on inspecting her mouth with such heated intrigue. How many times had he kissed her? Poppy had lost track. It shouldn’t still feel like she was anticipating their first kiss. It shouldn’t be so exciting and arousing just fantasizing about what it might feel like to lean a little closer and—
“Poppy!”
Her mother’s exclamation startled her so much that she jumped. “Mom,” she said, clearing her throat, sure there was color in her cheeks. “I’m sorry, were you talking to me?”
The whisper of a laugh that came from behind Turner’s static lips was so smug that she wanted to push him or poke him or tell him to be more of a gentleman. But touching him would be a bad idea. Touching would definitely lead to mixed messages.
“The trials of your love life aside…” Silvia said to her. “I was trying to get an answer from your grandmother.”
“About her plans for the fortune?” Poppy asked, returning to her food in an attempt to find her equilibrium again. “Ask her, not me, I know nothing about it.”
“You’re the only one who can talk sense into her.”
It was a shame that her mother was so fraught. The poor woman was used to a certain kind of lifestyle. Adjusting to anything other than that would be quite a trial for her.
“Grammie will make her decision when she makes her decision.”
“I don’t see why she has to make it at all,” Silvia said. “There’s nothing wrong with the life we live.”
Grammie scoffed. “That is because you don’t know the other side of life, my dear. This is all you’ve ever known…” Marigold’s voice softened. “I feel for you, Sil, I really do… and for your girls. Violet and Primrose anyway. Poppy had her chance to live her own life and made a mess of it.”
“Thanks, Grammie,” Poppy said. “Just in case anyone wasn’t clear on that.”
“You didn’t make a mess of anything, Popkat,” Turner said, his plate already empty. He didn’t usually have the time to sit and eat, which would explain why he wasn’t in the habit of lingering. “Your sister’s fuck of an ex messed it up.”
Beneath the table, she patted his leg, wincing and shaking her head. “You shouldn’t swear around my mom.”
“Maybe if someone did, you’d all see this guy needs taken care of.”
“We’re dealing with it,” Clark said from the head of the table, unhappy to be doubted. “It’s a complicated situation.”
“Not from where I’m sitting,” Turner grumbled.
Playing mediator was usually something Poppy did for her sisters. Being the head of his own family, Turner was used to dealing with issues. He wasn’t used to sitting back and letting someone else deal with them.
“Holden can make things difficult at the company,” Poppy said without missing the irony that earlier in the day she’d been thinking how little she cared about that. “But I don’t want it going on any more than you do.”
Turner’s next blink was slow on its approach to her gaze. “Of everyone at this table, baby, I guarantee that I want this guy taken care of the most… And I’m willing to do the job.”
Maybe, but it wasn’t like taking care of Holden would suddenly free her up. “I have no romantic interest in him, First.”
“I know that.”
“I shouldn’t have to say it.”
“You don’t,” he said.
“And you know the suggestion he’d be a threat to you is laughable.”
“Yeah,” he said, sinking back in his chair and draping an arm across the back of hers. “But he’s upsetting you, causing problems for you. I’ve been patient, hanging back to see what your side come up with…”
“Holden Abernathy could ruin you,” Poppy said, squeezing his thigh. “How would you ending up destitute and in prison help any of your girls? I guarantee your mom’s opinion of me would change fast if you were destroyed by something that was my fault.”
“How is this your fault?” he asked. “You didn’t ask the guy to break your sister’s heart. You didn’t want him for yourself. You couldn’t care less about him.”
“I know that,” she said, mirroring his recent response to her.
“If you were interested, you’d have him already. You’d have run away from the wedding together or you’d have hooked up since you’ve been home. Grammie says he’s barred from the estate. Still the guy won’t get the message.”
Everyone finished up and the servers came in to clear plates and bring out the entrée. As had been usual in the Granger house for the last couple of weeks, silence joined them as