Page 89 of The Fiancée Farce
“I don’t think you’re in any position to be turning away clientele,” Tucker said, pausing to cast a disparaging glance at the shelves around them. “A struggling bookstore like this probably needs all the business it can get.”
Tansy swallowed hard. “I don’t know where you heard that we’re struggling, but we’re not.”
“So your stepmotherisn’tplanning to sell to Scylla?” How Tansy hadeverfound him attractive, let alone how he had made her heart pitter-patter wildly and her knees weaken, was beyond her. “Or she was until about a month ago. Right?”
She shrugged, aiming for nonchalant and probably missing by a mile. “And so she changed her mind. What’s your point?”
He rested a hand against the wall beside her head, trapping her against the shelf. She turned her head and shut her eyes, trying to escape his smirk, andGod, was that a mistake. With her eyes closed, it was like she was back in that penthouse apartment at the Hotel Sorrento, the bare skin of her back sticking to Tucker’s leather sofa, feeling so small, surrounded by the cloying smell ofhis cologne, Acqua di Gio, his breath heavy and damp against her ear.
“It’s quite coincidental. News of your engagement breaking right on the heels of your stepmother’s decision to sell. Knowing how much you love thisplace”—he sneered—“some might go so far as to say it’stoocoincidental.”
Her heart skipped a beat before crashing hard against her sternum.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she whispered. “Gemma and I have decided to buy the store together. An investment. You know, something married couples do?”
“Come on, Adams.” He lifted a hand, brushing his fingers against the edge of her jaw. “I always knew you were desperate, but I never took you for an actual whore.”
The word echoed in her ears, pulse ringing inside her head. She curled her hands into fists, stubby nails biting into her palms, holding back the urge to slap him.
“Get your hands off of me.”
Tucker made a show of raising his hands, holding them out to the side, not touching her but still invading her personal space, so close his breath made her eyes burn, the Altoid in his mouth astringent. “Your taste is questionable, but I get it. What with the position you’re in, about to lose everything, you can’t afford to be picky. Neither can my cousin, apparently.”
“Go to hell,” she whispered, voice reedy, throat burning, but cheeks blessedly dry.
“You haven’t even heard my proposition yet.” Tucker rested both hands on the shelf on either side of her head, looming over her. “And I think you’re going to want to hear this.”
“You can take your proposition and shove it up your ass,” she gritted out.
“Ooh, feisty.” He laughed. “Kitty has claws now, does she? I can tell you’ve been spending time with my cousin. She’s rubbed off on you.” He looked her up and down, leering. “Can’t say I blame her. We had some fun while it lasted, didn’t we, Tansy?”
“Fuck off.”
“You don’t mean that.” When all she did was stare blankly at him, he rolled his eyes. “You used to be more fun. Fine, I’ll get down to it. Whatever my cousin is paying you to marry her? I’ll double it if you don’t.”
All the air left her lungs in one punched out exhale. “What?”
Tucker’s lips twisted in an ugly, gloating smirk. “You heard me.”
He always looked arrogant, but now he looked certain. Certain that he had her right in the palm of his hand. That for the right price, she could be bought.
And God, it was true, wasn’t it?
Gemmawaspaying her.
But not even an hour ago she’d had the thought that she would marry Gemma for free. The money didn’t matter, so no, it wasnotthe same.
What she felt for Gemma couldn’t be bought.
It was precious and priceless and—whatever it was, it was genuine.
Words Tucker couldn’tpossiblyknow the meaning of.
“Get out of my store.”
Surprise flashed across his face. “What?”
“You heard me.” Tansy stood taller and raised a hand, slapping it against Tucker’s chest, forcing him to take a step back. “You aren’t welcome here.”
