“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 pulledGoldie 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. Youareintense. Youareprotective. 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 myneck 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?”
My phone rang justafter midnight, echoing off the end table next to my bed.
I was half asleep, Goldie’s warm body snuggled in at my side, her breath slow and even across my chest. For a split second, I thought it was a dream. Then my phone buzzed again, sharp and insistent, and the pit in my stomach opened before I even looked at the screen.
One vehicle MVC into structure.
Flames showing.
I was out of bed before my brain caught up, like my body knew what it was before I did.
Goldie stirred, leaning up on one elbow with a cute little scowl between her eyebrows. “Tanner?”
“I’ve got to go,” I said, already pulling on jeans as the feeling in my chest swirled into a tornado. “Something’s wrong.”
She sat up, the sheet pooling at her waist as my discarded shirt from yesterday hung off her petite body. “Is it?—”
“I don’t know,” I said, and hated how thin my voice sounded. “I don’t get called in when I’m off duty unless it’s bad. And Rhea’s on shift tonight.”
That was all it took. Goldie was on her feet, hands shaking as she grabbed my jacket and shoved it at me.