?”
Coming to a stop in front of her condo, I shift my truck into park and turn towards her. Even after being with her for most of the night, I still find myself struck by her beauty.
“I was going to see if she could hang out with Ellie at the flower shop until I finished work.”
“Oh.” That one word holds both surprise and disappointment. “Well, I don’t know Ellie very well, but I can’t see her having a problem with it.”
“I know she won’t. My friends always help me out when I need it, especially Ellie and Gunnar, but I don’t like to inconvenience them unless I have to.”
Her expression softens. “Poppy is hardly an inconvenience.”
The sincerity in those softly spoken words punches me in the chest and further confirms I’m making the right decision. “You’re right, she isn’t, and Poppy enjoys hanging out with Ellie. They get along well.”
She flashes me a half-hearted smile. “Ellie is great.”
“She is,” I agree. “But my sister would still rather hang out with you at the store.”
She straightens at my words, surprise and hope flickering in her expression. “Really?”
I nod.
“Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?” she asks, rushing through her words. “Because if it is, my offer still stands. I’ll be here until at least the spring.”
It’s exactly what I was hoping she would say, yet I find myself hesitating and she senses it.
“Look, if you’re worried about me driving her, I can walk to pick her up.”
“It’s not that,” I tell her. Though, I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I want her driving Poppy around, but I feel that way with most people. It’s why I don’t let her take the bus.
“Then what is it?” she asks.
I’ll have to see you every day and resist the urge to kiss you, just like I am right now.
It’s a solid reason, but not the one I voice out loud. “I have a hard enough time accepting help from my friends. It’s even harder when it’s a stranger.”
Especially one I’ve been a dickhead to.
“Well, it’s not really a favor since Poppy would be helping me out at the store.”
I disagree with that logic but don’t bother saying that. “She can help you out, but I will also be compensating you for your time. I was paying the other sitter five hundred a month, but I can—”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she blurts out, cutting me off. “I’m not taking any money for this.”
“The hell you aren’t,” I snap, my body stiffening. “This isn’t up for debate, Hollis. I already told you I don’t accept charity.”
Her chin lifts stubbornly. “Good, because I don’t either. Poppy’s help is more than enough payment for me.”
Before I can argue further, she opens her door and jumps out, effectively cutting off the conversation. “Thanks for the ride home, Officer Cross.”
My cock hardens at the way my name falls past her lips.
“I’ll see you Monday evening when you come to pick up Poppy.” She doesn’t even give me the chance to respond to that before she closes the door and heads up the driveway.
I don’t let her get far before I lower the passenger window, my voice cutting through the cold air. “Hey, California!”
She whirls around, flashing me a smile that would have knocked me on my ass if I wasn’t already sitting down.
“We’re expecting some nasty weather this week, so be sure to keep that snow brush handy,” I tell her, feeling a smirk form. “I wouldn’t want you to get into any more unnecessary fender benders.”
Her eyes narrow, a spark of irritation flashing within at my attempt to have the final word.
“I swear, Cross, one of these days you’re going to find that snow brush shoved up your ass.”
I chuckle, loving how easy it is to rile her up.
She continues up to the house, determined to have the final say, and I decide to let her have it.
Once she’s safely inside, I put the truck in gear and pull away. On my drive home, I find myself suddenly looking forward to Monday.