Page 49 of The Chase
I let out a sigh of appreciation and stepped back.
Liza Blake’s painting looked perfect on the front wall of my office. This striking portrait deserved to be the only piece in here. Its bright modern blues and reds, that splash of gold soothing my soul as only contemporary can, with no lines to distract the mind, no images to evoke questions.
I straightened the painting.
My office was starting to look cozy. Stacking the shelves with those few art books I’d brought in and lining up my design journals.
Keeping busy was my way of forgetting last night. Forgettinghim.
His kiss...
His body crushing mine, his cock promising no end of pleasure, each word he spoke, each look, each touch, sending me reeling.
I spun around and gulped tea from my mug—
My mouth gaping at the burn of heat at drinking it too soon and yet it burned so much less than knowing that brief interlude with Tobias Wilder was over.
It was a challenge to push away the memory of him and those precious few hours spent inside Blandford Palace.
Laughter rose from outside. Staff were trickling in and readying for their day.
There was a delicate bonsai tree resting in a small blue pot on my corner coffee table. The envelope beside it had my name embossed in gold. All that was written inside the card were Japanese symbols. I’d ask Elena who it was from.
That delicate tree with its miniature green leaves was a tranquil promise on how I hoped my day would go.
Elena burst in breathlessly. “How did it go with the hottie?”
Suppressing a fateful smile, I asked her, “Are you okay?”
She sucked in another breath. “Came up the stairs. You inspired me!” She turned to show me her bum. “How does it look?”
“Extra pert.”
“That’s what I’m going for.” She burst out laughing.
I grinned at her enthusiasm.
Her eyes widened when she saw the Blake. “Is that a print?”
“Original. She’s a friend.”
“Wow—” Her gaze snapped back to me. “How was it, then?”
“Last night?” My cheeks flushed at the thought of him.
“Yes, last night.”
I rounded my desk. “Tobias’s—”
“First name terms?” She sat in the chair opposite. “Didn’t see anything online about him being married.”
“He’s not.”
“God, Americans are so sexy. Don’t you think?”
And on her reaction, I added, “It was all business, Elena. Very professional.”
She waved it off. “How are you settling in?”
