Page 2 of One Weekend in Seattle

“No.” Lindsay held up her hand. “It’s a small price to pay now that you’re finally divorced from that loser. Besides I’ve been saving for this day.”

Gabby couldn’t argue. It had taken so long to get the divorce because her ex wouldn’t respond to anything. “I have money to help pay.” It wasn’t like she’d spent anything in the last two years except essentials and a divorce lawyer. Not that divorce lawyers were cheap, but Gabby had a job that paid really well.

“No, I’ve got it. How about the beef sliders, fries, and charcuterie board.”

Gabby’s stomach rumbled. “All sounds good.”

“Evening, ladies.” A muscled young man in black pants and a white sleeveless shirt commented. “I’m Brad. What can I start for you tonight?”

“Hi, Brad.” Lindsay had a wide grin on her face. Gabby shook her head. Her friend flirted with everyone. Not that Brad wasn’t good looking. He just wasn’t Gabby’s type.

Lindsay gave their order and asked for water. Brad nodded and left. More people began filling the place. “I still don’t get how we got this amazing booth.”

“Jesse arranged it. This is one of the VIP booths. When you called and told me the divorce was final, I called Jesse. We were lucky. There was a cancellation, and Jesse put us down. This place is constantly at capacity.”

Gabby swallowed. “The line outside?”

“General admission, they open at ten for them. The VIPs have some private time.”

“Interesting.” It was. Gabby had never been to a place like this. “I’ll have to thank Jesse.”

“No big deal. He told me it’s one of the perks of his job.”

Gabby nodded, but wondered if that was true. Not that she attended a lot of nightclubs. Her job as an executive chef didn’tallow a lot of down-time. Fourteen-hour working days didn’t give her too much leisure time.

“Gabby, don’t worry about anything this weekend. I want you to relax and enjoy. You’ve done nothing for the last three years but focus on your job. This is your weekend to let go and rejuvenate.”

“You’re right.” She’d been separated for almost two years and trying to get a divorce for a year. In all that time, she’d done nothing but concentrate on her job. It was time for a change. But tonight wasn’t the time to talk about it. Tonight was about celebrating her freedom.

Brad returned at that moment. He opened the champagne and poured it into two crystal flutes. “I’ll be back with your food soon.”

Lindsay picked up her glass. “To freedom.”

“To freedom.” They clinked the stemware and took a sip. Light bubbles teased her taste buds. White peach and apple notes unfurled, and the sweet citrus flavors lingered. “This is delicious.”

“I knew you’d like it.”

Gabby nodded as she began to relax. This was what she needed: a night out with her best friend. Tonight was for fun.

***

Sawyer York looked down at the crowd. “Looks good tonight,” Eric, his friend and business partner, said.

“It always does on the weekend.” It was ten o’clock, and the club was bustling as the general admission patrons entered. He enjoyed watching the people talking and looking around in awe. The excitement he’d felt when he first opened the club had somehow become tarnished. He’d opened The Vault five years ago after he sold off the technology company he’d created.

The sale made him an instant billionaire. And all the vultures came out of the woodwork. Sawyer shook his head. He was becoming so cynical at thirty-five. Maybe it was time for a new venture.

“Before I forget, Jesse asked if he could take one of the VIP booths tonight, and I said yes. We didn’t have a reservation for it.”

“We didn’t?” That was odd; the VIP booths were usually snapped up.

“The party canceled, and I didn’t see any harm since Jesse said it was for his friend and her friend to celebrate some big event in their lives.”

“Which one?” Sawyer was curious.

“Number one.”

Sawyer’s gaze moved to the booth. From where he stood on the second floor, he could see the two women in the VIP section. One of the women was laughing, her head thrown back, her black hair with red highlights cascading past her bare shoulders. One of the lights flashed on her face. There was a carefree light in her features. He forgot how to breathe as she picked up her champagne flute and clinked her glass to the other woman’s and drank.

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