Page 10 of Poppy Kisses (Return to Coal Haven #3)

My heart was pounding. Auggie was holding the ring out like he wanted to put it on. “They wouldn’t care as long as I didn’t care.”

Jensen only shrugged. His reputation was on the line, so I wouldn’t argue. Besides, I could return the ring when we ended things.

But it was so pretty, sparkling in Auggie’s grip.

I held my hand out. There was a slight tremble. The diamond might be real, but this marriage wasn’t. Auggie was excited, Jensen was satisfied, and I would get to enjoy the shine of a gem.

The warm metal slid on. Satisfaction spread across Auggie’s face. Jensen’s brow furrowed when the ring was fully seated. This had to mess with his mind.

Guilt ate away at the earlier nerves. I brandished my newly bedazzled hand. “Guess it’s official.”

Auggie’s eyes lit up. “Dad said you have lots of nieces and nephews.”

Jensen ruffled his hair. “He’s excited to finally have other kids here to play with.”

“I get more every year. What can I do to help get everything ready?” I asked.

“I’m cutting strawberries.” Auggie rushed away.

Jensen pushed the door open, a wry smile on his lips. “Now that we’re engaged, you can come in.”

I laughed, the tension easing. “Leveling up.” I went inside to help get food ready.

Only an hour later, everyone milled in and out of Jensen’s shop. The main rolling door was open. The April day was gorgeous, with a breeze that hinted at the warm weather on its way. I’d almost worn jeans, but Jensen wouldn’t back down on a boot-off.

I didn’t want him to. I spun the simple band on my finger. I was getting used to the rock.

Lily and Eliot were perusing the cabinets inside.

I’d heard Lily gush about the colors and how our grandma’s old house could use an update.

Evander hovered over a newly walking Willa while Violet frolicked with Cali and Kellan.

Daisy sat on a lawn chair, her hand resting on her rounded belly.

Alder was kicking my soccer ball around with Laila and Auggie. Jensen’s mom cheered them on.

My other brother, Jasper, hadn’t been able to make it. If I had been getting married for real, he would’ve carved out time. Maybe. It was calving season. Clover hadn’t been able to make the drive in time, but she insisted on being one of the witnesses.

A twinge of longing dragged through my chest. I’d love to have all my family at my wedding. But it didn’t matter. This didn’t mean anything.

I rubbed the center of my chest. I just enjoyed when my family was all together. They were my favorite people.

As soon as I’d heard about the trust three years ago, I’d been drawn to Coal Haven.

Hadn’t thought I’d move here. Apprehension filled me.

What had I been thinking? I wasn’t even sure I could open the center and keep it that way, yet here I was, planning to get married to just get a space to work in.

Without insurance reimbursement, lessons cost a fortune.

Who’d pay me for that? Who’d donate money?

I’d need a lot. Debbie had generated tons of community support, but fundraising was almost a full-time gig for her.

Hadn’t I learned my lesson before? Twice?

I was stubborn to a fault, and I was dragging Jensen in with me.

I tightened my ponytail. I was standing next to Jensen as he and Dad talked about the work he’d done on the house and what he planned to do to my place.

Our place. I could not fuck that up today.

Linda hadn’t arrived yet, but nerves rattled inside me. I must crackle when I walked.

Jensen had a mineral water in one hand as he talked to my parents. He slid an arm around my waist, and I stiffened. The muscles in his arm twitched against the small of my back.

Relax. This was supposed to be natural between us. I soaked up his heat and relaxed. Just a little.

“So it started out as long distance?” Mom asked.

Her dark hair was pulled back, the gray in it looking like intentional highlights.

I had told her that I hadn’t wanted to say anything since I’d had a string of duds.

She hadn’t pushed, and if she was hurt by my lack of transparency, that was actually a lie, she was hiding it.

I nodded, the thought of lying to her sticking in my throat.

“Auggie has a bad habit of walking around with his laptop while in a lesson,” Jensen answered. “He was getting a drink, and there she was.”

I smiled, more from the memory of being glued to my screen when Jensen had been wandering shirtless behind Auggie than from his story.

Dad considered me, then Jensen. “You all had a pretty tight group, but I didn’t think you were that close into adulthood.”

“I’m old enough to know what I like now,” Jensen said, his tone confident. “Old enough to know when it’s right. It’s never felt right until Poppy.”

My knees went weak. God, if he meant that for real? I’d melt into a lovestruck puddle. “Makes you wonder what would’ve happened if we hadn’t moved.”

