“Oh, you won’t find another man like him,” Marigold said. “My granddaughter assures me of that.”
Aitken’s attention switched to the younger Granger. “You know Turner, huh? Guess that explains the visit.”
“Poppy has a special interest in this project. Poppy, this is Aitken. Aitken, Poppy.”
“Nice to meet ya,” Aitken said, casting a discerning eye over her. “What’s the interest? You moving in here after it’s built?”
“That’s a great idea,” Grammie exclaimed, her eyes wide with expectation when they landed on her granddaughter.
“I don’t think so,” Poppy said, holding onto her frustration. “Shouldn’t we get back to the house for lunch and let these guys get on with their work?”
“I requested they serve lunch down here today,” Grammie said, backing up to the bench by another set of stairs that led back to the walled garden. “I like to eat in the sun.”
Except if that was all she wanted, they could’ve eaten on the external terrace at the house.
“Do you have plans for later in the day, Aitken?” Grammie asked, seating herself. “How much longer until you knock off?”
The foreman sauntered over to the elder Granger. “We can stay the day if you need us, Mari.”
“No! Not at all, it’s Saturday. I was always impressed that you did work on a Saturday.”
“Just bits and pieces we didn’t get to in the week. We’ll be back Monday for a full shift,” Aitken said, folding his arms. “Some of the guys plan to take the new guy into town, show him around. There are a couple of places up for lease he wants to look at.”
That raised Poppy’s chin. “Lease?” she asked, looking beyond Aitken. “He can’t be… Is he around?”
“Turner? Yeah.” Aitken faced the site to holler. “Maddox! Get your ass out here!”
That call reminded Poppy of work with Charley; the pink-haired beauty got chewed out for chatting on a regular basis. She missed the sisters. All of them. Zoey’s prom would’ve taken place the previous Saturday. Poppy didn’t even know if the girls had told their families about their relationship or how it went down if they did.
Charley. Faye… the munchkins.
Her thoughts had revolved so much around Turner that there hadn’t been room to open them up for everyone. No, that was the simple way to look at it. The truth was, Poppy hadn’t let herself think about the Maddox family. If she did, grief would overtake her.
“There a party going on?”
Turner’s voice tugged her from her funk. He was coming up beside them, tee-shirt, workpants, heavy boots. Why was her mind suddenly drawn to thoughts of sawdust and walking into apartment thirteen in the Venture for the first time?
“…glorious and clear today,” Grammie was saying. “Supposed to be a little cooler tomorrow and Monday.” Turner joined them. “Ah, my boy, how are you today? Come and give Grammie a kiss.”
Stepping past her, Turner bowed to do just that. “You look beautiful today, Grammie.”
“Of course I do, you’re a charmer.”
“Don’t encourage him,” Poppy said, grabbing his hand. “Would you both excuse us please?”
FOUR
As she dragged Turner away from Grammie and Aitken, Poppy spotted the household staff bringing lunch. To keep them away from listening ears, she led him in the direction of the sea.
After a few yards, she stopped and whirled around so fast that he almost fell over her. “You can’t sign a lease.”
“Baby—”
“You can’t commit yourself to six months or a year of rent. It’s insane! You own a building, First. You have a home.” He just looked at her. “Don’t do grumpy and brooding with me. Promise me, First. No signing anything.”
Stepping closer, her chin rose higher. It had to, he was so tall… So hot and so tall. The quake of awareness in her obliques shook all the way to her heart. Poppy didn’t know how he could tell what her insides were doing, but the slight stretch at the corner of his mouth betrayed that he did. His predatory glint joined the narrowing of his eyes. She didn’t even see his hand move, but the brush of his fingertips on her temple as he tucked her hair away reminded her of just how innate it was for him to care for the women in his life.
“You will never doubt how I feel again,” he said, still stroking her hair. “You’re all I’m interested in. No games.”
Just like he’d said a guy would be if he wanted to be with a woman.
Staying mad at him was impossible. Poppy hadn’t been mad exactly just… exasperated.