Drove All Night by Sarah Hegger

Author:Sarah Hegger [Hegger, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-04T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 20

When Poppy picked the twins up from playgroup, they chattered all the way down the road to Horace’s. Clearly feeling much more optimistic about their afternoon than she did.

Ben texted her to let her know he would bring the boys by Horace’s because Dot had a meeting. A longer voice message from Dot filled in the blanks. She and Maura had taken the boys to the park, followed by ice cream. The message sounded cheerful, so Maura hadn’t dented Dot’s perpetual optimism. Poppy got the feeling Dot didn’t allow anyone to do that to her.

Doing his best not to look like he’d been waiting for them, Horace stood by the gate, wearing a large, straw hat with the brim unraveling.

“Hey, Horace.” Brinn pranced down the sidewalk when she caught sight of him. “I’m hungry.”

“I made you lunch.” Horace hitched his ratty old trousers. “But you’re going to have to sit down and eat like a civilized person.

Brinn beamed up at him. “I can do that.”

“You made lunch?” Surprise stopped Poppy moving for a moment.

“Yup.”

“Thank you.”

Horace nodded back. “You’re welcome. I’m not completely helpless.”

Ciara smiled at him and wandered into the garden. She moved straight to the overgrown Victorian rose garden and stood with her head tilted.

“What are you doing, sweetheart?” Poppy tried to see what held Ciara’s attention.

Ciara waggled her fingers, then turned back to the gazebo. The secretive smile she gave creeped the hell out of Poppy.

“What do you keep looking at?” All Poppy could see what the rose garden with the dilapidated sundial.

“Ben,” Brinn shrieked. “Mom, it’s Ben.”

Sure enough, it was Ben pushing open the front gate and strolling her way.

Poppy’s heart did an annoying little excited leap. Since that kiss he took up even more mental real estate. She blamed it on the lack of any sort of sexual activity, and she meant sexual activity of any sort, for so long she might as well have been on a desert island.

Ben gave her his lazy smile.

Ryan ran up to her. “Nana bought us ice cream and a new kite.”

Poppy gritted her teeth, but along with the other gifts, she was going to have to bite the bullet and say something to Maura. Again. Which Maura would conveniently ignore. Again.

Sean toddled to her and headbutted her legs. He held his arms out. “Uhp.”

How would she greet Ben if there wasn’t anybody around to see? She’d walk right up to him and slide her hands up that broad chest. Curl her fingers in the shorter hair at his nape, and slam her mouth over his.

“Mom.” Ryan tugged on her shirt. “You’re not listening to me.”

No, not a word because some part of her brain was still rolling around the grass wrapped in Ben’s strong arms. “What is it?”

“Horace says the sandwiches are ready, and I’m hungry.”

“Ma said Sean is about ready for his nap,” Ben said.

“Okay.” Poppy caught the faint waft of the no-nonsense spicy aftershave Ben favored. “I hope we’re not keeping you from anything important.”

“No.” He touched the base of her spine, shepherding her toward the children.

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