Page 40 of Indecent Lies

Neither did the coffee she partially made with her eyes closed because the world was just too bright this morning… afternoon, whatever.

It was during her third cup and fiftieth prayer to Jesus to take her, when she heard a key in the front door and then Tait was striding inside.

Larger than ever, bringing a burst of cold air from outside.

It was only when she cast her gaze to the windows that she realized there was a thick layer of snow everywhere.

Well, poop. She’d missed it snowing.

A pinch of nostalgia hit Poppy. This time most every year, except the year she caught mono, she usually spent in Aspen at her parents cabin.

Hot chocolate, skiing, real burning log fires and utter boredom being with her family. It was strange what she could get used to and even feeling melancholy over even though she didn’t particularly enjoy the trips.

Their cabin was right next to the world famous model, Tom Cohen. They talked sometimes, so that was always a nice part of the trips, but other than that, it was sheer monotony.

As she nursed a steaming cup to her lips and watched the fat flakes fall outside the windows, she realized she’d much rather be right here in this loft apartment with a man striding forward and stripping off his jacket at the same time.

Goodness. Those biceps of his needed to come with a prior warning before they were unhoused. That too went for his veiny forearms.

Luckily for Poppy, she felt like death’s close second cousin so any ogling had to be shelved while she fought her way back to the mortal coil, one cup of coffee at a time.

“You got up then.”

“Looks like. Though, I’m still not sure if I’m awake, alive or on a mortuary slab.”

“How shitty do you feel?”

Aware he was coming toward her, she wished she looked better and felt better, at least so she could smile at her friend, but even her facial muscles hurt.

“Pretty much like poop.” She told him and gasped when he suddenly took hold of her face, tipped her head back and brushed the hair from her forehead. “Yeah, that’ll last a while, drink fluids.”

“Excuse me, unfamiliar touching, sir.”

She didn’t try to move his hands, mainly because the coldness of his palms felt exquisite against her hot cheeks and she listed forward for more of that relief.

He grinned and dropped his hands, moving around her to fix his own coffee.

“Unfamiliar, huh. That’s the way we’re playing it?”

“Playing what? I’m too hungover to play games, Tait. Maybe later.”

Though he didn’t say anything, he went about filling a big black mug with rich aromatic coffee, she noticed the smirk kicking up one end of his mouth and she suddenly got a funny feeling in her stomach.

“What am I playing?” She felt the need to ask.

“You don’t remember?”

“Remember what?”

“Last night.”

Thoughts started to whirl and manifest, all tangled up in those hot as hell dreams she’d had.

She purposefully kept them out of her head for the main reason being the man in the starring role was standing in front of her and she didn’t want to react.

Her life was a mess, Tait had taken her in when he didn’t have to. She needed to find a way to pay him back, not stare at him with lewd thoughts.

“Far as I’m concerned, last night never happened.”