4. Chapter Four
Chapter Four
S awyer lay there, holding Gabby against his chest. She’d fallen asleep after their third lovemaking session. Her reactions to him had been pure and genuine. Unlike other women he’d known. Damn, he was jaded. Maybe he’d been around all the wrong type of women.
Gabby shifted, and he tightened his arms around her. He didn’t want to let her go. Ever. The thought shocked him. It wasn’t like him to get this attached to someone so quickly. Gabby had broken the mold.
He closed his eyes, enjoying the slight weight of her against his body. His mind was already planning Sunday morning breakfast. He was trying to impress her with food, but he also recognized he had to be careful.
She was already suspicious of the money he’d spent on her. He could try and cook breakfast tomorrow, but that wasn’t a good idea. He didn’t cook much, and he wanted to give her more than toast and coffee. He’d order from his favorite place.
Since it was Sunday, they could spend the day at his place. He wanted to show Gabby there was more to him than sex and food.
His gut tightened. He hadn’t told her the truth about his money. Maybe tomorrow he would. But he didn’t want to ruin today. If they decided to continue to date after she went back to the Bay Area, he’d tell her more. Sawyer already knew he wanted Gabby in his life. Now all he needed to do was convince her.
***
Gabby woke to the smell of coffee.
“Wake up, sleepy head.”
She opened her eyes to see Sawyer sitting on the bed, holding a mug, his hip next to hers.
“What time is it?” Even her voice was groggy.
“A little after ten.”
Ten? She never slept this late. Gabby sat up and grabbed the sheet to cover her nudity while heat flooded her body.
“I’ll leave this on the nightstand. You’ll find a fresh toothbrush in the bathroom, along with towels.” He set the mug on the table and stood. “Breakfast will be ready in thirty minutes, is that enough time.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Sawyer shook his head, and leaned down and kissed what sense she still had right out of her. Forgetting to hold on to the sheet, she entwined her arms around his neck. He snagged her arms and lowered them.
“As much as I’d love to crawl back into that bed with you and ravish you all over again, you need food.” He flicked his finger over her taut nipple. “Thirty minutes.” Sawyer turned and sauntered out of the room.
Gabby watched him, noticing how his gait wasn’t as steady as it usually was, and damn if he didn’t have muscles rippling over his back. She itched to jump out of bed and run her palms over his tan skin.
When he was out of her sight, Gabby shook her head and took a sip of coffee. Perfect. How did he know? Oh, from dinner last night. He paid attention to how much milk and sugar she put into her coffee.
Observant man. What else had he noticed? Cradling the mug in one hand, she climbed out of bed and made her way into the bathroom. Her mouth dropped open. She could fit her whole apartment in here. Beautiful mosaic tile, a huge shower with a garden tub next to it.
Glancing at the sink, she caught her reflection in the mirror. “Oh dear God.” The words slipped from her lips.
Her hair was all over the place, any make-up she had on last night was gone. Thank goodness for smudge proof mascara. Ugh. She breathed into her hand. Morning breath. And still, Sawyer had kissed her and looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing in the world.
Her stomach flipped over. She’d never been around a man like Sawyer, and she wasn’t sure how to handle him. She giggled. Oh she handled him all right last night. Taking a long drink of her coffee, she set the mug on the counter. She twisted her hair up so it wouldn’t get wet and stepped into the shower.
She turned on the water and flipped the shower on. She jumped as the cool water hit her skin, but it soon warmed up. Okay, first things first. A quick shower, brush teeth, and get… Clothes?
Gabby didn’t have any clothes. She hadn’t even bothered to look for what she wore yesterday. Well, damn what was she going to do? Quickly, she washed up and wrapped her body in a towel.
After brushing her teeth, and using a comb left on the counter for her hair, she glanced around the bathroom. There was a robe on the back of the door. Probably Sawyers’. Well, it was better than a towel. Although walking into the kitchen with just a towel on did give her some pleasurable ideas. Food first, though.
She slipped the soft mauve material on. It was velvety against her skin, reminding her of the way Sawyer caressed her last night. His hands had roamed every inch of her body. A flash of heat went through her. With a deep breath, she pushed away the memories of last night and hung the damp towel over the hamper, grabbed her empty cup, and ventured out.
