“Uh…” He needed some time to come up with something. “I’m falling hard for you, baby.”
Poppy rolled her eyes. “That’s not a secret. I know that.” He laughed. “Give me something no one else knows… Something you’ve never told anyone.”
“Sometimes I sleep in the truck. I don’t even bother driving home, I just pass out wherever I am.”
Because in the truck no one hounded him. In the truck, he had a minute’s peace. Or maybe just because he was so doggone exhausted, he couldn’t muster the inclination to even put the thing in gear.
“Baby,” she exhaled, her heart bursting with grief.
Poppy thought back over all the times she’d noticed his exhaustion and how he tried to push it aside. He was so busy being everything for everyone else that he never took care of himself.
“It’s supposed to make me sound pathetic,” he said, but she didn’t get the joke.
To her, it wasn’t funny at all. “I mean something to you, right?”
“Course you do, damn right.”
In another moment, his offense would be touching. Poppy didn’t need it then, she needed the declaration to back him into a corner. “I want you to prove it by making a promise to me.”
“Popkat—”
“Not a sex promise, not like that, take me seriously a second,” she said, though it wasn’t really fair to accuse him of not being serious when she’d started their game. “First?”
“Okay. I’m listening.”
“Don’t do any work on the apartment this week.”
He sighed, showing his aggravation. “Poppy—”
“Promise me, First,” she said. “Do your job, look after your sisters, but no working in the apartment. In fact, I want you to promise me that you’ll sleep up there while I’m at work. I’m on nine PM to five AM this week, that’s all night. You get the bed nine to five while I’m on nights.”
“You want me to promise I’ll sleep in your bed?”
“It’s your bed,” she said. “And yes, because Faye is in yours with Ashlee and your couch isn’t good enough for you… You’re too tall for it and the kids are always up and around, keeping you awake.”
“I love the kids… and my sister.”
Their flirtations and the alcohol and her co-workers inside, all of it faded to nothing as Poppy grew serious. “I didn’t say you didn’t,” she said. “I know you do. I am in awe of the way you do. But to be any good to them, you have to take care of yourself too… Whether or not I have a kitchen or perfect floors is the least important thing right now. You finished the bathrooms and there are outlets in the bedroom. I’ll be fine for a while.” He didn’t respond. “Didn’t you say I meant something to you? And didn’t you once tell me that my happiness meant something to you as well?”
“Yes,” he grumbled.
“No one has to know but us. You can tell Faye you’re working on the place. We’re the only ones who know where everything’s at.”
“I can get a call out at any time.”
“I know and I wouldn’t ask you to neglect those duties… Though I doubt all of them are important emergencies at three in the morning.” Curiosity changed her expression. “Do female tenants call you up with fake emergencies just to seduce you?” No answer. “Be honest.”
“It’s happened.”
“Oh, wow,” she said, realizing just how important it must have been for him to stick to his rules.
“Poppy—”
“I want your word.”
“Nothing happens,” he said, quick to defend his honor.
She rolled her eyes. “Not that. I know that. About our deal. No working on the apartment this week.”
“What if something breaks?”
“I’ll duct tape it back together,” she said, proud of her grin. “You have boxes and boxes of that stuff in the second bedroom.” In the silence that followed, she didn’t feel resistance. If anything, it was relief. Though he wasn’t the type to give in. “Make me happy, baby.” Poppy pouted. “If you won’t have sex with me, the least we can have is a timeshare in a bed.”
His exhale was an appreciative laugh. “I’ll think about it.”
“No, your word,” she said, determined not to give any wiggle room. “I know what it means to you and I want it. Promise me, Turner Maddox.”
Surrendering with a frustrated sigh, he did just that. “Fine, I give you my word.” She grinned. “Those doe-eyes work even from way across town.”
Feeling triumphant, Poppy was exuberant, not because she’d beat him in any way, but because maybe she’d just managed to help. Making his life