The Crush (Oregon Wine Country #1)(74)

Lightning flashed. The café door opened and a tall woman in a silk blouse and pencil skirt blew in, shaking the rain off her umbrella.

Demi Barnes had started out in the typing pool at the statehouse down in Salem and worked her way up the ladder until Senator Hollins appointed her to run his newly-opened Willamette Valley satellite office.

She paused just inside the entrance, combing her fingers through her windblown hair, waiting to be seated.

Poppy was the only server working until the dinner shift came in at three. But somehow her butt was glued to her seat.

When Demi spotted Poppy she started walking toward her, her heels clicking ominously with every step.

From the corner of her eye Poppy saw Heath slam the yearbook shut and slip it into his bag.

“Well, look who.” Demi stared down at the splashy, orange flower on Poppy’s apron. “Back working at your parents’ cafe?”

“For now,” she replied meekly.

“Things didn’t work out in Portland?”

Why did Demi always make her feel so inferior? It was her own fault for letting Demi get to her. Inadequacy, shame, guilt.

By some miracle, she managed to mask her inner turmoil. “Things worked out fine. I’m just . . . just back home temporarily, until my new job starts.”

“Oh, really? What job is that?”

There was a roaring in Poppy’s ears. She felt like she was in the middle of a circus ring and everyone was waiting for the show to begin. Five sets of eyes homed in on her, projecting every emotion from encouragement to empathy to disdain.

From somewhere deep down, defiance welled up in her. She was tired of being talked down to. Underestimated.

She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I’m going to be a sommelier at Cory Anthony’s new restaurant in Portland.”

Her heart pounded. What was she saying?

Demi’s jaw dropped.

She was speechless.

And Poppy was loving it!

Keval caught Poppy’s momentum. A haughty grin spread across his face. “And a model. Boom.” He punctuated the syllable with his fork.

Demi’s eyes swung back to Poppy’s, seeking clarification.

“You’ve heard of Palette Cosmetics?” Poppy tossed her ponytail and stared straight into Demi’s treacherous green eyes.

She was already in over her head. Might as well go all the way.

“They’ve hired me to be their spokesperson.”

What alien being had taken over Poppy’s body?

But as swiftly as Demi had been caught off guard, she recovered. “Isn’t that special? You’ll definitely have to come to the big class reunion, then! I’m sure everyone will be fascinated when they find out we have a sommelier and model in our class. In fact, spreading the word ahead of time might get more people to come.”

The faces around the table froze.

Demi sensed weakness like a shark smelled blood. “That is . . . unless it’s not a done deal?”

Keval said, “Oh, it’s a done deal. Done as a dog’s dinner. Tell anyone you want. Tell the world! Poppy Springer has evolved. Our golden retriever’s going to compete at Westminster. Instead of sorting teabags, she’ll be sorting French Chardonnay. In place of smiley faces, she’ll be the face of—“

“Poppy’s going to be a great somm.” Compared with Keval’s rising hysteria, Heath’s voice sounded rock solid.

Poppy wanted to kiss him—even if it did make him squirm.

Red took advantage of the lull to start gathering up her belongings. “Nice to see you, Demi. Poppy, could I scoot out and pay? I have an appointment to get to.”

“I should get going, too,” said Junie.

Poppy let Junie out and remembered that for the time being, her job was pouring nothing stronger than Stumptown’s Hair Bender. She offered Demi a nearby table.

“Actually, I’m not as hungry as I thought,” Demi said, backtracking toward the exit. “But we’re having a reunion meeting here next Tuesday evening. I’m sure every person on the committee will want to hear all the details about your new job then.”

“I look forward to it,” said Poppy.

Her smile felt as phony as a three dollar bill.

She watched Demi walk briskly out the door and down the sidewalk, umbrella in one hand, phone in the other.

If only she’d kept her mouth shut!

There had never been any expectations of Poppy. She could have gone on working at her parents’ café forever and no one would have thought less of her.

But now, if her fabulous new life failed to come to fruition, she was going to be the laughingstock of Clarkston.