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Felicity’s cheeks flushed. “And you were worried that complimenting me on my haircut was inappropriate? That’s none of your business, Austin. Who I go home with is kind of private. Don’t you think?”
“What? No. That’s—No, wait,” Austin sputtered. “That’s not what I meant. I meant it’s not a good idea for you to let a guy you’ve just met know where you live. Letting him know where you work is bad enough. Take an Uber home. Don’t tell him your home address.”
Felicity looked a little embarrassed. “Oh. I misunderstood. If it makes you feel any better, he has to drop me off here because my car will be here.”
Austin ran a hand over his face. “Yeah, I guess so. Are you in the parking garage?”
She nodded.
“Text me about five minutes before you get here, and I’ll come down and meet you.”
She scrunched up her nose. “Um, thanks, Dad, but I think I’ll be okay. I’ve been on dates before. This isn’t my first rodeo.”
He tried to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat and it came out sounding like something between a grunt and a growl. He turned around to go brood in his office.
“Austin, wait a second.”
He turned back to her.
“Now you have me second-guessing everything. You’re right. I don’t know Kevin. I mean, Maia does, but she hasn’t dated him. She cuts his hair. I’ll call him and tell him I’ll meet him at the restaurant. It’ll be easier that way.”
“Good.”
Austin nodded and went into his office. He should’ve felt better, but he didn’t.
What the hell was wrong with him? Why did learning that Felicity had a date throw him into such a tailspin? This was Felicity, for God’s sake. His assistant. Maybe this date thing and her leaving earlier than usual were underscoring the fact that he really was going to lose her—that Fortune Investments was going to lose her—if he didn’t talk to his father soon. He made a mental note to do that today.
He sat down at his desk and stole a glance at her through the glass wall.
Was this the first time he’d been aware of her going out with someone? Until now, it seemed as if he’d never had to share her with another man because he’d always kept her so busy. If he was completely honest with himself, he didn’t want to start sharing her now.
God, but not like that. Not in an intimate way. He blinked and shook away the strange feeling lurking in his solar plexus.
What the hell was that all about? Where had it come from? Sure, Felicity was a smart, beautiful woman, but Fortune Investments had a strict no-fraternizing policy. He couldn’t allow himself to think about her in any other context than platonic.
He reframed his thoughts.
What he’d meant was he didn’t want to share her because he’d grown accustomed to being the sole beneficiary of her efficient capability. She kept him organized and on track. She made him look good. And made it seem so effortless, though he knew damn well it was hard work.
That’s why it wasn’t fair to her to expect that she would spend the rest of her working life wasting her talent fetching his coffee and picking up his dry cleaning. But what the hell was he going to do without her?
Chapter Four
The next morning, Felicity sat at her desk, sipping her morning tea, mulling over last night’s date with Kevin. He was a good guy, but she wasn’t interested in seeing him again.
She was more eager to get back to her desk and resume life as usual.
Early morning was her favorite time in the office. She and Austin occupied the northeast corner of the Fortune Investments building. Since Felicity always arrived at the crack of dawn, it meant the office was still quiet and she could collect her thoughts as she sipped her tea and watched the sun rise over the New Orleans Central Business District.
It put her in a good place, started her day off right. Since Austin had to drink his coffee before he was fit for the world, it sort of felt like they were waking up together. If you didn’t count the inconvenience of separate beds, in separate houses.
But even the most serene morning couldn’t prepare her for the flowers.
Felicity was on the phone when Carla from the reception desk personally walked the huge arrangement back to Felicity’s desk. Carla waited for her to get off the phone before she thrust the stunning bouquet of white lilies, peonies and roses at her, and proclaimed in a singsong voice, “Someone got flowers. Who are they from and most important, what did you do to deserve them?”
