Page 103 of The Chase
“Have you quite finished?”
Pursing my lips, I forced back my response.
He looked thoughtful. “First, you accuse me of lying when you lied to me?”
“To protect you.”
“I’m not the one who needs protecting. I was worried about you after not hearing from you all day—”
“Logan stole my phone—”
“I’ll deal with her. You could have used a landline?”
“I don’t have your number.” I threw my hands up in frustration. “She threatened to put a restraining order on me if I reached out to you.”
“When?”
“Today. I’ll probably end up in prison anyway for bitch-slapping her.”
He arched a curious brow. “I’ll talk with her. She’s out of line.”
I pointed to the door. “I hated having to send you away.”
“I was surprised after last night.” His jaw clenched. “Logan went rogue. I’m sorry she upset you.”
Logan had admitted she’d worked for Tobias for years and yet surely she’d well and truly overstepped her boundaries.
“Tobias,” I relented. “What have you done? You lied to the police.”
“Not necessarily. We are together. Aren’t we?”
I set my glass on the table. “You want this?”
He came toward me and wrapped his arms around me. “God, yes.”
I crushed against his firm chest with the kind of relief I’d not known I was holding in.
Breathing him in, nuzzling and refusing to deny myself him. “Why did you change your mind about leaving town?”
“I wanted to talk with you.” He seemed conflicted. “About us.”
I looked up at his gorgeous face, wanting to believe that, needing to, but was I willing to fall for someone so much like my father, a man just as mysterious?
“I had a suspicion there’d be residual details that might surface fromSt. Joan.”
“Do you think it was Icon who stole her?”
He broke my gaze and stared off, seeming lost in thought. “Maybe.”
“The police...do you think they believed us?”
“I gave you a solid alibi. Trust me, you don’t want them digging around your office or your home, or more specifically your bedroom and finding priceless paintings stashed away in there. Even if they’re locked away in a safe. Details like that tend to make the police antsy.” He gulped his wine and looked revolted. “Where did you buy this?”
“Why?”
He blinked his disgust at the pinot and set his glass down. “I was keeping it especially for situations like Logan.”
“Must I suffer too?” He gave a smile. “I need to explore your wine cellar.”
