in.”
But he hadn’t. Maybe he had other commitments. She sort of hoped that he did. If he didn’t, her ignorance had cost him a whole day.
“I’ll go out early,” she murmured, trying to think of what she could do to entertain herself. She’d spent most of the week’s contingency that day. “It’s been a while since I hit the museums.”
“Babe,” he said and started toward her.
Backing up against the window, Poppy held up her hands. “Don’t.” It wasn’t easy to tell the truth, but it seemed like the right thing to do. “Just give me some time to… get over you.”
To outside ears, she would probably sound insane. His nostrils flared as he stopped and although his lips parted, all she saw was the tight clench of his teeth. It was difficult, but she managed a smile.
Poppy sensed there was something he wanted to say, but she didn’t hear it. Without uttering another word, he turned to storm out. The slamming of the door was so fierce she felt it in the glass at her back.
Closing her eyes, she identified with his rage. Poppy was mad too. Not at him. At herself. Which was probably what bothered him as well. Turner seemed like an in control guy. A guy with a plan. With rules. No doubt he was pissed at himself for noticing her in the first place. That was why she despised herself. It had happened without either of their consents, but it would be up to them to get themselves out of whatever it was, to shed their feelings.
Poppy hadn’t asked for the harsh lesson on romance in real life, but she had to tolerate it. Both of them did.
SEVEN
Before nine the next morning, someone was knocking on her door. Poppy didn’t anticipate anyone except Turner. Not that it was a happy excitement; she really didn’t know what to feel about seeing him.
The idea of being around him was what got her out of bed so early. She had time to kill before the museum she wanted to visit was open, so she’d thrown her gym things together and decided to wait until he showed up before making her exit. It would optimize the time she had to kill staying away from the apartment.
It was also a good test. She’d only have to see him for a few seconds. In that brief time, Poppy would discover how seeing him again affected her.
Going to the front door with her gym bag on her shoulder, she took a deep breath before opening it up. She expected Turner, but was surprised by the steaming cup in his hand.
“Coffee?” he asked, holding it toward her. “I didn’t know how you take it.”
Moving her hips, she brought her bag around to show him. “Thanks,” she said, determined not to be awkward. “I was just going out.”
“Right,” he said, bending down to put the coffee on the floor by the wall. “About what happened yesterday… Babe, you don’t have to get over me.”
“Poppy,” she said, unsure about the prickle in the back of her neck. He frowned. “You should just call me Poppy.”
No man in her past had called her “babe” and maybe under other circumstances she’d like it. But his familiarity just reminded her of what they’d never have.
“Poppy, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know,” she said, sticking close to the wall as she slithered around him out of the apartment, maintaining maximum distance the whole time.
Except she was on the wrong side of the hallway and would have to pass him to reach the stairs. She’d never explored what was behind the door at the other end of the corridor and was sort of regretting that now.
“Please,” he said, putting his back to the stairway, blocking her route out. “Don’t put up walls between us.”
“What else am I supposed to do?” she asked, keeping her attention on the shadow of the stairwell. “You are my landlord. We have a business deal.”
“I did hurt you.”
“Please,” she said, closing her eyes. “You need to let me work this through for myself.”
“That’s not good enough,” he snapped, startling her with his anger. “What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”
Her brow creased as her head angled to let her better peer at him. “I am respecting your rules.”
“And if you need me? If you need someone, what then?”
Exhaling disbelief, she shook her head. “No one is coming after me. What happened to believing anything I said? I’ve told you a hundred times