Travis looked at the booths she waved toward before turning back and softly asking, “And who watches over you?”
Lottie sighed before she said, “I watch over myself. But I am hoping to talk Tilly into going to Comfort Food, that new diner just down the street, because I don’t think either one of us will be in the mood to cook when we finally get home.”
Travis studied her for a moment. “I hope you can. Maybe I’ll see you there.”
The rest of the afternoon passed swiftly and by the time the customers filed out and the day ended, she was tired and hungry and ready to call it a day.
After meeting with her sisters to confirm that Carri would be all right spending the night guarding their booths, Lottie followed Tilly out of the convention center. They were nearly to their car when a dirty, disheveled man rushed toward them.
Lottie watched in horror as the man grabbed Tilly’s arms and yelled, “Give me money!”
Before she could react, a large, uniformed man she recognized as the one who’d stopped at Tilly’s booth several times during the day stepped between them and forced the man away from her sister.
“Are you all right?” She wrapped her arms around Tilly and held her tight.
“I think so,” Tilly answered softly. They moved closer to the car as another security guard joined the first. A few minutes later, two police cars raced into the parking lot.
Once he turned the man over to the police with instructions that made it sound like he was more than just a security guard, the man turned his attention to them.
“Are you two okay?” the man asked as he approached. “Tilly? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Thanks for rescuing me again.”
“I’m sorry about Bob. He’s been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, but refuses to allow anyone to help him. We’ll keep him secured for the weekend so hopefully he won’t bother you again.”
Tilly nodded and pulled out of her arms. “As I said, thanks again. This is my sister, Lottie. We’re going to that new restaurant, Comfort Food, for dinner. Would you like to join us?”
Wondering who this man was and why he seemed so interested in her sister, Lottie stepped half in front of Tilly, crossed her arms and glared at him. “Are you stalking my sister?”
“Excuse me?” He appeared shocked by her question.
“You apparently stepped in this morning with this Bob person. You stopped by her table a half-dozen times during the day and you don’t appear to have a Little girl. And now you’re saving her again from Bob, so I have to think you’re stalking her so you can be her hero or something. So the question stands, are you stalking my sister?”
The man looked like he was trying not to laugh. He then ignored her and turned his attention on Tilly. “Would that be such a bad thing if I were stalking you?”
Lottie was stunned when Tilly blushed as she shook her head. “No, I don’t think it would be a bad thing.”
Since Tilly was apparently drawn to this man, it was up to her to make sure he was good enough. “Would you like to join us for dinner? That waywecan get to know you better.”
The man blinked and stepped back. “I’d be honored to have dinner with two such lovely ladies. I’ll follow you, if that’s all right.”
“That’s fine,” Tilly said. “We’ll see you there.”
Travis looked around the restaurant as soon as they walked in, hoping Lottie and her sister had not changed their minds about where they were eating. Sam and Paul were flirting with the hostess when he saw Lottie. He watched as she crossed the room.
Stepping away from his friends, he hoped they did not mind if he ditched them. After all, why eat with men he saw several times a week when he could get to know a lovely Little candymaker?
“Hi,” he said when she stopped a few feet away.
“Hello,” she replied, sounding nervous even as she looked into his eyes.
“Shall we get a table alone, or would you rather eat with my friends? Or we could eat with your sister.”
Please say alone, please say alone.
“Alone, if that’s all right with you.”
“That’s perfect. Let me tell the hostess.”
