“I’m an idiot.”
She left her bedroom, going toward the stairs to take her down toward the kitchen, which already had amazing scents coming from it.
Constance stopped when she saw Tiffany heading upstairs. There was no time to hide or to avoid the other woman seeing her. Not that she had any reason to hide.
Tiffany looked up, and the scowl on her face could strike down even the worst of foes.
“We need to talk.”
“No, we really don’t.” She wasn’t interested in getting into an argument with Tiffany.
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but you can stop.”
Tiffany got to the steps, and Constance had two choices, ignore her or finally have it out with her. She stood her ground and turned to the other woman. “What do I need to stop now? What could I have possibly done to upset or offend you?” she asked.
“I want you to stay away from Tanner. He’s mine.”
Constance started to laugh. The worst reaction to have as Tiffany wrapped her fingers around her neck, and within seconds, she was pressed to the floor.
Sinking her nails into Tiffany’s wrist, she held on, stopping the woman from hurting her. The flash of pain across her face had Constance holding back, trying not to hurt her. She knew she was a strong person, always had been. She never showed it though as she didn’t believe in violence, and being late to transition, she didn’t want to get her ass beat.
“We clearly are not understanding each other, Tiffany. You can have Tanner. I don’t want him.”
“Yeah, because he rejected your ass.”
“Yeah, he did that but only because he got over his shock first. I want nothing to do with him. I can’t stand him. He’s an asshole, and to be honest, I don’t like him. I would never mate with him. I’d never want to mate with him. You can keep on doing this, acting all tough and hard, and I get it, I do, but I’m not the person you need to be worrying about. I heard he likes to spread it around. Go and show your claws to someone who wants to claim him. I’m not that woman.” She took a deep breath, wondering if Tiffany would believe her.
It felt good to finally say it out loud to someone like Tiffany.
The pack had kicked her ass to the curb before she could voice her own words. From that point on, she’d been dealing with the never-ending cold.
She hadn’t felt it all day, until Lana gave Gage those cookies.
Even Tiffany’s hatred wasn’t affecting her, which was nice.
She took a deep breath, expecting Tiffany to try to hurt her some more. The other woman surprised her by letting her go.
“Fine. I understand.” Tiffany stepped away.
They didn’t turn their backs on each other, but walked away, keeping an eye on the other until finally, they were able to go their separate ways.
Gage was at the bottom of the steps.
“You heard that?” she asked.
“I heard. I was prepared to step between if I needed.”
“There was no need to. We’re on the same page. Not exactly sure what that is, but hopefully she understands I want nothing to do with her boyfriend.”
Gage held out his hand.
She stared at it. “I don’t want you accepting cookies from anyone else but me.” She just let that one out in the open. There was no reason to hide it. He already knew how she felt. There was no point in denying it.
“Then I accept. You cannot be with any other male. If Tanner asks to be mated to you, you’re to turn him down.”
She frowned. “Huh?”
“I’ve seen the way my son looks at you. He wants you. Has for some time now.”
Constance couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re kidding, right? You know he rejected me. The words he said and all that?”
“I heard some of what he said, but I also know my son and what he wants. Tanner might come to his senses, but I don’t want him to.” Gage took a step toward her.
She tilted her head back, looking at him.
“When it comes to you, I want you all to myself. No sharing. No giving you to anyone.” He touched her cheek, and she closed her eyes, leaning against his touch, not wanting him to stop. There was no one else for her.
“I can live with that.”
“Good. I’ve made you some dinner.”
“Already?”
“I didn’t want you starving.”
Her stomach chose that moment to growl, and he chuckled. “Come on, let us eat.”
He held out his hand, and she took it, thankful for the warmth of his touch. Gage made her feel whole.
Now she just needed him to understand she was in this with him, one hundred percent.
****
Gage was pissed.
No, he was fucking fuming.
At the building site, William took him through all the raw materials, showing the difference in quality, and it wasn’t a minute one at that. Wood was way too thin. Cables were the wrong size. The steel bent on pressure.