Poppy's Passions

by Stephanie Beck

  “I’m here, darlin’.” The fighter put away, he gently wrapped his arms around her. “Thank you, ma’am. Do you think you could find some ice for her eye, please?”

  When the police arrived the situation stalled again when no one could offer any witness information. Steven maintained his story and insisted Poppy had been self-destructive. That she’d been injured in a small way was unfortunate but far from intentional.

  Poppy told an officer what happened, keeping a tight hold on Cody when she relayed the details about being hit and the threats Steven made. The officers looked acutely uncomfortable with the situation, terming it “domestic” since Steven called himself the father of her baby while Michael, taking point with the police, called Steven a damn liar.

  “Look.” Michael finally stepped in when the officers once more talked among themselves with no decisions. An hour had passed and her eye was painfully swollen shut. “You guys know what a woman’s face looks like after she’s taken a hit. We all know even if—big old if—that asshole hit her unintentionally, it’s still low-grade assault. Your job is to take people to jail and let the lawyers deal with the issue from there.”

  “Sir, I understand you’re upset, but I think the best course of action is to separate the parties and allow any legal action to take place in civil courts.” The two older officers nodded when the younger explained their decision.

  “Okay.” Michael’s voice was so hard she barely recognized her calming, reasonable lover. “I want names, badge numbers, and the name of your supervisor.”

  * * * *

  An hour later they waited in the airport’s private lounge, Poppy still icing her cheek. It was better because she was in Trevor’s lap and the Tylenol was kicking in. Cody got snacks while Michael made several phone calls.

  She hadn’t expected the time in San Antonio to go smoothly, and while she could have anticipated Steven’s reaction, she couldn’t have predicted his violent behavior. Her men were overreacting and not letting her out of their sight, but she didn’t mind. She wouldn’t complain about the smothering, at least not for a few weeks.

  She wanted to go home. They’d only been away four days and she’d only been in Montana a month before that, but she missed her bed and blankets. She missed Mary’s sympathetic ear, Paul’s laughter, Thomas’s conversation, and Duane’s cursing at everything from basketball scores to rabbit poop. The Paraby ranch was her home, and more than anything she wanted to be back where she felt safe and loved.

  For all the drama, she’d managed to tie up loose ends while back in her hometown. She’d quit her job with the nursing service. One of her former co-workers called after she put in her notice to ask about her townhouse, so the sale was already being worked out through a realtor.

  It was nice seeing her nephews and doing what they could to help Alexander. Though it frightened her, Michael would endure a spinal tap in Missoula to donate if he could. San Antonio would never feel like her home again, and even though she would miss parts, she was sure she could walk away with few regrets.

  “Baby, you’re zoning out.” Kissing the uninjured part of her face, Trevor shifted her closer. “Feeling okay?”

  “Just thinking about home.” She kissed his palm before setting it over her belly. “Is there any reason ya’ll don’t have a dog at the ranch?”

  “We had one. It was mostly Cody’s, but he died about five years ago. We’ve talked about getting another but haven’t gotten around to actually doing it.” The slow circles he made on her stomach calmed her more. “Do you want a puppy or something?”

  “I suppose ya’ll would like a lab or collie or something useful.”

  “Probably, but I didn’t ask what we wanted.” He tweaked her nose playfully. “I asked what you had in mind.”

  “Something white, fluffy, and worthless beyond petting, cuddling, and shedding.”

  “Little?” he asked with an indulgent smile.

  Might as well go for broke. “Dust mop sized, preferably.”

  “I’ll talk to a breeder I know in Denver and see if she can recommend a breed that’s good with kids.” He spoke like it was no hardship to ask three rough-and-tumble men to house an itty-bitty piece of fluff dog.

  “Really, you don’t mind?” she asked. “Because I’m sure I’d like a lab or collie or anything.”

  “Babe, a dog’s a dog. Baby Boy might have an opinion, and Michael gets three kinds of pissed if his boots get chewed on, but I don’t care. As long as I can pet it and it’s good with kids, the breed doesn’t matter.”

