CHAPTER TWELVE - Facing the Fallout

Mason chuckled. "Well, don't get used to it. I still have a reputation as a recluse to maintain." "Of course," Claire said, her tone teasing. "We wouldn't want anyone to think the great Mason Steele has gone soft." As they entered the bistro, the warm glow of the lights enveloping them, Claire felt a flutter of something unexpected in her chest. She pushed it aside, focusing instead on the menu and Mason's recommendation for the best wine to pair with their meal. They settled into a cozy corner table, the sounds of soft French music and clinking glasses surrounding them. As the waiter took their order, Claire found herself studying Mason's face, noticing for the first time the flecks of gold in his brown eyes, the way one corner of his mouth turned up slightly when he was amused. "So," Mason said, pulling Claire from her thoughts, "tell me more about this deal. Maybe a fresh perspective could help." As Claire began to explain the intricacies of the failed negotiation, she felt a s