Page 109 of The Chase
I sensed he’d sliced through her heart with a ruthless rejection.
He shook his head thoughtfully. “I need a lawyer who never loses.”
Tobias answered my unspoken question on why she still worked for him. It was too late to pull back on my dismay. No wonder Logan went for my jugular each time she saw me.
“I know her alias is Ruby.”
“She told me. I reassured her you’d guessed. She knows how smart you are.”
“Have you ever gone to one of those parties with her?”
“No. She has unusual tastes. That’s her private business.”
“She was the one to tell you about the Goya?”
“Yes, she happened to catch the paintings one evening during a private tour of the palace.”
“And she knows how much you love Goya.”
“I’d do anything for you, Zara.” His expression softened and rested his hand on his heart in a gesture of sincerity. “I’ll always be here for you.”
“I overheard you,” I braved to say, “telling her she knows how you feel about her.”
“Logan’s worked for me for a long time. She’s lent her loyalty. I owe her the same. That’s not to say I tolerate inappropriate behavior.”
Balling my fingers into fists, I hoped he wasn’t skewing that remark toward me too for asking him about them.
“Have you any idea how beautiful, how gifted, how sweet you are?” His expression softened and I wanted to believe his outburst was authentic.
Perhaps Tobias was trying to placate me after I’d given away how close these two were.
“How about that coffee.” He arched a brow.
I made my way into the kitchen and was met by the aroma of fresh beans brewing. I lifted the glass coffeepot and poured it into two mugs and added some milk to mine and left his black.
Tobias leaned on the door frame. “My work takes me abroad a lot.”
My body tensed as I sensed where this was going.
Zach had stood there, right where Tobias stood now, giving those familiar excuses about life’s commitments. Offering me a pretty bouquet of flowers, though nothing as lavish as Tobias’s, but the purpose had been the same with those overly scented petals serving as a gentleman’s apology.
Tobias’s flowers were so very beautiful. They really werekind.
He strolled over to the counter and lifted his drink and took a sip. “I’m controlling. I can be demanding. As you just witnessed from the way I spoke with Logan.” He blew a cool stream of air onto his drink.
I opened the fridge and put the milk away, hoping to hide my uneasiness.
He took another sip. “My private life is open to speculation from the press. I’m pursued like a deer during hunting season.”
I reached for my mug and tried to read from him what I needed to hear.
“My life is complex.” He put his drink down.
I held his gaze braving to say, “And you don’t do love?”
Tobias’s kind eyes crinkled into a smile as he said, “That was before...”
“Before?”
