Poppy: Thank God for autocorrect. I did not know how to spell that word.
Smiling, I shut down my computer. Oh, crap. “Van.” I rushed to his office.
He had an elbow propped on the desk and his other hand on the keyboard. He was focused, but as soon as I appeared, he instantly switched his attention to me. I could’ve puffed my chest out. “Poppy wants to meet me tonight. It is my night to cook.”
He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll have dude food.”
“What’s that?”
“Lots of things, but probably some meat slapped between bread slices and eaten while standing up and wandering around thinking of all the things I should be doing.”
I’d seen Alder do that a few times before he had left the house. “I can bring you back something.”
“Concentrate on your night with her.”
Excitement welled up, and flutters spread through my belly. It likely wasn’t the baby, but soon it would be. I could pull his hand over, and— he wouldn’t be around. Those tickles went still. “Okay. I’m taking off. We’re going to Crocus Valley.”
“Purple Petal?”
“They have better fries. What’s with the crust on all of them nowadays?” We shared a grin, and those butterflies churned into action. I backed away before I continued to stand there and smile all dopey at him.
It wouldn’t take much to do it.
I rushed around getting ready. Before I ducked out the door, I nearly veered into his office to give him a goodbye kiss. The pull was almost too much to overcome. “Bye!” I shouted instead.
“Have fun!”
I was smiling when I hopped into my car.
The drive to Crocus Valley was less than ten minutes. I’d grown up loving that so many small towns were short drives away. What one town didn’t have, another likely did—a movie theater, pool, or coffee shops.
Poppy was just pulling in when I got out of my car. She hopped out and stormed toward me, her curls flying behind her. She wrapped me in a giant hug and spun me around.
“Whoa.” I held her, mostly to stay on my feet. “Did you miss me?”
“I always miss you, but I’ve been letting too much other stuff distract me.” She held me out at arm’s length. “Holy shit, you’re really pregnant.”
I wore leggings. All my jeans were put away. The waistbands were just too constricting. Same with any snug shirts. The top I had on was more of a long T-shirt, meant to look trendy. “I don’t need much for a new wardrobe, but I want to be comfortable. Seems more important if I’m working from home.”
“If you need an office, you can always lease one at the Perez house.” She hooked her arm through mine and towed me toward the entrance.
Perez house was the place Poppy had inherited and made into her learning center. It was an old and beloved farmhouse in town. “But you’re hiring new people.”
“I am, but it’s still my building to do with what I want, and if I want my sister to work with me, I get my way.”
“I hate to say the kids might be an issue during my meetings.”
“The oil company doesn’t want giggling in the background of your meetings?” she teased.
Laughing, I pulled the door open, and we were surrounded by the smell of charred meat and grease fryers. My appetite came to life.
After we were seated, I looked around. Pictures of crocuses from various nearby pastures filled the wall, and the ceiling fans looked like giant petals. “I need to come here with Van again.”
She gave me a sidelong look. “Date night?”
“No,” I said a little too quickly. “But I like hanging out with him.”
“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
