Page 53 of Hushed

“The cars are ready, and more people are waiting on us at the restaurant. Let’s continue the conversation there, folks.”

The small crowd streamed out into the parking lot where two large SUVs were waiting to take them to breakfast.

Kenzie followed Gage and climbed into the backseat of one vehicle. His body language gave nothing away, and when they were settled, he draped an arm around her shoulders. Shechewed her lip and looked everywhere but his face, wanting desperately to avoid eye contact.

After a minute of silence, she worked up the courage to ask the question burning in her mind. “Are you mad?”

He frowned down at her. “Why would I be mad, sweetheart?”

“I called you a pain in the ass,” she whispered.

He trailed a finger down one arm and stared at her for a moment. “You were having fun with my friends. No, I’m not mad. Thank you for proving my point, though.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You’re always worried that I or someone else is mad at you. Believe me when I tell you that if I’m upset, I’ll say something so we can talk about it.”

She laid her head against his shoulder. “I don’t like this whole observant shit you have going on. You’re not supposed to be able to tell how much I hate myself sometimes.”

“Whoa. Hold it right there. Why do you hate yourself?”

She shook her head. “Can we talk about this later? I want to have breakfast with your friends and not think about it right now.”

He squeezed her shoulders. “Sure, babe. But we are going to talk about it, understand?”

His stern expression stirred something in her, and she whispered, “Yes, Sir.”

When everyone was in a vehicle, the caravan pulled out of the parking lot and drove down the hill to the main road. They reached their destination—a hotel called the Glenview—twenty minutes later, and everyone headed inside where they were seated without a wait.

Gage pulled out a chair for Kenzie near the end of the long table and sat next to her. After some discussion about who should sit where, Kit DuFort sat across from her. Lance and Marissa sat to her left, and she was fairly sure she was going todie from trying not to stare. They were a ridiculously handsome couple.

Kit looked at Gage. “Do you mind if I talk shop with Kenzie?”

He shook his head and squeezed her shoulders. “Not at all. I like hearing her talk about her work.”

Kenzie beamed and gave Kit her full attention. She was sure she was going to knock this project out of the park if he hired her.

Before the server taking orders got around to them from the other end of the table, she’d already made a dozen notes in her phone about his vision for the club’s branding and showed him three things in her portfolio that had the vibe he was after.

“Wow. You really are good at what you do, Kenzie. I’d be thrilled to have you work on this for us. And I insist on flying you to the opening night party.”

She grinned. “I won’t say no to a trip to New Orleans. It’s such a great city.”

After ordering breakfast, she pulled up her website to show Kit her pricing structure, but Gage put a hand on her wrist before she could pass the phone to him. “You’re not showing him that right now.”

She narrowed her eyes, annoyance worming its way through her. “Don’t tell me how to run my business.”

He shook his head but let go of her hand. She was well aware of the fact that she undercharged for her services, but she wasn’t about to let him give her shit for it.

Kit stayed quiet through their exchange, and his face remained neutral as he took the phone. But he laughed when he looked at her screen. “This is a quarter of what you should be charging. I’ll have our attorneys draw up a better contract.”

Her face turned red when he handed the phone back to her, and she ducked her head.

“Told you,” Gage whispered in her ear.

She elbowed him in the ribs and picked up her water for something to do.

“Hey,” Kit said, concern in his voice. “I wasn’t trying to embarrass you. But I’m not willing to take advantage of my friends, and letting you charge me pennies compared to what people with half your skills would be charging me would definitely be taking advantage.”

---