“Tony lifted his glass and proposed a toast, “To you, the only person in this world, who can keep me on my toes.”Claire held her glass.”

“Tony poured wine into each glass and handed one to Claire. “Do you remember when we had wine at the Red Wing?”Claire closed her eyes, recalling the scene from a lifetime ago, and nodded. “I do.”“I’d been watching you for years. I was so nervous that night. I thought I was planning your acquisition.” He looked into his red liquid. Her stance straightened, “If you’re using business metaphors, may I suggest hostile takeover. It’s more appropriate.”

“This was wrong. Tony didn’t want to have feelings. The sex was great. It was okay to want her, dominate her, and control her. It was not okay to want to be with her, please her, and love her. Yet every one of his senses desired Claire.”

“Claire to Tony: "I know you enjoy coffee, I'd offer you some. But, the last time I got you coffee, it didn't work out so well for me.”

“He spoke again as if he hadn’t just shattered his promise and her security. Her house of glass now lay in a pile of shards.”

“s they sat, him on the sofa and her in a chair, she added, “I know you enjoy coffee, I’d offer you some. But, the last time I got you coffee, it didn’t work out so well for me.”Tony smirked, “God, Claire you’re something else. I can’t imagine anyone else joking about that.”

“He recognized the difference in her touch.Looking down into her green eyes, he said, “I need to keep working.”“No, Claire, I need to keep working to be a man you are proud to be married to.”