Alex chuckled and smoothed one hand across the lapel of his stylish olive-green suit coat. “I hear ya, but I’m not a better man, B. Just a dumber one,” he corrected, continuing to stare at Topaz. His eyes narrowed further, but there was now a more probing element within the depths.
For some reason, Alex felt Topaz wasn’t herself. The glow she usually possessed seemed somewhat dimmed. She was as lovely as ever, but there was definitely a more solemn aura surrounding her this evening.
Topaz smoothed her hands across the bell sleeves of the peach cashmere sweater she wore with fitted cream pants and matching low boots. The evening had turned quite cool, but she acknowledged her chill had little to do with the weather.
The reality that her business was gone still had her reeling. More unsettling, however, was the fact that it might not have been an accident.
Simon met Topaz at the dining room entrance and pulled her back against his chest. “You up for this?” he asked, rubbing his hands along her arms.
She nodded, turning to pat his cheek. “I needed to be out tonight. Thank you.”
He kissed her cheek. “I agree,” he murmured against her ear. “Let’s go,” he instructed when the hostess arrived to escort them to the table.
Beck Gillam had turned to take another look at Topaz. He saw the couple strolling arm in arm across the room and reluctantly turned to observe his patient’s reaction. As he feared, Alex’s face was a picture of sinister intent. Beck watched as his hand curved into a massive fist.
“Let’s start confirming those sessions, huh?” Beck suggested, reaching for his electronic planner.
Alex continued to watch Topaz holding hands with Simon Whitley. He faintly heard someone say, “There she is.” It took a few moments before he realized they were referring to Topaz. He couldn’t hear many details, but it was clear that something had happened. It involved Topaz and it was something terrible.
“How do those dates sound to you, Zan? Zan?” Beck called, watching his patient stand. “Zan? Zan!”
Alex didn’t look back as he closed the distance between himself and the table Topaz and Simon shared.
“Let’s see ...” Topaz sighed, her gaze scanning the heavy, leather-bound menu. She was about to give her order when someone took her by the arm. Her chest constricted when she looked up to find Alex at her side.
“Can we talk?” he asked, though he was already urging her from her seat.
Simon stood. “Man, she’s been through a lot—”
Alex’s murderous glare quieted Simon instantly. Topaz noticed and reached out to squeeze Simon’s hand.
“It’s fine,” she assured him. “Go on and order for me,” she added, leaving him with an easy smile.
Alex didn’t speak until they left the dining room. “What are you doing with him?” he softly inquired as they walked.
“Like it’s any of your business,” she snapped, almost feeling his ice-blue glare when he looked at her. Finally, she sighed. “He didn’t want me alone after ... what happened.”
Alex found a semiprivate area just off from the bar. “After what happened?”
Topaz searched his face intently. “Haven’t you heard?”
“Would I be asking if I had?”
“I—it’s just that it was all over the news and I ...” She trailed off, tears beginning to pressure her eyes for what had to be the thirtieth time that day. “My ... my business—the garage, it’s gone. There was a fire—”
“What!” Alex exploded, releasing Topaz’s arm when he felt the rage beginning to simmer in his gut. “You tell me what happened.”
Topaz folded her arms, hiding her hands inside the wide sleeves of her sweater. “I don’t have many details yet. The fire chief said he’d be calling ... there’s gonna be an investigation ... please don’t say ‘I told you so,’” she implored, looking up to see him staring down at her.
“I would never say that to you,” he whispered, stepping closer to cup her face against his wide palm. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“I’m okay,” she confirmed with a nod. “I admit, I’m a little shaky and I’m a whole lot mad.”
Alex smiled at her toughness, loving the silken texture of her dark skin as his thumb stroked her cheek. “So you don’t think it was an accident?”
“Not at all, but I’ll wait. See what the fire chief has to say about it.”
“Thought about rebuilding?”
Topaz shrugged. “Maybe. I really haven’t had time to dwell on it,” she sighed, her eyes clouding with distaste as she looked around. “Right now I just want to get as far away from this town as possible.”
Damn, man. I think you’re more interested in the news biz than you’re lettin’ on,” Clifton Knowles teased his publisher when the man arrived shortly after the budget meeting began.
Alex chuckled softly so as not to disrupt the reporters. “I guess I do miss the grind. I really just wanted to hear what Casey’s come up with so far.”
Of course, Alex had voiced the desire of almost everyone in the room. After all, the young man had emerged as the lead reporter regarding the hottest topic in town: the Briarcliff buyouts and the fire that had ruined one of the area’s most lucrative businesses. Casey Williams was a veritable well of information and garnered most of the meeting time. During his briefing, he mentioned the connection between Lockhurst Properties and Weston Enterprises. Alex jotted both names on the pad he held and enclosed them in a dark circle.
TWELVE
