I know you’ve got it in you to stick this out.”
“I appreciate your vote of confidence.”
A crash echoed on the other end. “Daddy!” a tiny exasperated voice yelled.
Kai sighed into the phone. “Gotta go, Poppy. Shoot me an update tomorrow.”
“Will do,” she said, ending the call.
Kai knew she could do this; that she could remain focused, even with the alluring Damian the demigod in her midst. If she didn’t, she’d find herself back in Idaho, freezing her backside off and working like a horse to make ends meet. If she could simply hold off on men for a season, do what she was good at until the project was completed, she’d be set for life. The kicker: so would Damian. He’d be a wealthy millionaire, or even billionaire, who women would flock to. She snorted in irritation while she stripped out of her clothes on her way to the bathroom.
“A girl can never take too many baths,” she said, twisting the hot water handle. She didn’t wait for it to fill. She picked up Charlie and climbed over the side, allowing the blistering hot water to splash her legs. If she concentrated on how the water prickled her skin, then she wouldn’t feel the pain of losing a lover she’d never had.
A loud knock came at her door.
“Please don’t be room service,” she said, jumping out of the bath and throwing on the complimentary terry cloth robe that hung three sizes too big. “Yes?” she said through the door.
“It’s Kent.”
She pressed her forehead to the door for a few seconds before opening it.
Kent leaned into the doorway, visibly relieved. “You’re not answering your texts. I was worried.”
“Come in,” she said, stepping aside.
His eyes swept the floor, slowing at her trail of clothing to the bathroom. “Maybe I should take your temperature.”
She turned and shut the door. “I’m not sick. Just tired.”
“Poppy!” he said, pointing to her legs. “What happened to you? You’re bright red and scraped up?”
She sat on her bed. “I’m red from the hot bath and scraped up from falling off the treadmill this morning. It’s been quite a day,” she said, holding back her tears.
“That bad, huh?” he asked, sitting next to her. “Here,” he said, motioning for her to place her head on his shoulder.
“I can’t,” she said, swallowing down her guilt. “Kent, you’ve been so good to me, and I can’t give you what you want. I know that now.” She stared at her hands, not able to meet his eye. “With a certainty.”
He exhaled. “I know, Poppy. I think I’ve always known, but that didn’t stop me from hoping. Does that make any sense? This isn’t your fault. You’re being too hard on yourself.”
She turned and placed her face in his chest. He brought his arms around her and held the back of her head while he cradled her back.
“I need to let you go, Kent.”
He smoothed back her hair and kissed her forehead. “You already have. I’m here as your friend. Until there’s a compelling reason for me not to, please let me be here for you.”
“I can’t allow you to put your life on hold for me.”
“I’m not. Something fell into my lap today I want to tell you about.”
“That’s great,” she said, sitting taller. “What’s up?”
He looked at the ground. “I’ll tell you about it out of this room because I’m still a man and you’re still a woman sitting here on the bed in your bathrobe.”
Always nice to have a good slap of reality. “Right,” she said, standing up. “Give me five minutes and I’ll meet you in the lobby. Do you want to go for a walk?”
“What did you have for lunch?”
“Nothing,” she said, grasping her stomach. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she’d mentioned it.
He twisted his lips. “I kinda figured, by how you’re acting.” He opened the door. “Early dinner?”
“That would be wonderful.”
“Where would you like to go?”
“How does Italian sound?”
“Great. The front desk recommended an Italian place not far from here. I’ll order us a ride.”
Twenty minutes later, two door attendants dressed in full black opened the tall glass doors to the fancy Italian restaurant.
Poppy did a double take. One of the attendants had a familiar look. “Do you think those guys moonlight as paparazzi?” Poppy whispered.
“I hope not,” replied Kent in all seriousness.
He didn’t get the joke of them being in all black. But why should he? He hadn’t been there today when she’d kissed Damian. Her head went fuzzy. She’d promised herself