Page 85 of Feel It in the Air

“Why? Percy’s right; it was a brilliant idea. And not the only one you’ve had since you got here.”

I blush, the heat prickling my cheeks contrasting with the cool night air.

“I don’t think I would call it brilliant. It’s a little known loophole, and it’s going to take some creative argument to get the patent office to agree. They aren’t likely to budge.”

Gus stops, taking my hand and looking me directly in the eye. “Margeaux, I mean it when I tell you that your brain amazes me. But it’s not just your brain. It’s all of you. Your drive, your fearlessness, your willingness to take things on—head-on. Forget the fact that I want to kiss the fuck out of you right now. I’m proud that you’re part of Hayes, representing us. Because you’re everything I want in an employee.”

I swallow hard, fighting back tears. Knowing that Gus sees all that in me means more than I can say. I’ve worked so hard over the last decade to get to where I am, fought hard to be taken seriously. I want a future with Hayes Industries just as much as I want one with Gus Hayes.

“I spoke with Percy this morning.”

The statement feels like a non sequitur, even though I know it’s not. Gus starts walking again, away from the crowd, and I follow, waiting on him to elaborate.

“Are you going to make me ask what he said?” I pry.

“I tried to be careful in my wording, because I wasn’t sure how he would take it. Not only is something happening between us these last couple of weeks against policy, but he is also the dad of my ex. Sure, it’s been twenty years since Carly and I dated and she’s married with kids, but still, I didn’t know how that would play into it.”

“So, what did you tell him?”

We turn the corner into the shared parking lot between the church and the library, passing a group of families arriving for the event. We smile, saying our hellos, waiting for them to pass.

“I told him that his absence was challenging for me on a personal level, not only because I had to take over a department that I had no business running, but because I had a personal interest in you, and would be pursuing said interest.”

My breath hitches. Not out of surprise—I know Gus has a personal interest in me. But more that he told my boss, in no uncertain terms, that he would be pursuing it. Hearing it put that way is more of a turn-on than I realized.

“And?”

“I’d say that he couldn’t have been any more excited if it were his own daughter, but given that his reaction to his discovery of me and his daughter was less than stellar, that’d be a misnomer. Then again, that might have to do with the fact that I had my hand up Carly’s shirt when he found us.”

I burst into laughter, hand flying to my mouth to try and suppress some of the noise. I can’t control myself though, the giggles taking over, and I fall into Gus, his own laughter ringing out into the night. Wrapping his arms around me, he yanks me into him, our bodies flush, faces close enough that the steam from our breath mingles in the cold air.

“We have to be strategic about who we tell, how, and when though,” he says, those deep-green eyes holding on to my soul. “I still have that matter with the accounting that needs straightening, and it’s more of a nightmare than you can imagine—actually if anyone would understand, it’s you. I just can’t say anything more yet.” I nod, knowing that he would if he could, choosing not to point out that he’s already slipped too much in even mentioning the weird invoices involving Willa’s projects. “And you’ve got your new project. But, what matters is that we don’t have to sneak around anymore. We can officially go to HR and make our intentions clear.”

“What about Percy’s retirement?” I ask.

“What about it?”

“What does it mean for…” I pause, unsure of how to word my question. It’s been weighing on me all afternoon, and despite running it through my head a hundred different ways, every version of the question comes out selfish.

“Us?”

I nod.

“Nothing?” Gus shakes his head, rubbing his hand up and down my back. The heat from the movement feels good, and I snuggle into him more. “He won’t retire until the spring—that way he can collect his annual bonus. That gives us time to create a plan for his exit and the department.”

“But if you can’t find a replacement before then, are you going to have to take over again?”

Narrowing his eyes, Gus studies me for a moment. “Are you asking because you thought I was a bad boss, or because you don’t want to sneak around again?”

I smile, holding back a laugh. “While I have no major complaints about you as a boss, as an employee, I do prefer having a manager who does have actual knowledge of my role, responsibilities, and department.”

“Fair,” Gus laughs.

“But as your girlfriend,” I continue, pushing up to my tiptoes so that we’re at eye level. “I know the legal department is not something you enjoy either. And you, Gus Hayes, already take on enough. You don’t need to be adding anything that doesn’t fuel that fire in you.”

Heat flashes briefly across Gus’s pupils as they blow wide, his hands flexing against me. My heart skips, the intensity between us cracking in the air, and understanding only we share binding us together.

“It’s a good thing I have you looking out for me then, isn’t it?”