Page 4 of Feel It in the Air

2

GUS

“So what bringsyou to New York?” I ask, trying my best to sound casual. Last thing I want is for Marlo to feel like I’m trying to grill her. “Or is the better question what has you trying to escape New York? Maybe I should word it that way?”

She giggles, the sound going straight to my head like champagne bubbles.

“Family business. And by that, I mean literally the family business.”

“Which is? If you don’t mind my asking.”

Giving me a coy smile, Marlo takes a slow sip of her beer, studying my face for a moment. Almost as if she’s considering whether or not to tell me the truth or feed me a line. I hope for the former—still wanting to know all I can about her—but I wouldn’t blame her for the latter. Hell, if this were Willa, I’d advise her to go for option B. She doesn’t need to be giving out all her personal details to random men in airport bars. Stranger danger isn’t just for toddlers.

“Food. We own a restaurant.”

“You cook?”

She laughs. This time it’s a full-on, entire body movement, with her head thrown back, her reddish-brown hair cascading down over the back of the barstool. Fuck, is she beautiful.

“Sorry, sorry,” she says, catching her breath. “Yes, I cook. At least enough to survive. By most people’s standards, I’m pretty good, but my grandfather… He’s the real chef. The one with the heart for it. I don’t love it like he does. Or my brother who is the one taking over for him. No, I’m just the one they send on their errands. Because apparently, when you are a third-year law student who also has their MBA, your family thinks that you are their own personal negotiator.”

I blink hard, letting that new information settle in. Did she just say…

“Wait, did I hear you correctly?” I start to clarify, my skin already tingling with anticipation. “You have an MBA and you're getting your law degree?”

Marlo nods, that same coy smile making another appearance as she sips her beer. No, that’s not coy, that’s smug. And rightfully so. Holy shit. If I thought she was attractive before, she just blew all that right out of the water. This woman’s got a brain on her, and damn it if that doesn’t make me want to lose my mind where I stand. Err, sit.

“Yup.”

Color me impressed…and turned the fuck on…

“Wow, that's ambitious.”

“I like that word. Most of my family calls me insane. Which isn’t always the most inaccurate adjective either, but ambitious is a much better choice.”

“So, why both?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.

“I have things I want to accomplish. Goals. Dreams. And after the last few years climbing the corporate ladder, I’ve figured out what I’m really passionate about and determined that I need my JD in order to get to where I want to be.”

A pair of businessmen stand up on the other side of Marlo, throwing down a couple of twenties for the bartender as they leave. They’re quickly replaced by a pair of women, both of whom are carrying enough luggage for six people. Depositing their things in a grand fashion, the two women jostle the stools, bumping into Marlo and the couple on the other side. The older of the two ladies spills the contents of her open tote bag. Without turning around, Marlo rolls her eyes, and I have to bite my tongue to keep myself from laughing.

My thoughts exactly…

“So, corporate law then? Not angling to work at legal aid?”

Marlo scoffs. “Nothing wrong with legal aid, but again, not where my heart is. I’ve spent the last three years with the Sulonen Group, including the last two in Amsterdam. That’s more my speed.”

The Sulonen Group. They might not be a household name, but anyone in the corporate world knows the e-commerce giant. They’re hard to miss. In fact, I’m pretty sure that Hayes has some dealings with them on some level.

Well I’ll be damned. This woman is impressive.

“So, what you’re telling me is you’re kind of a big deal.”

“Hardly.”

“One does not work for the Sulonen Group, especially in Amsterdam, if they are not a badass.”

Marlo’s cheeks tinge pink, and she turns away, clearly unsure how to take the compliment. I take a big gulp of my beer, feeling bold and ready to double down, when my phone vibrates against the wooden bar. My stomach lurches, somehow already knowing what that notification is going to tell me. Marlo's phone follows suit a split second later, leaving no doubt in my mind.