“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 supposed, 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.”