Prologue
Jon: Seven years old
“I’m going to marry Poppy when I’m older, Blake.” Jon looked up at his older brother and smiled.
“Sure you are, buddy.” Blake ruffled his hair, and Jon ducked out of the way. He hated when he did that.
Jon smoothed the now messy strands and puffed out his chest. “I am; you’ll see.”
“Says the seven-year-old with the missing front teeth.”
Jon felt his face heat at Blake’s words.
“I’m just teasin’, buddy.” If Blake wasn’t older and bigger, Jon would have put him in a headlock and messed up his dark hair. “Look, Jon, there’s the girl of your dreams.”
Jon followed Blake’s gaze and saw Poppy Matthews step into his home with her parents behind her. “She’s so pretty.”
“Kiddo, you got a lot of years ahead of you, but go for it.” Blake walked away, but Jon didn’t bother watching. He let his feet carry him over to the prettiest girl in the world.
“Hi, Poppy. Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews.” He kept his eyes on Poppy. Her blue eyes reminded him of the big blue stone on his mom’s ring.
Everyone made their way into the dining room, but right before she followed through the doorway, he grabbed her hand, stopping her. She looked down at her hand, and he saw her cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink.
Don’t chicken out. Don’t chicken out.
Glancing up, he saw the little piece of green with red berries hanging from the doorway. He had seen his mom and dad kiss under it a lot. They called it mistle-something or other. Jon moved in closer, and Poppy gave him a funny look.
“What are you do—”
He pressed his mouth to hers, but the next thing he knew, he was on his butt and looking up at her.
“Gross.” She wiped her mouth on her shirt then turned around and went into the dining room. He could hear her telling on him, but he didn’t care, because he just kissed Poppy Matthews.
Yeah, Jon was going to marry her, and no one would tell him otherwise.
Jon: Eighteen years old
“Dude, if you don’t quit staring at her, she’s going to think you’re a freak.”
“Shut up.” Jon didn’t pay attention to Zack or Mike as they continued to give him shit. In all honesty, Jon didn’t care what anyone said. He loved Poppy, and sooner or later, she’d come to realize she loved him too.
He couldn’t have imagined all the shy looks she cast his way, or the way her arm brushed up against his. He had known her for thirteen years, and he knew without a doubt she was the girl he would spend the rest of his life with.
Jon couldn’t remember exactly when that one, perfect moment of realization had occurred, but the wheels had been set in motion the moment his seven-year-old lips touched hers underneath the mistletoe.
“Why don’t you just quit being a douchebag and ask her out already?” Zack nudged him in the shoulder, and he pushed him away.
“If you don’t, I will.” Mike went to stand, but Jon pulled him down and stood.
“Try it, and I’ll kick your ass.”
Mike and Zack laughed, but they knew Jon wasn’t joking. He may not have asked Poppy out on a date, but he spent a hell of a lot of time with her, thanks to their parents being good friends.
Gathering his courage, Jon took the ten or so steps until he stood behind Poppy. The bikini she wore had parts of his body threatening to come to attention if he didn’t keep himself in check.
For several minutes, all he could do was stand there and stare at the slender slope of her shoulders. Her skin looked so damn soft that he had to curl his fingers into his palm to stop himself from touching her. Poppy spoke to her friends, but he couldn’t focus on their conversation, not when the scent of sunblock and baby powder surrounded her and did crazy things to his head.
The conversation around her suddenly stopped until all he could hear was the erratic pounding of his pulse in his ears. She looked over her shoulder, and his blood coursed through his veins as adrenalin and testosterone filled his system.
There were probably close to seventy-five people at his graduation party, but only one person held his attention. She turned around to face him, and he was struck by her beauty. His friends and family were in the pool, and splashes of water covered them. It took all his willpower not to watch those droplets of water cascade down her body.
“Hey, Jon.” Her smile could bring him to his knees.
Bright, clear blue eyes regarded him, and he realized he hadn’t responded. “Hey.” He sounded nervous. Hell.
“Cool graduation party.” She brought her drink to her mouth and took a sip. Her friends started giggling behind her, and Poppy cut them a dirty look. When she turned back to Jon, her cheeks were pink.