Page 24 of Stay Wild Darlin’

A little shrug rolled through her shoulders. “Yeah, that’s fine, but I don’t have friends here. I’m originally from near Dallas, so . . .”

“No shit.” I perked up, wiping my mouth with a napkin. “Me too. Whereabouts?”

“Southlake area,” she said, her eyes brightening.

My eyebrows shot up. “You’re kidding. Same neighborhood for me.”

She grinned, adjusting the sleeping baby in her arms. “We might’ve bumped into each other and never known it.”

“How old are you?” I asked, then realized how that sounded.

She laughed softly. “Normally I’d say never ask a lady that, but considering you’re my new boss, I’m twenty-two.”

“No kidding. I’m twenty-one.”

“Wow,” she mused. “We probably ran in the same circles. Wild.”

I shook my head, a grin tugging at my lips. Small world.

My gaze drifted to Cora, peaceful in Poppy’s arms. “She usually hates strangers,” I murmured, remembering how she’d screamed bloody murder the first time Papa Banks tried to hold her.

Poppy stroked Cora’s cheek with her thumb, eyes full of warmth. “She did great this morning. Smiled right at me. Maybe she likes that I took her out of that Pack ’N Play.”

My heart did a weird flutter, a tug of something I wasn’t used to.

Fuck, Dalton, focus.

I cleared my throat and tried to redirect my attention from the sight of Poppy rocking my daughter—because that was a scene I could get lost in way too easily—and back to the matter at hand.

“Anyway, back to business. In terms of days off, I’m pretty free, especially during the week, but if you need a day off to go back home, let me know ahead of time.”

Poppy nodded along. “That’s fine. I’ll probably spend most of my time here anyway, but I’d appreciate a heads-up when your schedule changes.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Right. Also, you’re free to take Cora out during the day. Beau said she liked to look at the bulls at Kline’s ranch. I’ll give you his address, just don’t be too long. The roads suck at night.”

“Okay.” She flashed a quick smile. “Gotta make sure I’m not kidnapping your kid, I get it.”

“Another rule is I don’t want men over here.” I flicked my gaze to Cora. “Don’t want random guys in and out around her.”

“Fine. Then no women over either, boss.”

I opened my mouth to argue—caught off guard by her demand—but she raised an eyebrow, challenging me. “If we’re both living here, it goes both ways, right?”

A flush crept up my neck. “Alright, point taken. We can keep it . . . I don’t know, stable—for Cora.”

She gave a slow nod, then stroked the back of Cora’s head as the baby let out a little sleepy sigh. “Works for me.”

A quiet settled over us, and I realized I was staring at the gentle way Poppy rocked Cora. I forced myself to look away, clearing my throat once more. “Cool,” I said, busying myself with taking my plate back to the sink. “So, that’s settled.”

“Yeah,” she said teasingly. “Totally professional.”

Professional, I repeated in my head, trying to ignore that flutter of warmth in my chest.

“Uh, one more thing,” I said, mentally bracing myself. No time like the present to lay down the last, awkward ground rule.

“Since we’re living under the same roof . . . we’re not hooking up. Like, ever. Just so we’re clear.”

There was half a beat of silence, then her lips parted and out came a snort. Not a dainty laugh, but a full-on snort. She looked downright amused.