She stopped when she saw her clothes neatly folded on the bed. Her underwear sat on top, and heat filled her. Gabby picked up her panties. Thank goodness her clothes were wash and wear material. The underwear was still warm. It hit her. He’d thrown her clothes in the washer and dryer.
This man continued to surprise her. Slipping off the robe, she dressed quickly and made her way out of the bedroom and down the hallway. She could hear Sawyer in the kitchen and stopped in her tracks when she entered the living room. The view was stunning. It had been last night, but in the light of day… The natural light into the room made everything seem bright and airy.
“Hungry?” Sawyer asked.
Her stomach growled. “Yes.” Surprisingly, she was. “I hope you don’t mind. I borrowed your robe.” Her gaze took in the lowriding sweats and t-shirt he wore. Gabby’s palms itched to touch his solid chest.
His eyes darkened. “I bet it looked a lot better on you than me.”
“You flatter me.”
“Go sit down. I’ll bring the food.” He gestured to the dining room table. Gabby did as he requested. The table was already set.
“I love this view,” she said as she sat down. Gabby never realized what great views of the sound and mountains these apartments had.
Sawyer walked in with several platters, put them on the table, and left. Her eyes widened. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and waffles. Was he feeding an army? When Sawyer came back, he had a cheese and fruit platter, along with a carafe of coffee and orange juice.
“Are you expecting company?” she asked.
“No. Why?” He took a seat next to her. His body heat called out to her.
“I can’t believe you’d cook all this for the two of us.” She gestured to the food laden table.
He glanced at the table. “I did go overboard, didn’t I. Sometimes, I order more than is needed.” His eyes twinkled. “I’m not a very good cook.”
“Trying to impress a chef?”
“If I say yes, would that earn me a kiss.”
“You’ll get one anyway.” Gabby leaned over and brushed a kiss over his lips. “Where do I start?” She looked over the food. It all looked so good. She took a pancake, waffle, several pieces of bacon and sausage. That would be a good start.
“What would you like to do today?” Sawyer asked as he filled his plate.
Gabby stared at him. “I probably should spend some time with Lindsay.”
“I get that. After breakfast, give her a call or a text and see what she’d like to do today. I’m game for anything.”
Gabby tilted her head. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I know I don’t. I want to.”
She shook her head.
“What?” he asked.
“You’re too good to be true.” She returned to her breakfast.
“What do you mean?” he asked after a few minutes.
“I mean…” Gabby waved her fork in the air. “Making yesterday so special. That must have cost a fortune and was more than enough.”
“Still doesn’t answer my question.”
She nibbled at a piece of bacon, trying to think of how to say what was in her mind. “Don’t take this the wrong way. You’re a great guy. Any woman would be happy to have your attention.”
“But you don’t.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Why was this so hard for her? Maybe because she never liked talking about money. “Sawyer, I told you about how I grew up.”
He nodded.
“I’ve always been careful about money, only buying what is necessary with occasional treats. The money you spent yesterday is probably more than I spend in a several years on fun stuff.”
“Can you tell me why it bothers you so much that I spent money on you?”
She shook her head.
“Gabby, I want to understand. I asked you if I could show you Seattle, and you agreed.”
“I did, but I didn’t expect—” She waved her hands in the air. “Everything. I’ve thought about it. Dinner alone had to be at least five hundred dollars. That’s a fortune.”
Why did he look away every time she said that word? Sawyer pushed his half-eaten food away. “Maybe, but I wanted to do it.”
“I know, and I’m grateful.”
“I didn’t do it for gratitude or even to get you to spend the night with me. I did it because I wanted to. Because I like you and wanted to spend time with you. Besides, you deserve some pampering.” Sawyer stood up and began pacing in front of the window.
“I’m not sure why you think that.”
He faced her. His body tense and his eyes flaming. “What did that ex-husband of yours tell you?”
Gabby squirmed and pushed her chair back.
Sawyer walked over to her, turned her chair to the side, and knelt down in front of her. His hands took hers. “Sweetheart, tell me.”
She could barely breathe. Sawyer did that to her. Took her breath away. Here was this powerful man, kneeling in front of her, trying to understand her feelings around money. “My ex encouraged me to become an executive chef.”
“But?”
