“Oh, Sil,” Marigold reacted to the jibe. “There is more to life than money.”
“You’ve enjoyed your life of luxury,” Silvia said. “If it was good enough for you, why isn’t it good enough for us?”
“Silvia,” Clark said, taking his wife’s hand. “Why do you react? You only encourage her.”
Grammie leaned over her food to address her daughter-in-law. “It wouldn’t be such a bad thing for your girls to live in the real world. For all of you to live out there, it gives you a greater appreciation for what you take for granted.”
Poppy didn’t even realize she was going to laugh until the sound came out. It was just a short spurt, but enough to draw the diners scrutiny. “I’m sorry,” she said to each of her sisters and parents, but settled on her grandmother beyond Turner. “It doesn’t matter what any of us appreciate, Grammie, it doesn’t mean we can have it. You appreciated Grandpa and he’s gone. Val appreciated her husband. Mom appreciates her manicures… it doesn’t matter. Life doesn’t work that way.”
“Whatever path you choose, Tater-Tot, the happiness you had was real, even if it was brief. Your understanding of the world is better. Of course, you know me, I won’t judge you no matter what you decide. If you want to marry this man or Holden or any other, if you want to go it alone and never marry, I don’t mind. Heck, you have the looks and the charm to build your very own harem of hotties. I’ll sign this place over to you. If you want to turn it into your own private den of iniquity, that’s just fine by me.”
“Not by me,” Turner said.
Though there wasn’t an ounce of humor in his voice, the statement amused her. That was the last thing Poppy would want and definitely wasn’t why she was holding back from him.
“So if we go and live away from the estate for three months, then you’ll promise not to sell our home out from under us?” Primrose asked.
Before Grammie had a chance to answer, her father’s head rose. “Tiller, what is it?”
The chief valet was just inside the doors. “Miss Poppy, your guest has arrived.”
Gasping in excitement, she shot to her feet almost forgetting her manners for a moment. “Dad, can I be excused just for… ten minutes…” Cringing, she pushed her luck. “Maybe we could set another place at the table?”
Her father considered her for a moment before relenting his smile. “The kitchen already have orders. Just keep your meeting brief.”
“Thank you,” Poppy said, dashing away from the table to join Tiller who walked her out of the dining room. “Where is he?”
“Library.”
SIX
Creeping into the library, Poppy scanned the space. She found Preston at the window, his back to the room, looking out toward the sea.
For some reason, seeing him brought her relief. “Preston?”
He spun around and smiled when he registered her identity. “Private jets and country manors. Weren’t you hiding your light under a bushel?” With arms wide, he came over and they embraced. “Where’s the knucklehead?”
“Oh,” she said, just realizing how she’d abandoned him. “I left him at dinner with my family.” Maybe not the best idea, but she shrugged it off. “Four women and just one other guy. He’ll figure it out.”
Grammie already loved him anyway. Her sisters wouldn’t pose a challenge, he knew how to handle sisters. Her parents would be the biggest obstacle. Still, Poppy had complete faith.
“So,” he said as she guided him to the couch that faced the fireplace. “What am I doing here?”
“Holden Abernathy is why you’re here,” she said as they sat down next to each other. “But now that I’m thinking about it, you can help me with Turner too.”
“What’s going on? Val said you guys are on the rocks already. He just got here yesterday, didn’t he? No one even knew you two were… whatever you are.”
“We’re not on the rocks, we didn’t… We’re not together, we can’t be together. I’m having some trouble making him see that.”
Preston’s head bobbed in understanding. “Okay,” he said. “It’s sort of odd that you’d fly one of his best friends out to dump him for you. You want me to escort him home or something?”
“No, I didn’t…” Poppy took her time about breathing in and out before continuing. “I flew you out here because I’m done with Holden’s harassment. He’s taken over my life and I haven’t even seen him for months. My family are living under siege. He needs to let this go, to leave all of us alone.”
“Have you talked to him?”
“Grammie says that would just be rewarding his bad behavior.”
“Maybe or he could need to hear how it is from the horse’s mouth. You plan some type of injunction?”
“I don’t know what I plan. I’m not a lawyer and my parents’ lawyers are more worried about the business than they are other people’s lives.” Leaning forward, she took his hand. “Charley has every right to be pissed. Charley, Faye, Val, they have the right to be mad at me. I don’t want them going through this. Living under the threat of Holden’s people jumping at them all the time, the press invading their lives.”
“From what I know of the situation, you don’t deserve it either.”
“My needs are secondary to the Maddox’s. That’s why you’re here. I need you in every room while the planning is going on. I need you steering at the helm of this. We have to get Holden to stop.”
“Okay, you know I’m not licensed to practice here?”
“That’s okay. We need him to stop at home as well as here. But hire whoever you need. If someone has to file paperwork or go to court, money is no object.”
“I love it when a client says that.”
“I mean it and there’s no conflict here either. Turner was just saying how he wants it to stop and that’s what I want too. The Maddox family are your primary concern, always, but I trust you to see the human side of this more than my family’s people… Whatever happens, it’s got to be better for you to be in the room, right?”
