A Fortunate Arrangement

Savannah’s eyes lit up. “If calling her a business acquaintance makes you feel better, go for it. I’m proud of you for putting yourself out there. Though, if I’m completely honest, I wish you would’ve asked Felicity. I just like you two together. Your chemistry lights up a room.”

Austin shrugged. Even if he wanted to ask Felicity to join them, he couldn’t. “Felicity has plans tonight.”

“That’s too bad.” Savannah lifted the tray. “It just goes to show you. If you snooze, you lose. But I’ll get out of here, so you can make your call.”

She bumped open the kitchen door with her backside, leaving him alone to phone Macks. He dialed her number before he could change his mind. She answered on the fourth ring, just as Austin had begun to anticipate the call sailing over to voice mail.

“This is Macks.” Her tone was brusque.

“Hello, Macks. It’s Austin Fortune.”

“Well, hello there, Austin Fortune. To what do I owe this wonderful surprise?”

Her tone had changed. Where it had been all business and efficiency when she’d answered the phone, now she was virtually purring warmth and enthusiasm. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. But it was too late to change his mind now.

“I know this is last-minute, but my sister and her boyfriend are in town. Chaz has never seen Bourbon Street. We are heading down there this evening for a drink, and I wanted to invite you to join us.”

The silence on the other end of the line lasted so long, he wondered if they’d lost their connection.

“Bourbon Street? Thank you for thinking of me, but no. I don’t think so, Austin. That’s not really my scene.”

Not her scene? He bit back a laugh. As if it was anyone’s scene. Bourbon Street was a rite of passage, a been-there-done-that sort of thing you checked off the list, or something you endured when visitors came to town and they wanted to see it, which was the case with Chaz. For a split second, Austin was tempted to tell her as much, but it just felt exhausting. Bourbon Street certainly wasn’t his scene, and, he realized, someone as seemingly high maintenance as Macks wasn’t either.

Since his divorce, he’d found dating in general to take too much time and energy. But, he reminded himself, he wasn’t trying to date Macks. She was a business acquaintance, and that alone helped him keep his retort to himself.

“I completely understand. Have a nice evening, Macks.”

“Oh, Austin,” she said before she could disconnect the call. “Did you get a chance to consider the invitation I gave to Felicity for you? It’s to the opening of a show for one of my clients.”

“Felicity mentioned it, but I was out of the office and didn’t get a chance to look at the details. I will when I am at my desk tomorrow, and I will let you know.”

“That sounds wonderful, darling,” she purred. “I do hope you can make it. I’d love to see you. Just not on Bourbon Street.”

* * *

As Maia drained the pasta, Felicity refilled their wineglasses waiting atop the kitchen island. Maia’s three corgis, Honey, Buddy and Jasmine, played in the living room, which was visible from the kitchen of the open concept house.

“Start from the beginning and tell me everything,” Maia insisted.

Felicity did a quick rundown of everything that had happened since Kevin had sent her flowers.

“To me, it sounds like Austin is jealous,” Maia said. “That means you either need to tell him how you feel, or you need to put him in the past.”

As if it were that easy. She would’ve forgotten about Austin a long time ago if she could.

“Let me back up,” Maia said. “Do you like Kevin? Because it sure sounds like he likes you.”

Kevin was fine. But did she like him? That was a loaded question. She certainly didn’t have anything against him. Although, at times he came across a little pushy. He kept saying he wanted to pick her up at the office and take her somewhere. She didn’t want him to come to the office because if he did, judging by the way Austin had been acting, Austin might not like it very much.

On one hand, why shouldn’t she be able to have dates pick her up at the office? As long as it was after hours and didn’t interfere with her work. Austin had no business telling her what she could and couldn’t do with her own time. And Macks had brought that invitation to the office for him. Granted, he wasn’t there, and Felicity had no idea what was going on between the two of them—