the judges around here. They’ll give you a marriage without delay exemption.”
Primrose really had been paying attention during all those official meetings with Violet and her wedding planner.
“You shouldn’t rush into it,” Violet said. “Take some time to think about it. Make sure it’s what you want.”
Although Poppy knew her oldest sister was right, she could also see that Primrose had a point. Everyone was there. Everyone except Ritchie and Naught, though it wouldn’t take much to get them there.
Charley gasped. “She’s thinking about it. Are you thinking about it?”
“No!” Poppy said, immediately acknowledging it was a lie. “Maybe… I don’t know.” Sitting up, she rested a forearm on Turner’s sternum. “What do you think?”
“Whatever you want, baby. I told you what I want. It’s your call.”
Married while everyone was there anyway, it made sense. Shifting higher, Poppy kissed his jaw before raising her lips to his ear. “Put your arms around me, First.”
He did as asked and held her while Primrose went on to talk about the Granger parents going out to dinner that night to test the response they got.
Before the Granger Girls would be allowed to venture out, their father wanted to judge if it seemed any media persons were still lurking in the vicinity.
The conversation gave her an idea. She and Turner hadn’t had much time alone, not until after lights out anyway. Their relationship kept taking a backseat and that wasn’t the way she wanted it to be. Turner was the cornerstone of her existence. He was everything she wanted. Poppy needed him and she wouldn’t let him think he wasn’t valued. Not for a second.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Oddly nervous, Poppy lit the candles on the table laid for two, then went over to check the playlist for the tenth time. Pressing play to start the music was like a symbol for beginning the evening.
Dinner at the house should’ve started already, which meant someone would be sending her man out on the hunt for her.
He hollered for her as soon as he came through the front door. “Candy!”
Pouncing to attention, Poppy hurried to put herself in the middle of the room. As the door opened, she smoothed her dress over her hip.
Turner stopped to absorb the low lighting and soft music. His brow was still tense when his focus landed on her.
“I’m nervous,” she said, licking her drying lips. “Is that weird?”
“Depends,” he said, closing the door at his back. “What’s this for?”
“We…” she said, finding some of her swagger as she sashayed across the room toward him. “As it turns out…” Sliding her hands up his torso, her anxiety was eased when his arms came around her. “Have never been on a date.”
“Oh…” His frown deepened. “We haven’t?”
Taking his hand, she laced their fingers together to guide him over to the table just inside the open deck doors. Inside was a deliberate choice. Outside might be more romantic, but it would also leave them open to prying eyes if anyone was to wander by.
“No, so I thought we could start here.”
“Our first date,” he said. Being a gentleman, Turner pulled out her chair to push it in under her. “In the room we have sex in every night, next to the house where I proposed to you.”
“Mm hmm,” Poppy said, maintaining her grin. It might seem wacky, but she wasn’t ashamed of it. “We’re good at real life. Somehow we’ve figured out how to make our families work together.” Even if it was under an oppressive situation contrived by Holden Abernathy. “We’re definitely good in bed.”
Turner adjusted his chair as he pulled it in and reached for the wine. “You want to know if we can stand each other in private when we’re not getting naked. Guess we’re not getting married here then.”
“No,” she said. “Not this week anyway. I think we can stand each other just fine. But you have a habit of taking everything on yourself and trying to be everything for everyone. Marriage isn’t like that. At least, I don’t want ours to be. It’s important for us to take time out like this, by ourselves, to communicate. We have busy lives, filled with people. We have to be a support for each other. To work things out together. I don’t want to be another person on your list of obligations. I want to be your partner. I want to be the one you talk to when things are happening or you need to make decisions.”