A twinge of regret darkened Dad’s eyes. “Now that you’re all coming back, I wonder too.” His smile was tight. “What would’ve happened if I had never gotten to know Gentry King well enough to hear the story of his late wife’s trust funds and then pass the tale along to Mom.”

“It’s all working out.” Mom patted his arm. “But I agree. Would’ve been nice not to have stipulations.” She beamed at me. “Do you have a date set?”

Jensen and I had talked about this. We’d go to the justice of the peace two weeks after our announcement, so it’d look like we put some planning in versus rushing through vows to get into the house faster.

Still, the question hit differently when his strong arm was around me and my shoulder butted into that defined chest I’d seen a week ago.

A car rolled down the drive. I froze, watching the silver sedan park at the end of the line of cars in my driveway. Uncle Darren got out first. He squinted at us and dipped his head. Aunt Linda stood up. She gave us a nervous wave. My tension returned.

“There she is!” Dad bellowed. He turned to us. “Excuse me.”

He strode to meet my aunt and uncle. I let out a long breath.

“You’re doing good,” Jensen muttered. “Except for turning into a statue when I touched you.”

“I was not a statue.”

He flattened his hand on my side and brushed up until his thumb scraped the underside of my boob. I jerked.

His deep chuckle vibrated right into me. “Point proven.”

I glared at him, but he only slid his hand back down to my waist, his strong fingers curling along my waistband. Butterflies unfurled in my belly, lazily stretching their wings and deciding they liked his hand on me. A lot.

“I’m not used to PDAs and…” I swallowed. “I haven’t dated in a while.”

“Same.”

“You haven’t dated since the divorce?” Incredulity distracted me from my approaching aunt and uncle. Had Jensen and Hassie been separated longer than the five years they’d been divorced? Dismay curdled the acid in my stomach. Was he waiting for Hassie?

Of course he was. It was Jensen.

“Hard to do as a single dad.” His tone said there was more.

Like that it was hard to date when he was still obsessed with his ex-wife?

Dad clapped Darren on the shoulder and the group started for us. Alder jogged toward them, and the crew stopped. I struggled not to wring my fingers together. I’d love this gathering—for any other reason. I adored family get-togethers, but a giant lie sucked the fun out of it.

“What are my red-light touches?” Jensen asked close to my ear.

His breath tickled loose strands of my hair and a shiver traced down my spine. So far, every touch had been a blazing green light. Which meant warning bells should be ringing.

“Uh…” Words weren’t coming. All that came to mind was what he could do with those big, hot hands.

“What about a peck on the cheek?” His lips were close to my face. He dipped his head more. “On the mouth?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered. My instinctive answer was yes!

Violet had joined my parents and my aunt and uncle.

His hand shifted down lower on my hip. “If I touch your ass, is that too far?”

“No,” I breathed. Do it, please. Just grab a big handful.

Slowly, his thumb stroked up and down the crest of my hip, right at the zone where it could be considered my ass.

Eliot and Lily exited the shop in front of us. They waved at the new arrivals, and the group started moving.

“You’re still stiff.” His low voice rumbled in my ear. “Deep breath in.”

I inhaled.

“Deep breath out.”

I pursed my lips and exhaled.

He put two fingers under my chin and tilted my face up to his.

I’d never been this close to him before.

We’d spent recesses together for years. Had classes together.

I even had to work on a group project with him in seventh grade about climate change.

He tried to get me to include a volcano just so he could make a model of one.

None of those times had I ever admired the dark flecks in his eyes. Or really studied the spot of hyperpigmentation at the edge of the iris. The mark nearly blended into his blue eyes, but this close, I could map it out.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” he said only loud enough for me to hear, and my breath caught. “They’re all talking, and it’ll look like I’m sneaking it in. You good with that?”

I was a mess inside. I nodded.

He touched his lips to mine, a soft press that lingered for one second. Two. Just as I was about to sway into him, striving to get closer when I was already plastered to his side, he pulled away. His gaze met mine, searching.

A small puff of air escaped me. A simple, chaste kiss, yet my lips tingled. My whole body did, all the way down to my toes.

“Jensen,” Dad broke in. “You know my sister, Linda, and her husband, Darren?”

Jensen narrowed his eyes like he was making sure I was okay, then casually looked away. “Yes, I’ve seen you both around.”

He pulled away from me, briefly pressing his hand to the small of my back. I needed the steadying. My heart rate sped up until I got lightheaded.