His eyes catch mine, and I bite my bottom lip, heat burning my neck and cheeks because I’ve been caught ogling.
With an easy smile, he walks my way. I turn around and stare at Averly with wide eyes. She laughs and orders another round. “Just act normal,” she whispers right before Harris reaches us.
“Hey.” He kisses my cheek and smiles at Averly. “How are you?”
“Good, we’re just catching up.”
Harris leans into my stool, his arms crossed over his chest, the shape of his biceps drawing my attention.
“Hey guys,” I say over his shoulder to the group of people behind Harris.
“Hey!” Ainsley says, smiling. “I haven’t seen you at Cup-O-Joe again.” She frowns as if she’s been looking for me.
“I haven’t had a chance to go back, but if you want to get together one day, I’d love to.” It’d be nice to have her as a friend. She seems easy to get along with, and it’s not easy being new to a town like Everton.
“I’ll take you up on that.”
“You guys know Averly, right?”
“Hey,” Ainsley reaches over for a hug. “I’m Ainsley, the hugger.”
“Nice to meet you officially. You used to bartend here, right?”
“I did.” Her eyes light up. “I love meeting new people. If you’re friends with Poppy, then I’m sure you’re a nice one.” I don’t miss the way Knox protectively wraps his arm around her waist. “Making friends here has proven to be a difficult task.”
“We’re not all bad,” Averly jokes. “Just stay away from the snobs.”
“I know all about them.” Ainsley’s eyes widen with meaning. “Thankfully, I met Lia when she moved back.”
“Yup.” Lia smiles.
“Thanks to me.” Axel lifts his brows, rubbing Ainsley’s head.
“Hey, quit it.” She shoves him with barely any force.
“I’ve never seen two in-laws act more like siblings than these two,” Harris comments, shaking his head.
“Aw, I like you, too, Harris. Even if you did want Knox and me to break up. No need to be jealous, you were forgiven a long time ago.” Ainsley pats Harris’s shoulder as if he were a small child.
“Break up?” I can’t help but ask, looking between them.
“Not break up,” Harris defends. “Lay low was more like it, for obvious reasons at the time. If you had, you’d still have your job here.”
“And miss out on having my own marketing firm. It all worked out in my favor.” Then she looks at Averly and me, lowering her voice. “Although, I don’t recommend getting caught up in celebrity gossip.” She shivers.
“Hey now, it was all for a good cause,” Knox looks down at her, clearly in love.
“You’re lucky I love you.” She pats his chest and then waves at Adam, the bartender.
He takes their order, and they keep their place at the bar with us. We all talk, and I get to know them better. They’re all older than me, and although Lia and Axel were only a couple grades above me in school, I never interacted with the older kids. Awkward and quirky, I stayed to myself and my few close friends.
I like spending time with them now, though. Their dynamic is fun and playful, but you can tell they care about each other. They’re some of the good ones, and I wonder if I can still be friends with them after Harris and I go through our break-up.
The idea of that is a somber one. I’d hate to lose him. He’s also one of the good ones, the kind of man you want on your side.
Needing to clear my mind, I excuse myself and go to the bathroom. I squeeze through the evening crowd at Clarke’s that’s grown since Averly and I got here for happy hour. I’ve lost track of time sitting at the bar, eating greasy cheese fries and drinking beer.
As soon as I walk into the bathroom, I stare at myself in the mirror. Shaking my head, I wash my face, glad I have barely any makeup on so it won’t smear. If Averly is right, then maybe Harris and I have a chance at a real relationship, one that wasn’t forced on him and doesn’t need to have an expiration date.
“Oh, hi, Poppy.” Jessica Moore walks into the bathroom. Her smile is menacing, and I’m not in the mood to deal with her. “How are you?”
“Good.” I look at her through the mirror’s reflection.
“Are you still with Harris?” She arches a brow with perfected practice.
“Yeah.” I lift both of mine, turning around and gripping the counter behind me.
“Really? I thought maybe you two had broken up. I noticed you were here with Averly and Harris showed up with his friends instead of you.”
