After they were changed, they started to jog. Gunther kept his eye on Poppy, waiting for her to break. To have someone threaten your life and to have a gun aimed at you is beyond scary, but she was showing her strong side, and Gunther admired her strength, but he knew that sooner or later, she will have to deal with the fear.
It happened when Gunther was waiting for her to finish her shower. “Poppy?” Gunther said, knocking on the door. When she didn’t answer, he opened the door and found her on the shower floor crying. “Baby, it alright.”
“I was so scared,” Poppy said to Gunther as he walked into the shower, only taking off his shoes and socks.
“Anyone would be. I was scared too. I was scared he would hurt you,” Gunther said.
“I am so mad also. How dare he rob me? I hope they find him, and he gets as much time in prison as possible,” Poppy said, looking at Gunther. “Look at you. You are soaked.”
Gunther stood up and took off his sweats until he was naked. He picked up Poppy and took her into the bedroom. He left her standing by the bed. He went back into the bathroom and got a towel and dried her off. “Get into bed.”
Poppy did, and Gunther climbed in beside her and held her in his arms until she fell asleep. He was determined to be there for her until she is back to being her strong and confident self.
Chapter Six
I n the next few days, Poppy got back to the routine of her life. The more she thought about the robbery, the madder she got. She was thankful for Gunther during those days. It gave her someone to lean on. She was starting to have strong feelings for him. When another business was robbed, the person they burglarize had a gun and shot the robber.
The robber was arrested. Poppy, as well as everyone in the neighborhood, was relieved. A few days later, she and Gunther were going for a walk around Poppy’s house when she said, “Where is this going between us, Gunther?”
He stopped walking and turned toward her, “I hope somewhere special.” He lifted his hand to brush back her hair, which she wore down today.
“I feel something for you. Something strong and I wonder if I am in this alone?” Poppy said.
“No, but I like how this is unfolding between us; slow and steady,” Gunther said.
“I think I could love you,” Poppy said.
“I think I could love you too,” Gunther said.
That will be enough for both of them now. As the Spring gave way to summer and then winter, Poppy and Gunther kept seeing each other. One day Poppy woke up in bed beside Gunther. She looked at him and felt light, happy, and content. She loved him. She was sure of it.
When he woke up and saw her beaming at him, he said, “Why are you so happy? I hope it has something to do with me?”
“It does,” Poppy said, leaning down to kiss him. When she was through, she stood up on the bed and jumped up and down for a minute, “I love you Gunther Williams,” she shouted.
He sat up in the bed and looked at her, looking mildly shocked. He was still staring at her as Poppy plopped down on the bed and sitting there on her knees. She placed her hands on his cheeks. “Did you hear me?”
Gunther felt her words like a balm to his heart. He opened his mouth and found himself telling her about his time in Iraq and Afghanistan, how he lost friends, how he wished that he would die too, and now this. “I want you to hear me Poppy Rose Folds. I love you, and we are going to marry as soon as we can get a marriage license.”
“I can’t just go to City Hall and get married. My mother and grandmother will kill me, plus I have to invite my friends. Wait, you love me too?”
“Yes,” Gunther said, bringing her to him for a passionate kiss. “We will invite your family and friends to the reception we are going to have.”
Poppy was having a hard time to think, especially when Gunther was trailing kisses down her neck, and he cupped her right breast. Lost in the moment and her love for him, she said, “We will talk about this later.”
As he pulled her pajama top over her head, she said, “Much later.”
Gunther chuckled and thought he finally found a home in Poppy’s arms, and they were getting married in City Hall.
Thank you for reading “The Barista’s Love.” It would be appreciated if you could leave a review.
Check out my other books on my author’s page here: https://www.amazon.com/Nickole-Evans/e/B00LJB8TUM?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vu0 0_taft_p1_i0
The Barista's Love (Home Economic Series Book 6) Page 3