A Fortunate Arrangement

The card had her name, Beverly Sands, and a phone number. Nothing else. “Is this a business matter?” Felicity had asked because she didn’t want to take a chance of offending a potential client.

“Oh, no, this isn’t about business. I’m a florist. I want to meet him since I’m going to marry him.” She’d laughed and for a minute, Felicity thought she was joking and was about to hand back the card. But there was something in the petite brunette’s eyes that was a little crazed. Crazy eyes, that was the way Felicity had described her to Austin. Big, round blue eyes that didn’t blink as she continuously nodded her head while she talked.

They were alone in the restroom. Deciding it was better to be safe than sorry, Felicity said she would relay the message. That afternoon, a big bouquet of flowers arrived for Felicity. The card said, Thanks for hooking me up. Love, your friend, Bev.

She’d showed the flowers to Austin. Since they knew Beverly’s name and place of employment from the envelope that came with the card attached to the flowers, they were able to find her photo on social media. Austin had supplied the information to security and had insisted on walking Felicity to her car for a solid month. They’d never heard from Bev again, but it had been a good lesson that people may know more than you realize.

Austin was a smart man. Even if a good portion of New Orleans’s female population was in love with him, if word got back to him that someone of Felicity’s description was mooning over him in Maia’s salon, it wouldn’t take long for him to connect the dots back to her.

She’d worked for him all this time without divulging her secret. Why would she want to spill the beans now?

A little voice in the back of her head screamed, Because when you quit, you’re not going to be working for him anymore. You’ll be free to make your move. If you don’t, Macks will get him. Go for it!

But that was the thing. She didn’t want to be the one to make the move. Was it so wrong to be old-fashioned? To want him to make the first move? Even if he hadn’t even given the slightest hint of interest. Even if he didn’t see her that way. Plain and simple. She’d humiliate herself if she told him her feelings.

During the time that she’d been his personal assistant, he hadn’t been serious about anyone. And she would know because she kept his calendar and scheduled practically every detail of his life, even the occasional first date that never led to a second.

Most wives didn’t know their husbands as well as she knew Austin.

She knew that his favorite music was jazz. His childhood pet was a yellow Lab named Bandit. He liked his coffee strong and black. She had it ready for him every morning. He wasn’t very talkative in the morning. Even though he got to the office at the crack of dawn, he needed a moment to read the Times-Picayune and drink his strong, black coffee, letting the caffeine get into his bloodstream before he was fit to see anyone. His family was the only thing that ever came before work. He had a sweet tooth, which he indulged in moderation, and she blocked off time for him to have daily workouts, which allowed him to enjoy his treats and stay healthy.

Austin Fortune had said it himself. She was his right hand. She anticipated his every mood. She knew him better than he knew himself sometimes, understanding what made him happy and how to preempt the things that didn’t. She was his gatekeeper. If anyone wanted to get to him, they had to go through her. Yet, somehow Macks had managed to infiltrate.

Since Austin didn’t seem to mind, it was out of her hands.

“There’s my best girl.” A blond guy walked over and hugged Maia.

“Hey, handsome,” she said in her flirty voice.

Who was this? Did Maia have a guy in her life? Why hadn’t she mentioned him?

“Thanks for fitting me in on such short notice.”

Okay. Maybe he was a client.

Maia prided herself on forming strong bonds with her clients. That’s why her business was booming.

But his hair was very short. He didn’t look like a haircut emergency. Then again, Felicity was not an expert in this arena. Maybe it was a special cut that needed to be meticulously maintained?

“Yeah, hon, have a seat right there. I’ve just finished up with Felicity. Have you met Felicity?”