I take a deep breath before I wring her neck. It’s always been a dream of mine, to choke her until she’s begging for her life. Don’t tell me you don’t have someone that takes out the murderer in you.
“Averly and I wanted girl time before I met up with Harris.” I cross my arms.
“You know what I think?” Not really, but she’s going to tell me anyway. “You two aren’t really a couple,” Jessica smirks as if she’s just won the lottery. I bet she just wants Harris to herself.
Whore Moore.
I give her a sweet smile, bordering scary crazy lady and simply walk away.
I find Harris and sidle up to him, putting my hand in his back pocket, staking my claim. When I look toward the bathroom hall, I notice Jessica watches us with narrowed, scrutinizing eyes. She’s waiting, calculating the reality of our relationship. I’ll give her something to contemplate over.
Harris looks at me with raised eyebrows and a barely concealed grin lifting his lips. “Want to dance?” I lean in and whisper. I couldn’t care less if I interrupted a conversation.
He doesn’t reply. He simply reaches around my shoulders and leads me toward the crowd. We dance, getting closer and becoming more intimate with each beat. The song is an older R&B song that I recognize from when I was younger.
I fling my arms around his neck, looking over my shoulder to see if Jessica is still studying us. She is, and she’s about to be in for a treat. I sing the sensual words as I sway my hips, rubbing against Harris.
Harris, oblivious to what is going on, grips my hips, and pulls me toward him until our bodies are flush against each other. I look up into his eyes, catching his heartbeat at the base of his throat. His light eyes have turned a darker shade, burning bright. Hell, at the moment, I have to agree with Averly and her assumptions.
I lean up on my toes so I can be closer to his height and kiss him. His arm loops around my waist, holding me there, and his mouth moves with mine. His tongue traces the seam of my lips. I’m not sure if he’s asking for permission or tasting me, but I open for him regardless. His other hand tangles in my hair, tilting my head. Our tongues meet, the stroke igniting me, the moan leaving my mouth before I can process it’s happening. I tighten my arms around his neck, my head swimming with desire.
His light scruff scratches my face as we deepen the kiss, without a care in the world that we’re in a public place. The lingering taste of his beer mixed with mint is an odd combination that I want to memorize. Harris’s fingers sneak under my shirt on the sides of my back, burning me, searing me, marking me as his. This kiss is my doom.
When someone whistles loudly, I tense in Harris’s arms. I stop the kiss abruptly, but his hand in my hair keeps my mouth millimeters from his.
“Harris?” I whisper.
“Hmmm.” His eyes are still closed.
“We can stop now. I think we got the message across.” My voice fails in making me sound indifferent. My heart is beating so hard, I swear he can hear it.
“Huh?” He blinks his eyes open. “Oh, yeah.” His hands leave my body, and he takes a step back. Instantly, I want to step into his personal space and demand he hold me again. I want nothing more than to feel him like that again. Harris looks around Clarke’s, people are staring at us. He scratches his scruffy cheek and finds my eyes. The slight furrow of his brows halts my heart.
“Sorry,” I say quickly. “Jessica found me in the
bathroom and accused me of lying about our relationship. She got under my skin, so I just acted without thinking.”
“Damn, Poppy. I didn’t know you had it in you,” Eric, a guy I went to high school with, laughs.
“Watch it,” Harris steps between Eric and me, his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
“Chill, man.” Eric raises his palms and walks away.
“I probably should’ve thought about everyone watching us before I reacted.” I look around, some people smiling, our PDA already forgotten by others, and Jessica is standing next to Patrick, an ugly scowl on her face.
“I need some fresh air.” I walk away from Harris and head toward the front door, breathing loudly when the cool fall air hits me. I gulp a deep breath, willing my heart to slow down, and the tears not to fall. I lean against the brick wall and cover my face with my hands. This would be so much easier if Harris wasn’t a guy I could actually fall for.
Harris
My fingers move through my hair, tugging it. I wish it were longer so I could feel sharper pain than a few pricks on my scalp.
