I watched the partially opened door. Since it was an outside company we’d hired, and not my men doing simple things like flooring, cabinets, and paint, the work had to be done during the day. I changed my schedule to be home and sleeping from midnight to six in the morning. That meant the last three days I’d been around during the day. Playing with Brady, watching him cook with Poppy, listening while she read to him.
I liked being home.
Rubbing my jaw, I watched as Brady was hurried into bed.
The bathroom was the last room that needed remodeling. The contractor offered to bring us a trailer that had a nice toilet and sink. Poppy didn’t complain once about using the bathroom outside. Brady informed me it was just like camping in his great-uncle’s RV.
This house had new life breathed into it. All because of her. Who would have thought that I, of all people, would be a family man? Looking around the cozy kitchen, with the walls still bare, I frowned.
The bedroom door opened and shut. Poppy came down the hall with a towel hanging from her hand, and draped over her shoulder were the cotton pajamas she slept in. I’d only seen them on her once, that very first morning. She was careful to always be dressed or wear a baggy sweatshirt in the mornings. But I remembered the PJs. And fuck were they sexy. She made pink lounge pants with cherries hotter than any lingerie.
“What’s that look for?” Poppy stopped short, soulful eyes going wide.
Her timidity found moments like this to show itself.Ebasi.She was still scared of me.
“Just wondering if you wanted to…you know.” I gestured to the walls. “Decorate.”
She blinked rapidly, as if I was speaking a fucking foreign language.
The bedroom door cracked open. Brady poked his head out and smirked.
“What is it?” Poppy rounded on him.
“I just need a drink,” he said, clearly pushing his luck.
Poppy let out an exasperated sigh. “A quick one.”
Brady scurried to the fridge, took a small sip from his cup, slammed it back on the shelf, and then tore off to the room before the appliance door closed.
“Decorate?” Poppy cocked her head. “You want the house decorated?”
“Yeah, you know.” I tugged at the back of my neck. “That girly shit.”
“Girly shit?” Poppy planted her hand on her hip.
I smirked. The shyness was quickly evaporating.
The bedroom door cracked again.
“Brady,” Poppy groaned.
“Tatko didn’t say his prayers. We don’t want him to be a heathen, mama.”
I pinned her with a look. The only way the boy knew that concept was from her.
“He’s going to work,” Poppy explained. “He’ll pray later. Probably.”
Except, I wasn’t going out tonight. I had other plans. Ones that involved wooing my little flower.
“He could say them now. And later,” Brady said with a cheeky grin.
To appease the tiny monster, I bowed my head and folded my hands.
“Lord, bless this house and those who dwell here,” I said reverently. “Protect and keep us. Amen.”
Brady seemed satisfied and closed the door.
Poppy stared at me.
