Her Dakota Man (Book 1 - Dakota Hearts) by Lisa Mondello Read Free Book Online

inside himself that he couldn’t define.
    “I don’t want you to leave.”
    Pure emotion flared in her beautiful green eyes. “You don’t?”
    He stumbled on his words, not finding any that made sense to him. “You said you came here to help…so I guess…if you can care for Keith, I can get started cleaning up the barn tomorrow.”
    She nodded. “And then?”
    “Let’s not make this what it isn’t, Poppy.”
    “And what’s that?”
    He didn’t utter a word but his face said it all. He believed all the lies. Well, that shouldn’t surprise her. She’d believed them too. Poppy was standing right in front of Logan and yet she felt as far away at that moment as she’d been when she was in New York.
    * * *
    He should have slept like a log, but as Logan pulled himself out of bed due to the sound of cartoons on the TV downstairs in the living room, he felt like road kill. Cartoons. Early Mornings. That was normal. Having Poppy Ericksen sleeping in the bedroom down the hall, most likely naked, was not. He hated that he remembered such details about the woman.
    At least he’d have a few minutes to collect himself with a cup of coffee before Poppy got up and he had to face the day with her again.
    He quickly dressed and quietly walked downstairs. From the center hallway, he peeked into the living room and saw Keith sitting in a child-size plastic chair in front of the television, watching his favorite Saturday morning cartoon. He quietly walked by the doorway to the kitchen, hoping he could catch a few minutes alone before starting their morning breakfast ritual. He stopped short as he walked into the kitchen.
    Poppy stood in front of the stove with a grimace on her face reading the side of a box of pancake mix. On the counter, he saw an empty bowl, a measuring cup and a full cup of hot coffee.
    Her gaze lifted to him when she noticed him standing there. “Do you know this pancake mix doesn’t call for adding any eggs?”
    “Good thing. We don’t have any.”
    She chuckled. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” She put the box down on the counter and picked up the cup of coffee, handing it to him. “I figured you could use this first thing. I just poured it so it’s really hot.”
    He looked at the coffee cup, a little taken aback that she’d set the tone of the day this way. “Aren’t you having some?”
    “I’ve already had two. I’m still on East Coast time. This is from a fresh pot.”
    “Oh.” He took the cup in his hand and sipped it. Strong coffee, something he was not used to. Kelly had always made it weak and liked it light. He’d gotten used to it that way. But this tasted good. “How did you know I was awake?”
    “It doesn’t take a PhD. I knew you wouldn’t let Keith stay up by himself that long. And I heard you coming down the steps.”
    Recollection dawned on him. “The creaky step?”
    “Bagged me every time,” she said with a smile. She waved the box. “Want some no-egg pancakes?”
    “We have no maple syrup.”
    “I saw some strawberry jam in the fridge. That’ll do.”
    “Oh, okay, sure. But you don’t have to make us breakfast.”
    “I can do pancakes with, or in this case, without eggs. Why don’t you give Keith his bath and I’ll fix breakfast for all of us. It’ll be done when you are.”
    He nodded his thanks. “Call out if you can’t find anything in the kitchen.”
    Once the warm bath was filled and Keith was playfully splashing in the water, Logan allowed himself to think about how normal it all seemed. He’d missed the scent of hot coffee brewing this morning, but now it was unmistakable. The smell of food cooking was coming upstairs and invading his senses. He hadn’t had anything like this since before Kelly died and suddenly it reminded him just how alone he’d been this past year without her.
    Keith giggling pulled him from his thoughts.
    Logan picked up a pile of soapsuds with his fingers and dotted Keith’s nose. “What’s so funny?”
    “Auntie