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“How do you afford this?”
“It’s a perk from the owner of the club.”
Gabby breathed a little easier. In her marriage, she’d seen how money inequity could change a person, and she didn’t want to go through that again.
Sawyer took off his shoes and placed them in the wooden shoe rack. Gabby followed his lead, and he urged her forward into the living room.
The floor to ceiling windows framed the views of the waterfront and the Puget Sound. She automatically moved to them and stared. This place was high enough to have almost an unrestricted view.
“Would you like something to drink?” Sawyer moved across the room. “I have wine, beer, water, soda, coffee, or tea.”
Her nerves danced beneath her skin. “Do you have a Riesling or Moscato?”
“Riesling, it is.” He moved behind the bar.
Gabby tried to calm her nerves. It wasn’t like she hadn’t been with a man before, she had, just not in a while.
“Here you go.” He held out a glass of wine to her.
“Thanks.”
“Come sit down and relax.” He gestured to the light gray sectional.
“What makes you think I’m not relaxed?” She made her way across the room and sat before she stared at him.
“Your muscles are tense.” Sawyer took a seat but left room between their bodies. “Nothing will happen that you don’t want to happen. I promise.”
She released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “It’s been a while for me.”
“I mean what I said, Gabby. The night is in your hands.”
“Okay.” She forced herself to sit back against the sofa cushions. “Tell me more about how your boss gave you this penthouse as a perk.”
***
Sawyer almost grimaced at Gabby’s request. He hated lying to her, and he would stick to the truth as much as he could. “My boss has investment property all around Washington. He likeshaving his employees close and offered it to me.” Partially the truth. He did have a lot of investment property.
“It’s a great place.”
“Where are my manners, do you want a tour?”
“I’m good.” She sipped her wine. “Do you like living here?”
“Yes.” He set his wine down. “The place has everything a person could want.”
“What about companionship?”
“That is something they would have a hard time providing.”
Gabby set her wine glass down and slid closer to him. “Maybe we can do something about that.”
Sawyer slipped his arm around her shoulders, and she rested her head against him. “Are you lonely, Gabby?” He kept his voice soft.
“No…Yes...Probably.” She laughed. “I want to be honest. I haven’t been with a man since my ex.”
He tensed up in shock, and immediately tried to relax so as not to alarm Gabby.
“Shocking, I know,” she said.