waved my way to get my attention. “Looks like you’ve swept one of America’s most wanted off his feet.”
“Most wanted?”
“Bachelors,” he said. “Look at him.”
Tobias was standing beneath an archway and he was staring right at me, his expression marred with confusion in a haunting reminder of what could never be.
I spun around to break the intensity of Wilder’s confident stance and faced one of Terrance’s paintings, focusing on the bright canvas while trying to find my center again and fight this wavering desire to believe there could be an us.
The plaque beside Terrance’s painting stated this one was called Unpredictable.
The young artist had seemingly channeled his emotions onto the large canvas. It spoke in ways I couldn’t define. There was freshness to it, a vibrancy and a seeming grasp of pain someone so young shouldn’t know.
Perhaps seeing Tobias tonight wasn’t a coincidence. No, surely he wouldn’t hit a gallery with me here? His words of affection had been used to distract me. He’d used his charm and done his worst to send me reeling. I’d almost fallen for him all over again.
I went in search of him, recalling Icon’s MO and remembering he always cut the power before a heist. He always zapped the security cameras and he always left no trace. With all these guests milling around, the guards were more easily distracted.
I hurried out of the showroom with my chest tight with tension, on through the expansiveness, scanning the many faces of the guests roaming freely as I weaved my way around them.
There he was—
Sitting alone on a wooden bench and people watching, his intelligent eyes taking everything in. He glanced at his watch and then pushed himself to his feet and strolled eastward down a long hallway.
After turning a corner, I saw him standing at the end, casually leaning against a wall and scrolling through his phone. I wondered if this was how he deactivated the security system, by using some gadget app he’d invented.
With a confident stride I headed toward him. He showed surprise when he saw me.
“What are you doing?” I said firmly.
He raised his phone. “You didn’t answer my text.”
“Didn’t bring it.” Because it’s stashed away in a library at UCLA, I mused proudly.
“You should always carry a charged phone.”
I folded my arms. “Are you going to hit this place?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Let me get you a drink.”
The room to his left was flooded in darkness and yet the rest of the gallery glared beneath fluorescent lights.
I narrowed my eyes. “What are you up to?”
He feigned innocence. “Enjoying the art.”
I stepped left to peer into the dark showroom.
His frown deepened. “You can’t see that one tonight.”
“Really?”
He gestured to the rope cordoning it off. “Out of order.”
“That’s convenient. I wonder who put that there.”
“The staff, I imagine. There’s a fault with the sensors.”
I moved toward the door and he grabbed my arm.
“Let go, please.”
His hand snapped away and his back straightened. “There’s a good reason it’s cordoned off.”
“I’m sure there is.” I threw him a look of triumph and climbed over the rope and headed in, pulling the strap of my purse across my chest and easing it behind me.
“Zara,” he called after me, “I was standing in front of the sign.”
I turned and forced a smile. “Am I ruining your plan?”
“You can’t be in here.”
Yes, buddy, I’ve caught you in the act.
Passing the first impressively large portrait on the left of a holographic tornado, I admired its realism. Though with merely digits and codes it wouldn’t be worth anything and was impossible to steal. Walking onward there was the footage of a hurricane at sea with rolling waves; a living, breathing masterpiece. Next, an image of the sun shining brightly and I shielded my eyes trying to figure out what would be so appealing in any of these.
My heel caught in the ground and I peered down at the tiny holes in the floor tiles.
Fuck.
“Hurry!” Tobias was inside the rope and frantically gesturing. “This is the rain room!”
I gawped toward the sound of rushing air.
A deluge of rain—drenching me.
When I opened my eyes, I blinked through the blur of water at a horror-stricken Tobias. The rain ceased, though a few droplets still hit my head as my hair squished to my scalp. My dress clung horribly. I’d become the exhibit.
Careful with his footing on the slippery floor, Tobias hurried over and shrugged out of his jacket.
Breathing through these waves of panic... Oh, no, I’d ruined this lovely dress. Wiping water out of my eyes, I looked up at him. “It’s Escada.”
“I love it.” He gave a sympathetic smile. “Both versions.” He wrapped his jacket around my shoulders.
I welcomed the warmth with a sigh. “I’m so embarrassed.”
Tobias cupped my cheeks and leaned in and kissed me, his lips soft and comforting against mine, my mouth tingling, my need for him relighted as I almost forgot this was forbidden.
He broke away and gave a reassuring tug on his jacket to bring it further around my shoulders. “You have a funny way of trying to save me, Zara Leighton.”
I gave a shrug of surrender and shivered.
“Oh, sweetheart.” He pulled me into a hug.
“You’ll get wet.” I nudged him away.
“Come on.”
Trudging toward the exit behind him, I paused briefly to wring water out of my hem. I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone seeing me like this.
How embarrassing.
As I stepped out into the hallway the stark chill made me tremble.
“Let’s get you out of here.” Tobias rubbed his hand up and down my back.
Gabe
