Poppy: I’m open to suggestions.
Braden: I have plenty. So where are you having dinner? Anywhere I’ve been?
Poppy: Urban Kitchen, and not unless you have a secret life I’m unaware of.
Braden: I’ll have to give it a try.
Poppy: Next time you’re in town?
Braden: It’s a date. Enjoy your dinner. I’m looking forward to suggesting things later.
Poppy: LOL me too…
That went exactly as planned. The timing is perfect for picking up the rental car and heading that way. I’ve been wanting to meet this Matt guy anyway. Make sure he’s not after my girl while I’m not around. If he isn’t, he’s an idiot, and if he is? He’ll understand she’s mine by the end of the night.
18
OLD NEWS
Poppy
“What’s good here?” Matt asks as he stares down at the menu.
“Everything. Let’s hurry and order. I’m starving.”
He laughs, but quickly stops when his gaze moves behind me in confusion. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
I turn to look and am shocked to see Braden striding toward our table, looking like he stepped off the cover of GQ. Damn, the man is gorgeous. Like, serious eye candy. From the suit to the sideburns, to the body underneath, that I’m now familiar with… it doesn’t get any better.
“Did you know he was coming?” Matt asks, interrupting my thoughts from going the wrong direction in the presence of company.
“No,” I insist, still in disbelief.
When he makes it over and swoops in for a hug, there’s no denying he’s really here, especially as he cups my cheek and kisses me. That’s when it strikes—I’m utterly smitten. Straight up, I’m hooked on this man who came in like a hurricane, turning my world upside down.
I’ve been falling harder every day, and each night becomes more difficult to deny the pull he has on me. I’m sad when our calls end, immediately anticipating the next one. I kept wishing he’d text me during the day, like on Monday, but he didn’t.
When I asked him why, his answer fueled my growing infatuation. He said that once he started, it’s all he wanted to do and couldn’t focus on work—that it was hard enough concentrating while thinking about me all day.
“Surprise, Mouse,” he says as he pulls away and straightens to his full height.
He then turns his attention to my companion. “Matt, I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Braden, Poppy’s boyfriend.”
The choking sound to escape my mouth is unintended and met with a “what the fuck?” look from Matt, along with a smirk from Braden.
Matt quickly recovers and shakes Braden’s outstretched hand. “Funny, Poppy forgot to tell me you were official. Congratulations.”
“Well… we’re testing the waters. It’s not—”
“It’s a work in progress.” Braden cuts me off. “One weekend at a time. Right, Mouse?” He winks at me.
Oh my God. Is this really happening? I’m not sure what to say. Thankfully, he has enough to say for both of us.
“Sorry to barge in on your dinner, but I thought it was a great opportunity to meet one of Poppy’s friends, since we didn’t have a chance to talk at the wedding. Do you mind if I join you guys?”
“Take a seat. We haven’t ordered yet, so you came at the right time. I’ll go tell the waiter we have an addition,” Matt offers, subtly giving us a moment to ourselves.
When he’s out of earshot, I turn to Braden. “What are you doing here? Did you have another meeting?”
