Chapter Six
Jensen
The first time I saw Poppy, some primal part of me knew she was mine.
The second time I saw her, I knew I was hers.
Providence has thrown her into my path for a third time and damned if I'm going to let her get away from me again.
I cross the office in two quick strides and pull her into my arms, claiming her mouth with my own. She stiffens momentarily but then melts against me with a moan that tells me she’s feeling it too—this insane chemistry that keeps pulling us together.
I lick across the seam of her mouth, encouraging her to open up to me. She does so with a whimper, her arms stealing up around my neck and fisting in my hair. She smells like apples and cinnamon, a heady combination that sets my nerve endings on fire and has my cock hardening painfully behind the seam of my pants.
“I’ve been dreaming about you, about holding you, kissing you, for weeks,” I growl, tearing my mouth from hers.
Poppy gazes up at me, her eyes misty, her mouth swollen from my kiss. “Me too,” she admits.
“Fuck!” I mutter, dipping my head to nip at her bottom lip.
My hands palm her rounded ass, pulling her into the cradle of my hips so she can feel how hard I am for her. Her hands tighten in my hair, and she lets out a needy moan, lifting her mouth in mute invitation. My mouth crashes against hers, and I kiss her again, hard and deep this time, thrusting my tongue against hers with a low groan.
Every atom in my body screams for relief, the kind of relief I instinctively know only she can give me. One kiss, and she’s wrecked me for anyone else. One kiss? Hell, no! More like one look!
“Holy crap!” she gasps when I finally let her up for air, swaying on her feet slightly.
I chuckle softly, tightening my grip on her as I look into those green eyes. “I guess I should formally introduce myself. I’m Jensen Lockhart, owner of this club. It’s my absolute pleasure to meet you, Poppy Parsons.”
“It’s good to meet you too,” she replies softly. “Although, I’m pretty sure I’ve just broken every rule in the company book about fraternizing with the client.”
I shake my head. “That’s on me. I kissed you, not the other way around.”
Poppy frowns and pulls away from me. I let her go, watching as she smooths down her rumpled clothing with shaky hands, trying to regain her composure.
“So, uh, maybe we could start with a tour of the club?” she asks, retreating behind her professional mask.
My mouth twitches with a smile. Okay, if that’s the way my curvy nymph wants to play it, I’ll move at her pace. For now.
“Sure. I’ll show you around,” I reply, opening the office door and indicating she should precede me.
I take Poppy on a full tour, from the games rooms with the gambling machines to the function rooms used for parties and business occasions and the gym and spa area. I show her the luxurious bedroom suites upstairs before taking her up to the roof terrace with its bar and seating area.
“People started canceling their memberships when my father was in charge,” I tell her as we make our way back down to my office. “I didn’t know the full extent of the financial damage until after he died.”
“And you’ve been trying to plug the hole ever since,” Poppy says with a knowing nod.
“Something like that,” I say wryly.
“It might not be quick or easy, but we’re going to get things back on track, Jensen,” Poppy promises, her eyes full of hope. “I’ll do everything in my power to help you save this club.”
“Yeah, I do believe you will,” I reply, my eyes lingering on her lovely face.
She blushes and averts her eyes. “We, uh, we should start with your bookkeeping. I need access to all the receipts and orders for the last year.”
I give her a sheepish grin as I open the bottom drawer of the metal filing cabinet stuffed with layers and layers of bills, receipts, and orders. Poppy’s mouth drops open as she walks towards me, scooping out a handful of papers and looking at them in horror.
“I guess filing isn’t my strong suit,” I admit ruefully.
“No shit, Sherlock!” Poppy scoffs. “It’s going to take me at least a week just to sort through these. I, uh, guess I’m going to be here longer than I thought. I’ll try not to get in your way.”