  “I’ll try not to let it chew on your shoes either.” Unwelcome tears burned in her eyes. “You’re very sweet. Thanks, Trevor.”

  “Hell, there’s gotta’ be an easy mark in the family. I’m willing to let that be me.” With his pinky he wiped away a tear. “What’s this for?”

  She shrugged and cuddled into his lap, much of the trip’s ugliness eradicated by his simple yet deep love. She should have known they wouldn’t let the ugliness last, they never did.

  The flight could’ve been tense, but Michael put his phone down and she happily took its place, wrapping as close as the seats allowed. She whispered sweet words to combat all the frustrating ones he’d been hearing. She made sure he knew how much she appreciated everything he was doing for her and how much he meant to her. It was easy to forget that her strong men needed words of love and reassurance. Words held affection she was happy to share.

  The ride home from the airport was spent in Cody’s arms in the backseat of Michael’s truck. The trees were covered with a new layer of sparkling snow, all dressed up in welcome. When the giant cabin came in sight, complete with ornate Christmas lights sparkling in the yard and on the house, she knew everything would be all right, because she was finally home.

  Chapter 23

  They tried to stay busy, but it wasn’t easy. After the flight Poppy was exhausted, so Duane checked her and ordered her to bed. That was over twenty hours ago, and they waited for her to wake. Duane said to relax and let her sleep. She would get up when she was ready, but the wait was pushing their ability to be patient.

  At their doors again, they caught each other checking her for the fifth time but she still slept, cozy beneath her favorite comforter. The water bottle beside her bed was half full so they knew she woke at some point. Cody shrugged and headed back through his room to the kitchen. It was time for lunch, he was hungry, and with Poppy in mind he started chopping vegetables for soup. Michael grabbed beef tips from the refrigerator and brazed them lightly. Trevor hunched over his phone, keeping busy there, but he would butter the toast later.

  “I think we should wake her up,” Trevor announced after the meat, broth, and vegetables were in the heavy stewpot on the back burner. “It’s been too long. She has to be hungry. What if she gets sick from not eating?”

  “Dad said she’s fine.” Michael sounded reasonable, but his gaze continued to stray to the hall. “She had a hard few days, and if she’s sleeping she needs it.”

  Trevor grumbled but didn’t pursue, turning back to his phone. The bowl of pretzels passed between them on the kitchen island as they kept their thoughts to themselves. There were things they needed to talk about. San Antonio had been a nightmare of epic proportions, and questions needed to be answered. Letting the situation pass on its own would cause them problems later when the festering made Poppy insecure and sad again. They couldn’t fix her family, no matter how much they wanted, but they could listen and hopefully understand her feelings. They could also sue the hell out of the abusive doctor who’d hit her.

  “Boys.” Paul took an empty stool, Thomas and Duane joining the group, as Cody, Michael, and Trevor continued to contemplate silently. “So, our Poppy has some family problems down in San Antonio.”

  “They are a fucking nightmare.” Trevor tossed aside his phone, and Cody stopped it before it slid off the side. “You wouldn’t believe these people, Dad. Can you picture how anyone could treat her like shit?”

 
“A sweet girl like her?” Thomas shook his head and took a handful of pretzels. “It’s a shame, a damn shame, if they don’t value her like they should.”

  “We won’t make that mistake,” Duane assured them. “What the hell is her family thinking to treat her badly? You boys are lucky she’s as well adjusted as she is. That sort of emotional abuse and neglect can really wreck a person and make them not want to trust what’s right in front of them.”

  They nodded, quietly thankful for Poppy’s self-reliance and strength. It wasn’t something just Cody and the others noticed. Everyone who took the time to know her saw how sweet and strong she was.

  “I’m already looking into this Dr. Phillips person,” Thomas announced. “It’s going to be my great pleasure to ruin every aspect of his life that I’m able to. That rat bastard is going to have a horrible new year.”

