The Edge of Forever

He scrubbed a hand over his face and pushed off the door. No, he needed to remember Poppy had come here to get away from the drama that now surrounded her life. He certainly didn’t want to complicate that by confessing that talking and spending time with her had healed him in more ways than one. He was all kinds of fucked up.

He went into the living room and saw Poppy lying on the couch, a book in her lap. Again, he found himself standing back and staring at her. He loved the way she played with the ends of her hair and the way her little nose scrunched up when she was deep in thought.

Every little mannerism was like a kick in his gut and a tight fist around his heart. When had the brotherly love he had for Poppy turned into something deeper?

“That’s an incredible book.” He moved into the room and sat on the couch beside her but made sure to leave a good space between them. She shifted in her seat and looked uncomfortable. Blake felt his brows knit. “Everything okay?”

Poppy ran her hand over the page and nodded. “Yeah.” She cleared her throat. “Everything’s good.” She smiled up at him. “You’re right; this is an incredible book.” She marked her page and closed the book. The title, She’s Come Undone, explained the story perfectly. Blake noticed the way she wouldn’t look at him.

“Hey.” He reached for her, but she stood and shook her head. “Poppy?” Worry started to eat at him. Had something happened? Did she get hurt? He scanned her body but couldn’t see anything that would suggest she was in pain. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“Nothing, nothing.” She walked over to the bookshelf and slid the book in the empty spot. “I’m not making things hard for you, am I?”

What? “Hard for me? What do you mean?”

She leaned against the bookcase and wrapped her arms around her middle. “I don’t know.” She shrugged and looked away. “I mean, I packed up my life and moved up here. You’ve given me a place to live and a job—”

“Poppy, come here.” He moved over an inch and gestured her over. He could see the indecision on her face and wondered what had gotten into her. Had she sensed where his feelings were with her? Had he been that transparent with them? It would certainly explain her need for distance, and that had him feeling uncomfortable. The last thing he wanted was to put distance between them.

When she sat beside him, he stared at her profile. The gentle dip of her nose and petite bow of her lips drew him to her like the fire licking across the wood. “Why all these doubts all of a sudden? If I’ve made you feel uncomfortable in any way, you know you can tell me. I promise that wasn’t my intention.” The slender column of her throat worked as she swallowed. “I love having you here.” Her smile was slow, hesitant as it moved across her face, and his heart increased at the sight.

Poppy turned to him, and words failed him as he gazed upon her beauty. Before, she had been stunning, with a fire behind her eyes and a kick in her personality. She was still equally breathtaking, but she now knew all about life and how cruel it could be. Her experiences had weakened her, and it called out to him.

Blake wanted to be the man who touched her, watched over her, and made sure she never cried again. Without thinking, because he didn’t want to let his thoughts control him any longer, he cupped her face in his hands and leaned in an inch. Her breathing changed subtly, and he felt excitement grow inside him that he affected her.

“Blake?” Her eyes were wide, and her lips slightly parted. “What about Maggie?”

“Maggie?” He stared at her mouth. Her lips were pink and had just the right amount of fullness to them.

“Yes,” she breathed out. “I saw the two of you kissing.” Her voice was pitched low, husky, and her eyes were also focused on his mouth. Chills traveled up his spine from the heady feeling her look gave him.

He shook his head. “No, sweetheart, it was all a misunderstanding. I don’t have those feelings for Maggie.” He lifted his eyes to hers and hoped she felt the seriousness in his words, because what he was about to say, to do, was wrong, and he didn’t want to lose her because of it.

“Oh.” He hadn’t realized how tense she had been, but when she breathed out that lone word, her body relaxed against him.

Blake leaned in that last inch, but right before their lips touched, he stopped. Poppy held her breath but didn’t move away. In fact, her hands gripped his wrists, as if she wasn’t sure if she should push him away or pull him closer.