free hand was lifting before I could prevent it, and I took hold of that maddening button and tugged. It came off easily, the plastic warm from her body, and she took a sharp, ragged breath.
And I looked because I couldn’t not, at the gaping fabric where that button should have been, at the curves of her lovely tits that were now revealed, cupped by the crimson lace of her bra.
I’d never wanted to touch anything so badly in all my life.
But this was Poppy. My stepsister. My employee. Who’d lost her father because of me. Whom I’d promised my own father I’d take care of, not claw at her shirt like a fucking animal.
Her breathing had got faster and I knew I should move away before I did anything stupid. But I stayed where I was and held that button up in front of her face, staring into her furious molten gaze. ‘Oh, look, you’ve lost a button. Can’t have my employees wandering around with their shirts gaping open, can I? So why don’t you stop arguing with me like a damn brat, and go and get yourself some decent bloody clothes?’
There was fire in her eyes, blazing hot. ‘No.’
She had no idea just how close to the edge I was. If she had, she’d never have looked up at me like that, fury and challenge pouring off her like heat from asphalt baking all day in the sun. Digging her heels in, making me want to do something to ensure her obedience. Making me want to...
Calm the fuck down. There’s something else going on here, can’t you see that?
I don’t know what alerted me. Maybe it was the slight flicker in her gaze, or the almost unnoticeable quiver of her bottom lip. Tiny hints that something wasn’t right.
I stilled, searching her face, studying her intently. And the more I looked at her, the more I realised that something was definitely wrong. Was that...fear? And if it was, what was she afraid of? Me standing over her? But no, it couldn’t be. I hadn’t mistaken that flare of heat in her eyes when I’d bent down to her. This was something else.
‘What is it?’ The question was sharp, a latent protectiveness lighting up inside me.
Her eyes went even wider and I caught that flicker once again.
Yes. It was fear.
‘Nothing,’ she said quickly. ‘And you’re bloody well harassing me again.’
But I’d got good at reading people, at searching for lies. And I knew without a shadow of a doubt that she was lying to me right now.
I tossed the stupid button away and took her chin in my hand so she couldn’t turn away. ‘What is it?’ I repeated. ‘Something’s bothering you and I don’t think it’s me.’
She’d gone rigid. I could feel the tension in her jaw, the muscle tight beneath the silky heat of her skin, and I tensed too, expecting her to shove me away like she’d done yesterday.
But she remained still, her expression stubborn. ‘Of course it’s you, you prick. You’re leaning over me and you’re—’
‘It’s not. Stop lying to me, Poppy.’
‘I’m not buying those goddamned clothes,’ she said through gritted teeth.
‘Why not? Because if it’s just to argue with me then—’
‘It’s not just to argue with you.’ There was a defiant expression in her eyes now, the look of a soldier determined to go down fighting.
And I suddenly wanted to soothe her, stroke her lovely jaw with my thumb, tell her that it was okay, that she could tell me. It was disturbing. I didn’t even like the woman, let alone want her to tell me her secrets.
Instead I demanded, ‘Then why? Surely even you must realise that what you’re wearing isn’t appropriate?’
‘Yes, I know that.’
‘Then why—?’
‘Because I can’t afford to buy any, okay?’ She threw the words at me like stones. ‘Was that what you wanted to hear? Are you happy now?’
Ignoring the accusation in her tone, I frowned.
How could she not afford it? Last I’d heard she was earning money as a waitress and, even though waitressing wasn’t the world’s most highly paid job, there was also the allowance I continued to pay Lily. It was very generous for one person and there would certainly be enough to buy Poppy a few items for work if need be.
So was this another lie? But no, Poppy was too obviously furious with me, which meant she hadn’t wanted to tell me.
Interesting.
‘Why not?’ I kept a tight hold on her chin, trying not to be so conscious of the softness of her skin beneath my fingers and that tantalising gap in the fabric of her shirt. ‘You had a job, didn’t you?’
She jerked her head out of my grip. ‘I’m not explaining myself to you. Just leave me the hell alone.’
Her cheeks were flushed and it looked like shame. And part of me wanted to grab her again, force her to look at me, force her to tell me just what the hell was going on.
But I’d been too close to her for too long already and if I remained there any longer, I’d probably do something I’d regret. Besides, what did I care that she’d spent her money? I’d promised to take care of her and her mother, and I had. They had an allowance. It wasn’t my problem if they’d spent it all. Anyway, this pointless arguing was starting to eat into my work day and I had a lot to get through.
I straightened and forced myself back from her chair, digging in my pocket for my wallet and taking it out.
Poppy eyed me suspiciously. ‘What are you doing now?’
‘I’m not having you wandering around the office looking like that. You need appropriate work clothes and you need them now. So here’s some money to buy them.’ Extracting a few notes, I held them out to her.
For a moment she looked shocked. Then anger once again flooded her lovely face. ‘I don’t need your charity. I’ll get them—’
‘Be quiet,’ I snapped, my patience running out. ‘You’ll take this money and you’ll buy yourself something appropriate. And then you’ll come back and be ready for work. No more goddamn arguments.’
Poppy opened her mouth.
‘Unless you don’t want that reference after all.’
She shut it again and there was a long beat of silence where she simply stared at me, fury and a whole lot of other emotions I didn’t recognise burning like a wildfire in her eyes.
I stared back, oddly fascinated by how those emotions moved and shifted, and how brightly they burned. Passionate woman. What did all those feelings mean? Why was she so angry? And why hadn’t she wanted to tell me she had no money?
Why was she so angry with me all the bloody time?
More to the point, why do you care?
Good
