Page 55 of Stay Wild Darlin’

Her color was better, her eyes brighter, and she’d spent the entire afternoon happily babbling from her seat like nothing had ever been wrong. She kicked her feet, grabbed at her toys, and made those little squealing sounds that filled the house with something I hadn’t realized I’d been missing—peace.

When we’d gotten home, Poppy looked like she could barely keep her eyes open.

I stepped in before she could even start pulling stuff from the diaper bag.

“Go shower, then sleep. I’ve got her.”

She hesitated—like she didn’t quite believe I meant it—but I gave her a look.

She nodded, finally, and disappeared down the hallway, her shoulders slack, her body heavy with exhaustion.

When she was gone, I looked at Cora, drool running down her chin, and whispered, “That girl saved your life. Don’t think I’ll ever forget that.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur.

I cleaned up the house on autopilot. Cora had fallen asleep early, full and happy and completely unaware of how close I’d come to falling apart.

I gently laid her down in her crib, ran a hand over her soft curls, and watched her tiny chest rise and fall in the glow of the night-light. I was wrecked—hadn’t slept since the flight, barely ate—but there was still more to do.

I pulled out my phone and shot off a message to Fable—told her I needed a favor. That I needed her and Beau to help with Cora for a few hours tomorrow, knowing Beau got back in the evening. I didn’t give her the full story, only enough to let her know I needed a break . . . and I needed Poppy’s help.

It didn’t take long for her to agree.

I slipped the phone into my pocket and crossed the living room, feet dragging more than I’d admit. I stopped outside Poppy’s door, stared at it for a second, then raised my hand.

Knocked once.

“Come in,” she called softly from the other side of the door.

I pushed it open, balancing a plate in one hand, holding it up like an offering. “Brought you dinner,” I said.

She was curled up in bed, hair wrapped in a towel like she’d recently gotten out of the shower. What made my brain stall for a full two seconds was the fact that she had no pants on.

She was in an oversized T-shirt that dipped low over her thighs, but still left a whole lot of bare legs on display. Her skin looked soft and warm, and yeah, I fucking looked.

Sue me.

“Thank you,” she muttered, sitting up a little, pulling the shirt down instinctively. “I think I slept the whole day, huh?”

“You needed it,” I said, stepping farther in and setting the plate on the nightstand.

She rubbed her eyes, blinking slowly. “How’s Cora?”

“Perfect,” I said, without hesitation. “Like nothing happened.”

“Good,” she whispered, then reached for the plate, settling it on her lap.

For a second, we stared at each other.

“Would you, uh, would you like to sit with me while I eat this?”

I should’ve said no.

I should’ve walked out.

“Yeah.”

She patted the bed beside her, and I sat down without a word, the mattress dipping beneath me as she adjusted the plate on her lap and took the first bite of the sandwich I made.