Page 144 of The Chase
He gave a solemn nod. “Tau found me just in time. I’d woken up to see my leg gnawed off by a kangaroo.”
I gasped and then realized his joke. “Tobias!”
He burst out laughing. “Don’t feel sorry for me, Zara. Look at your life. Your house burned down as a kid. You never knew your mom. I got a good nine years with mine.”
“Still.” I blinked back tears as I thought of that small, scared boy.
He brushed his hand over where his tattoo lay beneath his shirt. “Once I turned eighteen I got this.” He rested his palm on his arm. “Now I have the influence and money to repay their kindness. Much of the Aborigine land was taken. I’m part of a movement to restore it back to them. It’s a delicate balance. We try not to disrupt their clans.”
“What does the turtle mean?”
“The tribe told me it was my sign. When you’re nine that tends to stick with you. It represents mother earth, strength and love.”
“I love it.”
“I’ve noticed.”
My blush burned my cheeks.
“I’m not fucked up, Zara, but I am complicated in a way.” He shrugged. “I adore art and that’s where my desire to open a gallery came from.”
“You’re following in your parents’ footsteps.”
He held my gaze for the longest time. “Do you have anything to eat? I’m starving.”
“Oh yes.” I leaped up. “I should have offered.”
We made our way to the kitchen.
He peered into the fridge. “You don’t have much.”
I’d been so busy I’d not had time to shop. “I’ve got this.” I held up the box of chocolate cake mix.
“Cake it is.” He rolled up his sleeves.
I brought out the egg carton from the fridge.
“You’re going to have to take it from here.” I gestured to my beautiful gown.
“You could always take it off.” He smirked as he read the back of the box.
“I’ll let you do that afterward.”
“You’re on.” Tobias looked adorable following the instructions. Adding the ingredients of vegetable oil, water, and then cracking that single egg open before adding it to the mixture in that large bowl. I handed him a wooden spoon to stir.
“You know it’s cheating, right?” I pointed to the packet.
“I’m afraid I’m not much of a cook. But I love learning new skills. You’re good for me.”
I melted on the spot as I dropped his gaze, dipping my finger into the chocolaty mixture.
He grabbed my hand. “The egg’s raw. You can’t die on me. Not after waiting all my life to find you.”
My hand froze midway and my eyes rose to meet his.
“What I meant was...” His smile broadened. “There’s only one way to make this more perfect.”
“How?” It slipped out wistfully.
