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Kenny looked beyond Gage. “Was that Tillian?”
“Who?” Gage asked, his eyes drifting to behind him to find no one standing there.
Kenny moved to the side, his eyes moving around the street. “Tillian Forester, the woman standing next to you.”
Gage shook his head, lying out his ass, and responded, “No one was next to me.”
“Yes,” Kenny said in a harsh tone. “There was a woman standing right next to you.”
Gage shrugged, shaking his head. “If there was, I didn’t notice.”
“Hmm,” Kenny said.
Gage looked over at Kenny Milner. How in the hell did he know Tilly? And of all the people he knew surrounding the convention, she got spotted. “Who’s Tilly?”
“Tillian,” Kenny corrected.
“Yes, sorry, Tillian,” Gage said, internally berating himself before taking a deep breath through his nose.
“She works for me,” Kenny offered.
“Really?” Gage questioned, drawing his brows, inquisitive on this knowledge he forged on. “What does she do?”
“I hired her a couple of weeks ago to do designs,” Kenny said, his shoulders moving back, his chest puffing out.
Kenny was a good guy, always had been. The problem was, Kenny wanted what everyone else had. He had always been polite to Gage, but he had heard through the grapevine that Kenny had wished his business was as successful as Gage’s.
“That’s great.” Gage smiled. “She any good?”
“The best,” Kenny told him with confidence.
Gage knew Tilly had a degree in design, had no doubt that she was great at it, but he wanted to laugh at Kenny trying to one up him. Instead, he smiled and teased, “Maybe I’ll steal her from you.”
“Impossible,” Kenny smiled. “I’m sure she wouldn’t know who Gage Surtherland was if she fell into you.”
Gage tried. He really did, but he couldn’t hold back the rumbling laugh that escaped his chest. Kenny joined him, not even knowing what was so funny.
Gage sobered, patted Kenny on the back and said, “You know what, you’re probably right.” He moved a step away. “Maybe we can grab a beer over the next few days.”
“I’d like that,” Kenny said. “Like to pick your brain about a few things.”
“Okay, then we’ll make it happen,” Gage told him and went on, pointing to the small store he figured Tilly ducked into. “Gonna go shop now.”
Kenny started walking backwards. “Have fun.”
Gage tossed a hand in the air. “Oh, I will.” He smiled and entered the small shop.
The bell above the door sounded; his eyes roamed the shop and caught Tilly hiding behind the display of beer steins. He moved to the back of the shop, where she was, talking as he went.
“Guess who I just bumped into?” He spoke loudly. The employee, and the only other person in the shop, watched him with a smile on her face. “Your boss, Tillian.” Gage kept on as he watched Tilly move from behind the display. “When were you going to tell me you started working for Kenny Milner?” He stopped when he was an aisle away from her, both facing each other in what seemed like a standoff.
Tilly tried to look behind Gage to make sure Kenny wasn’t going to come strolling in, but he was blocking her way. She turned her attention to him, his words finally registering. Unlike him, she didn’t bellow when she replied, “I had better things to do than talk about Kenny Milner, though I did have plans on telling you because you’re the reason I have the job.” She started to bite at her thumbnail. “I should have realized he’d be here. Why the hell didn’t I realize that?” She wasn’t asking him; she was talking to herself. “I was distracted, that’s why. Had Gage on the brain,” she muttered then looked back at Gage. “He’s gone?”
“Gage on the brain?” He repeated, with a smile, and crossed his arms over his chest. “That happen often?”
It took a second for Tilly to switch gears, still fretting over almost being caught; it was his smile that pulled one from her. She moved her gaze down his body before she answered, “All the time.”
“Oh yeah,” he muttered, starting slow and steady steps toward her. “Funny, cause I have the same condition, but mine’s called Tillian on the brain.” Gage stopped in front of her, uncrossed his arms, wrapping one around her waist, and pulled her to his chest, knocking the breath from her with his quick move. With his mouth nears hers, he whispered. “Maybe we can help each other cure that shit.”
