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She bit her bottom lip to keep from pointing out that he was usually the one in a mood, but at least she had the good grace not to mention it. On those occasions, she tried to lighten the air, not poke the bear.
“These are from Kevin. My date last night.”
She held her breath. If Austin made one off-color smirk, one wink-wink, nudge-nudge, what did you do to merit flowers after a date, she was going to quit on the spot. Let him book his own restaurant for the first date with Macks.
The silly grin that had previously been on Austin’s handsome face darkened. “Kevin Clooney?” He spat out the words like they tasted foul.
“Of course. Who else?”
“Looks like Kevin Clooney wants another date.”
Felicity shrugged.
“Tell me you’re not going out with him again—uh, never mind. I shouldn’t have said that. Who you date is none of my business. I hope he treats you like you deserve to be treated. Don’t settle for anything less.”
Profound words coming from the man who didn’t even realize she was a woman.
Scowling, Austin said, “I need to make a call.” He turned around and walked away, mumbling something that sounded like, “You could do better than Kevin Clooney,” leaving Felicity more confused than ever.
He stepped inside his office, then he leaned out of the doorway and said, “We’re still on for tonight, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
He gave her a curt nod and ducked back inside.
You could do better than Kevin Clooney.
If she was a complete idiot, she might let herself believe his sudden mood change meant he cared. But, of course, he cared. It was more than that. This went deeper. She was picking up a vibe that suggested his mood stemmed from...jealousy?
White-hot currents of electricity coursed through her. She glanced at Austin, but he was on the phone, scowling up at the ceiling, looking impatient.
How had a beautiful bouquet of flowers sent everyone’s morning south?
She knew she’d be setting herself up for a world of hurt if she tried to read anything into this other than what it was: Austin was afraid that if she started dating, she wouldn’t be as available as usual for the remainder of time she was there.
What was wrong with her? Why was she being such a masochist? Kevin was making all the right gestures. He wasn’t playing the “wait three days to call” game, which was refreshingly candid.
Felicity sighed. Maybe she should follow Kevin’s example? Platonically, she could tease and throw innocent barbs at Austin. She could pull him back into line when he needed a reality check, but when it came to matters of the heart, she couldn’t tell him how she really felt about him.
Her own reality check was she probably never would tell him how she felt—especially now that Macks was in the picture.
Maybe she should give Kevin a chance. It didn’t mean she had to marry him, and at least she’d be investing in someone who treated her the way she should be treated.
* * *
Austin stared at the bottom line on the statement he’d been analyzing for the better part of an hour, and realized he had no idea what he’d just read.
He hadn’t been able to focus on work since his exchange with Felicity this morning. What the hell was wrong with him? Work was always his escape. When the outside world felt like it was closing in, he’d bury himself in work, which was easy to do at Fortune Investments.
Usually.
Until now.
Felicity was free to see whomever she wanted. Even if it was this Kevin Clooney.
Austin scrubbed his hand over his eyes. He knew it was unfair to form a judgment like this without even meeting the guy, but something didn’t feel right. That name was familiar—and not in a good way. But he couldn’t place the guy. After discovering how his ex-wife, Kelly, had played him for a fool when she’d set her sights on marrying a Fortune, he’d become exceedingly good at sizing up people and situations. Sometimes only based on a feeling.
Why the hell was Clooney sending Felicity such elaborate flowers after just one date? Austin had been plagued by the question since he’d seen the flowers and Felicity had gotten a little snippy over his questions about Kevin.
What was even crazier and harder to come to terms with was his dread over the reality that he was losing Felicity. In more ways than one. She wanted to move on and leave him behind, and the damnedest thing was it felt more like a breakup than simply losing his assistant. He knew that was unfair and ridiculous and not right on so many levels. She had every right to move on, to find a better situation for herself. He understood.