Might as well get it out. “He spent the money I earned as fast as I earned it.” Sawyer cursed, and her shoulders relaxed. “Part of me knew what he was doing, so I started keeping money back, but I should have stopped it.”
“Dare I ask what he spent it on?”
“Video games and such. New TVs, new gaming systems, things I really didn’t pay attention to like I should have.”
“It took me months to realize our joint checking account barely had a balance when it should have had a very healthy amount.”
“What did you do?” His fingers tightened around his.
“Confronted him. He made all sorts of excuses, and after that, I made sure to put only a small amount in the joint account.”
“You did the right thing.”
“I like to think so. He did try to get into my private account.”
“Ass.”
“Yeah. The bank wouldn’t let him access the account, thank goodness.” When the bank called her all those years ago, her heart had frozen. Luckily, they denied him access, and her money was safe. Of course they had a big fight about it when she got home from work that night. That’s when she told him she wanted a divorce. Gabby blew out a breath. “Believe it or not, we had a pre-nup that kept our assets separate. So, when we divorced, I was able to keep everything that was mine.”
“Thank goodness. Not everyone wants a pre-nup.”
“At the time, I thought it was a bit silly, but later, I was so grateful.” Lindsay was the one who’d suggested it. She had a sixth sense about those things.
“I remember you said your ex dragged his feet in the divorce.”
“Yes.” She tugged at her hands. “If we’re going to talk about it, let’s be a bit more comfortable and get you off your knees.”
Sawyer grinned. “You got it.” He stood, pulled her to her feet, and guided her over to the sofa.
Gabby sagged against the sofa, allowing it to encase her body. “My ex didn’t want to divorce me because he thought he’d continue to get money from me.” There, she said it.
“Alimony?”
“Probably, he figured if he never answered the divorce paperwork or anything else my lawyer sent to him, I’d continue to pay for things.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No. While lawyers are not cheap, I had a really good one. Even the judge was good. Oh, my ex would answer one or two little things to look like he was responding.” Gabby shifted toward Sawyer. “I asked the court to grant me the right not to support a man I was not living with and who was able to work. The judge granted it.”
“How long did that take?”
“Six months after I moved out. Quick for California courts.”
“Last night you were celebrating your divorce. How long did that take?”
“Almost three years.” She sighed. “Like I said, he’d respond just enough to keep the court happy.”
“How did you finally get him to agree?”
“I didn’t. I was lucky. My lawyer found a loophole, and he got me a default judgment for divorce due to my ex’s nonresponse.”
“That was lucky.”
“In a way, it was. I call it a loophole, but there is an actual statute. I don’t fully understand it all, but it’s finally over.”
“I am too. And it does help me understand why you’re sensitive to me spending money.”
“Thank you. It’s hard. Even having Lindsay pick up the bill Friday night made me cringe.”
Sawyer nodded. “So, we’re back to the beginning of this conversation. What would you like to do today?”
“First, I think we need to clear away breakfast and do the dishes.”
“So practical.” He pushed up from the sofa.
“Yes.” Gabby stood. “I’ll text Lindsay and see if she wants to do anything. If she’s fine at home, I might be able to be talked into a movie.”
“Now that will be fun.”
***
Sawyer helped Gabby clear the table, but his mind was elsewhere. She didn’t know he’d partially picked up the tab Friday night. He only charged Lindsay for the food, not the alcohol. And how much he spent yesterday.
He understood better why she worried about him spending money. She had no clue who he really was. Guilt settled like a lead ball in his gut. He wanted to tell her, but feared she’d walk away. Sawyer shook his head. He wasn’t ready for that, and he wondered now if he ever would be.
She was going to walk away anyhow. Gabby had a job back in the Bay Area. She wouldn’t stay in Seattle, even if he wanted her to. Maybe her not staying was a good thing—less worry for him. But a part of him didn’t want her to go back.
Love at first sight didn’t exist, but he wanted to keep her close to him. Last night had been wonderful, and he wanted more nights like that with her. Damn it all, he didn’t know how to make this work. Another first for him. He usually knew how to solve any problem.
“You’re staring at that dish like it’s your mortal enemy,” Gabby said with laughter in her voice.
“Huh?” Sawyer dragged his gaze from the platter on the table. “I was lost in thought.” He picked up the platters and carried them into the kitchen.
