Page 27 of The Prize

I laughed as the dramatic music played through hidden speakers fitting the mood. “Point made, Tobias.”

“Sorry?” he shouted, cupping his hand to hear better.

“Very funny,” I yelled. “Jade, take it down, please.”

Tobias raised his gaze as the music lowered and then focused back on me. “I like having breakfast with you. Usually it’s just me and Jade fighting over the salt.”

That made me smile. “Do you think you’ll ever settle down?”

He paused with his fork close to his mouth.

“That was a stupid question.”

He placed his fork down. “It was a good question. Yes, I want to be with someone who is willing to stand up to me. I’m told I’m intimidating.”

“Bossy.”

“Yes, I admit—”

“Controlling.”

“If I’m in command no one gets hurt.”

“You’re referring to Arizona?”

“I’m referring to anyone who steps inside my stratosphere. Look, all people who do business with me are prescreened. You were no exception so don’t take it personally. All paintings I procure are carefully authenticated. I profiled you carefully for this very purpose. Any plane I board undergoes a preflight check that includes the engine.”

My stare locked on his and he closed his eyes for a beat. I realized his confession revealed the reason for his dominating nature.

Of course; it was so obvious.

“Tobias?” I coaxed him softly.

His gaze roamed the kitchen. “Maybe we could cook in here together one night?”

“I’d like that.”

“Me too.” He returned his focus to his iPad.

“Let me call Abby?”

“Not yet.” He kept his gaze on the screen.

“This is hard on me.”

“For that I’m sorry.”

“Perhaps if I was permitted to explain everything?”

He peered up at me. “You already did, Zara. Abby told you they’ve been asked to pull back from Burell. As far as they’re concerned it’s over. You and I have taken the fall. Do you want it to end like this?”

“No.”

“Same here.”

We finished our breakfast in silence with him sweeping across the latest news as he ate his toast and eggs. I poked at my breakfast while watching Mr. Mercurial slip once more into his impenetrable shell. I wanted to say it was the loss of my life that hurt the most, but somewhere among the wreckage also lay what could have been between us. Though if we truly spent time together tonight maybe we’d regain a little of the trust we’d lost.

A phone number lit up the screen of his cell and he took the call and asked questions in between sips of coffee. The subject was about his London office.