A Fortunate Arrangement

by Nancy Robards Thompson

  Kevin Clooney.

  What a dumb name.

  So that’s why she was all dressed up and wearing that pink lip stuff today.

  “Hey, listen. Can you stay late tomorrow night and maybe Wednesday, too? We need to talk about the charity ball.”

  “Sure. That’s not a problem.”

  “Good. Thanks.”

  Maybe they’d need to work through the weekend, too.

  He turned away on a jerky motion that made his coffee slosh and splash onto his crisp white button-down.

  He growled and muttered a string of expletives under his breath.

  “I heard that, potty mouth,” Felicity said. “What did you do?”

  “I spilled my damn coffee down the front of my shirt and I don’t have a spare in my office. I used the last one Thursday before the McCutcheon meeting.”

  Cursing again, he frowned down at the stain. He should’ve put his suit coat on when he got out of his car.

  What a great way to start the day.

  “Now, I have to have to go home and change. I have a meeting at nine and I look like a freaking bum.”

  “No, you don’t,” Felicity said. “I’ll go pick up your dry cleaning when they open at eight. You have some white shirts in that order.”

  “I do?” he said, the edges of his bad mood lifting. “Thanks. So, uh—you’re not going to let this guy take you home, are you?”

  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?”

  “I have no idea,” Felicity said. She was surprised that Carla hadn’t opened the envelope herself and peeked at the sender. Clearly, Carla wasn’t budging until she got the scoop.

  Felicity accepted the fragrant bundle and took the card off the holder. With a sinking feeling, she took her time opening the envelope and pulling out the card.

  Actually, she had a pretty good idea who’d sent them—and she wished he hadn’t. It just felt wrong. All wrong. Then again, they could’ve come from a vendor she’d been working with for the charity ball. Another perk of being Austin’s assistant was that sometimes companies sent incentives and samples, trying to entice her into using their goods and services. There had been a cashmere scarf from the office cleaning service; Belgian chocolates from the paper dealer; a leather day planner embossed with her name from the temp agency they sometimes called on when they needed extra help. In fact, that’s how Felicity had found her job at FI. Austin had brought her in as a temp and when she’d had his coffee and newspaper waiting for him without his asking, he’d offered her the job permanently.

  So, the flowers could’ve been from someone else. But no, her first inclination right.

  You’re still the most gorgeous model in the show. Last night was fun. When can I see you again?

  Kevin

  No. No. No. No. No.

  But, yeah, Kevin had sent her the flowers. Gorgeous flowers. They must’ve cost a fortune. If she’d been able to send them back, she would have, because looking at them and reading his candid note produced in her that particular brand of dread that happened when a guy was interested in you but you didn’t return his feelings.

  She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. But she just wasn’t into him. Not like that. Sure, the date had been...pleasant. He was easy to talk to. He hadn’t made her feel bad when she’d turned her head, offering a cheek when he’d leaned in for a good-night kiss.

  Yeah... Kevin was a nice guy, she suppose
d, but he wasn’t doing it for her. Something felt off.

  She cast a quick glance at Austin, who was concentrating on something on his computer, and her heart hurt for a completely different reason. That caused a host of mixed emotions to flood through her. Why didn’t she like Kevin? Why had her heart sentenced her to a lost cause? Sure, Kevin was laying it on kind of thick, but maybe if she let down her guard, maybe if she faced facts, she’d realize it was nice and a lot healthier to open her heart to someone who cared for her. Reflexively, her gaze tracked back to Austin’s office. This time he was looking at her.

  Her heart leaped into her throat. After it lodged back into place, it thudded in her chest.

  “Well? Who are they from?” Carla asked. “Don’t leave me hanging.”

  Felicity shoved the card back in the envelope. “Just a friend.”

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Austin stand up from his desk.

  “Austin’s coming out here. I need to get back to work, and you better get back to the front desk so he doesn’t get annoyed with us.”

  Carla flinched and did a quickstep down the hallway that led to the reception area.

  “Don’t tell me Bev is back,” Austin said.

  He looked good today in his charcoal gray suit and white button-down. Of course, he always looked good. Felicity particularly loved that suit on him. It made his shoulders look a mile wide. He was wearing the green paisley tie she liked. It brought out the subtle hazel flecks in his eyes.

  Damn him for making her want him when she couldn’t have him.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Beverly Sands. The flower stalker.” Austin gestured to the bouquet.

  For some reason the smug look on his handsome face pushed every button she possessed. Everybody knew he could have any woman he wanted—the Macks of the world...the Beverly Sandses...the Felicity Schafers—but did he have to act so self-satisfied?

  “These are not from Beverly Sands. Not everything is about you, Austin.”

  He flinched. Blinked.

  “Gaaaa!”

  Did she really just say that out loud? She’d certainly been thinking it, but she hadn’t intended to say it.

  A goofy smile spread over his face. “Someone’s in a mood.”

  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.

  Part of the problem that he’d realized with the delivery of those damn flowers was that if she left, he might not see her again. For nearly five years, she was usually the first person he saw in the morning and often the last face he saw in the evening. And since it wasn’t unusual for him to phone her about business after hours, she was often the last voice he heard before retiring for the night.

  He watched her as she wrote something on a legal pad. Probably notes about the ball that she wanted to discuss at their dinner meeting tonight. Or maybe she was mapping out her résumé.

  The light coming in from the windows picked out the honey highlights in her hair. She was wearing a black tank and a black pencil skirt that hugged her curves. He’d noticed that this morning. She was wearing that pink lipstick again and she’d styled her hair in the new way she’d been wearing it.

  He raked his hands through his hair, fisting them at the nape of his neck.

  He needed to give her a reason to
stay, even if she would be working in a different department and he’d have to hire a new assistant. That’s the only thing that quelled the near panic he felt at the thought of never seeing her again.

  The first order of business would be to get his father excited about creating an advertising position for her. He’d left a message for his dad yesterday, asking if they could meet to talk about something important. When Miles’s assistant called back, she had informed Austin that his father was out of town this week. She offered to schedule a phone meeting, but knowing Miles the way he did, this was a conversation best done in person.

  Felicity just needed to hang on a bit longer. He’d tell her as much at dinner tonight.

  In the meantime, it would do him good to be a little less gruff toward her. He knew he wasn’t always the easiest person to deal with. Nobody liked working with a bear. But she had always been so good about pulling him out of his dark moods.

  It suddenly dawned on him how badly he’d taken her for granted.

  It would behoove him to slow his roll and soften his approach.

  * * *

  “How was your day?” Austin stopped when he reached Felicity. He leaned a hip against the corner of her desk and looked at her expectantly. Like he was interested.

  This is weird.

  When was the last time he’d asked her about her day? Um, never. For that matter, when was the last time he stopped to talk about something personal? Well, other than to harangue her about Kevin. And the flowers.

  When they talked, they talked about him. Or about work. He usually didn’t get into her business. Not that she minded.

  She could see the bouquet in her peripheral vision. Austin was on her left side. The flowers sat on the right side of her desk, as if standing in proxy for Kevin.

  “It’s going well,” she said cautiously, her hands poised on her computer keyboard, her heart thumping in her chest.

  Please don’t hassle me about Kevin and ruin it.