“That’s what Zoey said happened with her, but I just don’t think my parents will go for it. They’re hardly talking to me at all.”
“There’s a man here who runs all of the family’s private business. I can have him call your parents, talk to them, reassure them that you’ll be safe.”
There was a pause.
“Zoey’s family don’t know about us. My parents don’t even know that she’s the one I…”
Love? Poppy liked to think that was the way Casey was going to end the sentence. Not so long ago, Poppy had been the one scared to admit the truth aloud. It was a difficult burden to bear and not one she’d wish on anyone let alone on someone so young and sweet.
“I’d say this is a pretty good setup for telling the Maddoxes the truth. But that’s something for you to decide, I won’t make decisions about your relationship for you. No one should make those decisions except you and Zoey.” Her heart only broke more when she heard a whisper of anguish in the way the teen sniffed. “You know Turner came all the way out here determined that he’d fight for us. It didn’t even occur to me that he’d come here. That he’d go to the trouble of tracking me down and traveling so far… He got here and he told me how he felt, it was all so much, just so much shock and emotion, I didn’t know what to do. But he stayed and gave me time. Even being in the same house, I still had the space to get perspective.”
“I love Zoey,” Casey whispered. “I know that for sure.”
“I told you when we met that you weren’t alone. Neither of you are. If you don’t want to be together, if that’s your decision, I’ll respect that and I won’t bother you again… But if you’re not sure or you want time to figure it out, this is an ideal place. I’ll make sure that you have your privacy.”
“Won’t they think it’s weird? Why should I be there? They don’t even know about Zoey.”
“They know you’re her friend.” Poppy inhaled. “Look, if you want to tell them the truth, tell them. If you don’t, all they have to know is you’re here to spend time with your friend in a difficult spell. That’s it.”
“Zoey said you didn’t tell Turner.”
“I didn’t. I will if you want me to, but I still think it would be better to hear it from his sister.” She smiled, making sure the gesture flavored her voice. “Casey, Turner won’t care. I mean he won’t be mad or oust his sister. If any of them tried to act that way, I’d kick all of them out. Now you know Turner and I are together, that should give you more faith that I know what I’m talking about. I wouldn’t love a man who’d be malicious or vicious to his family or the people they care about. You will be safe here.”
“I trust you.”
“Good,” she said. “Do you want to talk to your parents? I can give you Tiller’s number or have him call them?”
“I’ll talk to my mom while my dad isn’t here,” Casey said. “Can you text his number to me?”
“Absolutely. Trust me, he’s amazing at this kind of thing. Whenever we were kids, he could talk us into or out of anything. He’s been making things happen for us since we were babies.”
“Sounds like a great guy.”
“He has his moments. I’ll make sure he’s looped in. If you need him to make the call, just text me.”
“Thank you, Poppy.”
“You’re family, Casey. We look out for each other.”
They hung up and Poppy sent the text. Although there would probably be a time delay between sending it and Tiller getting a call, she went downstairs to his office and knocked on the door straight away.
“Yes!”
Opening the door, she didn’t go all the way in, just popped her head around the door. “Just me. Zoey Maddox has a friend who we’d like to visit while she’s here. I sent her your number in case her mom wants to call for reassurances about her safety. Can you make sure it happens?”
“Consider it done.”
“As always, you’re a lifesaver, thank you. Her name is Casey. The friend’s name.”
Tiller returned to whatever he’d been working on. “If you need me to make a call…”
“I’ll let you know. Thanks.”
Backing out, she closed the door, pleased to have achieved something. Just as Poppy stepped into the gallery, Stephanie appeared with the picnic basket she’d requested.
“Would you like me to serve for you?”
“No!” Poppy said, hurrying over to take the basket. “We can handle that ourselves. Do you know where Mr. Whitlock is?”
“Right here.” Spinning around, Poppy found him sauntering across the gallery, smiling at the picnic basket. “You go to all that trouble for Turner?”
“I didn’t go to any trouble for him,” she said. Stephanie scurried off. “I called the kitchen and requested a picnic lunch. It’s probably easier than setting the table.”
“Ready?” he asked, offering her his arm.
She took it and they started to head out the rear terrace. “Did you tell him we were coming?”
“I spoke to Aitken,” Preston said. “No idea if he told Turner the plan… might be a surprise.”
“I think he probably got enough of a surprise when Grammie showed up to plot with him.”
“Plot?” Preston asked.
Although his head turned her way, she just shook hers. “Never mind. I’m learning it’s best not to get involved with their capers.”
He laughed. “Been a long time since Turner was the caper type.”
“It’s less him and more Grammie. Growing up, I was always on the inside with her. I think she has a new favorite.”
“Jealous?” he asked with obvious teasing.
Poppy just showed him a smile. “Are you kidding? Turner is my favorite too. How can I blame her for feeling the same?”
“Not exactly the same, I hope. I guess he’s got it going on.”
“I guess he does,” she said then peeked at him. “Jealous?”
All of their lives were going through something of a transition. Preston was doing her a favor, but he’d be a part of her life as long as Turner was a part of hers. Forever. That’s what that meant. Turner was destined to be the center of her world, whoever was in his orbit was going to be in hers too.
