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

Poppy’s singing.”
    Logan listened for a minute. Indeed she was. It brought back memories from their childhood, and he realized Poppy always had. He’d forgotten how he used to hear her coming down the hall at school long before she walked into the classroom because she’d been singing whatever popular song was on the radio. It was almost as if she was unaware she was even doing it.
    Keith splashed some water that hit him in the face and he realized in that moment he’d been smiling with the memory. He quickly pushed thoughts of the past away. Poppy hadn’t even been here twenty-four hours and the normal cadence of their lives had been shattered.
    Routine had been important to Kelly, especially when she’d gotten so sick. Logan diligently followed that pattern, especially after Kelly passed away. He reasoned it was best for Keith to stay in their normal routine, something he could count on.
    But he hadn’t woken that morning thinking of the normal routine that had sustained him. He’d thought about Poppy. She’d been the last thing on his mind last night and the first thing he’d thought of when he’d opened his eyes. He’d been angry with her for so long that it was hard to imagine that the woman who’d greeted him this morning was the woman who’d walked out on her best friend in her time of need. And every time he thought about that, his anger swelled again until Logan thought it would choke him. It had been hard enough to keep that anger in check yesterday.
    Truth be told, Logan could hardly be angry with Poppy for leaving South Dakota all those years ago. She hadn’t wanted to leave. That had been forced on her by her parents’ decision to sell this very house.
    No, Logan’s anger grew as the years went on because despite her promise on the day she’d left, Poppy hadn’t come back. Not even for Kelly. It had always been Kelly who’d felt compelled to visit Poppy in New York.
    Anger surged through him with the memory of Kelly’s tears those months when she was sick every time she’d talked about Poppy. Why hadn’t Poppy come back then? None of it made sense. Least of all, Poppy showing up on his door yesterday. Why now after all this time? He just didn't understand it.
    As Keith splashed in the tub, Logan thought of how he’d tossed in his bed last night, knowing Poppy was just a few feet down the hall in bed. He knew she always slept naked because he’d walked in on her once while in high school, sending his teenage hormones through the roof in one fell swoop. He’d never been able to get the image of her lying in bed; auburn hair splayed out on her pillow, her creamy white breasts looking full and every bit a young man’s dream.
    A splash of suds hit his face, pulling him from the thoughts. The way his body immediately reacted to the memory only fueled his anger toward Poppy, but he pushed it aside as he pulled the plug on the tub and grabbed a towel. He wasn’t a teenage boy lusting after a beautiful girl. He was a father and a rancher.
    “Okay, little man, I think you’re wrinkled enough. I smell pancakes downstairs.”
    Within a few minutes, they both made their way downstairs, the creaky stair tread announcing their approach. Keith ran to the kitchen and climbed on a kitchen chair in front of a place setting with a tall empty glass in front of it. Without a word, Poppy reached over and swapped the empty glass with a cup of milk in a plastic cup. Keith grabbed the cup and took a quick sip.
    Logan looked at the table, set with a tablecloth he’d forgotten they’d had. He could smell the warmed strawberry jam now sitting in a gravy boat on the table. He looked at everything Poppy had put together and then glanced at the smile on her face. Even still tired, with her face scrubbed of the makeup she’d worn yesterday, she was an incredibly beautiful woman. The years hadn’t changed that.
    He cleared his throat and searched for something appropriate to say.
    She tilted an eyebrow at him.