Falling for Her Secret Admirer - Clean Holiday Romance (eBook) PREORDER *AVAIL. 02/03/2026*

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Chapter 1
“Alright, folks, listen up! Valentine’s Day is in ten days and we have guests arriving on Monday for the week-long celebration.”
Poppy tossed a glance in Arden’s direction and he made a face. She stifled a laugh and turned her attention back to her boss. Amy was definitely trying too hard. Okay that wasn’t a fair assessment. She was trying to be like Eva who’d had the job before her.
The holidays were supposed to be fun.
And Valentine’s Day was going to be the absolute best.
Arden elbowed her in the side and she gave him a little shove back. He leaned in close, his warm breath tickling the shell of her ear. “Do you really think any of this will make a difference?”
She whipped her head around to gape at him only to find that knowing grin teasing his lips. Arden knew all too well that she was as love-sick as they came. She elbowed him right back. “You know it does. True love exists. You just have to do the work to find it.”
“Doesn’t that just defeat the purpose?”
Poppy’s brows furrowed. “How do you mean?”
“Isn’t love supposed to be easy? You know like in the books you’re always reading? The prince saves the princess and all that?”
She snorted. “You’re not reading the same books I’m reading.” Poppy snuck a quick look at her supervisor who was still droning on about the activities they have planned for the week. The owner was at her side, but he didn’t seem to be listening. Moral support. That’s all Stephen seemed to be offering.
Leaning closer to Arden, Poppy whispered, “Love can’t be easy because then it’s not worth fighting for. When was the last time you truly appreciated what you had when you didn’t work for it?”
Arden shrugged. “I don’t know. I got this job pretty easy and I like it.”
She let out a bark of laughter and shoved him. He stumbled back a step and bumped into someone else. Several eyes darted their way and her face likely turned a lovely shade of scarlet. Poppy ducked her head for the few seconds that silence ensued. Amy would probably give her a lecture for not paying attention.
They’d gotten these jobs mostly because they were locals to the town nearby and that meant they could work these big events without missing out on family obligations. When Amy continued her speech, Poppy sidled closer to Arden. “You got this job because of me. But you know as well as I do that it’s not easy. The people you have to work with at reception don’t always have the best manners and you know it.”
He ducked his head, his eyes still glued to Amy as she spoke. His words were whispered out of the corner of his mouth. “Maybe I like my job not because of the challenge, but because of the company.”
She grinned. It was nice working with the one person who seemed to understand her above all else. Arden had been there for her most of her life. He knew when he could push her buttons and what made her tick. He was sweet and funny.
“It’s really too bad you don’t like to date. You’d make a really good boyfriend.” For a moment she didn’t realize she’d said that out loud. Then she clapped a hand on her mouth and glanced at him with mortification. “I mean, for someone else. Not me.” She released a nervous laugh. They teased about nearly everything except dating each other. That seemed to be a line they weren’t willing to cross.
Friendships like theirs were as rare as they came. There was no sense in muddying the waters by exploring something that could blow up in their faces.
Arden didn’t look her way. He didn’t grin. By the set of his jaw, she could tell he wanted to just forget that she’d said anything.
Poppy blew out an embarrassed breath. “Remind me again why you don’t date? This is he perfect time of year to find someone.”
He arched a brow at that and gave her an incredulous look. “The week before Valentine’s Day? Are you out of your mind? You don’t get a new girlfriend or boyfriend during this time of year. That’s a recipe for disaster.”
She scoffed and waved a hand. “Come on. No reasonable person is going to think that you’re their forever someone if you take them out on Valentine’s Day for their first date. That’s ridiculous.”
“You must not know the fairer sex as well as you think you do.” He chuckled, the sound soft and warm just like him. Arden was the strong quiet type—with everyone except her. He was tall, at least six foot to her five-seven frame. And while he wasn’t obsessed with working out, he did have a nice body. Arden was a catch from his bronzed skin to the medium, brown wavy hair that always looked achingly disheveled. Even his honeyed eyes had girls doing double takes. He was perfect boyfriend material and he wasted it.
She sighed. “I still think you’re missing out.”
“Nothing to miss out on around here. We live in a touristy town. Who on earth do you think I’d ever meet? I already know everyone.”
Her eyes brightened and she whirled to face him. “Did you hear about that new dating app? It just came out. Something about secret admirers.”
Arden groaned and the sound was too adorable for his own good. He dragged a hand down his face. “No, Poppy.”
“Seriously! Let me look.” She pulled out her phone and tapped on the app store. In seconds she’d found the app and she wiggled her phone at him. “You’re supposed to put your location and all that usual stuff, but you don’t get to put any pictures of yourself. It’s supposed to match you with people based on an algorithm and you get to connect without all the pressures of physical looks. It gives people the chance to fall in love without judging a book by its cover.” She grinned even wider. “You should do it.”
Arden shook his head and pushed the phone back to her. “Pass.”
She pouted. Why was he so insistent on staying out of the dating scene? Poppy stared at her phone for a moment then shrugged. “Fine. Your loss. But I’m gonna do it.”
“What? Why?” he snapped. “You could have your pick of guys. Why leave it up to chance like that?”
“Because I believe in love. And at this point, I’m perfectly happy to get to know someone blindly before agreeing to a date.”
“You realize that app is a playground for serial killers, right? You won’t even be able to get a look at their eyes to see if they’re crazy.”
She snickered. “Serial killers get a bad rap.”
“Poppy,” he muttered with exasperation.
“What?” She lifted her phone to show she’d already downloaded it and she was already into the questionnaire. “I’m ready to find love. I’m tired of being alone.”
“You’re not alone,” he muttered, raking a hand through is hair and mussing it perfectly. “You have me.”
She reached out and squeezed his arm. “I know that. And you have me. But I’m ready for something more.”
Arden eyed her then sighed. “Whatever. Good luck with that. Those apps aren’t built for love. Not like you think.”
Poppy leaned into him, reveling in the way he relaxed against her. “I’ll be fine because you’ll be there if anything goes wrong.”
He rested his cheek atop her head. “Always.”

1. Falling for Her Secret Admirer
2. Falling for Her Best Friend
3. Falling for His Nanny