Chapter 30 #2
Goldie smoothed her free hand over my back, grounding me to her. “Let’s just go back out to the bakery. It’s okay.” I could hear the smile on her face and hated that she felt like she had to be polite to the woman even when Celeste didn’t deserve it.
“It’s not.” I argued, controlling my voice to keep her from thinking I was frustrated with her. “But you need to go, regardless.” I said, nodding to Celeste. “This area is for staff only.”
“Right,” Celeste nodded once, taking a step backward with a slight crease in her Botox-filled forehead.
“I’ll be honest,” she said, and for the first time since meeting her, I felt like I was seeing some real fire in her eyes as she looked me up and down slightly.
Instantly my fingertips burned with energy from the move.
“They all say you’re intense. Like a junkyard dog on a chain, but I just thought it was all boy talk.
You know how it is when men talk about the woman they’re all forced to work with.
When they have to handle her emotions like a ticking time bomb.
At least that’s what I thought it had been, but maybe they weren’t wrong after all. ”
I opened my mouth to tell the woman exactly where she could shove her opinion of me, but she turned and walked away without another word, and Goldie’s grip on my shirt tightened as if she fully expected me to give chase.
“Let her go.” Goldie pleaded, and I clenched my teeth so hard I thought they’d crack, but I didn’t want to give the vapid woman any validity to her words.
So, I stayed still, firmly planted in my place to keep from tearing into her like the attack dog she thought I was. “She’s wrong, and she’s not worth it.”
When the click of her stupid heels disappeared, Tanner popped out of the hallway, glancing over his shoulder at her in surprise before turning to see us standing there, both tense and on edge.
“What happened?” He asked instantly.
“Nothing.” I snapped at him and took a step away from Goldie, untangling her from me as I fought to calm my hot-head down.
“Celeste followed me back here and kind of cornered me.” Goldie stated, and Tanner’s whole demeanor changed as he got protective. “And then Rhea walked in like a savior and told her to fuck off.”
She giggled as she said it, like swearing was hilarious to her, even though we both knew the filthy words we could make fall from her lips when we were making her orgasm, but it broke the tension either way.
“I don’t like her.” I said plainly, with my hands on my hips. “Something isn’t right with her.”
“Yeah,” Goldie drawled, handing Tanner the container of cranberries she was holding and wrapping her arms around my waist, snuggling into me. “Her entire wardrobe looks like the color of expired milk. Ew.”
I scoffed, feeling more tension melting out of my shoulders as she brought out the humor in the situation, and I wrapped my arms around her, breathing her sunshine in.
“She was wrong, you know.” Goldie said, with a more sincere tone in her voice, so I pulled back to look at her. “You are intense, but that’s not a bad thing. Not like she tried to make it out to be.”
“Isn’t it?” I mused, hating how the woman’s words hit a soft spot in my chest, making it sting. “Apparently, my team thinks so.”
“There’s no way your team said anything to her, especially not about you.” Goldie pushed, looking up at Tanner and filling him in. “Celeste said that the guys all think Rhea is like a dog on a chain. Too intense and just a time bomb with emotions.”
“Ew.” Tanner grimaced. “Men don’t talk that way.”
“That’s what she said,” I argued, though I didn’t know why.
Maybe because I was worried it was the truth.
Being one of only a few women in my field, I had to fight harder to be respected as an equal simply because I was female.
And to hear that they talked shit about me, to an outsider like her or even to Martinez, stung.
“That’s the point.” Tanner clarified, setting the container down and brushing a piece of hair over my ear as he pulled Goldie and me both in against his body.
“If they said it, which I don’t think they did, then they aren’t men, they’re boys.
And you don’t have a single reason to care about the opinions of boys.
They aren’t worth it. Because at the end of the day, what she said isn’t true at all.
You are intense. You are protective. But there isn’t anything wrong with that, Rhea.
Especially not when you use it for Goldie’s benefit. ”
I looked back at Goldie, who grinned widely and whispered, “I’m actually pretty fond of the female equivalent of the old caveman act.
” She widened her eyes. “It turned me on to see you physically put yourself between her and me, like at any moment you were going to grab her by the hair and toss her across the room by her ugly, boring blouse.”
I snorted and shook my head, “You’re turned on by everything.”
“True.” She shrugged. “I’m pretty easy to please, honestly. Let me feed you, snuggle with me 24/7, give me orgasms, and let me smother you with my love, and I’m set.” She giggled, and Tanner squeezed us tighter. “What more could a girl want in life?”
“You.” I replied honestly, being vulnerable and open, just how Goldie liked me. It was the first time I had been so open with Tanner, though. “And you.” I looked up at him, including him. “Just like this.”
“You have us.” Goldie squeezed me tighter, leaning in and kissing me. “We’re not going anywhere.” She tilted her head, teasing the kiss into more, without actually delivering it, luring me along as she giggled against my lips.
“My turn,” Tanner added, using his fingers to tip my chin up and kiss me, only he didn’t tease me like Goldie did.
Instead, he slid his fingers around the back of my neck and held me there, pushing his tongue into my mouth and drawing a whimper from my lips as Goldie moaned lightly before leaning in to kiss my neck next to his fingers.
Slowly, and almost begrudgingly, he pulled back just enough to speak.
“We’re yours. And you’re ours, Rhea. This is real. ”
“Holy mother of humping bunnies coming at Easter time!” A voice chirped from the doorway, and Goldie chuckled as Tanner groaned with his forehead still pressed against mine.
“Oh Lord, it is too hot in here for this, at least take it to the stock cooler so I can watch it later on the security cameras!”
“Jasper!” Goldie called, untangling herself from my arms. “That’s not…” She paused, and I could see her mind swirling, “Wait! You watch back the stock cooler camera?”
Dread pooled in my stomach, thinking of all the places I’d had alone time with Goldie lately during the renovation, taking advantage of the quiet spaces, as Goldie squeaked awkwardly.
“Yes, I sure do!” He said, putting his hands on his hips. “I see you sneaking in there to cheat on all the stupid diets you make me agree to! That cookie dough stash never lasts a day into those wonky plans you make me follow with you.”
“Oh my God,” I chuckled, holding my sides as I got the visual of her hiding out in the cooler to sneak a snack. “I’m so glad that’s all you’ve seen.”
Jasper pursed his lips and wiggled his eyebrows, “Or is it?”