Page 61 of The Chase
“I feel the same way, only I’m honoring its authenticity.”
“You didn’t need to come here and apologize,” he said. “I’m the one who put you through a difficult ordeal.”
“I liked seeing the painting.”
“I meant stripping you naked and dressing you in next to nothing. To ensure we’d mingle.”
My cheeks burned from the warmth of the wine.
Not the wine...
I let out a deep sigh. “It felt like an awakening...”
The silence was no longer a threat and as his stare reached all the way inside me, I was sure he too felt this electrical pulse between us, this thrill, a familiar shiver, and these stirring memories of when he’d kissed me passionately and forced my surrender in his arms.
“I’m leaving for LA tomorrow,” he said softly.
I dug my fingernails into my palms. “Going home?”
“Yes.”
“That’s...”Probably a good thing. “It’s been lovely meeting you.”
“Likewise.”
“Maybe next time you visit London we can have drinks?”
He looked away and then those green eyes locked on mine, and with that one look he’d shut down my embarrassing suggestion.
Though he was hard to read as his jaw tensed and relaxed.
The men in my life had more than proven I didn’t make their impossible grade.
“Zara, seeing you again would actually be—”
“I’m dedicating myself to my career right now.” I took a bite out of a muffin and munched away, remembering he’d already shut down there being anusback in my flat.
Tobias placed a sandwich on his plate and glanced inside the slices of bread. He nudged his plate away.
I felt like that sandwich, never destined to be good enough.
That subtle check of his wristwatch proved I was either boring or keeping him from something far more important.
“Do you have to return to work?” he said.
“Yes, I should go. I have a meeting. I’m being brought in on this very important case.” I reached for my coat. “Thank you for the bonsai tree.”
“I’m glad you liked it.”
“Card was pretty. What do the Japanese symbols mean?”
“It was a thank-you for all you did. You almost executed every requirement flawlessly.” He quirked a smile.
Almost?
I rose from my seat and pulled on my coat. “I’m glad we’re leaving each other on good terms, Mr. Wilder.”
“And breathtaking memories.” He waggled his eyebrows playfully. “You stun in Coco de Mer. A gorgeous Russian princess.”