“That was obvious.” Gabby began loading the dishwasher.
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I don’t mind.”
Those three little words had Sawyer taking a deep breath. It was obvious to him now he’d been dating the wrong women. Probably because those were the crowds he hung around with when he was in the tech world.
Even with the nightclub, he was still involved with the movers and shakers in Seattle. He thought maybe he’d get away from them, but they still sought him out.
Gabby would easily hold her own with Seattle’s elite, yet she was comfortable putting the dishes in the dishwasher. Women in his past would turn their noses up at such menial tasks. She enjoyed walking around Pike Place Market, exploring the underground of Seattle. Her pure appreciation of the food at the Space Needle. Her moans of pleasure last night. She wasn’t putting on an act. This was the real Gabby. How could he convince her to move to Seattle? Was it even possible? Sawyer wasn’t one to give up easily. He’d feel her out this afternoon. They needed more time to explore their relationship.
“What movie would you like to watch?” he asked once they were back in the living room.
“I love action/adventure, but also really cheesy disaster movies.” She grinned. “Wait. Where’s your TV?”
Sawyer picked up the remote, hit the button, and the TV rose from the white cabinet across the room.
“That’s clever.” She paused for a moment. “And big.”
“It’s only seventy inches.”
“Only.” Gabby giggled. “Men and their toys.”
“I haven’t shown you all my toys yet.”
“Oh?” Gabby snuggled up to him as he found an old disaster movie about earthquakes in California.
“Are you tempting me?” Sawyer slid his arm around her shoulders, enjoying the feel of her body against his. He could get used to this.
“Later. This is my favorite.”
***
Gabby kept her gaze on the TV screen when all she wanted to do was gaze up at Sawyer’s handsome face. This man kept her body humming and her mind happy. Funny how that had happened so quickly.
It hadn’t been easy for her to share her marriage failure, but Sawyer hadn’t judged her or made her feel stupid. He seemed to understand, and that made her like him even more. Heck, who was she kidding, she was already half-way in love with him.
It was too quick. People didn’t fall in love in thirty-six hours. Especially since her divorce was just finalized five days ago. Lindsay would tell her she was being silly. Her marriage had been over for three years.
What was she going to do? He lived in Seattle. She lived in the Bay Area. It’s not like she hadn’t been thinking of moving; she had. While she loved her job, it was beginning to be a grind. With her divorce and the money she’d saved, she’d been thinking about opening her own little bakery/café.
She couldn’t do that in the Bay Area; prices alone would drive her out of business. But could she do it in Seattle? Maybe not the city proper but outside of it? She needed to do more research and figure it all out.
Opening a bakery, any business really, was a risk. Plus, she had no idea of the hoops she might need to jump through. Sawyer might be able to help her there. After all, he managed the nightclub. He’d have some idea of the requirements.
“How long have you managed The Vault?”
Surprise flittered across his face. “Since it opened five years ago.”
“You were in on the ground floor.”
“Yep.”
“Was it difficult to open?”
Sawyer shifted but didn’t move her from where she rested her head right below his shoulder on his chest. “Paperwork galore. Actually, there’s still paperwork galore. Seattle has some very strict rules.”
“I noticed you had five bouncers, one at the VIP door, two at the regular door, and two monitoring the lines.”
“We’ve had some issues with fights in line, so I have the bouncers there especially once we close them. We card everyone coming in.”
“I experienced that.” She had wondered about the requirement.
“This way, we keep minors out.”
“The Vault is twenty-one and over?”
“It was easier since we’re serving alcohol.”
Gabby nodded. She enjoyed being snuggled against Sawyer. It made her feel safe and secure.
“There are always inspections, both for the food and alcohol,” he continued. “They also make sure the building is up to code and in compliance with fire regulations.”
“I hadn’t thought about that.” Maybe she should go to work at an established place first. But she wasn’t sure that’s what she wanted.
“Why the questions?”
She bit her lip. Would he think her idea crazy? “I was curious.” This wasn’t the time or place to discuss her plans in detail. She tried to concentrate on the movie but couldn’t. Now that the idea had taken root, she wanted to explore it more.
