by Nikki Bloom
I tucked myself further into the table to hide what was growing between my legs. My pants felt significantly tighter just as soon as she grabbed the cherry off her plate and popped it into her mouth.
“Just remember, teasing is a two-way street.” She left me with those words as she got up and joined the growing crowd now on the dance floor. She disappeared between all the moving bodies. Occasionally, I’d get a glimpse of her fiery hair but never the rest of her. It was probably better that I didn’t because I didn’t want to see her grinding up on some other guy. I left the table and wandered toward an open door, hoping for some fresh air. To my pleasure, beyond the door was a balcony. It was empty.
I took a seat in a wicker chair, looking out at the impressively kept lawn. Without my phone, I didn’t quite know what to do with my hands. Maybe Poppy was right. Maybe I had some sort of unhealthy obsession with my work, but it was that obsession that had made me so successful in life. I had sought to earn everything I had – never expecting anything to come my way for free.
At the edge of the property, a string of lights twinkled, hanging from a cluster of grapevines. Seeing the miniature vineyard made me think of my grandparents. They had a similar vineyard in their backyard and every year I’d help harvest the grapes and turn them into wine. Doing so was far from easy but it was rewarding work and I was always paid with a glass or two of unfermented grape juice.
Then at the end of the day, Grandpa would build a great big bonfire and tell us stories about his youth and how he had come to meet Grandma. As they told it, they weren’t very fond of each other in the beginning. Grandpa would even go so far as to say that Henrietta was the “best pain in the ass a guy could ask for.” Grandma would always answer him with a slap on the arm. Their relationship had always been something I had aspired to achieve for myself but so far, I’d had little luck in finding the woman of my dreams – the one I’d spend forever with.
As I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, Poppy sprang into my head. It was like she was right there in front of me. Behind her, a scene began to materialize. It was my grandparent’s home and the place where I had grown up. She was standing by the fireplace, her features illuminated by the warm glow. I came up behind her and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. The thought brought a smile to my face because while I had only known Poppy for a few short hours, the idea of spending an evening in my grandparent’s lakeside cabin with her felt like a dream. Now, if there was only a way to make that dream a reality…
5
Poppy
Sometime during the night, I had lost my heels. I hadn’t the slightest idea of where they might be, but I guess it didn’t matter all that much because my feet hurt way too much to try and put them back on.
Thinking another drink might ease the pain, I marched over to the bar. It was crowded as everyone took advantage of the never-ending supply of cocktails that constitutes an open bar. The wedding was far from over and some people were already trashed out of their minds. As for me, I was enjoying the buzz. I was never a fan of getting full-on drunk but getting tipsy, that was a whole other story. It helped loosen me up and it made dull situations a lot more fun.
“What will it be?” asked the bartender.
I giggled even though there was nothing to laugh at. “A White Russian,” I answered once I had managed to compose myself.
A minute later, he handed it over. I took it with another giggle. “Ah!” I exclaimed after taking a sip. “Nice and refreshing.”
I walked past the dancefloor and thought about rejoining the bump and grind, but my feet really needed a break. Spotting the sway of some curtains, I came to the conclusion that a bit of fresh air would do me some good. If nothing else, it would help cool me off. All that dancing had really worked up a sweat.
Outside, there was a light breeze. It played with my hair, throwing it behind my shoulders. Originally, I had half of my hair in an updo but that was no longer the case. Somehow, all the bobby pins stabbed into my head hadn’t been enough to keep the bun in place. Oh well.
With my drink in hand, I leaned against the railing, admiring the view. The lawn had been decorated with twinkling lights. It honestly looked like something straight out of a fairytale. Maybe I didn’t like how Connor had flaunted his money, but I had to admit that if he was the one behind the venue, he had exceptionally good taste.
Standing there, I thought about what he had said. Was his comment about fitting the bill for the wedding really just a demonstration of brotherly love? It was hard to think that he had spent thousands of dollars just to make Jenna smile. Of course, he wanted to the recognition. Very rarely does someone perform a good deed just for the hell of it. But, at the same time, Connor kept coming off as a good guy. Yeah, maybe he was a workaholic and maybe he had to work on his manners but he didn’t seem like a typical douchebag. In fact, there was something different about him – I couldn’t really decide what it was but whatever it was, I liked it. So, why had I ended up avoiding him for most of the night? Because the moment he placed his hand on my thigh, my whole body had gone up on flames and I’ve never felt that way before. I guess you could say that I was being cautious because with a smile like his and a personality to match, I was bound to get myself in too deep.
I finished off my drink and spotted a hammock. Ah, the perfect place to throw up my feet and relax. I threw myself into it and closed my eyes, swaying gently from side to side, letting myself forget about everything that was on my mind. During the course of the night, there had been one thought that had haunted me – Connor. There was something about Jenna’s half-brother that had me all riled up inside. It was physical, sure, I couldn’t deny that. He was handsome and incredibly charming but it was more than that; it was the way he listened to me – the way he was always trying to make me laugh – the teasing back and forth in all our conversations. To be honest, I think he was managing to make me…giddy.
