Page 35 of To the Chase

He started shaking with laughter, wrapping me in his arms. “I’ll grow it back. It’s already happening.”

“Mind over matter,” I whispered between giggles.

We fell asleep like that, holding each other, still giggling.

And it was perfect.

The next morning, I woke to Tore’s lips brushing mine. My eyes fluttered open to find him showered and dressed in a sleek suit, so handsome, I wondered if I was still dreaming.

“You can sleep in. I’m meeting Sam to go over contracts.” He tugged his cuff and checked the time on his phone. “Our meetings will probably go on all day, but I’d like to see you tonight.”

“I’m working, but after?”

He nodded. “Absolutely. I don’t know what time I’ll be free, but I’ll come to the bar when I am.” He leaned over me, kissing me one more time. “Until tonight, beautiful blue.”

“Until tonight, baby.”

I drifted back to sleep, and when my phone buzzed hours later, I yawned, reaching for it.

A Venmo notification stopped me cold.

$500 — a bonus for going above and beyond. Thanks for being the best waitress in town.

From Sam.

A bonus? Ridiculous and insulting. Last night hadn’t been part of a job. I hadn’t even thought of him or his money once. That wasn’t what any of this had been about.

I immediately sent the money back. Absolutely no way I was taking another cent from him. If I hadn’t already used the initial five hundred for overdue bills, I would have returned that too.

I’d have to explain this to Tore. Obviously, I couldn’t allow this to hang over our heads. He’d understand. After last night, he had to know this was real for me.

Nothing had ever been more real.

I’d tell him tonight.

He’d understand.

Chapter Thirteen

Bea

TheaddressTorehadsent was a house. Once I’d looked it up, I’d second-guessed my decision to meet him. Why a house? Easier to trap me in? He couldn’t exactly lock me up if we met in a public place.

My brain liked going to dark places, but I was nothing if not pragmatic. Tore was too high profile to be a kidnapper. This could have been his first time, but I doubted I was special enough to make a man snap.

At precisely seven p.m., I showed up on his doorstep. He’d offered to send a car, but I ordered my own rideshare. If I disappeared, at least there’d be evidence of my last known location. Though, honestly, Tore was probably capable of wiping my entire digital footprint.

From the outside, the house wasn’t a place I would have expected a young, single billionaire to live. Tudor style, it had to have been built in the 1930s or 1940s. With light bricks and dark wood trim, it was immaculately kept and could have been plucked directly from the English countryside. I wondered how Tore had ended up in a house like this.

At least it didn’t scream murder dungeon. Though that could have been the trap.

He whipped open the door before I could retreat. “You’re here.”

“I am.” I peered around him to check for chains on the walls or human-sized cages. All I could see was an empty, brightly lit foyer. “Is this a good idea?”

“You’re asking me?”

“You’d be honest if you were planning to dismember me, right?”