“Wait! Why am I taking a nap?” She fought to stay focused.
“Because I require you tonight.”
Her eyes darted between my thumb and my gaze. “Oh, no!” She shoved past me, going to the stove. “Let’s get this straight right now, mister. I’m not doing anything with you. We might be stuck in some weird coparenting situation, but that is it. That’s where I draw the line.”
Hiding my amusement, I turned and leaned back against the island. “I’m not asking you to bed.”Yet.“I’m taking you to a poker match.”
Poppy’s eyes bulged. “Excuse me?”
“It’s a card game,” I teased. “Bets are placed. Large amounts of money exchange hands. Are you not familiar with it?”
Poppy waved the spatula around. “I know what poker is, dummy, I just have no idea why you would think staying out late and playing cards sounds like somethingIwould do?”
I cocked my head. “What’s your idea of a perfect night?”
Letting out an exasperated breath, Poppy poked at the pan. “Sitting down with a good book.”
Of course it was.
I would have to calculate that into my plans somehow.
But later.
“I’ll have a dress for you. Rayko will stay and watch cartoons with Brady. I’ll be here at eight to pick you up.”
“Brady needs to be asleep before then!” she protested.
As if on cue, the boy sprinted into the room. “Tatko!”
The steadythwump-thwumpof my heart sent a bolt of warmth through my veins. I only just met this boy, but somehow, my heart had known him all along.
“Ivan,” Poppy warned. “I’m not going. You heard me say that, right?”
“Be ready at eight,” I repeated and gave her a steady look before striding into the living room. I would give her a minute to collect herself before we sat down to eat. If my pancake was a little burnt, I would eat it without complaint.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t. This woman was a damn fine cook.
Chapter 15 – Poppy
Oh, merciful heavens!I never felt like a hooker before, but this dress gave me a pretty good idea. Not to mention the size was perfect. I had a slight frame like my mother that filled out plump in the past few years thanks to my father’s genetics and my addiction to baking. However, I was confident that using cleaner ingredients and cooking wholesome foods would extend my longevity, unlike him.
The whisp of a dress clung to my body like a second skin, skimming the tops of my thighs and barely covering my backside. I would have to be extremely careful not to bend—not even a little. And my boobs barely stayed in the top. Since I hadn’t packed a strapless bra, I had to finagle mine with ponytails to be supportive and stay in place.
“I look ridiculous,” I muttered to my reflection in the bathroom mirror.
Purposefully forgetting the shoes, I opted for the simple black ballet flats. There was no way I could have walked in the skyscrapers that were asking for a broken ankle or worse. Iwasn’t one of those girls who could effortlessly glide on platform stilts.
If Ivan wanted someone taller, he shouldn’t have asked me to the poker match.
The question of why he’d asked me needled and prickled in the back of my head. Rayko was glued to the TV when I emerged. He didn’t look up, didn’t offer some lewd male remark over the ridiculous getup. I scurried into the bedroom, wincing at the squeak in the hinges. Brady took a deep breath but remained asleep. I paused at the side of the bed. A blessing played on my lips. The prayer I whispered over him every time I caught him sleeping. It was such a simple thing. But in this world of chaos, divine protection seemed the only resource I could pour over the child. I resisted the urge to smooth back his wild mane, not wanting him to wake and see me like this.
Hell, I didn’t want anyone to see me like this. It wasn’t me.
Grabbing a button-up cardigan, because it made me feel more comfortable, I slipped outside. My timing was perfect. Ivan’s sleek sports car pulled into the alley, then turned into the drive.
“Your prisoner is ready,” I quipped, sliding into the passenger seat and reaching for the buckle.
When he remained quiet, I finally summoned the courage to look at him.