“Nice of you to join me out here.” The suddenness of Connor’s voice had me up in a jolt. The hammock lurched dangerously to one side, nearly throwing me to the ground. I held on for dear life and remained statue-still in an attempt to steady myself and keep from falling.
“What are you doing here? Following me again?” I hiccupped and once again found myself hanging on for dear life. Maybe getting into the hammock hadn’t been such a good idea after all but it was too late now. There was no way I’d be able to get out without making a total fool of myself.
“Actually, I was here first. I’ve been here for most of the night.”
“Really?”
“Mhm.” He held the hammock steady and joined me so that it became more of a swinging chair. With his feet still planted on the ground, he controlled our back and forth rocking. “Believe it or not, I’m really not a fan of parties.”
“But I thought that’s what rich guys do.”
“Maybe some but not all of them. I prefer peace and quiet. I’d rather spend my evening by a crackling fire than deafened by horrible pop music.”
“What kind of fire are we talking about here?” I don’t know whether it was the alcohol in my system or what, but I was actually moving closer. There was this sort of magnetism in the air that was pulling us together. Could he feel it too or was it all inside my head?
“Doesn’t matter. A fireplace or a bonfire would both work just fine. If it were a fireplace, I’d sit by the hearth with a hot chocolate in hand, and should it be a bonfire, there’d be no way I’d forget the s’mores.”
“Who would have thought that you were the sensitive type?”
He shrugged.
“And what if I were there? What would you do then? What would burn hotter, the fire, or us?” My lips met with the side of his neck. “Because, you know, I wouldn’t mind if we ditched this place and had a bit of fun.”
“How much have you had to drink?” he responded at once.
“Enough,” I replied and giggled.
“Then you don’t really mean what you say.” His vo
ice was different. There was a heaviness to it and his shoulders had dropped an inch or two. “I should get you a bottle of water.” He was about to get up, but I grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him back down.
“Stay.”
He did not argue with me.
The silence helped to clear the fog that had settled around my mind. “Do you think I could tell you something?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“When Jenna got engaged, I was happy for her. She had finally found a man that truly made her happy but at the same time, the news felt like a slap to the face. When we were in high school, we had this grand idea in our heads that we’d get married by the time we were twenty-five, at the latest. Jenna was off by five years, but I have no idea when my day will come or if it will come at all. The fact that I’m turning thirty this year, I just can’t believe it.” I glanced through the open door where the party was still in full swing. “And here’s the really pathetic thing. Jenna and I made a pact that if we were both still single by the time we turned thirty, we would marry each other. There goes that. I guess I’ll just go on being forever alone while Jenna enjoys married life.”
“I hear married life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
“That’s what people say just to make you feel better about being single.” I fell back into the hammock and looked up at the stars. They no longer seemed quite so bright.
Connor continued to rock the hammock back and forth. It was so consistent and smooth that I felt my eyelids become heavy. I was on the cusp of falling asleep when he said something. “Hmm?” I asked, not having heard him properly the first time.
“I was asking whether you swung that way.”
“Hmm?” I asked again but this time on account of my confusion.
“You just said that you had a pact to marry Jenna if you were both still single at the age of thirty. So, I was wondering if you swung that way.”
“Are you asking me if I’m lesbian?” I raised an eyebrow while trying my best to keep a straight face. His awkwardness was about the funniest thing on the planet.
“I guess I am.”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Well, what would you say if I took Jenna’s place in the pact? We’ll get married just as soon as you turn thirty.”
“If this is your attempt to get into bed with me, there are easier ways of doing it. For starters, you could just ask.”
He got off the hammock and down on one knee. “What do you say?”
“That you have completely lost your mind.” I tried to get off the hammock as well but it wasn’t a very graceful transition onto the ground. Somehow, he caught me by the waist, arm wrapped naturally around my body like he had held me in the manner a million times before.
I hiccupped and fell into his chest.
He held me a little closer. “Have I?” He tilted his head towards mine. “Because if you ask me, it isn’t so crazy as skydiving.”
“When you skydive, you get a parachute. I barely know you. Until a couple of hours ago, I didn’t even know you were my friend’s half-brother. I still have no idea how that works.”
“It’s a long story,” he said, swaying from side to side. There was a slow song playing. He seemed lost in his thoughts.
“Connor?”
“Hmm?”
“What happens if I say yes?”
“Then I make it worth your while.” We continued to dance under the stars. I dared to rest my head on his chest and close my eyes. I could just barely hear the beating of his heart – slow and steady. In the quiet that followed his answer, I imagined what it would be like to marry this handsome stranger. Would I feel the jitters of a bride? Would I have that glow or was that only a perk of marrying someone you loved? And what would happen after the exchanging of vows? Would we get along or would we fight like every other married couple?
“Tell me something.”
