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Gage laughed and crossed to me. “Hey, huntress.” He dropped a kiss on my shocked mouth. “Sorry. One of my favorite people came to town. I told you about Tish? The one who kept dodging my texts?”
I couldn’t keep all of Gage’s people straight from his racing days. Perhaps I would have paid attention a little more if I caught her name. “You mentioned someone named Burns, maybe?” My eyes cut to the pinup-worthy woman, then back to Gage.
“That’s me, Tish Burns. Depends on how many beers deep we are which name he calls me.” Tish sashayed up to me, her full hips swinging. She held her hand out to me, I took it and wasn’t surprised to find her grip strong and sure.
Thankfully, she didn’t try to rush up to me with a hug. I wasn’t entirely sure I could stop myself from kicking her in the ankles. Maybe she’d topple on those platform heels.
Gage hauled me closer, his hand firmly tucked into my back pocket—his favorite place lately.
Well, second favorite place.
“She’s here to help me gang up on Dare.”
“I’d like to gang up on the Kramer boys, but alas, it’s not meant to be.” Tish’s attention strayed to the counter. “What is that delicious scent?”
“Who knows. Macy—the owner of this place—has some sort of hoodoo voodoo when it comes to coffee. She won’t tell me what she puts in mine.”
Tish’s eyebrow spiked. “In my world, that’s called a roofie, babe.”
Gage laughed and my need for violence grew. Was she an ex-girlfriend? “We call it magic. If she likes you, she won’t take your coffee order, she’ll just put it in front of you.”
Tish let out a dubious grunt. “We’ll just see about that.”
Dare sighed. “Hey, Ry. I’ll go make sure she doesn’t make Jodi cry.”
“Good idea.” Gage grinned down at me before he tilted his head. “Everything okay?”
“Sure.” I gave him a bright smile.
He shifted me in front of him, tucking his other hand in my remaining pocket. “I’m not sure I believe you.”
I tried to wiggle away, but he held me fast. “I have to get upstairs.”
“Oh. I was hoping you’d have lunch with us.”
“I already ate.” The snarky tone to my voice made me want to saw off my tongue.
“Okay.” He extended the word a
nd I really knew my bitch voice was in use.
I smoothed my finger down his button-down shirt. He’d definitely gotten dressed with a little more care that morning. “I kinda am working for Macy now.”
“Kinda? That’s great.” His face cleared, and he hugged me. “I knew you would talk to her.”
“Don’t get all excited. I’m just feeling her out. A little part time action to start.”
“Well, come over to talk to us when you’re back.”
I slipped away with a nod, grabbed my bag, and rushed over to the side doors to the apartment access. And okay, maybe I took a little more time with my hair and makeup than I usually did.
However, I now had another pair of jeans to add to the nope pile.
I sighed and tugged on a pair of black pants that were becoming a staple of my life. They were far more forgiving. I stepped into ballet flats and swapped out my T-shirt for a longer one that would cover my growing bump.
By the time I got back downstairs, Dare, Gage and Tish were laughing at a table. Vee’s now famous bagel chips were being dunked in soup as Tish kept testing out every other plate but her own.
“Hey, there you are.” Gage waved me over. “You gotta see this.”
