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“When does Miles want to talk to me? I need time to put together a presentation.”
“It won’t be until after the gala. He knows you have enough on your plate with that, but, Felicity, he has also recognizes your hard work. He thinks you’re a real asset to the company and he doesn’t want to lose you. So, basically the position is yours. You just have to go in there and claim it.”
Austin raised his lowball glass to her and smiled, but somehow the sentiment wasn’t in his eyes.
“Are you okay with this?” she asked.
“Of course. I am behind you one hundred percent. I want what’s best for you, even though we both know that the gain of the future Fortune Investments advertising department is my loss. I just have to rethink the way I was going to approach some things.”
Felicity blinked at his choice of words. His last sentence came out as more of an afterthought. She wondered if he’d meant to say the words aloud. Rethink his approach? To what? Her heart did a quickstep as she mentally relived the moment they’d shared earlier. And the way he’d looked at her when she’d walked in. Or had she imagined it? Maybe the vibe she was sensing now was because a change for her would mean a big change for him, too.
She’d spoiled him. That was the part of her job she loved the most. Now that she thought about it, that little pang she was feeling when she should’ve been over-the-moon excited about the opportunity he’d just laid in her lap was the thought of someone else being that close to him. When she wouldn’t be anymore. She and Austin were about as intimate as two people could be without being...intimate.
“If I do get the advertising position, you know I’ll be there to help whomever you hire to be your new assistant.”
At the thought, a pang pierced her. If she stayed at Fortune Investments, what would become of the two of them? Would they drift apart, or would they finally get the chance to explore this thing she felt pulsing between them? If they did get the chance, it wouldn’t be anytime soon because she just couldn’t see Miles smiling on her having a personal relationship with his son when Miles was taking the chance on her to break ground in a brand-new position.
“I know, but that’s not what I...” He trailed off without completing his thought.
What, Austin? Say it. She had to bite the insides of her cheeks to keep from blurting it out. But why shouldn’t she? He started it. He obviously had more to say. He’d called her to meet him tonight. He’d said he got the call from Miles as he was on his way here. That meant he’d wanted to meet for a drink before he’d had the news.
“What, Austin? Say it.”
He opened his mouth. Shut it. She reached out and put her hand on his. He turned his hand over so that they were palm to palm. Then he shifted and laced his fingers through hers, taking possession of her hand. His thumb caressed small circles up her index finger in a way that told her more than anything he could’ve said. She melted on the inside and her lady parts sang an intimate version of the “Hallelujah” chorus because finally, finally, after all these years—
“Felicity. I want you—” He choked on the words and cleared his throat. “I want you to get this job.”
Oh.
His thumb stopped the circles and she withdrew her hand, placing it in her lap as she comprehended what he was trying to say. But what could she say, besides—
“Thanks?” She shifted away from him and picked up her drink that was on the low cocktail table in front of them. She took a long pull, draining the glass. The dry, spicy shock of the rye helped her gather herself and regroup. She was just about to say she had to go when the server delivered the sparkling wine.
She considered bowing out and leaving him with the bottle that the woman had just opened with a flourish and a subtle pop-pffft. But she didn’t want to go. It had been another herky-jerky night full of mixed signals and contradictions. So, what was new?
Actually, there was something new. Something had shifted between them. It was subtle, but it was something. Only right now, she didn’t know what to do about it, other than get things back on track.
Austin handed her a flute of bubbly. “Here’s to what comes next.”