Lindsay would be a great person to bounce this all off of. Her friend had lived here long enough to know which areas would be good and which wouldn’t. How large a place would she need? How much staff? Her mind was running away with thoughts and plans.
“Are you okay?” Sawyer asked.
Gabby blinked. “Fine. Why?”
“The movie is over, and you haven’t moved.”
“Oops.” Her cheeks heated. “I was a little lost in thought.”
“What else would you like to do?”
As much as Gabby wanted to stay and snuggle with Sawyer, she couldn’t. “I really should get back to Lindsay’s place.”
“I see.”
Coldness seeped from him making her shiver. “Don’t be upset. I ditched her all day yesterday and part of today.”
“I get it.” He removed his arm, and Gabby sat up.
Gabby was at a loss, so she let her heart speak for her. “I don’t want to leave, Sawyer, but it’s not fair that I flew up here to celebrate with Lindsay, and I’ve left her alone.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “You’re right. Let me put some clothes on, and I’ll get you back to her place.”
“You can go as you are. I don’t mind.”
His gaze heated. “The more clothing between us the better. Trust me.” He walked into the bedroom.
She sighed, knowing he was right. But she really wanted to ignore all her good sense and follow him into his bedroom.
Sawyer came back in jeans and a polo shirt, looking as delicious as he did in sweats and a t-shirt. Her gut tightened. This man had become so important to her in such a short period of time. It scared her.
“Ready?” he asked.
“As I’ll ever be.” She grabbed her purse and reached for her bags, but Sawyer got to them first.
“I’ll carry them for you.”
“Thank you.”
The ride in the elevator was silent, and Gabby hated it. By voicing her need to get back to Lindsay, they’d become strangers. When the elevator doors opened, they were in a garage. She hadn’t even thought about where he might park his vehicle.
With his free hand, Sawyer guided her to a sparkling dark blue SUV. It wasn’t a road yacht; it was a smaller one. This was more what she expected from a nightclub manager. After putting her bags in the back, he held the passenger door open for her.
Gabby climbed in, enjoying the soft leather seats and ample leg room. She buckled her seatbelt as Sawyer got behind the wheel. She wanted to say something to him, but didn’t know what.
He started the engine, and they were on their way. “Do you need directions?”
“No, I remember the way.” He glanced over at her. “Unless you’ve changed your mind?”
She shook her head, not trusting herself to voice her willingness to go back to his apartment. Gabby stared out at the window. Yesterday and last night had been wonderful, even this morning. Now everything felt off to her. Tense and unyielding.
In no time at all, he pulled up in front of Lindsay’s building, parked, and climbed out of the vehicle before she could say a word. Gabby opened her door and slid out as Sawyer grabbed her bags out from the trunk area.
“I can take those.” She held out her hand.
“Not yet.” He snagged her around the waist and pulled her close. “I’m going to miss you.”
Tension seeped out of her body, and she relaxed against him. “Me too.”
He gave a half grin before he lowered his head.
Their lips met, and the kissing dance began. Sawyer backed her up against his vehicle as the kiss went on and on. When he finally pulled back, Gabby stood there, eyes closed, lips slightly parted.
“Goodness.” She wanted nothing more than to say the hell with it and pull him back into her arms for another kiss, but the rational part of her dissented.
“Why don’t you and Lindsay come by the club tonight. I’ll keep a table open for you.”
“I’ll talk to Lindsay.” And she would. It couldn’t be too late of a night because she did have to fly home tomorrow, but it wouldn’t hurt to see Sawyer one more time.
“Good.” He stepped away. Taking her hand, he led her to the entrance gate into Lindsay’s apartment complex.
Gabby rang the bell. “Hello,” Lindsay’s voice sounded scratchy.
“Hey, Lindsay, it’s me. Let me in.”
“You got it.” The line went dead, and the buzzer for the gate sounded.
Gabby pushed the gate open and turned to Sawyer. “I had a great time.” She took her bags from him.
He nodded. “Tonight.” Sawyer leaned down and pressed a hard kiss against her lips before he turned and went back to his vehicle.
She stepped through the gate and closed it. She stood there watching until the SUV pulled away. Her heart grew heavy as she made her way to Lindsay’s apartment.
Her friend was standing with the door open, her expression a mixture of mischief and anticipation. “Tell me everything.”