  “That knowledge lets me sleep at night.” Michael smiled some at his father’s promise and Cody was grateful, the eldest hadn’t smiled much since San Antonio. “I wanted to kill him when I saw the bruise.”

  That was a big admission from him. His self-control and even temper were the things that made Michael a good police officer. Cody knew his brother believed in his job as a protector, even if he no longer wore a badge. That his desire to protect the woman he loved had led him to want to hurt another said a lot. Not indulging said even more.

  “I called one of my friends in San An,” Trevor admitted, and Cody slid the pretzel bowl to him. “He runs in Dr. Asshole’s circles, and he put out the word of what happened before the dick can try to duck and cover. His Christmas social schedule has suddenly dried up. That’s something, I guess.”

  They all nodded again, Trevor’s connections enviable. He knew everyone who was anyone, and he never met someone who didn’t walk away a friend. Cody had seen his brother drop everything at a phone call to help someone out, and people did the same for him.

  “I made her cookies.” Cody idly slid a lone pretzel back and forth between his palms on the counter. “When she wakes up, I’m going to put them in the oven so they’re warm and gooey like she likes.”

  He would have killed the man if he hadn’t been busy taking care of Poppy. His temper was usually even and he’d learned young to control himself, but seeing the bruise on her face had done away with that discipline. He was glad he’d stopped before anyone else had been hurt.

  “Well, boys.” Duane sighed and took a deep drink of his soda. “I wish we could do more with this. We’ll do our part so Poppy knows she’s welcome here, but most of the healing is going to fall to you three. You can handle it though.”

  “Yep,” Thomas agreed with complete confidence in his tone. “You’ve got too much to lose to let her run back to her shell. It’s going to take some doing, because she’s going to be embarrassed about her family. The insecurities are going to sprout up, hormones are going to rage, and the bigger she gets the more she’ll wonder if you love her or if it’s just sex. It’ll be the little things that reassure her once making love is off the table, and with twins that’s going to be sooner than later.”

  “But you’ll manage.” There was no room for doubt in Paul’s words. Cody recognized the pride in his father’s voice. “We’re proud of you boys. You picked a hell of a woman. She’s going to cry and fight you, Mary did every other month, and we did the same. It’s not easy making four personalities mesh, but I speak for all of us when I say we’re proud of you boys and the way you are handling everything.”

  “You’re the men we hoped you’d grow into when you were such stupid teenagers,” Thomas added with a grin.

  “Your mother is proud too,” Duane said. “From day one she’s been saying how perfect that girl is for you. Mary did the best she could with you, and she’s sure Poppy will finish the job of keeping you on the straight and narrow.”

  The boys, now men though they’d always be boys in their fathers’ eyes, nodded in unison. For Cody, the approval from men he’d learned to be a man from meant a lot. For all of them it meant a lot. They were learning no matter how much they wanted to keep Poppy in a bubble and away from anyone who would hurt her, it wasn’t going to happen.

  Ideally, they’d planned for the three of them to protect their woman and always provide for her. Even three wasn’t enough. They were going to have to reach out, and thank God, they had their parents.

  It wouldn’t be easy, but their parents had laid the groundwork and eventually, Poppy would start the process of making friends and becoming part of the community. The time spent only with them was necessary though, so she understood she always had them. She wrapped them around her little finger, and Cody knew they were right where they wanted to be.

  Footsteps in the hall made them turn. From his place at the far end, Cody had to lean back to see the living room. Flushed and soft, Poppy wandered in. The soft blue sweats that were too big at the start of her stay, now fit snug around her middle. The bruise on her face could have been worse, but it still marred her cheek with a swollen smudge of purple.

  She rubbed her eyebrows, not focusing on the kitchen. The fire was lit in the living room and drew her attention. She paused in her stocking feet, braced her hands at the small of her back and stretched, her stomach pushing out more as she gazed at the fire for a long minute. Cody smiled at his brothers as they turned to him and grinned. They recognized her waking up routine. It took a while for her to start processing and in those quiet, soft moments she was the most beautiful person in the world. Paul’s chair squeaked when he shifted, and she turned toward the sound.

