Page 90 of The Fiancée Farce
“I see what this is.” He dug in his heels and laughed. “You’re playing hard to get, aren’t you? You want me to sweeten thedeal?” He leaned his head down and whispered, “You and I, we could . . . have some fun.”
Tansy recoiled. “What about Madison? You know, yourwife.”
“What about her?” He had the gall to look confused.
“Wow.” What she hadeverseen in him was beyond comprehension. “You disgusted me before, but now you make mesick.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t know how to make it more clear to you hownotinterested I am. Not in your deal and not in you. Not in a million years if you were the last person on this planet. After what you did to me? Using me? Gaining my trust so you could sleep with me and take pictures of me at my most vulnerable when I wassixteen? Spreading those pictures around the school? Acting like it was my fault for believing your lies? I don’t want there to be any confusion when I say wholeheartedly, go fuck yourself.” She skirted past him, making a beeline to the front of the store. “Don’t come back.”
“Frigid bitch,” Tucker mumbled under his breath as he threw open the door. “You’re going to regret this. What happened when we were kids? That’s going to look like fucking child’s play when I’m through with you. Just wait and see.”
The sound of the bell was drowned out by the way the frame shuddered and the glass panel insert shook as Tucker slammed the door shut behind him.
Tansy locked the door and sagged against it, the breath she’d held escaping her in one long whoosh, head swimming and heart racing, feeling for all the world like the sandwich she’d scarfed down for dinner was about to make a violent reappearance all over her Mary Janes.
Whatever pride she felt at telling Tucker off was swiftly snuffed out.
Tuckerknew.
He knew Katherine wanted to sell the store, knew about Scylla’s offer. Somehow, he knew Gemma was paying her.
What was stopping him from taking what he knew to Mr.Barnes? Telling him and everyone else the truth? From humiliating her all over again, just like he’d threatened.
With shaking hands, Tansy grabbed her coat from the hook beside the door and locked up, not bothering to complete the other tasks she was supposed to do when closing.
She needed to talk to Gemma.
Chapter Fifteen
“Headed to the kitchen.” Teddy stood from his spot on the floor. A long piece of brown packing tape was stuck to his foot, and he peeled it off, wadding it up into a ball. “Anyone want anything?”
“Grab me a LaCroix,” Max said. “All of this packing has me parched.”
Gemma snorted. “You’reparched? All you did was watch while we were bubble-wrapping my Armani porcelain, telling us we were doing it wrong.”
“Look, someone has to dictate during times like these.” Max grinned, shameless.
“Lemon, lime, or grapefruit?” Teddy called out over his shoulder, winding his way through the maze of boxes.
Save for a few essentials and some furniture, she was mostly packed and ready to move into Tansy’s this weekend.
“It’s pamplemousse.” Max looked down at Yvonne, who had her head resting in his lap. “Right, babe?”
Yvonne rolled her eyes, lips twitching upward in an unmistakable smile. “Très bon, mon petit bouchon.”
“You’re a pamplemousse, you lovesick pedant,” Teddy fired back, disappearing into the kitchen.
“Get me a lemon!” Max shouted.
“You’ll get what I give you and you’ll like it! Catch.” Teddy tossed Max a can.
Max popped the top, took a sip, and gagged. “What the fuck is this?” He frowned at the can. “Limoncello?Teddy.”
“We’re out of lemon.”
“It tastes gross.”
