“Thanks. And not to sound ungrateful, but why are you here?”
“You didn’t think you could drop that atomic bomb and keep me away?” Annie answers curtly.
“That’s exactly what I thought, especially since I promised to come by tomorrow.”
“Keep your pants on, we aren’t staying long.” She goes to the door, and I notice a basket with a large white bow. “We brought you a congratulations gift.”
“How did you do this so quickly?”
“I learned a long time ago not to ask questions,” Edward chuckles. “My Annie is a life of surprises.”
“Wow.”
She hands it to me. “The champagne is already chilled, but you may not be in the mood for it tonight.”
“Thank you.” I’m unsure how to proceed. “Umm, would you like to come in and sit? You must have a million questions.”
Evin’s eyes flash with disapproval, but he stays quiet.
“The answer is yes. However, we’re going home. We’ll have plenty of time to chat later. Tonight is for you two.”
“Thank you, Annie and Edward. This means a lot to me. I know it must have been a shock.”
“It wasn’t. I mean, yes, the photo-bomb slideshow took me by surprise, but as Edward said, we didn’t raise a stupid boy. Sometimes I wonder about that Darby, but not Evin.”
Evin finds this amusing, taking the basket and setting it on his foyer table. “Thank you, Mom.”
She goes to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissing his cheek. “Proud of you.”
They say their goodbyes, and Evin offers to walk them out. I hang back, giving them privacy and taking the basket to the kitchen. Runner follows me, sniffing around his bowl.
“Sweet boy, you hungry?” He wags his tail, looking at me excitedly. I clap and he jumps up, his paws going to my shoulders, licking my neck and cheek. My hands scrub his back, jiggling us back and forth.
“Runner!” Evin reappears, shouting.
“We’re fine.”
“He’s a big dog who’s not aware of his strength. He can hurt you.”
“Stop worrying, we’re fine,” I repeat.
He fills the dog bowl and Runner pushes off, trotting to him. I unwrap the basket, pulling out the champagne, noticing the exclusive label.
“Would you like to open this?”
“That’s up to you. Do you feel like a glass?”
I feel great but know my stomach is empty. Then again, this is a big night. “Are you still agreeable to breaking in your bathtub?”
“Hell yes.”
“Then maybe one glass.”
His lips curl up. “Go get it ready, baby. I’ll open the bottle and be back in a minute.”
I go to him, lifting my lips to his. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. And I’d appreciate if you’d wash the dog drool off, so it’s my tongue all over you.”
“Are you jealous of a dog?”
“No, because his ass is going back to Darby tomorrow.”
“That’s too bad, he’s a good kisser and cuddler,” I tease.
“He could go back right now.”
I giggle, kissing him again and turning to the bedroom. “See you in the bath and I’ll wash off. Wouldn’t want to miss any of the experience because you’re a Neanderthal.”
“Poppy?”
I glance over my shoulder.
“I look forward to testing exactly how flexible you can be.”
Chapter 19
Evin
She stands in the middle of the room, frozen in place except for her eyes, which are zooming around nervously. “This is not what I expected.”
“Not sure if that’s good or bad.”
“I know you’re a businessman, but you’re a hotshot businessman. Everything is formal, proper, and… executive.”
“Come here.”
She walks to where I’m propped on the edge of my desk, still looking apprehensive.
“Baby, it’s an office. Desk, chair, computer, bookshelves, seating area for clients—nothing too out of place.”
“It makes it all so real.”
“Real?”
“How different our lives are,” she answers faintly.
“We have jobs, make a living doing what we love, and our companies give us the tools to do that. How does that make us different?”
“Since we’ve met, you’ve been nothing but Evin. Seeing this makes me realize you are a big deal.”
“I’m not a big deal.”
“Your desk cost more than my car.”
I swallow my laugh and lay my forehead against hers. “I can’t argue with that since your car is a deathtrap.”
“Evin! It is not. It’s perfect for me.”
“Not in my mind, but the point is you’re thinking too much into this. It’s an office. Until recently, I spent a lot of time in my office.”
“It’s a lot to process. I’m married to an executive.”
The way she emphasizes the word coils deep inside. “Fuck, baby, is this about him?”
“Him?” She tilts her head to the side, her eyes narrowed. “Him, meaning Marco? No, this is about us. The contrast of our personalities. No wonder all eyes were glued to us on the way up here.”
Irritation stirs in my chest, and I haul her to me, trapping her close. “All eyes were on us because of many reasons. Mainly because I shot death glares to every man staring. You married an executive, but that doesn’t change who I am or who you are to me.”