Love Me Forever - Juliana Stone Page 0,45

She stared at her phone until her eyes blurred and then, irritated with herself for acting like a damn teenager, typed a short reply that was to the point and no way could Boone read anything into it.

I’ll be ready

She’d barely hit Reply when the three little dots appeared on the screen, and she bit her lip waiting for his response. It didn’t take long.

Wear something that’s easy to take off

She laughed at that. Huh. Boone Avery was damn sure of himself. Though, in his defense, she’d already given in. Twice.

I don’t plan on getting naked with you

The three dots appeared again, and, cheeks hot, she jumped to her feet, strangely exhilarated.

I think you’re wrong about that, Fairbanks.

Her reply was cheeky.

I’m never wrong

The dots blinked, and just as quickly, his reply came through.

We’ll see about that

Poppy grinned and put her phone away. She didn’t have time to flirt with Boone over text. She had inventory to put out and hopefully could get out of the store by four thirty. Normally, she was open until five on Saturdays, but her part-timer had quit, and there was only Poppy at the moment. She walked back to the storefront just as Blue Booker walked into the store, dangling a key in her hand.

“I still have it,” her friend said with a smile. Blue had worked part-time for Poppy for a short period of time, before her life with Cam and the kids and dance studio took her away. It was how they’d become such good friends.

“Do you need something?” Poppy asked, walking over to give Blue a hug.

“Not really,” Blue replied, taking a step back. “I haven’t talked to you in a few days, and I stopped by the gazebo to bring something to Cam. Thought I’d walk over and say hello.”

“I’m glad you did.” Poppy looked over Blue’s shoulder, through the window toward the park. “I didn’t think they’d be working today because of the rain.”

“They have the roof up, so they were finishing up a few things underneath. Electrical and sanding, I think.” She paused and got a look in her eye—one that put Poppy on alert. “Apparently, Boone was there with Benji, but Cam said he left a couple hours ago.”

“Oh, that’s nice,” Poppy murmured, a little annoyed that the man she was doing whatever it was she was doing with had been across the road and she’d not known.

“Cam said he was being weird.”

“Weird?” Her eyebrow shot up. “About what?”

Blue shrugged. “Evasive. We invited him for dinner, but he said he had plans, and when Cam asked him who he had plans with, he wouldn’t say.”

Something sharp poked at Poppy’s chest, something a little painful. Was this going to be another repeat of the past? One where they met up, screwed each other’s brains out, and then…silence? Was she nothing more than a body for Boone to have sex with? Disappointment washed over her, and she glanced away. She took a moment and cleared her throat.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Why do you think?” Blue replied. “Don’t you have something you want to tell me?”

“No,” Poppy retorted quickly, avoiding Blue’s gaze. The woman had magical powers of perception.

“Fine,” Blue said lightly. “Don’t tell me about your amazing night with Boone. It’s not like I’m invested in this or anything.”

“What?” Her head shot up so quickly, she saw stars. “How did you…” Dammit. Busted. A big grin fell over Blue’s face, and she giggled.

“I knew the morning after, when he showed up looking thoroughly satisfied with himself and his boxers falling out of the front pocket of his shorts. Coming here confirmed it. You look different.”

“I do not.”

Blue nodded. “Oh yes, you do. You look like you’ve had at least three or four orgasms since we last talked.”

“More like six or seven. Probably eight or nine.”

“Well, I’m impressed.” Blue’s smile slowly fell away. “Are you good with this? I mean, obviously, the sex is off the charts, but I know you, Poppy. You don’t do casual.”

Poppy swore and threw up her hands. “Why does everyone keep telling me that?”

“Because it’s true. There’s nothing wrong with casual or getting that itch scratched when you need it. But you’re not wired that way. You just aren’t. And I don’t know Boone well enough to know if he knows that.”

“He knows,” Poppy said quietly.

“You’ve talked about this, then?”

“Not really,” she admitted. Poppy sighed and glanced up at the ceiling, hating the sting of tears that poked at her eyes. “I don’t know what