Drake liked to think that if another man had shown up last night, he’d have stepped aside and given Poppy what she’d needed. He was grateful that theory hadn’t been tested. She mattered to him, more than anything, and he wanted her to be happy.
He didn’t know much about the prophecy. Only that she was supposed to meet her mate at the circle that night, and that there was some sort of time limit. He needed to know what the rest of it said and clear away any lingering doubt she may have.
She hadn’t taken his appearance at the stones well, but he’d prepared for that. He had to make her come around. And he would, he promised himself. He’d be patient, he’d wait, he'd do whatever it took to win her. Because she was it for him.
With a deep breath, he knocked on her door. It was late morning, the dew not completely evaporated off the burgundy mums in the front planter, but Poppy was an early riser. When she didn’t answer, he knocked again before checking her windows for movement. Nothing.
He went around the side and peaked into her garage, frowning at the empty space. Panic fluttered in his chest, but he tamped it down. She was safe, she had to be. He’d walked her home last night and made sure she was secure in her house before leaving. Plus, he knew she protected her house with more than the shotgun she kept loaded above the china cabinet.
Where could she have gone? Had she ran away? No, he discarded the idea almost immediately. It wasn’t like her to run away from something. She was strong, a fighter. When things didn’t work out, she pushed through. It was a trait he loved about her, something they had in common. Neither of them ever quit.
He strode through the gate, latching it before sitting on the half wall surrounded another garden bed. He didn’t know how long she’d be, but he wasn’t in a hurry to leave. It was peaceful here, calm. He breathed deeply, smelling the pungent earth and the tea roses behind him. It smelled like her, he realized as he dragged in another breath, holding the perfume in tightly before releasing it.
A car rumbled down the road, the occasional kick letting him know that it was Poppy. He really needed to fix that for her. If only she’d let him.
He didn’t stand as she drove onto the driveway, wanting her to make the first move. He wouldn’t push, wouldn’t force. She didn’t respond well to that, and he knew she would only push back. Their years of friendship aided him. He knew her better than he knew himself.
He smiled at her once she climbed out. “Hi. Nice drive?”
“Yeah.” She shifted the keys from hand to hand, but he didn’t remark on the nervous gesture. “Really nice actually. I visited my grandma.”
His brows rose. “I’m surprised you’re back already. You must have left early.”
“I didn’t get much sleep.”
“Me either.”
She eyed him warily, and his conscience pricked. He hated to see her distressed.
“Do you want to come inside? I can make some coffee.”
“Sure.”
He fell into step behind her, wanting to soothe her rigid shoulders, rub her stiff neck. But he knew he couldn’t touch her. Not yet. She needed space, needed to come around to the idea of them together. He could wait.
For now.
But as he sat at the table in her small kitchen, watching her bustle around, keeping busy, her hips swaying gracefully, he wasn’t so sure. He’d wanted her for so long, needed her. It was everything he could do to stay in his seat, to not reach out, to not touch her.
“Here. Just how you like it,” she said, placing black coffee in front of him.
He smelled roses as she brushed past him, his eyes hooding at the scent. His fingers itched to reach out to her.
So close!
“Thanks.”
“I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
He sipped the biting brew. “Only a few minutes actually. I’m glad I was able to catch you.”
She nodded, choosing a seat on the opposite end of the table to sit. She couldn’t be farther away, he thought. He set his cup down. “Look, Poppy. I know this is hard, but we need to talk about it.”
“Okay,” she said before taking a sip. Her shoulders straightened as if preparing for battle.
He could easily imagine what she wanted to say, but he didn’t have a desire to hear that it was impossible to be together. “Wait.” He held up a hand. “Please.” Her mouth closed slowly as she leaned back into her chair. “May I say something first?”
“All right.”
“I know what you’re thinking. I know that you think this isn’t right, that we can’t be together.” He waited for her nod. “I don’t know everything about the prophecy, so I can’t argue any points there, but I do know one thing and it’s the same thing I said last night. No one will ever love you like I do.”
She gulped. “You don’t know that.”
His nostrils flared. “I do.”
“Drake, please—”
“Ah.” He held up his hand. “There’s more.” He checked the smile tweaking his lips. She was so adorable when annoyed, but grinning would only piss her off. “I know you don’t agree with me. And I don’t want to force you into anything. I don’t want to take away any of your options.”
“Then why were you there last night?”
“Because I wanted to make it very clear that I want to be one of your options. I wanted you to know that I want you, that I’m fighting for you.” She shifted in her chair. “Here’s what I’m proposing…”
Her eyes bulged.
“No. I’m not actually proposing here, but I have a proposition. Date me. Go with this whole thing as if I really were your mate. If some guy shows up, one with all of your qualifications from the prophecy, then I will step aside.”
“You’ll really step aside? Completely?”
He swallowed hard, hoping his voice wouldn’t crack. “Yes. I’ll step aside so you can date him, can figure out if he’s what you really want. But I’ll still be here, still hoping that you’ll realize it’s me. I don’t want to force this on you, Poppy. I want you to choose me. But I’ll be doing everything I can to persuade you.”
She stirred her coffee absently now, eying him. “And what would ‘dating’ entail?”
“The usual stuff. Going out to crappy movies, sharing a fancy meal… necking in the car.” He grinned at her blush. She was gorgeous when color kissed her cheeks.
“I don’t know about the make-out part of the plan, but I’ll go with the outings. The rest of it… we’ll just have to see.”
“Totally fine,” he quickly agreed. In truth, he was relieved that she’d agreed to any of it. “Oh, and I’m not holding back any more.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve had to hold back my feelings for years. I want to hold your hand, kiss you, and say what’s on my mind. Every thought or feeling I have from now on, I’m going to express. I’m not hiding anything because of the prophecy or from worry that you’ll run away.”
She swallowed hard, then cleared her throat. What was she getting herself in to? “So, when do you want to start?”
“Why not today? Now?”
“Okay.” She breathed shakily.
“But there’s something I’d like first.”
“What’s that?” Her eyes narrowed. “You aren’t getting a kiss, so don’t even try.”
He snorted. “I didn’t figure or I’d already’ve had one.” He leaned across the table toward her. “I want to know what the prophecy says. All of it.”
Her lips firmed as she shook her head. “No. I don’t think so.”
He gulped coffee. “I think it’s only fair. You’ve rejected me once over it already. How am I going to persuade you that I’m the guy if you won’t tell me what it says?”
“Some other way. I can’t tell you. I’m sorry.”
Realization cut through him. She didn’t trust him. He’d shown up at the stones when he wasn’t supposed to and she thought he’d manipulate her with the rest of it. He couldn’t blame her, not really. Beca
use if he knew what it said, he’d have figured out a way to make it apply to him. “How about this… I already know there’s a time limit. Could you at least tell me how much time we’re dealing with?”
She debated for a minute before her shoulders fell. “Less than a week.”
If felt like he’d been hit by a brick. “A week?” he croaked.
“Yes. Well not even that. Thursday. The full moon.”
“Of course.” He only had five days to convince her that he was the one for her. It was everything he could do to gulp down the rest of his drink without choking. “Guess there’s no time to lose.”
The Witching Moon: The Witches of Redwood Falls - Book 1 Page 5