Page 71 of Pulled By the Tail
Talen leaned in and whispered, “I think it’s cute.” Another brush of his tail, this time feeling as intimate as if he held her hand.
“Not. Flirting,” Georgia repeated.
Fiona slinked across the room and perched on Quil’s lap. When she snuggled in and his arms automatically went around her, she gave a triumphant smile, like she won some prize.
For a moment, with the firelight turning her chestnut curls into a riot of a warm chestnut, Fiona looked like she belonged in the stately home, cradled in the lap of her handsome mate. Only for a moment, though, because Fiona’s practiced smile transformed into a smirk and the illusion shattered.
Whatever. Georgia rolled her eyes.
“Then what do you call all that?” Fiona waved a dismissive hand toward Georgia.
“All what?” She looked down, finding only her cards and a glass of sweet golden apple juice.
Fiona arched a brow. “Your décolletage? It’s a bit low-cut, don’t you think? Girls your size should know better than to wear anything too revealing.”
A hand instinctively went to the vee neck of her sweater and tugged it up. The sweater wasn’t that low-cut, but it drifted down at the end of the day. Fiona smiled smugly. Georgia’s frustration grew. Fiona was such a petty bully, and they were having a lovely evening until she flounced in and had to be the center of attention.
“You think a bit of cleavage is flirting? Wow, your skills are remarkably unrefined. Is that a demonstration of the high-class techniques you employed to snag Quil? Just flopped your tits out and gave them a shake?” The crude words spilled out of her.
“You’re just jealous that I have him and you don’t.” Fiona pushed Quil’s face directly into her own cleavage.
“Jealous? Of you? Over him?” All winter long, she bottled away her frustration and tried to make the best of a very shitty situation, but now the cork had been removed. All that frustration was ready to spew forth directly onto Fiona.
Charl and Talen discreetly pushed away from the table.
“Yes, jealous of our happiness. Jealous that I’m mistress of this house and you’re just the hired help.”
“Okay,” Georgia said, letting out a long sigh. “Let’s unpack this. First, your precious boo-boo is a cheater.” Fiona opened her mouth to protest but Georgia kept talking. “He cheats at cards—”
“I do,” Quil said with a nod.
“And he cheated on me with you,” Georgia added.
“I knew you weren’t over that,” Fiona said with an air of triumph. “You just have to accept that Quil-boo wants me and not you.”
“Quil-boo?” Talen muttered.
“I know you’re staying on because they felt sorry for you, but I really think you’ve worn out your welcome. In fact, when Quil-boo and I start our family, I think it’d be best if you found another position. We’ll give you a good reference, of course.”
Georgia tried to stay calm. She was a grown adult, calm and rational. The worst thing to do was to yell and fling insults. Her bad behavior, no matter how much Fiona goaded her into it, would only confirm the worst things Fiona claimed.
But this bitch didnotjust try to fire her.
If she wore earrings, she’d be taking them out and handing them to Talen.
“Quil-boo signed a marriage contract with me,” Georgia said, her tone even but as cold as the rain pounding the window. “He found a loophole, yes, but when he decided to marry you, that makes him at best a scuzzbag and, at worst, a bigamist. And this house you’re so proud of? He signed that marriage contract a month before winning it in a card game.” Georgia leaned forward, arms on the table, unconcerned about her cleavage. “Which means he got this house forme. You’re just here because boo-boo Quil has a lot of flaws, including being impatient and easily distracted by cheap and gaudy things.”
“That is also true,” Quil said.
“Shut up,” Fiona snapped, turning her ire to Quil. “Are you just going to let her tell lies like that?”
“She has only spoken the truth so far,” he answered. “And I'm curious as to what she’ll say next.”
She had nothing else to say. As much as she tired of Fiona’s constant barbed comments, she took no satisfaction in her words. Fiona was a shallow, petty person who only understood shallow, petty words, and Georgia felt disgusted that she lowered herself to Fiona’s level. She should announce that she was going to bed, but instead finished her drink.
“You’re trying to steal my husband because that one won’t have anything to do with you or your bastard.” Fiona jabbed a finger in Talen’s direction. “You’re not going to trick my man into marrying you, you slut.”
The room fell silent.
