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His eyebrows rose. “You saw them?”
“Just one.” I took a long drink of my beer. It was the ominous way I answered that told him exactly which of the sisters I’d seen.
Cameron grinned. “Oh, I bet that made her happy.”
I glared, which made the asshole laugh heartily. “It’s not funny. I thought she was … not her. I bought her a drink before I realized it.”
His laughter faded immediately. “Poppy?”
I gave him a short nod, my gut churning with unease.
Cameron eyed me, a healthy dose of brotherly protectiveness sparking in his gaze. “Do I need to worry about that?” he asked lightly.
“No.” I met his look steadily. “No. I promise. I’ll never … I wouldnever.”
His expression eased. “I know you wouldn’t. Poppy is just … she’s got stars in her eyes, man. She wants the fairy tale. Always has.”
There was no need to respond, but I knew that too.
I wasn’t in the business of delivering anyone’s happily ever after unless their happy ending came in the form of one really great night. I didn’t want the fairy tale. I just wanted my freedom.
Cameron knew that too.
“Why don’t you go find someone?” I said, voice tense and tight.
Cameron laughed under his breath. “I’m too damn busy to date anyone.”
I gave him a look. “I didn’t say date.”
“I know,” he answered easily.
Wilders didn’t do casual. It was like embedded in their DNA or something.
I couldn’t pinpoint what was embedded into mine. Never really wanted to.
But when I took a drink of my beer, I closed my eyes, and stamped on the back of my eyelids was a blue dress, long hair, chest-tightening smile, and great fucking legs.
No.
No.
I set the beer down, a plan formulating in my head before I had the chance to think it through. “I, uh, think I might get away for a bit,” I told him. “I was thinking about heading up to Washington for a couple of weeks.”
Cameron nodded. “No problem. Just let me know when you’ll be back.”
I slapped him on the back, smiling when he winced. “That’s why you’re the best boss ever,” I told him.
Cameron rolled his eyes. “Give me a break. You and I both know you’re doing me the favor in this situation.”
“True. I am a very benevolent friend.”
He snorted. “I’ll remember that the next time you piss me off.”
“That won’t take long,” I said.
His sisters arrived at the table in a loud, giggling blur of dark hair and big smiles, dragging Poppy behind them, who was now wearing a twenty-first birthday sash over her blue dress. I kept my facial expression even, noting the pink tinge to her high cheekbones when she glanced over at me.
On second thought, maybe I’d leave for Washington now. Because I should’ve been out of this bar ten fucking minutes ago. At the moment, it felt like being in the same state as Poppy Wilder was a horrible idea.
