Page 46 of Feel It in the Air

“Just what do you think his next comment was?” I ask, pulling back just enough to take Gus’s hand and start walking back to the booth.

“I can only think of one thing, and Miss Belle would knock me into the middle of next week if I uttered it in mixed company.”

I stop dead in my tracks, my mind whirring with what on earth he could possibly be thinking that would make his mama whoop him that hard. Although, I won’t lie, there’s also a part of me that is a little turned on. Because if it’s that dirty…well, fuck.

Gus must see my thought process written across my face, his own expression turning mischievous. And now I know there’s a more than fair chance it’s as dirty as I think it might be.

Leaning down, he places his mouth right next to my ear and whispers, “If you’re a good girl, I’ll tell you later.”

Ohhhhh, fuuuuck…

I suck in a breath, finding my resolve. I have to dig deep—really, really deep—but I do find it. Mustering up every little bit, I put it in place, knowing that we got this. We have managed to make it this far, working together day in and day out, so we can manage a few more hours. Still, the rest of this day needs to hurry up so I can have Gus to myself.

We get back to the booth, which is now multiple people deep, many of whom want to chat with me about my elbow jab. Oh boy. That was not something I planned on showing off today, but I can’t say I’m sorry, thanks to the looks both Hayes men are giving me as I tell the group in front of me that all the skills I showed off I really did learn from a Hayes class.

“Margeaux, I’m totally stealing you and bringing you to every single one of these events with me. You’re a one-woman walking advertisement,” Jace comments during a lull.

“Watch it, Jace. She’s spoken for,” Gus comments, staring at his phone.

“By legal? Or you?” Jace retorts.

Gus doesn’t respond, brows furrowed in concern, thumbs flying across the screen of his phone. I turn my back on Jace, focusing on an expression I haven’t seen before. The one that I assume leads everyone to call him grumpy.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“Err, nothing.” He shakes his head, brows still knitted together. “It’s just Milo. Asking if we’ve finished reviewing the drugstore contract yet.”

I take a second, examining Gus. Willa told me when she and I had lunch a couple of weeks ago that he “carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, even when he doesn’t need to.” She didn’t mean it critically. The complete opposite actually. It was her way of explaining to me how much he cares about everything. Absolutely everything. And looking at him now, I can see it. I can see that weight pressing down on him, as if he’s Atlas, trying to shoulder the burden so that no one else has to.

One that looks really fucking heavy.

It’s a burden I want to help with. That I wish I could share. But one that I know he won’t give up easily. I also know that he’s not looking for pity in it. That’s not what Gus needs. What he does need is someone who understands. Who he can talk it all out with. Who he can confide in.

That is who I can be to him.

“Hayes is buying the drugstore? I thought Brenna was?” I stop, realizing that maybe I shouldn’t be asking. As much as I want to be the person he confides in, be the person who helps share what weighs on him, he’s still my boss. This might not fall into the category of something I’m allowed to know. “Sorry—none of my business. You’re the temporary head of legal, and that’s an acquisition contract, meaning I’m talking to my boss and not my boyf⁠—”

I cut myself off. Nope, not using that word. Gus might have said my girl, but that’s different from me dropping boyfriend.

Not that he’s correcting me.

Gus smirks, licking his lips. Grabbing my hand, he leads me away from the table, giving us a little more room to talk.

“She is. Or at least that’s the plan. And that’s why Milo is asking about it,” he tells me. “But I had the team look at it from both angles to figure out what makes more sense long term. At this point, I think we all know that Brenna is going to end up a Hayes, and therefore the drugstore will end up a Hayes asset when that happens, so I’m trying to make sure that it doesn’t make more sense to have Hayes Industries acquire the business and list Brenna as the primary proprietor from the get-go, rather than absorb it after the fact once they’re married. The taxes are messy regardless. Milo doesn’t know that last part though.”

“Oh.” I try to keep the surprise out of my voice, but I’m not sure I succeed.

“I assume my employee will keep that a secret.”

“Absolutely.”

“More importantly,” he continues, taking a step and erasing the gap between us. His hand lands on my hip, stealing my breath and kickstarting my pulse. “I have no problem sharing any of that with my girlfriend.”

And I think he just ruined my panties too.

“Even though she just gave you a black eye?”

Gus chuckles, pressing his lips to my forehead. “I did cop a feel in public. Can’t say I didn’t deserve it.”