“It’s onlySeptember.” Every time he says that word, he growls it. And that growly sound makes me wish we were alone so he could growl other things into my ear. Like, “Kiss me again,” and “I want you.” And “Climb me like a tree so I can make your wildest dreams come true.”
I give a little whimper.
“What?” he asks.
“Nothing. Do you want her awake so she can change and brush her teeth?” I say.
“She’s fine.”
He pulls the covers back, and I slip off her shoes and place her in the middle of the crisp sheets. She opens her eyes.
“Poppy.” Her voice is slow and sweet, on the edge of dreams.
“Hey, Belle.” I smile down at her. “It was great meeting you. You were very brave in the elevator. I’m glad you and your dad were there to keep me company.”
She rubs her eyes and yawns. “He’s a hero in the movies. It’s good he was there to keep us from being scared,” Belle says.
“He was quite the hero,” I agree solemnly.
“Exactly. That’s what I’ve been saying.” Ronan pretends to grumble, but his eyes are filled with amusement. “Not all heroes carry duct tape.”
“Did you make a joke, big guy?” I can’t help the warmth of pleasure that runs through me. Something tells me that he doesn’t joke with many people.
A slight smirk is his only answer.
And that’s when it hits me. I’ll likely never see him again, at least not in person. This sense of loss is illogical. But he’s so handsome. And adorable in a burly action-hero way. And how his mouth quirks up when he’s amused just does it for me. Me and a million other ladies.
“So—”
“Well—”
He inclines his head. “You go first.”
I have no idea what I was going to say.
“Oh, um. Just goodbye, I guess. I’ll leave you to it and see myself out.”
I look into his inscrutable eyes and will him to say he’s fallen for me and that he wants me for all eternity.
Or something like that.
Instead, he just watches me, giving away nothing.
I nod, swallowing back the disappointment.
“Bye, Poppy,” Belle says on a yawn.
“Bye, Belle. Remember. Princesses can slay dragons too.”
“I don’t want to slay dragons. I want to help them be happy.”
I grin. “Wise girl.” On impulse, I brush my lips to the top of her head. “Sleep well, sweetheart.” Her eyes close.
“Night,” she mumbles.
I step aside, and Ronan leans down and kisses her as well, brushing her straight blond hair back from her forehead.
“Good night,” he says gruffly.
