Dreaming of His Snowed In Kiss - Jessie Gussman Page 0,42

she was telling him to come in.

He deduced that maybe supper was ready.

Had he really been out that long?

Daylight was fading. He certainly hadn’t intended to be out so late, but time had flown by as he did job after job that had been waiting for days or even weeks to be completed.

Honestly, he felt bad. She probably had things she wanted to do.

He lifted his hand in acknowledgment and was getting ready to grab Warren’s hand so they could dash through the yard to the house, staying as dry as possible, when her head turned, and he could see, even from that distance, that her eyes widened.

It wasn’t hard to determine when she noticed the bridge. Her mouth opened, her jaw dropped, and he suspected if she hadn’t been holding the baby, her hand would have gone over her heart.

She didn’t look very happy.

He glanced down at Warren. “Give me your hand. We’ll jog through the yard. I know it’s fun to play in the rain, but I don’t think Miss Poppy wants us walking into the house any more wet and muddy than we need to be.”

Warren looked up at him with bright eyes, eager to head out in the rain.

Every kid should get to play in the rain. If he were around Warren for any length of time, he would have to make sure he got to.

“Let’s go!” he called before he started jogging, slowly at first to make sure Warren was keeping up.

In a few seconds, they were on the porch, under the roof and in front of Poppy, who looked as serious as he’d ever seen her.

“I don’t think I’m going to be driving over the bridge tonight,” she said, calmly and firmly. Like she was afraid that he was going to make her leave.

“I wouldn’t let you.” The words came out before he thought about them, and her eyes flashed.

They were the wrong words.

“I don’t need your permission.”

“I know.” But like he couldn’t help himself, he said, “But I still wouldn’t let you. I couldn’t allow you to drive through that. The idea that I would is ludicrous.”

They were the wrong words again, but maybe they were said the right way because her eyes softened, and her face relaxed.

“Be careful. I’m going to start to think you care about me.”

Her expression was unreadable. He had no idea what she was thinking.

He just stared at her, not wanting to open his mouth and let the words in his heart come out.

She glanced at Warren. “Supper’s ready. I was going to leave and let you eat with the kids, but I guess that plan isn’t going to work. I’m going to crash at your house tonight.”

She gave him another look he wasn’t sure about before lifting a brow and turning around, leaving the door open as she walked away.

He wanted to laugh. Goodness, he wanted to laugh. When was the last time he wanted to laugh so badly? Or so much?

He had a feeling he was really going to enjoy spending the evening with Poppy.

Chapter 15

Poppy set the cheeseburger soup on the table beside the fresh baked loaf of bread.

Hazel and she had spent the afternoon in the kitchen when they weren’t taking care of Gabriella.

Race and Penny had called and said that Minnie’s doctor appointment hadn’t gone any better than expected and that they were going to keep her in town because of the weather.

Poppy had an idea then that she might be staying, but she’d had bread that needed kneading, Gabriella was crying and Garrett had just said he had to use the potty.

She’d kind of forgotten all about the weather then, until she’d gone outside to look for West.

Garrett set the table while Warren and West washed their hands.

That shiver of excitement that happened every time West was around was speeding down her spine right now.

It was annoying.

She didn’t want to care about where he was or what he was doing, but she couldn’t seem to keep from noticing.

Using a tea towel to hold the hot loaf of bread, she tried to focus on slicing the loaf and not paying attention when he walked in the room, hesitated, and then said, “That smells amazing. I didn’t realize how hungry I was. And I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how late it was either.”

“It’s okay,” she said without looking up. “I kinda figured you got out there and saw all the stuff that hadn’t been getting done, and time probably slipped away from you. I’ve