Page 87 of One Little Kiss
Tilly: Already here.
Colton: On my way.
Tilly: (thumbs up emoji)
* * *
Ienter the conference room with a sense of unease I don’t like. Tilly lifts her head and offers a smile. It always surprises me how much she looks like her sister, but with darker skin and dark brown hair that’s so shiny light seems to reflect off of it like glass.
“Hey, Till. How are you?”
“Good, boss. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, though. I’ve put your minions on the tasks that can be handled without you, and taken over in your place where I can, but …”
“Some of it I need to handle, even if I am onprobation,” I fill in.
“Ah, yeah. About that. Any idea how long this will last? I mean, I don’t mind, but I’m kind of burning the candle at both ends here.”
That’s what I always like about Tilly. Where Emory is quiet and reserved, Tilly is outspoken and daring but just as sweet. She’s the epitome of sunshiny happiness. It’s why we get along so well. She’s the female version of me, but taking in her appearance now, I can see she’s exhausted. I owe her an apology.
“I’m sorry, Till. I didn’t take into consideration that you’ve been pulling double duty. I’ll talk to Preston and get a timeline going. Until then, we’ll bring on an assistant for you.”
“Ugh. That’s just another person to train.”
I smirk. Tilly has grown so much in the two years she’s been with me. Both she and her sister, Eli, did internships with us. It only took Eli one summer to realize she wanted nothing to do with the business world, but Tilly has shone in her role here.
“Well, we both know you won’t be my assistant forever, no matter how much I beg.”
She ducks her head down so I can’t see her face.
“This will make the transition easier when you leave me. How’s your side business going? Ready to tell me what it is yet?”
“No way. If I tell any of you, you’ll just stick your big noses in to help, and it’s important to me that I build this on my own.”
I could easily dig around and find out what she’s up to, but I trust her as much as I trust Loch. And that brings me to my next question.
“Does this side business have anything to do with the murderous glances you were shooting at my friend, Lochlan, downstairs earlier?”
Tilly’s head snaps up so fast I’m surprised her eyes aren’t rolling. “That’s … Did he? Never mind.” Her lips seal shut in a thin line. “I met him at a wedding and that’s all I want to say about it.”
My gaze lingers on her, but she stares right back. After a few minutes, I realize she won’t back down, and I give in. “Okay, but if he did anything to upset you, let me know and I’ll handle it.”
“I’m good,” she replies curtly. After shuffling the stacks of paper on the table, she places them in front of me and we get to work.
CHAPTER27
WINNIE
“Wes? Want a snack, buddy?”
Lifting his head, he glances at the door, then lays back down on his side,zoominghis train back and forth. He’s been there for almost two hours. I pulled him away to eat a late lunch, but he barely touched anything. I have a sinking feeling he’s waiting for his friend, Colton.
I still don’t know what to make of him calling Colton dada. He hasn’t done it again, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t thinking it.
A click echoes through the suite, and Weston bolts upright and runs to the door before I can even get off the floor.
“Hey, little man! Did you miss me?” Colton’s voice rings out just as he rounds the corner with Weston in his arms.
I stand in the center of the room at a complete loss.
