by Geri Krotow
“Brandon.”
“That’s me, Poppy. Is this a good time?”
“Of course.” Her gaze flicked to the door and he soaked up her shock as she realized the “open” sign had been turned around to “closed.” He’d locked the door, too. Bianca had been most helpful when he’d talked to her about his idea yesterday.
“Um, I have to keep the shop open, Brandon.”
He walked around the counter, noting that she held her ground. His stubborn, smart, irreplaceable Poppy. “Turns out Bianca had a planned closure this morning for inventory purposes.” He presented her with the bouquet of winter poppies he’d had behind his back. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind, Yankee girl.”
* * * *
Poppy stared at the fuchsia, persimmon, and rouge poppies Brandon held out to her. “How on earth did you find these?” A thrill of delight skipped across her heart.
“You’re back in NOLA, Poppy. Anything is possible.”
She blinked back tears and brushed one off her cheek. “I’ve been meaning to tell you I’m back in town.”
“Uh huh.” His hands moved to her shoulders after she accepted the bouquet. “I’ve never pegged you as gun-shy, Poppy.”
“I’m not. But it had to be right. I couldn’t just show up at your door and ask if the guest room’s still available, could I?”
“Sure you could. But it’s not.” He kissed her forehead. “Available.”
Her knees quivered and her belly swooped in time to the reverberation his touch set off. “It’s not?”
“Nope. Turns out, only the master bedroom is open for new residents.” He traced her cheek with his finger, his eyes half-lidded.
“What’s the asking rent?”
“Depends.” He gently removed the flowers from her grasp and placed them on the counter. His fingers accidentally hit the service bell and Poppy realized they were in full view of the storefront window.
“Brandon, anyone can see us.”
“Take me up to your place, Poppy.”
She led the way to the stairs that were just off her studio office, out of sight of any errant sightseers.
“Poppy, hang on.” Brandon turned her around to face him.
“Yes?” She could barely think straight, her body hummed so loudly with want for him. With need.
With love.
“Before we go up there, you need to know something. This isn’t picking up where we left off. It’s the start of something new for both of us. I can’t guarantee it’s all going to be Southern charm, but it will be us. We are the most important thing to me. Not my boatbuilding, not your styling. Us. I love you, Poppy.” He’d beaten her to it, and she loved him even more for it. It was never going to be completely “even” with Brandon. It was going to be hot and cold, rough and serene, sexy and comforting. It was going to be everything. Poppy didn’t try to keep her tears back. Trusting someone meant you could show it all to them.
“I love you, Brandon. And you need to know that I’m not agreeing to anything just because we’re both in the same place. And while you’re the most important person in my life, and always will be, I came back for me, first. I’m at home here, more than I’ve ever been anywhere else.”
“So you agree we could work on making it our home, together?”
Her breath hitched, preventing her from answering immediately. Instead she threw her arms around his neck, hanging on for sheer love. “Oh, Brandon, yes, yes, yes!”
He pushed her away only enough to see her face. She loved how his eyes soaked her in as if she were the only woman in the world that mattered. “I play for keeps, Poppy.” His gruff declaration made her smile.
“Good thing, as you’ve got me for a good long while.” She kissed him with all the love that poured out of her heart for him. She’d come home. To New Orleans, to herself. To Brandon.
He kissed her back and within seconds the kiss went from a declaration of their commitment to the hot need they were familiar with.
Brandon never did see Poppy’s loft apartment until later that morning.
The End
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About the Author
Geri Krotow is the award-winning author of more than thirteen contemporary and romantic suspense novels (with a couple of WWII subplots thrown in!). While still unpublished, Geri received the Daphne du Maurier Award for Romantic Suspense in Category Romance Fiction. Her 2007 Harlequin Everlasting debut A Rendezvous to Remember, earned several awards, including the Yellow Rose of Texas Award for Excellence.
Prior to writing, Geri served for nine years as a Naval Intelligence Officer. Geri served as the Aviation/Anti-Submarine Warfare Intelligence officer for a P-3C squadron during which time she deployed to South America, Europe, and Greenland. She was the first female Intel officer on the East Coast to earn Naval Aviation Observer Wings. Geri also did a tour in the war on drugs, working with several different government and law enforcement agencies. Geri is grateful to be settled in south central Pennsylvania with her husband.