FOURTEEN
After giving Preston instructions on how to find her, Poppy sent him to retrieve his friend, and went to the sunny spot overlooking the beach that she loved. It was just near the shade of the tree line, but the view always excited her.
She laid out the red and white gingham blanket and all the treats prepared by the kitchen for their meal. As she was folding the napkins on the plates, she heard their voices in the trees.
“You walk someone away to give them bad news,” Turner was saying. “What did Ritchie do?”
“Aren’t you always saying people are what matters? They’re what can’t be replaced? Everyone you care about is here, except Naught, but you know, everything’s a tradeoff.”
“So if we’ve gotta lose someone?” Turner asked, humor in his voice.
Preston laughed. “Exactly.”
“If Ritchie screwed with the Venture, you’re telling Pop. Venture’s all I’m bringing to this relationship. I’ve disappointed her enough. It’s already worth squat compared to what she has here. So if Ritch has screwed us, you’re telling my lady.”
From their footsteps, Poppy could tell when they broke through the trees, but she didn’t turn around. A lady never appeared too eager. Really she was just teasing. Though playing it coy with him had never worked out the way it was supposed to in the past.
The footsteps stopped, suggesting Turner had noticed her. “Setting me up with my own girl?”
“Got a problem with that?” Preston asked.
They started walking again, though they couldn’t be more than ten feet away.
“No problem.”
As he approached her side, Poppy tipped her head back to watch him arrive and sit down. “First,” she murmured, leaning against him as he gifted her his kiss.
/>
The short peck wasn’t what she was looking for though. As his mouth retreated, she hooked a finger into the neck of his shirt and pulled him down on her as she lay back on the grass. Their next kiss was much longer, much wetter, and much closer to the gift she’d been daydreaming about.
The heavy hand he had on her waist squeezed to pull her closer. “Corner shouldn’t come with a chaperone, baby.”
Grinning, she laughed and held his face to pull him down for another kiss. “There’s no guarantee the press won’t snap us out here. We really should behave.”
The beach, sea, and sky were deceptive, as Holden’s sky banner had shown. If a helicopter or plane went by, there was a good chance they would be packing cameras of some kind.
“Good way to give Abernathy the message,” Turner said, scooping her beneath him and sliding a hand up her thigh under her skirt to direct it around his hip. “Who’s your guy?”
“My only guy,” she said, coiling both arms around his neck. “And you bring more to this relationship than the Venture.”
“Heard that, huh?”
“People are what matters,” she said.
“Damn straight,” he said, brushing his nose across hers. “You pulled that out of your hat at breakfast. You couldn’t have said it in bed?”
“We were interrupted in bed.”
“Already ordered a lock, I’ll install it the minute it arrives.”
“Handy and a forward planner, my guy.”
“Gotta live up to the privilege.”
His hand slid higher as she drew her leg up. Kissing Turner was always a thrill. A deep-seated, stir her all up, blank out the rest of the world kind of thrill.
Which may be why Preston had to strain himself in such a dramatic way to get their attention. After they ignored him clearing his throat, he faked a coughing fit that kept on getting louder until ignoring him wasn’t an option.
Turner grunted his annoyance when he pulled away to glare at his friend. “Take a walk.”
Preston laughed. “We’ve got business. You know, it’s not my idea of a good time watching you two roll around on the grass.”
“What business?”
Patting Turner’s chest, Poppy eased him away to sit up, fixing her skirt as she did.
“If we’re inviting Abernathy to a showdown, we need a plan,” Preston said.
As was a hostess’s duty, Poppy began to fill two plates with tasty treats for her guests. “I don’t think we should call it a showdown.”
“I think that’s exactly the mindset we should go in with,” Preston said, suddenly serious. “I don’t know Abernathy personally, but I’ve done my research. He can be a ruthless S-O-B.”
“He needs to get the damn message,” Turner said.
“Yeah, he does, but if this becomes a war, he has to know we’re going to take it all the way.”
The idea of going to war depressed her. Poppy gave the men their food, but when she looked at the spread and thought about eating, she couldn’t muster an appetite.
“We can live here on the estate indefinitely,” she said, fixated on her empty plate. “But I don’t want everyone putting their lives on hold forever.”
The situation impacted more than just her and Turner’s relationship. Faye would have to deal with Kev who’d want to see his kids at some point. Maybe he hadn’t noticed they were gone yet, but he would eventually.
Turner took her hand. “We’ll tell him we’re together. The guy has to know he doesn’t have a chance.”
That was wishful thinking if ever she’d heard it. “The guy was at the altar with my sister and he thought he had a chance. I don’t think the fact I have a boyfriend is going to suddenly deter him.”
“You could get married,” Preston said.
Shocked, Poppy couldn’t believe he’d suggest such a thing, but from the look of Turner, he was open to the idea.
“No,” she said, snatching her hand away from her love. “If we get married it’s because we decide to get married, not because Holden Abernathy can’t get a clue. No way.”
“Right. Good point,” Turner said. “No wedding.”
