Page 40 of Shadow’s Protection (Hurricane Heat MC #1)
“Go on and wait out front,” I tell them. “Make sure Shadow can see you. I’m going to talk to Poppy for a minute.”
The kids thank her, and I notice Holly leans in like she wants to hug Poppy, and Poppy nods, then holds the girl close.
“We’re really so sorry about this,” Holly says again, her voice tight. “I hope you know it was never our idea.”
Poppy puts her hands on Holly’s shoulders and lowers her head to meet Holly’s eyes.
“You did the right thing telling your dad,” she says warmly.
“And I know you didn’t mean to hurt me. Adult things like this are complicated, but it’s okay.
Now, I want you to put this behind you and feel confident with your new hair.
Okay? If you want to come back, you are always welcome in this salon. ”
Fuck. Her words hit me like a boot to the gut.
She’s smart. I’m so goddamn happy she said that about the hair.
The last thing I need is for the kids to feel guilty every time they look in the mirror, walking around with a visible fucking reminder of what their mom is.
What she tried to do to them. Dammit all to hell, Shayla.
Fuck that bitch and the bullshit she puts on these truly good girls.
Holly and Daisy head out front, their pep almost returned to normal levels. Once we’re alone, I turn to Poppy.
“I didn’t say thank you,” I tell her in a low voice. “This is a debt I can’t repay, you being here for my girls.” I search her face. “But I’ve got to ask. With a bill that big, why didn’t you call the cops?”
Now that we’re alone, I look my fill. Poppy isn’t just attractive and well put together.
Sensuality oozes off her in waves, and I don’t know if it’s just that I haven’t shot a load in a while or if it’s her full tits, generous ass, and long hair, but I’m again imagining all the things I’d like to do with this woman in a place far more private than this waiting area.
She meets my eyes, her big, doe eyes matching my intensity.
“As soon as your girls got the text from their mom, I could tell they were not involved. They were shocked and so upset. All they kept saying was their dad was the best and he would take care of everything,” she says simply.
“I’m a mom. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect my son.
I wanted to give you a chance to make it right, and you did. ”
“And if I hadn’t?” I ask, flicking an eye to her hand, and notice no ring but a small tattoo etched on her ring finger. “Would you have called the cops or sent your husband after me?”
At my words, her gaze drops. “I, uh, don’t have a husband. I’m a single mom. And I don’t know what I would have done. I’m just grateful you made this easy. So, I should be thanking you.”
That’s not something I’m used to hearing. I’m used to people thinking I’m a fuckup. That I always choose the hard way, always go too fast, too deep, too everything.
“It says a lot about you,” I tell her. “Beautiful, smart, and caring.”
She blushes at my compliments, and the pink staining her cheeks only makes her that much hotter.
“I’m sorry about all this. Shayla wasn’t always such a bitch,” I tell her, shaking my head. “Maybe it’s partly my fault. God knows I wasn’t always the easiest man to be married to. I’m kind of a handful.”
A smirk covers my face almost despite myself. I don’t tell her that the work I do is far from legal. I just don’t profit off the backs of innocent people. The men I deal with know exactly what game we’re playing.
“I believe you are a handful.” Poppy’s words are breathy, with a hint of something more. The electric current in her voice travels through my body like I’ve stuck my finger in a socket.
We fall silent, the tension in the room thick and sensual as smoke. Then Holly knocks on the glass door, breaking the moment.
We both look up and see a pickup idling.
“That’s my ride,” I tell her, turning to leave. “Remember what I said. I’ll cover their bill. No questions asked.”
I don’t know how soon they’ll need to come back, but it won’t be soon enough. Seeing this woman be so sweet to my girls moves something in me, something I’ve kept locked down hard deep inside. I turn away from it, from her, and head toward the door.
“You didn’t tell me your name,” she calls after me. “Or should I just put ‘Holly and Daisy’s dad’ in my contacts?”
I stop at the door and look her over from head to toe, then back at her stunning face. “Phantom,” I tell her. “You can call me Phantom.” I’m about to leave when I turn back. “I’ll be seeing you, Poppy.”
She looks flustered, and I give her a grin before heading out to the lot, slapping Shadow on the shoulder, and handing him the keys to my bike. Then I get into the truck with my kids.
As we pull away, I look through the glass window of the salon. I see Poppy at the door, just watching. Before the warmth pooling in my gut makes me do something stupid, I look over my shoulder, back up the truck, and pull away.