What the hell just happened? I’m rooted in place, staring at the front door, trying to figure out why Poppy ran the way she did. Did she not feel that kiss like I did?
I find a few pitying eyes looking at me, and I snap back to the present. Ignoring all of them, I stalk out of Clarke’s and look for Poppy with hopes she hasn’t left yet. The quiet street is a welcomed contrast to the loud bar. Now, I can think clearly.
Looking right then left, I spy Poppy a few feet down from the door, leaning against the wall. Her shoulders shake softly.
With my hands in my pocket, I walk over to her. “Hey.” Her shoulders noticeably tense.
Poppy runs her hands down her face and lifts her head, staring straight ahead. “Hi,” her voice is hoarse.
“What’s going on?” I take a step closer.
She shakes her head, silent. “I’ll head inside in a few.”
“I don’t care about that. I care about you and why you’re out here crying.”
Her red eyes and swollen lips turn to me. “I shouldn’t have crossed that line. I’m sorry.”
“Poppy, stop apologizing. I’m not sorry you kissed me. Actually, I’m glad you did. Wish I had the balls to do it myself.” Her eyebrows pull together, her lips pinch to the side.
“But.”
I shake my head to stop her. “I know you just needed a fill-in boyfriend for a few weeks, but is it such a terrible idea to date for real?” I stare into her eyes, the usually calm aqua now a stormy ocean. “I like you. That’s what I wanted to tell you at dinner last night before we ran into Knox. I just wasn’t sure if you were on the same page.” I run a hand through my hair, blowing out a breath.
Poppy is eerily still, her palms pressed into the brick behind her. “We’ve only known each other for like, two weeks.”
“Is that not enough time to know if you’re interested in someone? Want to date them?”
“I guess it is.” She turns, finally removing herself from the wall.
I take another step forward. “That kiss was—”
“Amazing,” Poppy finishes for me.
“I like you,” I repeat. “As more than a fake girlfriend. I want to get to know more about you outside of a cheat sheet I need to memorize so I can lie to people, lie to you.” I shake my head.
“I like you, too.” Her confession makes me smile, and I reach for her hand. Then, she giggles. When I lift my brows, her head sways. “This is like middle school crush confession or something.”
I chuckle and squeeze her hand. “I guarantee what I’m feeling was very unfamiliar to me when I was in middle school,” I keep my voice low and wrap my free hand around her waist. Poppy stumbles when I pull her to me, her hand landing on my chest.
She’s stunning, kind-hearted, funny. I’d be a fool not to fall for her.
“It was my kissing skill that did you in.” She bites her lower lip, her smile still coming through despite her efforts to contain it.
“It was very convincing,” I whisper into her ear.
“Really?” She looks up at me with wide, innocent eyes. “Because I’m not sure you convinced me.”
“Is that so?” One side of my lips lift.
Poppy shrugs and looks over my shoulder before staring back at me. “It was actually very unconvincing,” she emphasizes. “I think you should kiss me again.” Her eyes flicker to my lips then back to my eyes, the storm now darkened with desire.
Wordlessly, I lean into her, my lips pressing against hers. This time, I don’t need to ask for permission. Poppy opens for me, her tongue in search of mine. I release her hand and move up to her hair, feeling the silky strands against my fingers before I tug to angle her better.
She claws my back, and I groan. Our bodies are flush, my dick hardening with each stroke of our tongues. I know she feels me, there’s no way she can’t. She pushes her body into me, her moans vibrating against my lips.
I move to lean against the wall, widening my legs so she can stand between them and get back to tasting her sweet lips.
“Harris,” she says against my mouth. “We should stop.” Her words are empty as she kisses my chin, my cheeks, and presses her body against me.
I groan and close my eyes, catching my breath. “Probably a good idea.” My dick is straining against my jeans, and we’re out in public.
“I’ll take this as a yes?” I stand to my full height and hold her hands. “We get rid of the fake relationship, and you’ll go on a date with me?”
