Page 13 of Feel It in the Air

4

MARGEAUX

Well,this is inconvenient.

Internally, I’ve never been so torn in my life. I don’t know whether to leap into his arms and kiss him until we both can’t breathe or slap him so hard he ends up in the middle of next week.

Oh wait, neither.

Because apparently he’s my boss.

Or, well, the boss’s boss. Or something.

I swallow hard, reminding myself to breathe, my pulse rushing through my veins like it’s running the forty-yard dash. Giving myself a moment to compose myself, I smile, my eyes roaming up and down airport hottie, drinking him in the same way they did when he approached me that day at JFK. And if it’s possible, I think he got hotter.

Which is going to be a problem.

Because he’s Gus fucking Hayes.

Yeah, I really should have googled what the Hayes siblings looked like before I accepted this job…

“Gus, this is Margeaux. And Margeaux, meet Gus Hayes.”

“Margeaux, as in Geaux Tigers,” he says, the panty-melting smile still as potent as it was a year ago. Fuck me.

No, wait…he didn’t want to, remember? If he had wanted to, he would have called.

“Well, dogs do get fleas,” I retort.

Oh, shit. I didn’t mean to say that. It was meant to be playful. A throwback to our conversation at the bar. Only, that’s not how it came out. No, it sounded…catty. No pun intended. And in front of the boss. Shit. Double shit.

“Ah! I love a good rivalry!” Percy responds, clapping his hands. Well, that was unexpected. Welcome, but unexpected. “This is going to make this season fun.”

“Indeed,” Gus remarks.

His gaze locks with mine and I see it. Whatever it is doesn’t have a name—at least not one I can come up with—but it’s there, nonetheless. I can feel it. A spark. Something that tells me he’s feeling this too. The mutual awkwardness. The attraction. The deep, deep desire for Percy to vanish into thin air so we can speak freely.

And the first thing I’m going to ask him is why he didn’t call.

Silence takes over, all three of us waiting for one of the others to move. To say something. Do something. If I had any ideas here, I’d step up. I’d be the fat penguin and be the one to break the ice. But I got nothing. Probably because I’m trying not to focus on Gus’s green eyes or perfectly square jaw. The same perfectly square jaw that just ticked—almost imperceptibly—as if he’s back at JFK the same way I am. Not that I’m looking close enough to notice such a thing.

A shrill ring pierces through the air, loud enough that I’m left wondering if it could be heard out in the parking lot. The old-school telephone ring continues, the volume increasing—which feels like it should be impossible—as Percy reaches into his pocket, fumbling for his phone. I watch, taken aback by the whole scene, wondering if I’ll be able to convince the man that such devices are best kept on vibrate in an office setting. Or at least not set to storm siren volumes.

“Sorry, if y’all will excuse me a moment.” He holds up the phone, indicating he needs to take the call, as if the blaring electronic wasn’t obvious enough.

Gus and I both nod, clearly eager to excuse him. Anything to make that noise stop. A quick nod from the older gentleman as he steps away, answering the call in a way that makes it seem like this could be awhile.

Another long, slow minute passes, the same icy silence swirling around us. Inhaling deeply, I turn to face the man my body is screaming at me to embrace, my mind trying desperately to remain in control. All while telling my heart to run and hide. I stupidly let her get involved last time.

Not again.

“Gus.”

“Margeaux.”

The way he says my name, with an emphasis on the last half, sends a shiver straight up my spine. That Georgia accent rolling over those full lips is going to be very dangerous.

“It’s nice to see you again.”