Could this be any more humiliating? Finally, she extracted the sticky kitty, who emitted a disgruntled mew as it left its warm nest and was deposited hastily on the floor.
Right, then. There was no way Felicity was going to look at Cooper, so she bent her head and scampered the hell out of there before it could become any more awkward.
Cooper said not a single word as Felicity flew past.
CHAPTER 7
It’s Not a Date
Felicity found herself strangely nervous, though she couldn’t exactly pinpoint why. It wasn’t as if this was a date. It was just a celebration between two professionals over dinner. Nothing to see here.
Except there was something to see. Cooper, out of her usual outfit of jeans and flannel, was sitting at a table wearing a beautiful black lapelless fitted blazer and a crisp white linen shirt. Felicity couldn’t see the pants yet as she joined Cooper, but if they matched that sleek blazer, Felicity was pretty sure there’d be some internal swooning in her future. Which flew firmly in the face of her plans to tell her hormones to cease and desist.
The restaurant was called Full Moon Pizza, established 1976 in the Bronx’s Little Italy. While the big, unsubtle redbrick construct didn’t seem like Felicity’s kind of place, she was learning lately that looks could be deceiving.
Her nose twitched in delight at the tomato and pesto smells emanating from the kitchen, and she smiled at Cooper. “Oh, that does smell good,” she said as she sat. “Hi.”
“Hi right back. And what were you expecting?” Cooper grinned. “I’d whisk you off to a bowling alley and feed you hot dogs?”
“Absolutely,” Felicity said with feeling. “I never know what to expect from you, so that’s as likely as anything.”
“Hmm. I’m not sure if I was just insulted or not.”
“Being unpredictable is not an insult,” Felicity suggested.
“Oh, I bet it is to you. I bet you love everything ordered and at your fingertips and oh-so-carefully planned in advance.” Cooper smiled wide, her white teeth dazzling against her tan skin.
Felicity was suddenly only too aware of Cooper’s three open shirt buttons that promised a hint of cleavage if she were to angle herself forward even slightly. Instead, she leaned back and said, “If that were true, how do you explain the press conference I torpedoed today?”
“I’d call that all in a day’s work for you—being prepared and knowing your stuff. You know, today I saw you become someone else. You reminded me of a big cat stalking in the grass, waiting for the mayor to expose his jugular. I could almost see you wiggling your butt with your tail swishing, anticipating. And then attack!” Her hand made a swishing, clawing motion.
“How bloodthirsty.” Felicity cocked an eyebrow. “Except I didn’t become someone else; that’s just who I am all the time. I’m always expecting to use my skills at a moment’s notice, so I’m metaphorically crouched and ready. Well—”
She stopped as a waiter appeared to fill up their water glasses and take their drink orders. After he left, Felicity continued. “Except when I’m with you. Then I’m just…” She faded out, trying to think of how to explain the extraordinary feeling of being so wrong-footed so often. When was the last time she’d ever felt like that?
“Out of your depth and wondering why you agreed to this assignment?” Cooper’s eyes danced.
“Something like that. Although I’d never admit to being out of my depth. Show no weakness is a motto to live by.” She took a sip of water.
“Sounds like a lame motto,” Cooper said, sounding amused. “Everyone has weakness. It’s all about facing it or, if need be, running like hell to escape it.” She grinned. “That’s good advice for life and rhinos, by the way.”
“I’ll defer to your expertise on that one.” Felicity’s lips quirked up.
“Today was the best day.” Cooper sighed happily. “The absolute best.”
“I agree.” Warmth flooded Felicity as she recalled all the highlights.
“You’re thinking about the kitties you got to play with, aren’t you?” Cooper said with a chuckle.
“Pfft. Don’t be ridiculous. I got distracted for a few minutes. I’m talking, of course, about my grand victory.”
“I saw your face, you know. And even if I hadn’t, I know Suzanne—the woman you were helping with her paperwork. She said you were in there for fifteen minutes and totally besotted. Why do you pretend to not like animals while secretly coveting a cleavage full of cats?”
Felicity rolled her eyes. “Gah, don’t remind me. I’ll be picking cat hair out of my bra for days,” she muttered. “Annoying beasts.”
“You love those beasts. Why on earth don’t you have a cat? Or a dog? You clearly love them. I’m sorry I ever claimed otherwise.” Genuine curiosity filled Cooper’s expression.
“It’s…complicated. I like your suit, by the way. Zara?”
“Whoa. You can tell that just by looking?”
“If you hang out at enough fashion weeks with a fashion-worshipping boss, you do notice labels.”
“Makes sense. Nice distraction, by the way.” She leaned in. “So…back to you and animals? What’s the deal there?”
Felicity picked up her menu. “Shall we order?” Her eyes flicked instantly to the low-carb options. “The Caesar salad looks good.”
“Okay, I can take a hint.” Cooper lifted her hands in surrender.
Thank God.
“What would you like to talk about instead?” Cooper continued.
Dropping the menu, Felicity looked up. “What’s your take on Rosalind Stone? She cornered me today for a chat. I felt like she was trying to tell me something, but I’m not sure what exactly.”
“She does come across like that,” Cooper said with a chuckle. “I’ve had a number of formal dinners with her as part of the charity, and she is formidable. Some might dismiss her as an empty-headed socialite, but I’ve seen her behind the scenes and at fundraising galas, and she can work a room like a top political operator. And then there’s her financial side. Did you know she inherited everything from her rich parents under the proviso that she provide well for her siblings?”
“They either had a lot of faith in her or none in her siblings,” Felicity observed.
“Both. Anyway, she did so well at her various businesses and investments that she’s one of the wealthiest women in New York.”
“She is?” Felicity thought she was knowledgeable about all the major movers and shakers in the US. How had Rosalind flown under the radar?
“Rosalind told me once she prefers it when people underestimate her. She calls it a sound business strategy. She tries to keep her name out of those rich lists, for instance. Don’t feel too bad you couldn’t read her today. Rosalind is a mystery. She is several moves ahead of everyone and plays her cards close to her chest. It’s rare she’ll share anything much.”
Felicity blinked. “Today she gave me the entire story of how she met and fell in love with her husband.”
Cooper peered at her. “Are you serious? I knew her eight years before I could worm that one out of her. What brought that on?”
“I have no idea.”
“That is really unusual. What else did she talk to you about?”
“She was wondering why I was sniffing around her husband.”
“You and Harvey?” Cooper laughed. “Seriously?”
“Well, I gather she didn’t think I was interested in Harvey romantically, but maybe on the off-chance I was, I suppose I’m now fully briefed that he’s as loyal as a man can be.” Felicity turned the odd conversation over. “Actually, she mainly wanted to know what I’m doing at Living Ruff. And we talked a little about a program you’d come up with: training homeless people to be vet techs?”