“Absolutely. I’ll need some time to orient myself, to talk to your family’s people, do some research. This isn’t my area of expertise and the rules are different in every state.”
“Whatever you need. Tiller will set up meetings for you with whoever you need to speak to. You have full autonomy,” she said and clutched his hand closer. “But not tonight, you’ve been traveling. I’m sure it’s been a long day. There’s a place for you at the dinner table and Turner would love to see you.”
They stood up together to head out of the room. “Did you tell him I was coming?”
“I thought you would.”
“He didn’t have his phone today,” Preston said. “The girls have been blowing it up and someone has to pay those bills.” Whether that was a joke or not, Poppy wasn’t sure. “He probably doesn’t know what to say to them either. None of us knew you guys were…”
Whatever they were.
“You’re not the only one,” she said, looping her arm through his. “I’m not sure even Turner knows what he wants.”
“He came all this way and had a long drive to think about it. He has no doubts. But you know what?” Preston said, pausing just before the dining room, the mumble of conversation carried from inside. “If you do…” he smiled, “sending him home is exactly what you should do.”
The words were kind and understanding, but they brought her up short. Sure? It was almost laughable that he’d suggest that, Poppy wasn’t sure about anything. Except getting rid of Holden.
“Hey, buddy!”
“What the hell!”
The male calls snapped her back to the moment. Preston had gone into the dining room, she followed just in time to see the end of their man-hug.
“You’ve gone up in the world,” Preston said, smacking his friend on the back.
“What are you doing here, man?”
“Poppy called,” Preston said, going over to the table to introduce himself.
“My daughter spea
ks highly of you,” Clark Granger said as he and Preston shook hands.
“Because I said I trust him? That’s highly?” Catching sight of Turner, Poppy wasn’t sure why his stare was so intent. “What?” she asked him. In the background, names and relationships were being exchanged. “You want rid of Holden, Preston’s who I want in the meetings.” It should’ve occurred to her to ask Turner’s permission. “I’m sorry. I should’ve asked you, I didn’t think. He knows your family are the priority. All the way.”
A moment passed.
“Come here,” Turner said.
Going to him was an automatic response, though Poppy had no idea what would happen when she got there. Turned out worrying was unnecessary. He just slid a hand down the back of her head to draw her closer so he could descend to kiss her hair.
His lips moved in her locks. “You just keep getting better and better.”
She grabbed his belt buckle while leaning back. “He’s also here to take you home.”
Turner’s brows just rose; his smile wasn’t worried. “Oh, he is, huh?”
“Mm hmm,” she said, her lips curling as he bowed over her.
“Let’s see how that works out for him.”
“I think the point is…” Raising her arms, Poppy looped them around his neck. “It’s supposed to work out for me.”
“Oh, I’ll make sure everything works just fine for you.”
“Always did, baby,” she purred.
“Damn right it did.”
His mouth was almost on hers when Clark spoke. “Poppy, we have company.”
Whether they had company or not, they shouldn’t be flirting it up in the dining room. She shouldn’t be flirting it up anywhere with the man she’d tried to send home.
Backing off, Poppy ignored Preston’s smirk while thanking her lucky stars that Ritchie wasn’t the one they’d summoned.
“I raised you better than that,” her mom said.
Grammie laughed. “Yes, but I corrupted her twice as much. I’m proud of you, Tater-Tot.”
Turner laid a hand on her back to guide her over to the table. He even helped her with her chair. All his years surrounded by women paid off for her, Poppy reaped the rewards over and over.
“So, Mr. Whitlock, you and our Turner are friends?” Grammie asked.
They spent the rest of the meal talking about friendships and learning more about Turner and his buddies. Poppy had fun. For a while, she forgot about Holden and his idiocy. That was something that couldn’t be taken for granted.
Her father’s phone rang at the same time the dessert dishes were taken away. Without saying anything to the table, he got up and left the room, which was usual if there was business to deal with.
“If I don’t take my medications on time, I get loopy,” Grammie said, pushing her chair back. “Primrose, come and help me up the stairs.”
Poppy was no fool. Her grandmother didn’t need help to get up the stairs. But Grammie knew as well as she did that her mom and Violet wouldn’t hang around alone with Poppy and the guys. And she was right. As soon as Grammie and Primrose cleared the threshold of the dining room, her mom started talking about clothing samples and excused herself and Violet from the table.
Their server came in and paused when she discovered most of the diners were gone.
“Would you like drinks, Miss Poppy?”
“She needs more wine,” Turner said, eyeballing her full glass. “I don’t think she likes this one.”
“No wine, thank you, Stephanie,” Poppy said to the server. “You can bring these guys a couple of beers though.” Stephanie nodded and disappeared back the way of the kitchens. Poppy frowned, drawing a fingertip around the rim of her glass. “I don’t know if we even have beer in this house.”
“If not, there’s a bar in town,” Turner said. “Guys are out tonight.”
“Do you think cabs pick up from this address?” Preston asked.
“I’ve got the truck.”
Preston raised his arms. “Oh, yeah, night on the town. You can show us all the hotspots, Poppy.”
She sank back in her chair. “All I’m good for is bed, gents.”
