Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
And just like that, he realized she had already done it.
He was on his feet in an instant, and his beautiful Poppy in his arms the next. Her legs locked around his waist, and his chest squeezed at the way she clutched his shoulders while taking extra care not to touch the back of his neck.
“It’s okay,” he said roughly. “I...shaved it. Go ahead and touch it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Touch it.”
She slowly reached for the back of her neck, but her face crumpled as soon as her fingers came into contact with his skin. “Oh no.”
Poppy wriggled out of his hold and went around him. “Valerian...it’s even worse than I thought.”
He turned to face her, and she was crying harder this time. “You’ve cut yourself so many times.”
“It will heal—”
“You should’ve just waited for me—”
He cut her off, saying savagely, “I almost killed you. Not wanting to think of it that way doesn’t make it any less true. Do you really think I’d risk a repeat of what happened for the sake of a professional trim?”
But Poppy only looked at him as if none of his words had registered.
“Promise me,” she begged. “Promise me you’ll never do this again—”
Valerian yanked her back into his arms and buried his face in her hair.
God, why?
The last time he had spoken to God, Valerian had been a boy whose innocence had yet to shatter. His mother’s death changed all of that. He had seen no reason to even think of God until now.
Why, God?
Valerian was too fucked up for words while Poppy was too good for this world.
So why?
Why had God allowed her to enter his life?
“Valerian, p-please. Promise me. P-please”
It almost felt like a fucking sin just being with her. Touching her. Holding her. Honor demanded that he get out of her life before he ended up hurting her even more, whether deliberately or unintentionally.
But instead, he heard himself ask, “Do you still want to know how to make me feel better?”
Poppy pulled away and looked at him searchingly. “You know I do.”
“Tomorrow then. You’ll find out why I asked you to fly here, and afterwards...you can make your decision.”
“What do I need to decide on?”
“Whether you still want to make me feel better or not.”
Chapter Seventeen
POPPY WAS A MESS.
For the nth time.
But unlike previous instances, she had butterflies instead of mosquitoes or something similarly horrible buzzing around inside her stomach.
She had been up early in the morning trying to figure out what Valerian had in store for her. All he had been willing to tell her last night was that she needed to dress up and that Joel would help her with anything she needed.
“Oh my.”
Joel placed a hand over his chest. “You look absolutely stunning, Ms. Cortez. That gown seems made for you.”
Joel was the private butler assigned to her suite, and the man had been a godsend, just like Valerian had told her he would be. When she had shyly asked him for assistance in finding a gown, Joel had come up with an entire rack for her to choose from, not to mention an assortment of shoes and accessories as well.
“Isn’t it too revealing?” Poppy asked nervously.
“It is—”
“Joel!”
“But that is how it should be, Ms. Cortez. After all, our goal is to turn Mr. Rossfield’s head, yes?”
And so despite her own misgivings, Poppy allowed Joel to convince her to stick with the strapless form-hugging gown and a pair of crystal stilettos to match. Joel had also insisted she take a gold necklace with a heart-shaped pendant, which the butler slyly assured her would draw Valerian’s eyes straight to her décolletage.
“Mr. Rossfield just texted. The hotel’s Italian restaurant, La Serenata, will be closed to the public tonight. Your handsome gentleman has booked the entire place for your date.”
Poppy’s heart started pounding as she followed Joel’s lead. It still seemed so surreal to have Valerian go through so much effort...for her.
Please God, please let this not be a dream.
A pair of waiters were waiting by the restaurant’s garden entrance, and the two men bowed to her in greeting before throwing the double doors open.
“Shit.”
The whispered word came from Valerian, and hearing his initial reaction to her would’ve broken her heart...if Poppy didn’t also happen to see the expression on his handsome face.
I can’t believe this is real.
After eight long months of feeling invisible—
Valerian was looking at her like she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
Was this truly real?
And as if to answer her question, she then heard Valerian say for the second time—
“Shit.”
THE SOUND OF POPPY’S shaken laugh was like a kick to the balls. It didn’t just bring Valerian back to his senses, but it also made him realize what he had said.
Twice.
Color darkened his cheeks.
Get a grip, Rossfield!
He took a step towards her...and nearly ended up tripping. Over his own damn feet.