Poppy doesn’t hesitate. Her smile lights up her eyes, the sadness washed away. “Only if you promise there’ll be a second.”
“And a third,” I guarantee. I kiss her forehead and look down into her eyes. “Should we go back inside?”
When she nods, I keep her hand in mine and walk into Clarke’s. Everyone has already forgotten about our kiss and the tension that followed. Now, we don’t have to pretend or raise suspicions. I can touch Poppy, reach for her like I want, without questioning what is appropriate for our disguise and what is crossing the line. Glad I told Poppy how I feel, I look over at her as we walk up to the bar where we left our friends.
Ainsley catches our hands then looks up at our faces, her mouth splitting into a smile. She’s onto us. “I very much approve,” she winks. I nod once and look at Poppy, her cheeks pink.
Once I order us fresh drinks, I keep my arm around Poppy to make sure she’s by my side. I talk to Knox and Axel while the girls have their own conversation. This feels right, finally.
Every so often, Poppy will glance over at me, a small smile on her face. I love that secret smile she directs at me, as if we are the only two here. I move my arm from her shoulder and drop it to her waist, sneaking my thumb under her shirt, rubbing it back and forth against her smooth skin.
Poppy shivers and turns her head at me, wide eyes causing me to chuckle. I lean into her ear and whisper, “Relax.”
“It tickles.” Her mouth is inches from mine, her chest rises quickly with a sudden breath. My eyes flicker from her beautiful eyes to her full lips and back up. A throat being cleared breaks our moment, and we both hesitate to turn away and look at who’s drawing our attention.
“Hate to break the moment and all, but we’re gonna get goin’,” Knox smiles and looks at us with a shake of his head. Ainsley, next to him, smiles and says goodbye.
“Oh, do you think Howdy’s Pizza is still open?” Lia looks at Axel.
“I’m pretty sure they’re open until eleven,” Averly answers her.
“Pizza?” Axel shakes his head at his girlfriend. “Come on. See you guys later.” He lifts his chin.
“Okay, I’m gonna go, too.” Averly stands from her stool. “You two lovebirds have fun,” she winks. “Call me tomorrow and tell me all about it,” she tells Poppy, not caring that I’m standing in front of her.
I laugh at her honesty and look at Poppy. “Guess they left us alone.”
“Yeah, and they weren’t subtle about it.” She shakes her head in amusement.
We take a seat at the now empty stools at the bar. “How was work today?” I haven’t even had a chance to ask her about her day.
“Good, although Claire told the entire class she saw us at dinner last night, confirming their suspicions that I have a boyfriend,” she laughs.
“How old are these kids?” Claire couldn’t have been more than eight years old.
“Seven.”
“And they’re talking boyfriends and girlfriends?” I lift my brows.
Poppy’s chest shakes with laughter. “You have no idea. Last year I had two students that would hold hands in recess.”
“Wow.” I run a hand through my hair. “Kids, huh?”
“Yup,” she pops the P.
“So now your entire class knows you have a boyfriend,” I state.
“Yeah, and according to Claire, he’s a very cute boy with yellow hair.” She bites down her smile.
“You don’t say. What about, according to Poppy?” I scoot forward and reach for her hand.
She takes a drink of her beer, stalling. After she swallows, she tilts her head. “I think he’s quite handsome, charming, and,” she pauses and leans forward to whisper in my ear, “a great kisser.”
I groan and squeeze her fingers. “I’ll show you more of that.” I wink.
Poppy’s lips fall open as she sucks in a breath, clearly as affected by our previous kiss as I was.
“Poppy, Harris.” Another person interrupts us. Are they ever going to let me kiss this woman?
I look over Poppy’s shoulder and see Jessica.
“Hi,” I offer a tight smile and look back at Poppy. No need to get mixed up with her from what Poppy’s told me.
I watch Poppy roll her eyes without acknowledging Jessica, and I cough to cover up my laugh. It’s refreshing she doesn’t hide her feelings. When she realizes we aren’t going to give her any attention, Jessica walks away with a cocktail in hand.
Pretend You're Mine Page 9
