Page 10 of One Weekend in Seattle

“I told you I use the service a lot.” His thigh touched hers after he shut the door. “Plus, parking in Seattle is no fun.” He glanced at the driver. “Pike Place Market, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did you sleep well?” he asked as the vehicle pulled away from the apartment building.

“Better than I expected.”

“Oh. Hard to sleep when it’s not your own bed?”

“That was part of it.” She glanced at him and then away. “I was excited about today.”

“I’m glad.” He hid a smile. “I want you to be excited, and I hope you enjoy everything I have planned.”

“What do you have planned?” She faced him once again, her face alight with anticipation.

“First is Pike Place Market, and we’ll spend several hours there.”

“And after that?” Gabby squirmed in her seat.

“You’ll have to wait to find out.”

She frowned at him, before her face lit up. “Is that the baseball and football fields.”

Sawyer glanced out the window. “Yes, it is.” They were making good time. Thankfully, it was early enough on a Saturday there wasn’t a lot of traffic.

The driver avoided the tunnel and took the surface streets. Gabby continued to look out the window. They passed the building he lived in, but he didn’t point it out.

“Your club is down that street, right?”

“Yes.”

“You’re so close to Pike Place. You must go there a lot.”

“Believe it or not, I don’t.”

“Too touristy?”

“Sometimes, but for you, I’m willing to risk it.” He’d risk a lot more than that for her. That thought floored him. Somehow, in the last twelve or so hours, Gabby had captured a part of him that made him want to do things he wouldn’t do with others.

“You’re so sweet.”

The driver chuckled, and Sawyer’s eyebrows rose as he caught the driver’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “Ma’am, he’s anything but sweet.” The man grinned in the mirror. “Sorry, sir.”

Sawyer shook his head. “He isn’t wrong.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Gabby waved away Sawyer’s remark. “I think you’re sweet.”

The driver turned onto Pike Place Road and found an empty spot. “I’ll pick you up at Virgina and Western at two.”

“Perfect. Thank you.” Sawyer climbed out and helped Gabby out. He glanced at his watch. “We need to hurry.” He took her hand, and they walked across the street.

He stopped outside of a café and smiled at the person waiting there. “Are you the York party?” the man asked.

“Yes, that’s us.”

“Great.” The young man smiled. “Go inside and order a coffee, if you’d like; they’ll start handing out samples and give their talk.” He held the door open, and they walked inside.

“Café and chocolate?” Gabby gazed up at him with a wide smile.

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