“I think that’s what you’re supposed to do,” she whispers, “when you might love someone.”
“Might?” I murmur, the pounding in head drown out by a rush of blood.
“Definitely, maybe.” She kisses me softly with her sweet lips.
“I don’t want you to go.” I want to trap her in my arms and keep her here with me—safe and flawed and beautiful—forever.
“I’ll be here as long as you want me,” she breathes.
“That’s going to be a very long time,” I warn her.
Adair smiles and warmth seeps into me like I’ve stepped into the sun. “Good.”
13
Adair
Present Day
The next day a dozen roses arrive at my suite, followed by an arrangement of magnolia blossoms the day after, and by a large arrangement of wildflowers the next. I leave them all in the hall for maid service to take away, but no one does. Since I refuse to even acknowledge their existence, they just linger like funeral flowers.
Here lies the remains of our relationship.
I’m debating ordering breakfast to my room to avoid seeing them when someone knocks on the door. Checking the clock, I see it’s unusually early for deliveries. I brace to find him on the other side, but when I peek through the chain lock, Poppy’s pursed frown stares back at me.
“Shit, hold on.” I slide the lock free and fling open the door to discover her and Kai on my doorstep. He’s dressed down, a cap pulled low on his head, likely to avoid recognition. In a pair of worn jeans and a vintage Johnny Cash t-shirt, he still exudes too much coolness to avoid notice. Poppy, on the other hand, is dressed for battle in a skintight, black leather dress and sky-high black pumps. She wears the ensemble like armor, and I know exactly what weapon she’s brought along: a sharp tongue. She marches into the room, a vase of flowers in her arms, and deposits on the small table in the living area.
“These were outside,” she announces, wiping her palms together as if to congratulate herself on a job well done.
“I don’t want—” I begin, but Kai shakes his head.
“Don’t try to argue with her. She’s on a tear.”
“I am not on a tear!” Poppy exclaims, whirling on us. “I mean, why would I be? It’s not as if my best friend moved out of her house without telling me and then moved into my boyfriend’s hotel without telling me and then avoided my calls for three days.”
“I’m in trouble, aren’t I?” I whisper to Kai.
“You are,” Poppy answers for him, blowing a strand of black hair from her face with unnecessary force. “What were you thinking?” She pauses and runs her eyes down me. “And what are you wearing?”
“I got it at Target,” I say defensively. I pat the silky-soft knit jumpsuit affectionately. If I’m going to hunker down in a hotel, I might as well be comfortable.
“I like it,” Kai offers and I shoot him a grateful smile. At least he’s still in my court.
“Target?” she repeats like I’m speaking a foreign language. “Adair, what is going on?”
“You better sit down. Do you want me to order breakfast?” I ask.
Poppy drops onto the sofa and crosses her arms. “I’m not hungry.”
“Mimosas?” I coax.
She glares at me and looks away. I order the mimosas anyway. By the time they arrive, I’ve filled them in on the last few days.
“So, the flowers are from him?” Kai says. I nod.
Poppy remains silent but reaches for a glass. She skips the orange juice and pours a full glass of champagne. “This isn’t a time for moderation,” she informs us. “Why didn’t you call me?”
I see the battle in her dark eyes. She wants to understand, but she’s hurt that I didn’t reach out. I shake my head. I can put her mind to ease on that front. “I left my phone at his place. It’s dead as a door nail, which is probably why he hasn’t realized he has it.”
I have no doubt Sterling would have brought it to me himself if he knew he had it.
“Do you want me to go get it?” Poppy asks.
I shrug and down half a mimosa. “I don’t need it.”
She exchanges a look with Kai.
“What was that?” I ask.
“You don’t need it?” Kai repeats. “Are you sure you aren’t waiting for him to bring it to you?”
“The last thing I want is to see Sterling Ford,” I fume. Just saying his name sends blood rushing to my cheeks—and to other places.
“Yes, you probably would much rather be shagging him in the hall.” Poppy’s lips twist into an impish smile.
I hold up a hand. “I confessed! Now can we drop it? I need a break from the Sterling roller coaster.”
“That means you haven’t talked to Felix!” Poppy gasps, and my heart plummets into my stomach. For one never-ending second, the world stops. She seems my terror and her eyes widen. “Nothing’s wrong, darling! Oh, I’m sorry. We went by looking for you when we couldn’t reach you. He mentioned that Ellie got into preschool at Valmont Preparatory.”
Pressing a hand to my chest, I take a deep breath and feel my heart rate drop. “You scared me!”
“Oops.” She shrugs her slender shoulders with a sheepish smile. “However, he did say to ask you to call him. Ellie is asking questions.”
Neither my heart nor my stomach takes this news particularly well. There’s only one reason to stay at Windfall: to protect Ellie. “I shouldn’t move out.”
“Nonsense. You can protect her without being there,” Poppy says. “She sees the way they treat you. Show her that a strong woman doesn’t stick around when she’s treated like