  “Oh.” She straightened and rubbed the side of her stomach, but Cody thought she was too sleepy to be honestly startled. “Hi.”

  “Hey there, honey,” Thomas greeted. “How are you feeling?”

  “Better.” She slowly walked to the kitchen. “Have you ever slept so long you’re sore from not moving?”

  “Yep.” Paul chuckled. “After the heart episode I was in bed more than I was accustomed to. I ached more after a day of that than I did stacking hay.”

  “I feel like I ran a marathon.” She stood despite the empty stools before her. “Without carb loading.”

  “You’re just starting your marathon,” Duane told her. “The more those babies grow and move, the less you’re going to be able to sleep, and once they’re born... You just take all the sleep you can get now, sweetie. I suppose we’d better get back to Mary. We’re supposed to be helping get the damn Christmas decorations set up in the living room.”

  The dads stood and patted their sons’ shoulders as they passed, and Cody was happy to see them stop to hug Poppy too. She was the daughter they hadn’t had, and they didn’t mind showing her the affection she deserved. Cody went to the stove and stirred the stew, turning the oven on to preheat for the bread. Poppy continued to stand, still fuzzy, but she didn’t look upset or discontent, just a little sleepy and thoughtful.

  “Everything okay, sweetheart?” Michael asked before Cody could. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Huh? Yeah, I’m fine,” she answered. “And I’m not thirsty. Thanks, though. I can’t believe I slept that long.”

  “You were tired.” Now that she was awake, Trevor was more accepting of her sleeping so long. “We’re sorry. We haven’t been taking very good care of you lately, babe. We’ll do better.”

  “You guys do fine.” She waved away his apology with a sleepy motion. “So, what’s been happening?”

  “Nothing, just settling in,” Cody answered. “We’ve talked to Thomas, and he’s started working on things in San Antonio. He’s already filed for restraining orders and every possible injunction and legal thing he can think of. I hope that’s okay.”

  “Sure, sure.” At her absent answer he wasn’t sure she was completely awake. “God, it’s good to be home. I really like my bed. I like the fireplaces. I like the smells here. I like the chill in the air.”

  Cody saw his brothers’ reaction was like his. Since she was relaxed, they rela
xed. Her words were a balm on their nerves and reassured them that even though things had gotten hard in her old home, here in her new one, she was content.

  “The lady who bought your townhouse called and said the moving truck left this morning with all your stuff. It should be here tomorrow or the next day,” Trevor told her.

  She nodded and finally sat, holding open her hand. Michael grinned as he placed several pretzels in her palm.

  “Speaking of calls, my father texted me an hour ago.”

  They all froze. Her father was a ghost in all the drama, in the shadows but not someone they’d dealt with directly. They didn’t know him, but they agreed they didn’t like him. Not one damn bit. Any man who refused to tuck in his baby and encouraged abusive relationships belonged under the wheels of a semi tractor.

  “And?” Michael asked.

  “And I’m not invited to Christmas.” Her giggle was full of genuine humor, not the pain Cody expected to hear. “Peter spilled the beans about our devil’s four-way and Dad is thoroughly disappointed in my judgment. If I don’t end the relationship and recant my liar’s tale about Steven, he’ll disown me.”

  “And?” Cody felt ill.

  “And I hope you guys weren’t kidding when you said you would love me forever, because I officially disowned him first.” Poppy frowned at him as she chewed a pretzel. “I can’t believe you had to ask me that, Baby Boy. You met my sisters. He’s ten times worse than any of them.”

  “What a bastard.” Genuinely appalled at what could be worse than the “mercy” he’d seen from her sisters, he shuddered.

  “Exactly. I’ve got three men who love me the way I am, who’ve never asked me to change, and made me part of their family. San Antonio can’t touch how much love I have right here in this kitchen, let alone the whole house.”

  “Good.” Michael kissed her cheek and handed her more snacks as Cody worked on the stew. “We built this house for you, Poppy. We saved this love for you. It’s only going to grow.”