Turner’s hand skimmed the back of her seat. As he closed in, she wasn’t ignorant to just what that looming meant. “Sounds good to me, Candy-Cane.”
“Would you stop,” she said, giving him a gentle push. “You know my parents live under this roof. Even if sex was allowed, which it isn’t, it wouldn’t be allowed where my parents might hear us.”
“Truck’s outside.”
She laughed. “How romantic, so a quickie in the backseat?”
“Or the front, whatever works.”
He wasn’t serious, Turner was playing with her. When they’d been together before, his lighter side only popped its head above the parapet once in a while. There, without the stress of his zillion responsibilities, the guy actually had time to kick back.
Turner had never been shy about flirting with her. Though he seemed to have forgotten that she didn’t have the best track record when it came to resisting him. He was the one who’d found the brakes when they needed them before, Poppy was less disciplined.
“You two should be careful about being seen out partying around here,” she said, looking beyond Turner to Preston who sat at the opposite side of the table. The man at her side leaned in to nuzzle against her hair. “You might have to stand up in court for us someday, Preston, and the press know Turner too. I’ve only seen him linked to me through Charley before now, but if he’s spotted around town, it might lead to questions.”
“And how do you want those questions answered?” Preston asked. “It would give us a clear line with Abernathy if we could tell him you’re in a happy, fulfilling relationship.”
“I don’t care what you tell him. Tell him I’ve joined a convent for all I care, just get him to back off.”
“Is your dad alright with Preston being involved?” Turner asked, taking his time about gathering her hair away from her neck.
“He didn’t put up a fight,” she said. “He’s in a difficult position. Holden doesn’t have a direct interest in our family business dealings, as far as I know. But he has an influential network.”
“So your father’s worried about upsetting him?” Preston asked.
She shrugged. “It’s difficult to say. None of this can be easy for him. Violet has been hurt by the man and now he’s messing with my life, advertising our name to the world. He doesn’t enjoy it. Our father may not have been the most hands-on parent, but he would never want us hurt. What’s he supposed to do?”
“Put the guy through a wall.”
Turner’s suggestion wasn’t exactly the most helpful, but at least it came from an honorable place.
She slid her hand across his thigh again. “You have to stop being mad at him.”
Sitting up a little, he showed her the depth of his scowl. “Not gonna happen, babe. Upsetting you is one thing, but he’s screwing with our future too. If he hadn’t thrown his fit when he did, we’d both still be living in the Venture, happy, content.”
“I wasn’t happy and content,” she said, surprising him. “I mean I was, but I wasn’t.”
His brow lowered further. “What made you unhappy?”
That she couldn’t confess her love to him. Funny that Poppy couldn’t do it at the Venture because she wanted to be simple for him and feared losing him. And there she was in her parents’ house with him at her side, unable to tell him for fear it would keep him in harm’s way.
“I’m going to bed,” she said, rising just as Stephanie returned with the beer on a tray next to some glasses. “Goodnight, everyone.”
For a day that had started slow and never really got started, Poppy was exhausted as she left the dining room to drift toward the stairs. The night ahead would be harder than the last. The previous night she’d worried for the most responsible man she knew. That night, he’d be under her roof… so close. There for the taking. Poppy wasn’t sure she had the s
trength to resist temptation.
“Popkat?”
She’d ascended half a dozen stairs when she heard him. Pausing, she turned to see Turner approach the foot of the staircase.
The concern on his expression was so him. “You’re always so worried.”
“Worrying about my girls is my full-time job.”
With her hand resting on the bannister, Poppy descended slowly, one step at a time. “I still can’t believe you drove all this way for me.”
“I’d have kept on driving no matter where you were.”
“What were you doing?” she asked, stopping two stairs up. “When you decided to come here?”
“I was at the Eights. You hadn’t left my head for… days… probably since you left. I was tired, hungry, felt like shit. All I wanted in the world was you. I’d work non-stop, every hour I have on this Earth, if I could just know you were in my bed. That’s all I wanted. You, at home, so I had a chance of seeing you smile. That’s all I want, you, somewhere in the world, mine.”
“Somewhere in the world?”
“Ideally in my bed, but…”
“But?”
Licking his lips didn’t hide his smile. “I have five sisters, baby, I know better than to tell a woman I want her waiting at home for me.”
Ah, the truth. Sliding her hands onto his shoulders and around his neck, she descended another stair. “You want us to build a life together.”
“Yeah, that’s what I want… Grammie invited me to stay, but if you want me to go… If that’s really what you want… I don’t want to be Abernathy two point oh standing over here.”
“I don’t know how this is all going to work out.”
“Doesn’t matter how it works out, baby. It’s not about making promises that everything will always be perfect. If I tell you that, we’ll be starting out on a lie. I’ll always be with you, that’s all I can promise. We’ll weather anything.”
“Even when you’re not trying to seduce me, you seduce me,” Poppy said, pulling herself closer. “If you ever actually figure out how much of an effect you have on women, you’ll be dangerous.”
“I don’t care about women. I care about woman. You. I feel this…”
Found (Lost & Found Book 2) Page 5
