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Fuck me.

Marie wishes us the best and, with a wave, continues her way to the exit.

“You’re killing me,” she whispers, her eyes hooded.

“How do you feel about telling Marie about us?”

“The entire insurance community will know all about this by morning.”

I scoot my chair closer to her. “And how does that make you feel?”

“The only thing I can feel right now is—oh,” she says, moaning softly as my finger reaches her pussy. She’s soaked, her thighs sticky as I toy with her. “We’re going to need to wrap up this date and go home.”

I lean over, dusting her lips with mine and withdrawing my hand from between her legs.

“No,” I breathe against her lips.

She pulls back. “What?”

“There’s no sex tonight.”

Her jaw sets, and her irritation is adorable.

I adjust myself again. “Trust me. I want you as badly as you want me. But this is our first real date.”

“You nearly had your finger inside me at a table in a very nice restaurant. I don’t think now is the time to discuss ethics.”

I laugh. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Does this mean I won our little challenge?”

I sit back in my chair, admiring the smug grin on her face. She doesn’t realize that I won. I get my chance with her, and that’s all I really wanted. Sure, maybe it’s under strange circumstances, but I’ll take it.

Beggars can’t be choosers, and I’d beg for this woman any day.

“Sure,” I say. “You won. Happy now?”

Her eyes sparkle. “I think so.”

Me, too, Pop. Me, too.

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

Finn

I throw the last pillow, covered with a clean case, onto the freshly made bed.

My bedroom is reset and clean. Poppy’s favorite candle is on the table beside her bed. I loaded the en suite with towels—because I’ve never seen a woman use more towels for one shower in my life—and I replaced the candles around the tub. My girl loves a bath in the middle of the night.

All that’s left is her.

I haven’t been able to wipe the smile off my face all damn day. Hell, I think I’ve worn it since I picked Poppy up last night. She seemed so … happy—relaxed, even—to tell her friend that we were engaged. And that has given me a tentative hope that I recognize as dangerous.

She’s going along with the fake-fiancée bit because the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for both of us. Although I asked her to give me a chance to show her that we are great together, I know she’s not doing it because she woke up and realized that I might be right and she should test the waters. But she is going into this with an open mind, and that’s what I choose to lean into.

This is a huge step. An even bigger one because she’s the one making it. Poppy Quinn, the woman who doesn’t get pressured to do anything, revolts at expectations, and fights tooth and nail not to be placed in a box is going along with this with a smile?