Felicity laughed. “I’ve never heard of a florist degree. I think that’s mostly on-the-job training.”
Austin smiled. “Of course. I’ll blame it on mental exhaustion and champagne. So, what would you have studied?”
“Something really nerdy like botany.”
His brows lifted. “Really?”
“I wanted to be a botanist. I love flowers—especially roses. I wanted to experiment with creating new rose species.”
“You seem to know a lot about roses already. Could you still do it as a hobby?”
Felicity scoffed. “Yeah, in all my spare time.”
“You have to make time for the things you love,” Austin said.
“This coming from the man who proudly proclaims he’s married to his job.”
“Touché.”
Felicity shrugged. “You’re right, though. Someday I’m going to get that greenhouse for my backyard. Then I’ll do it. I’m weird like that. I don’t want a fancy car, expensive shoes or a designer purse. I want a greenhouse.”
“I don’t think it’s weird at all. It’s kind of refreshing, actually.”
Felicity wondered if he was thinking of Macks.
“Did you ever call Macks Cole back? We’ve been so busy with the gala that I didn’t have a chance to ask you.”
“I did.”
Of course, if Macks hadn’t talked to Austin, no doubt, she would’ve kept hounding Felicity until she did. But Felicity wanted to hear it from Austin.
“Did you give her your personal cell phone number like she wanted?”
“I did not.”
“Why not?”
Austin smiled, and his right brow shot up, a look that Felicity could’ve inferred as none of your business or that Austin just didn’t want to talk about it. But she wanted to know.
“I know it’s none of my business, but I’ll play the mental exhaustion and champagne card, too, and ask you anyway. I’ll blame it on that and double down. Why not, Austin?”
“Because I didn’t want to.”
Ugh, how did that go over? Macks didn’t like the word no.
“Good to know,” Felicity said. “So, I guess that means you’re not dating her anymore.”
She’d already pushed this far, why stop now?
“I never was dating her. But while we’re on the subject of dating, are you still seeing Kevin?”
“I’m not.”
Austin’s smile smoldered. “Very good to know.”
* * *
After the champagne was finished and Austin had paid the bill, he offered to walk Felicity to her room. As fate—or booking a block of rooms would have it—both of their rooms were on the hotel’s tenth floor, but hers was farther down the hall than his. Still, it didn’t seem right to say good-night and let her walk the rest of the way alone.
So, they walked past his.
“This is me,” she said and stopped in front of her door. “Thanks for the champagne.” She pulled her card key out of her purse, but instead of opening the door, she leaned against it, gazing up at him.
She looked so damn gorgeous and her lips were so inviting. He wanted to lean in and kiss her, so they wouldn’t have to talk anymore. He wanted to lose himself in the taste of her, bury his face in her silky, long hair and stay there until he forgot about the very real fact that she was leaving him, one way or another.
“What are we going to do next year without you to organize the gala?” he asked, because it was a legit question and because even though talking was the last thing he wanted to do right now, it was his last option and he was grasping at straws since he wasn’t ready to say good-night. He was testing the waters to see if she wanted to call it a night. It was two o’clock in the morning. It was too late to suggest they go out somewhere else, and even though propriety wouldn’t allow him to ask her into his suite for another drink, he was still stalling for time.
“No matter where I end up, your new assistant can always call me with any questions, and I’ve kept good notes over the years.”
He rested his shoulder on the wall so that they were both leaning toward each other. “Just stay,” he said. “Don’t leave me. I know that’s not fair, but—”