She was entitled to an opinion. She was even entitled to voice her opinion. But she had no right to decide my relationship with Tiel was toxic when it was probably the healthiest thing I’d ever done.
“I get that you’re busy being pissed right now,” Riley said. “But it would be good to know what you’re looking for this afternoon, otherwise I don’t know what to show you.”
“She’s just happier when I’m a fucked-up mess, isn’t she?” I said. We were parked outside the Bay Village remodel I’d handed off to Riley, but I wasn’t ready to get out yet. “She doesn’t actually want to fix problems, she just wants to make herself feel important.”
“I’m going out on a limb and saying that’s an exaggeration.”
I glared at him. “Do you think I have a toxic relationship and require psychiatric intervention?”
He rolled his eyes and tucked his notebook back into his bag. “There’s nothing wrong with getting help. It’s not a sign of weakness, you testy little bitch.” He shook his head, his fingers running through his hair. It was getting long, but he managed a decent man-bun. “Tiel’s a cool cat. It’ll all blow over.” He jerked his thumb to the house. “Can we go inside now?”
“Why are you in such a fucking hurry?” I asked as I grabbed my coat and materials.
“I’ve been working on intercepting your dear friend Magnolia, and we’re going to the Bruins game tonight,” he said, bouncing on the sidewalk. “Did you know she’s a triplet?”
I didn’t have the patience for this conversation. Digging my phone from my pocket, my annoyance skyrocketed when I saw a text from Shannon.
15:45 Shannon:Please consider it. I’m worried about you.
“Yeah,” I said, glaring at my screen. “Two brothers.”
“I know,” he groaned. “It would have been interesting if they were chicks, but at least she has some season tickets to exploit.”
“You do that,” I murmured, typing out a response.
15:51 Sam:take your own advice.
15:52 Sam:and by the way—thanks for all your unconditional support.
WHEN TIEL OPENED the door, the internal debate started.
“You’re wearing that to piss me off,” I growled. That 1950s-style cocktail dress put those tits on display and I couldn’t decide whether I could handle anyone else’s appreciative eyes on her. I knew it was immature and territorial, but those reactions were instinctual, and I struggled to manage them.
“What is your problem now?” She glanced down at her black dress and pink flats, and fuck, she was stunning. Not many women could wear that dress without looking overly stylized, or as if they were headed to a costume party, but Tiel made it work.
Taking her into my arms, I kissed my way from her ear to the valley between her breasts. “My problem,” I murmured, “is that you are going to give all these old preservation guys massive boners. There are going to be fatal heart attacks left and right. That’s just negligent, Tiel.”
Laughing, she yanked me up. “Seems like a good way to go.”
“Good? Fucking fantastic. I’d like to die thinking about your tits, and my version of heaven is living between them.” My hands skimmed up her sides and down her back. I knew I needed to attend the Preservation Society of Greater Boston’s holiday party and say nice things to boring people, but I was more interested in burying myself in her until Monday morning. “What are you wearing under this?”
“You can find out later,” she said. “We’re already late.”
“We’re not missing anything,” I murmured.
Dropping to my knees, I burrowed under the poufy layers of her dress while she giggled and shrieked. This was what I craved about Tiel—her playfulness, her desire to find joy in every moment of life, her willingness to get rid of anything that didn’t make her happy—and so much more.
“I will be ripping these off at some point tonight,” I said from under her skirts. It was too tempting to stay there, my finger sliding over her silky panties and feeling her heat up close. I pressed my lips to her mound, basking in her scent, and left a trail of bites and kisses down her thigh. I leaned back and smiled up at her, pleased with the rapid rise and fall of her chest and the blush riding her cheeks. “You wore those because you knew I’d want to tear them off.”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “That might have entered my thought process.”
“Oh, that’s my perv,” I said, enveloping her in a hug. “You are so fucking gorgeous.”
On the ride to the downtown venue, Tiel recounted her conversation with her best friend, Ellie, about a mishap on tour. She was so animated and free, and I hoped to hell she didn’t lose it all when we arrived at the event. I hadn’t mentioned that Matt and Patrick would be there, or that they’d be bringing Andy and Lauren, and it was a risky gamble. It could backfire horribly, or she’d get out of her own head long enough to show them the person I adored.
The silver lining in all of this was Shannon drawing the short straw and getting stuck at a different event across town with Riley. In the two weeks since she’d barged into my office, I hadn’t discussed anything more than business with Shannon. To her credit, she hadn’t revisited her comments or found backhanded ways to renew her argument.
Tiel inclined her head toward me when we entered the historic home. “You know, when we’re together, we’re way cooler than everyone else.”
