The Chase

I fisted my hands and rested them on my hips. “Where is it, then? I want to see it.”

“I hope you’re referring to the painting?” He grinned. “Sure you don’t want to go back and take another peek? Dabble a bit?”

“Quite sure.”

He stepped closer. “I’m leading this mission. Just so we’re clear.”

“I thought it was a brilliant ruse.”

“Except the restrooms for the guests are in the opposite direction of where we need to be.” He shrugged out of his jacket.

“Have you been here before?”

“No.” He rested his jacket around my shoulders.

I breathed in his soft cologne and soaked up the warmth, grateful to cover myself as I tugged it around me.

Tobias pulled out his phone and slid his fingertip along the screen and then stared down, engrossed.

I frowned his way.

“I’m checking the score. Dolphins are winning.” He looked up at me.

“American football? Seriously?”

He looked incredulous. “No, Zara, I’m looking at a map.” He pointed west. “This way.”

“Have you ever taken part in one of those?” My breath stilted as I waited for his answer.

Tobias wrapped his arm around my waist. “I don’t share. Ever.”

“Even your toys?”

“You were referring to my women. So was I,” he said as he started running.

“Are you going to give me a clue?” I asked as I followed him down a series of endless corridors.

“No,” he said brightly. “I want to see your reaction.” The intrigue spurred me to run faster.

We rounded another corridor and right past a masked couple who’d also strayed from the party. When they faded from sight we paused at the door at the end.

Tobias opened it.

He stepped in partially and then quickly backed out, closing it again.

“Wrong room?” I said.

“No, there’s a couple. Well, a ménage. To be accurate.”

“In there?”

He looked thoughtful. “Full-on.”

“Oh, well that’s inconvenient.”

“Certainly is.”

“We’ll wait here, then?”

“They’re almost done. From the sounds of...”

A woman’s wails of pleasure flooded out into the hallway.

“We can wait,” I agreed.