“You might fool the outsiders, but anyone who knows Tinsley knows you’re not the same. The hair and dress might play the part,” Perry says, lifting a hand to tug on a blonde strand, “but you’re as different as night and day.”
“Different how?”
Perry studies me for a beat. “Tinsley is mostly good.”
“I’m good,” I argue to which he smirks.
“Sure you are.” He winks, and I flush as images of last night with Winston that were definitely far from good flood my mind. “She’s probably the nicest Constantine.”
“I don’t know,” I argue. “You’re my favorite so far.”
He laughs. “I thought Winston was your favorite.”
“Winston is . . . something. Favorite is a stretch.”
His features pinch. “I know what the triplets did to you.”
“They told you?” I meet his gaze, a lump in my throat.
“I saw a picture.” A dark scowl transforms his face. “If Winny wasn’t there, I’d have knocked that fucker’s head off his shoulders.”
“Picture?” I croak out. “He showed you a picture?”
“Don’t worry,” he assures me. “They won’t get away with this.”
Relief floods through me. I don’t want them to get away with what they did. Even if it means I’ll owe Winston and his family, I don’t care. I want Scout and his brothers to be punished.
“Thank you,” I murmur. “Where’s Winston?”
“Rubbing elbows.” He chuckles. “His favorite thing to do.”
The idea of Winston schmoozing is definitely laughable. I can imagine him caught in conversation with his mother’s friends, glaring at them. It makes me miss him. I’ve been in such a rush to get over here and ready that I didn’t have much time to think about anything else.
“May I have this dance,” a deep voice croons.
Just not the voice.
Disappointment trickles through me as I force a smile for Winston’s friend, Nate. He’s not staring at me like I’m a gold-digging whore, so I count it as a win in my book.
Perry gives me a nod of his head, indicating I’ll be fine with Nate, and then passes me off to him. Nate grins at me as he settles his hand on my waist.
“A blonde now, huh?” His brow arches. “A new kinky game you and the boss man play?”
“Something like that,” I lie, flashing him a fake smile. “Where’s Winston?”
“Making an appearance with his mother.” His eyes drop to my chest, lingering on my cleavage. “You do know his allegiance is first and foremost to his family, right? Your silly ideations of becoming his wife are nothing but childish fantasies. Winston will never settle, much less with a maid.”
A maid?
I’m so much more than that.
“For as much as you worry over Winston’s future, I’d say it seems as if you have a vested interest in it.” I give him a bitchy smile. “Are we competing for his love? Because, Nate, I can assure you, there’s nothing I won’t allow that man to do if he asks.”
Winston may not care about me the way I do about him yet, but I’ll be damned if I let this prick intimidate me.
Nate misses a step and then stops, scowling at me. “It won’t last. You’re something that has his interest for the time being, but soon he’ll grow bored of you. I’m his best friend. Those don’t go away when the boner does.”
I open my mouth to toss out something witty, no doubt, but then the vultures swoop in as soon as Nate walks away, rendering me speechless. It’s Scout who pounces, though, while the other two linger like guards protecting their king.
“Let go,” I hiss, attempting to pull my hand from Scout’s grip.
“Not a chance, little sis,” Scout growls, his strong fingers biting into my hip. “You’re going to tell me how you pulled this off. The last time I saw you, you looked like shit. We made it that way.”
I try to yank my hand from his grip, but he only tightens it, violence gleaming in his stare. But, unlike at home when I was at their mercy and alone, I face off with the monster, thankful to have witnesses.
“I’m resourceful,” I spit out. “You may have robbed me blind, assaulted me, and threatened me, but surely you didn’t think I’d roll over and take it, did you?”
“Maybe we weren’t clear enough—”
His words are cut off as his eyes narrow behind me. We’d barely been dancing, but now we’re at a complete stop. As soon as a chill shivers down my spine, I know why.
Winston.
Cold and domineering and arrogant.
His frigid authority warms me to my toes. I crave to fall back against his solid chest, allowing him to hold me in his protective arms. Instead, I suck in a sharp breath and wait out the staring contest between Scout and Winston.
“Run along, brats,” Winston growls. “The adults need to talk.”
Scout’s nostrils flare, but he won’t let me go. “Fuck you.”