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He wanted to take a step back, but she had him cornered. If he did, he’d bump one of the gigantic paper dresses.
“Sounds like fun, but I’m going to call it a night. I have a long day tomorrow.”
Macks stuck out her bottom lip and she continued to tug on his tie. “I wish you would come.” Her voice was uncharacteristically childlike. “All work and no play make Austin Fortune a very dull boy.”
Austin snorted.
Macks flinched and dropped his tie. She took a step back. “What was that about?”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “My sister said the exact thing a few days ago.”
“Well, there seems to be a theme happening here. However, make no mistake, I’m definitely not your sister.” Once again, she looked up at him through her lashes in that coquettish way that seemed to be her signature flirt move. “Come out and play with me tonight, Austin. I promise you’ll have lots of fun.”
His mind flashed back to Kelly and how she’d been so damn persistent, not taking no for an answer until she’d managed to get him exactly where she wanted him. He’d rather be a boring guy than get duped again.
Fool me once, shame on Kelly and her lies and manipulation. Fool me twice, shame on me. Thanks, but no thanks, I’m not playing.
While Macks came from a good family that had been in New Orleans even longer than his family had, there was something about her slightly overbearing ways that triggered his relationship post-traumatic stress. Macks was a sexy woman and he had a pretty good idea where they’d end up if he went dancing with her tonight.
While he found her attractive, there was no danger that he would fall for her. She simply wasn’t his type. She was too pushy, too spoiled and high maintenance. A one-night stand would only complicate future business matters.
Since he had no intention of them being anything more than friends, he needed to leave before things got more awkward.
“Good to see you tonight,” he said. “But I really do need to leave now.”
Macks leaned in for a good-night kiss, but Austin stepped to the left, taking care not to knock into the huge red dress sculpture. He set his wineglass on a tray the caterer had set against the wall. The two of them were not going anywhere. No sense in leading her on.
Macks seemed to understand that because she was suddenly all business.
“Thanks for coming tonight, Austin. Please let me know if I can help you or Fortune Investments with any art needs in the future.”
After Austin stepped out into the balmy night, he pulled up Felicity’s number and texted, Are you up for a drink?
Before he reached the car, she had replied, Sure.
Chapter Nine
When Felicity walked into the Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel, Austin was already waiting for her. When he saw her, he smiled and lifted a glass of amber-colored liquid in greeting. If he’d realized she was the woman in the car outside of Chanson de Vache gallery, he certainly didn’t look irritated about it. If he was, surely, he wouldn’t have invited her for a drink.
Their gazes were locked as she walked toward him, taking her time, happy that she’d put on a dress and let Maia mess with her hair, making it look stylishly uncoiffed in a way that Felicity would’ve never been able to accomplish if she’d been left to her own devices.
Of course, there was another matter that she couldn’t overlook. Austin had gone to Macks’s art show earlier that evening, but now he was sitting in the back corner of a cozy hotel bar waiting for her.
The thought was empowering.
When she reached the table, Austin stood.
“Thanks for coming out on such short notice,” he said as he helped her settle herself on the plush chair that was next to his.
“Everything okay?” She held her breath, plunging into the question without second-guessing herself. If he had realized she’d been in the car and he had an issue or a question about it, it was best to get it out of the way straight away.
“Everything is fine.” He knocked back the rest of his drink.
“How was the art show?”
He grimaced, shrugged. “It was great, if oversize paper dresses are your thing.”
He motioned to the server and explained the show’s concept to Felicity as he waited for the server to come over and take Felicity’s drink order. She ordered a Sazerac, since the famous rye whiskey libation was the drink of the house as well as its namesake. Austin ordered another one, too.