“Depends on what you want to know.” Connor reached his fingers to my cheek. They tiptoed along my skin before pinning a strand of hair behind my ear. I felt a tingle run through my body like a current, electrifying my heart into overdrive. Looking into his eyes made me feel like I was looking at an old friend. It was like we had known each other all our lives and we were just now reconnecting.
“Why are you single?”
“I could ask the same of you,” he said without sparing a moment to consider his answer. “You act like you’ll never get married, but I’ve seen the looks you’ve been getting. I don’t think you’d find it very difficult to find a boyfriend.”
I pushed off his chest and leaned against the railing. “Finding a boyfriend and finding a future husband are two entirely different things.”
He stood beside me. “Well, my offer still stands and as I promised, I would make it worth your while. As soon as my grandfather retires, I’m due to take over his share of the family business and become the majority shareholder–”
“Wait, slow down.” I hesitated with the current line of thinking, trying to understand where he was going with his ramblings. “I fail to see how your grandfather’s retirement has anything to do with our supposed marriage.”
“Well, he won’t retire until he feels comfortable passing off the business to someone else.”
I wasn’t sure whether I was being made stupid by the alcohol or whether he was just talking nonsense. “Come again?”
“He wants to pass off the business to a married man.”
“So, let me get this straight. You want to take over your grandfather’s business and you can only do so if you’re a married man? What difference does being married make when running a business?” I turned to face him, not yet addressing the fact that he was proposing that we get married just for financial gain. More than that, I wanted to know the reasoning behind his grandfather’s marriage requirement.
“He thinks that being married makes you grounded. You’re more likely to think rationally when you’ve got a wife and family to consider with every decision.” Connor shrugged. “Honestly, I think I’m running my own business just fine as a bachelor, but I can’t seem to change his mind on the marriage thing.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. The whole thing was strange, to say the very least, but then again, family politics were never a simple thing to navigate. “Alright, assuming this is true, and your grandfather really wants you to get married, why wouldn’t you get with a girl you actually like? I mean, I could turn out to be the biggest bitch in the world and I’m just playing nice because it’s my friend’s wedding. Do you really want to take a gamble that I’m wife material?”
In an instant, I was in his arms. His eyes burned with conviction. There wasn’t an ounce of doubt in his body and trust me, I could feel every inch. “I am.”
He did not let me go and frankly, I didn’t want him to. My pulse was quickening, and I had this crazy urge to kiss him and just go along with it. I mean, it would make one hell of a story for future children. “What’s in it for me?” I asked, my voice husky with desire. The alcohol in my system paired with the proximity of our bodies was burning me up from the inside. “Why should I say yes?”
“How does a mansion sound? Palo Alto. It’s a really nice neighborhood. And of course, as my wife, you’d be living there rent-free.” He grinned. “Not to mention a complete housing staff.”
“Housing staff?” I asked, feeling myself becoming high with the idea of mansion living. “And does this mansion come with a pool?”
“It comes with both a pool and a pool boy,” he said. “All you have to do is say yes.”
It can’t be this simple, I thought to myself. Handsome men don’t just propose to complete strangers like this. And they definitely don’t give away their mansions in the mix. There had to be some sort of catch to this whole thing.
“Poppy? Do I have an answer?”
“There’s something you’re not telling me.”
“I thought I was making myself very clear. We have to convince my grandfather we�
��re married so he hands over the majority share of his company and if we manage that, you get a mansion.”
“And why do you want his company when you manage a company of your own?”
“Because I want to stop a certain someone from getting their hands on it. They’re sure to make a mockery of it and I just can’t let that happen.”
“Oh?”
“Long story.”
“If I’m going to marry you then I need all the answers.”
He raised an eyebrow. “So, does that mean you’re considering it?”
“Perhaps.”
He turned slightly so he had me pressed against the railing. I felt the air rushing out of my lungs as his face came closer to mine. I closed my eyes and leaned forward.
Crack!
All of a sudden I felt weightless. The railing was no longer pressed against my back. Without its support, I lost my balance. I screamed as I felt myself falling.
This is it. This is how I die.
But I never did crash into the hard earth because Connor had managed to catch me by the wrist. He pulled me into the safety of his arms and kissed me. And what a kiss it was. I didn’t know if the adrenaline pumping through my veins was due to the near-death experience or the heart-pounding dance our lips were playing at. He grabbed at my hair and held me even closer like he feared I would fall once more.
Oh, I was falling alright.
6
Connor
There was a hunger inside of me. It growled and clawed at my chest, begging for more. I slipped my tongue into Poppy’s mouth. She greeted me with an eagerness that only heightened my excitement. Her body had become an inferno, burning me to the core but still, I did not let her go. I would kiss her until my lungs gave out if I needed to. A girl this sweet isn’t one you can just let go of.
We fell into the hammock and still, our lips remained locked. She had her hands on my cheeks. My hands fell to her backside, daring to give her a squeeze. Something like a moan escaped into the kiss. I could feel the blood rushing into certain places. Positioned as we were, I was sure she could feel it, too.
