“I need to know how likely it is to come here,” he said, doing nothing to clear up her confusion. “I need to know how bad it is.”
“I don’t know what you… What do you mean?”
“You’re private. Cool. I get that. Alotta people are. It doesn’t bother me. Women talk too much most of the time, but this…” One step brought him closer and he laid a hand on the outer doorframe up high, way up higher than she’d be able to reach. “I have things I need to protect and I can only do that if I know what to expect. So what’s coming and how bad is it?”
“Nothing is coming,” she said, trying her best to convey her vehemence. “I would never put you in danger. I would never put anyone in danger.”
“He used to hit you, is that it? You left with nothing. Just made a run for it… Any kids?”
“I am not married,” Poppy said for what felt like the fiftieth time. “I have never been physically assaulted… unless you count corsetry.” A memory of her previous year’s Halloween costume came to mind. Her mother did have a love of theater. That was often reflected in the gowns they wore to prestigious events. “You are safe. You and whatever you have to protect are safe.”
“So what is it?” he asked. “Fiancé screwed around? Boyfriend dumped you for your best friend?” She smiled and shook her head. “Goddamnit, babe, this is not funny. You have to tell me… If you pissed off some guy who comes around—”
“No one is coming around,” she said, bowing to take his loose hand from his side to draw him into the apartment.
Turner didn’t put up a fight and even kicked the door shut when they passed it. “The way you jumped behind me when Ritch showed up… You’re hiding something.”
“Yes, I am,” she said, guiding him across to her dinner. “Do you want to sit down?”
He glanced around knowing better than anyone that there was no furniture. “On the floor?” He was quick to glare at her. “You better not be sitting on the workbench.”
“It’s safe, I promise,” she said, keeping his hand when she lowered to sit on the floor again, meaning he had to bow down. “I like the floor.”
Blinking up at him, Poppy couldn’t stop her anticipation when she noted the heat in his gaze. Maybe he felt that zing in the air too because he let go of her hand and backed away fast.
“What are you hiding?”
“Nothing that can hurt you,” she said, mopping up the remaining salad dressing with the last leaf. “I promise.”
She popped the leaf into her mouth and washed it down with some more wine.
“That all you’re eating?”
“You didn’t come up here to judge my dinner,” she said. “Do you live in the building?”
“I live on the first floor. I’m the only apartment down there. Under the stairs.” Easy to find, that’s what she took from his statement. “What are you hiding, Poppy?”
“Why do you need to know?” she asked, leaning back on her hands. “I told you it’s nothing that will hurt you.”
“But it can hurt you?”
By taking away the life she was trying to build for herself. “In a way.”
He groaned and turned to walk a few paces away. “Why are women always so fucking infuriating?”
“We practice… Around puberty a special tutor comes into school and teaches us the ways.”
He turned to her again. “It’s not funny, Poppy.”
“No,” she said. “What’s funny is your reaction to not knowing everything. You want to know my deepest darkest secrets, but I don’t know anything about you.”
“Nothing about me can hurt anyone,” he said. “Nothing about me threatens anyone else’s life or livelihood.”
“Is that what you think? That something about me could damage this building you love?” Moving her wine aside, Poppy shifted onto her knees. “Is it heavily financed?”
He pinned her under a glare. “That is not an encouraging question.”
No, probably not. “Do I have connections in the financial world? Sort of, yes.”
Not necessarily her personally, though she knew plenty of high-profile businessmen from the society circles she moved in with her parents. Her father was the one who had professional relationships with them. Though if she was to call one of them up, no doubt they’d be curious enough to answer.
“Poppy—”
“Would any of them care about ruining you? No,” she said, amazed he’d be concerned about that. “If you’re really worried, I’ll move out… But why would anyone pursuing