Page 32 of Tattle Tail
“I’ll tell you who you need to remove, that Ardent Jost…” Joseph ran his hands through his hair. He felt sure that Ardent was hiding on the other side of the door, watching with glee. “Ugh, I can’t remember his last name. The smug asshole in the fancy suit.”
“That describes a lot of males here tonight,” the man said.
“He bruised her,” Joseph said. “He grabbed her and wouldn’t let go.”
“It is fine,” Peaceable said. “Tal skin is tougher than a human’s. I do not bruise so easily.”
The man looked unconvinced. “Then they both must go.”
“You can’t do that,” she said.
“My house, my rules, and I have a strict no asshole rule.”
The big guy in the suit was the owner. Interesting.
“I’ll go,” Joseph said, holding his hands up in surrender. “Can I go back to my room, or do you want me off the property?”
“As long as you’re not in the ballroom, I do not care where you go,” the man said.
“Fine. I think sweet pea and I were done talking, anyway.” He hopped over the stone balustrade of the terrace and down into the garden.
* * *
He stomped through the garden,immune to the wintry charms and the soft golden glow of lanterns sparkling on the snow. When the cold seeped through his shoes and he couldn’t feel his toes, he headed upstairs to the rooms he rented.
He paused outside Peaceable’s door. He should knock. Apologize.
In the morning, he decided, after tempers cooled.
He shuffled off to his room and blamed his lack of sleep on the unfamiliar bed and not that his brain kept replaying the scene on a continuous loop.
Chapter 9
Joseph
This was never going to end.
Peaceable stiffened when Joseph entered the room. He nodded, not trusting himself to keep his voice calm. Last night had been a disaster, a pain in the ass, and an embarrassment. Yeah, all those things. They had tried to fake date; they hadn’t lasted a week, and now they were getting called into the boss’s office.
Fun times.
Peaceable rubbed her temples.
“Rough night?” he asked, because he was an asshole.
“Be quiet.” Her voice was quiet, almost rasping.
Joseph gave her a closer look. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were red and glossy. She must have stayed up all night with that sleazebag she ditched him for.
“Water will help,” he said. “And food. Getting something in your stomach helps. I’ve had enough hangovers to know.”
She turned an interesting shade of yellow when he mentioned food. “No. No, thank you.”
The door to Winter’s office opened. He stood in the doorway, coolly surveying Joseph and Peaceable. “Get in here,” he said before stomping back to his desk.
“Right, time to get yelled at by the boss,” he said, extending a hand to help Peaceable stand up.
She looked surprised but accepted his hand. Her palm felt clammy.