“We haven’t even decided if marriage is something we want,” Poppy said to Preston. “I know I brought you to the estate and told you to do whatever it took to get rid of Holden, but we can’t let our lives be dictated by him… any more than they are already. You said you’d speak to his people about dinner, what was the answer?”
“We’re still waiting to hear back.” Preston shrugged. “I’d say he’s suspicious, not taking anything at face value.”
“We shouldn’t either,” Turner said.
A phone began to ring. Since Poppy hadn’t brought her phone and Turner didn’t move, she assumed it was Preston’s.
It took him just a second to retrieve it. “Whitlock,” he answered. With each second that passed, his expression became more serious until there was a definite frown on his face. “We’re certain?” Another pause. “Okay, thanks… Yeah.”
He hung up and put the phone on the blanket. Poppy didn’t want to pry, but he just sat there looking at the thing without saying anything. Something about his lack of movement tickled her anxiety.
“What?” she asked. “Is everything okay?”
“I… am trying to figure out the best way to proceed.”
“With what?” Turner asked, food in his mouth. Apparently his appetite was just fine. Though he was the only one who’d been doing physical work all morning, so he deserved his sustenance. “Who was it?”
“The office,” he said, looking straight at his friend. “I’ll talk to you about it later.”
“Later?” Turner asked.
“I can leave you alone,” Poppy said, rising onto her knees. “If it’s something private.”
Preston seemed open to that. Turner, on the other hand, grabbed her wrist and yanked her closer again, preventing her from going anywhere. “If it’s something about me, Poppy doesn’t have to go anywhere.”
“It could be personal,” she murmured. “After all he’s done for us, I think it’s only right that you should give your friend—”
“There’s been an offer on the Venture,” Preston said, silencing Poppy and changing the mood around their picnic. “I got a call about it earlier. I wanted more information before bringing it to you, so I had the other side submit the offer in writing.”
“How much?” Turner asked. “Do they want us to finish the work?”
“Wait,” Poppy said. “An offer? You mean an offer to buy the building?” Preston nodded though he didn’t look at her. Poppy’s attention snapped around to Turner. “No. You can’t.”
“I told you that we were getting it valued. If we decide to sell—”
“I don’t want to sell,” Poppy said. “No.” Shifting to her knees again, she faced him. “Baby, you don’t have to do this. Not for me or our future. Please don’t do this.”
“I think maybe you’ll want to see the offer before dismissing it out of hand,” Preston said.
Poppy didn’t want to. Slumping down, she used Turner to keep herself upright. “Why does that make a difference? Either he wants to sell or he doesn’t.”
Scrolling through his phone, Preston brought something up on the screen and then reached across the blanket to show it to his friend. Poppy deliberately turned her head away, not to give them privacy but because she wouldn’t entertain it.
“Jesus,” Turner said. “That’s not even in the ballpark of what we expected. It’s got to be ten times what it’s worth.”
“Ten times what it’s worth finished,” Preston said, putting his phone aside again. “And they’re willing to take it as is. Even with only half the units complete.”
“This doesn’t make sense,” Turner said. “Why would someone pay over the…” He grew rigid. Poppy wasn’t even looking at him and yet she felt the tension vibrate through his form. “Who made the offer?” The deep menace of his tone was knowing, like he already knew the answer to his own qu
estion, which could be why Preston was reluctant to answer. “It’s Abernathy… right?”
She couldn’t believe it. Holden had already screwed with their lives in so many ways, it shouldn’t be a surprise that he’d want to mess with Turner’s livelihood.
“Holden?” Poppy asked. “Why would he want to buy the Venture?”
“ ‘Cause he thinks I’m all about the money,” Turner said. “If he can buy me off, maybe I walk away.”
“Wait,” she said, trying to figure it out. “This isn’t an offer for the Venture, he’s paying you to leave me.” Shoving away from Turner, she found herself at the head of the picnic blanket, her ire flashing between both men. “Of all the… Does he really think that I’d… that you’d…” Growling in frustration, she appealed to the sky. “I should’ve done so much more than punch him.”
“Hey,” Turner said, stroking her arm. “We don’t give him power, right?”
“How can you be okay with this?” she asked, misdirecting her anger. “How can you just be fine with someone trying to pay you to leave me? That’s saying you’re a man of no integrity. A man with no morals. A gold-digger. A—” Something occurred to her, which took some of her anger. “How does he even know about us?”
“The Maddox family disappeared from where the media could get to them,” Preston said. “He won’t have missed that. The press know that they’re here. And your guy wasn’t subtle about breaking into the estate. The cops were called. There was a scene… We can’t discount the possibility that he’s paid off someone on the inside either.”
“A spy?” she asked. “On the estate?”
“You have staff,” Preston said on a shrug. “There’s the extra security guys and the construction guys, you can’t know or trust all of them.”
No, she couldn’t. Poppy didn’t even know all of the staff in the house. Some worked behind the scenes, keeping the cogs in the larger machine working. The estate was supposed to be a safe space. The idea that anyone could be keeping tabs on them was unsettling. That anyone might be reporting back to an outsider was plain sickening.
Found (Lost & Found Book 2) Page 13
