Meant to Be (Sweetbriar Cove #1)(56)

It didn't sound like a question.

June bustled off to the kitchen-leaving Poppy feeling like the worst niece in the world.

Poppy turned and buried her face against Cooper's chest.

"I can't believe we just got busted like a couple of school kids!" she cried. "She's nice enough to have me stay, and I turn her home into a brothel!"

"You were going to charge?" Cooper grinned. He plucked her bra off the door handle and handed it to her. How the hell did it get there?

"You know what I mean!" Poppy exclaimed. "I was . . . You were . . ."

"Still pretty modest, by my standards." Cooper drew her closer, his lips brushing against her ear. "If she'd arrived another couple of seconds later, well, then we'd have something to talk about."

She felt a jolt of desire, which was the last thing she needed right now. "This isn't funny!" Poppy smacked him lightly. He was grinning like it was one big joke, but this was her aunt they were talking about. She was Poppy's family, and now she'd seen her-

Poppy whimpered again.

"Shh, breathe," Cooper said, taking hold of her shoulders. He gave her a comforting squeeze. "She doesn't mind. Hell, she was paying more attention to my bare ass than whatever you were showing."

"He's right." June popped her head around the corner and winked. "Coop, would you be a doll and take that fine ass of yours to carry my bags?"

"Yes, ma'am." Cooper laughed and headed out the door. Poppy braced herself and headed for the kitchen.

Something about getting caught like this made her feel like she was sixteen again, sneaking around with her high-school boyfriend. But luckily, June didn't seem about to ground her and take away her driving privileges. "I'm sorry," Poppy said, cringing with embarrassment.



       
         
       
        

"What for?" June snorted. "It's about time you got a little sparkle in your eye. Come give me a hug-and then tell me everything." She swept Poppy back into the kitchen. "I'm sorry I didn't call," she added, depositing a still-shell-shocked Poppy in a chair. "I thought I'd come back early and surprise you."

"You sure did that." For all the bad timing, she was happy to see her aunt again. June looked tanned and relaxed after her vacation, with her shoulder-length hair tinted auburn and her trim figure dressed in her usual bright, clashing prints.

Cooper arrived back. "I put your bags up in your room," he said.

"Thanks, honey." June beamed. "Now, you come sit down and tell me all the gossip I've been missing out on. Present company excluded, of course."

Cooper cleared his throat. "Actually, I should be getting to work." He was already edging out of the room. Poppy didn't blame him, with the way June was checking him out. He shot Poppy an apologetic look. "I'll call you later, OK?"

"Are you forgetting something?" June called, just as he was about to turn and go. He looked at them blankly. "A goodbye kiss for your girl," she said.

Cooper quickly kissed Poppy on the lips. "Good luck," he whispered, before beating a hasty retreat.

"Hmm, I can't say I like his quick escape." June frowned as the door slammed shut behind him. "A gentleman doesn't just run after being caught in a compromising position."

"June!" Poppy protested. "It's not Victorian times."

"Just as well," June said mischievously. "He'd be down on one knee after compromising your virtue like that."

"Remind me not to send you any more of those regency romances from my publisher," Poppy grinned. The first rush of humiliation was fading now. As long as she didn't think about it. She got up and gave June a big hug. "Welcome home! I missed you. Even if I could have used a heads-up before you came back."

"In my defense, I didn't think you needed the warning." June gave her a look. "Didn't you say you were looking for peace and quiet to work on your book? 'No drama,' " she mimicked.

"I guess fate had other plans." Poppy couldn't keep the smile from her face. "My first morning, a terrible noise made me go storming over next door, and, well, there was Cooper."

"He is delicious, isn't he?" June winked. "If I were twenty years younger. And that ass . . ." she sighed in appreciation.

"Hey!" Poppy protested. "No objectifying my boyfriend." 

"Is that what he is, then?"

Poppy paused. "I don't know," she admitted, those thoughts from earlier in the evening resurfacing again. "It's all still pretty new. We only got together a few days ago."