Then the woman's dark eyes swung to where they were watching her and Tilly felt the crash. It was a brash collision. Dark, poignant eyes homed in. The way she was staring at Tilly...
And then the woman smiled slowly. Not a kind, friendly smile; it was one of knowing.
"Okay, that's creepy," Kelsea whispered.
The woman's eye contact and secret smile didn't falter as she swept a glass of champagne from a passing tray and then lifted it toward them before taking a sip.
"Maybe she knows Jen? They look like they could buy suits together," Kelsea offered with a smile, making the unease in Tilly lessen as she smiled.
Before Tilly could respond, Kelsea made a small growling noise in the back of her throat. "Cover for me. Ken is here, and if he asks me out one more time, I am going to file a restraining order. No is not code for try harder." Her voice was filled with anger-tinged annoyance. Over the last few months, Kelsea had become a more settled-in version of herself. Late twenties, though she didn't look a day older than twenty-one, she had gone through a lot, and there had been a quiet, self-tormented air about her that had dissipated. Now, she smiledhonestly and freely. Tilly knew that transformation well. Tilly smiled with a laugh escaping as Kelsea tiptoed on her high heels, dodging behind people as she made her getaway. The man of her annoyance stopped near Tilly. He was handsome, early twenties, just out of college, and gave Tilly the impression of a puppy.
"Hey, have you seen Kelsea? I wanted to tell her congrats on her latest article. She's brilliant."
Tilly's smile was wide as she lied for her friend. "She may have had to step out. But I'll pass along the message."
The disappointment in his wide, greyish eyes was noticeable, and she grabbed a passing piece of cake for him, which he took with a half smile before walking off to talk to a group of people.
But her smile faltered when she heard Jen's voice say, "Chief, I'm honored you came out for the ribbon cutting. I didn't know that this was in your job purview."
Tilly's head swiveled before she could stop it, and when she saw Chief Landry standing stoic, without an expression on his face, nod at Jen, something inside of her clenched. What was he doing here?
"Hmm, the man looks good in a uniform, but gotta say the button-up dress shirt is not a bad look on him. You still avoiding him?" Eloise asked coyly, sidling up next to her, her smile partially hidden by taking a sip of champagne.
Taylor looked between Tilly and the chief. "You into the chief?" he asked.
"No!" Tilly blurted, then cleared her throat and took in a breath. "I mean, no." This time she said it calmly, slowly. Not convincingly, according to their eyebrows. "He was a thorn, if you don't remember, during that investigation a few months ago."
Eloise nodded slowly, her expression holding back a smile. "Mhmm, and I also remember him being a rather large helpin the end. And, more importantly, his unmoving disposition sparking to life whenever he looked at you."
Carol smiled and passed out gold plates with tarts to everyone. "We talking about the chief and Tilly?"
"He's a good guy," Taylor added. "I like working for him. A little stand-offish, but he's by the book, smart and calculating the way you want your leader to be."
Tilly gave him a flat look. "Thanks," she said.
"What? Do we not like him?" he asked, looking around at the women in question.
"Oh, we like him. Just not as much as Tilly."
Tilly shushed Carol, looking around.
Eloise waggled her eyebrows.
"Actually," Eloise placed the tip of her index finger to her chin, "he still looks at her that way, don't you think, Carol?"
Carol nodded. "I do."
Tilly rolled her eyes and took the glass from Eloise's hand and drained the rest of it before handing it back to her laughing friend.
"You know why I'm avoiding him," she said in a lowered voice.
Eloise bent towards her and whispered, "Are we sure? Like, did you ask to see his fangs?"
"No!" she whisper-yelled. "I feel like that is incredibly inappropriate."
"Is there etiquette here?" Carol asked, also lowering her voice.
"Why are we whispering?" Kelsea asked, rejoining their group having successfully dodged her young suiter.
