"Deal." Gabriel held her gaze a moment longer before his hands dropped, and he walked away. "Fourth room on your left."
She barely caught her balance, stunned she turned him down and even more that he let her. Her gaze swept hungrily over his body as he strode across the room, away from her.
Breathless, she managed to open the door on the second try and made it into the hallway before sagging against the wall. Her hands shook, and she dropped the keys. Deidre gathered her composure with some difficulty and walked down the hallway, pausing four doors down to her room. Suddenly furious and anxious to leave, she pushed open her door and grabbed her stuff. Gazing at the address on the tag, she drew a deep breath and summoned a portal.
She still felt his hands branding her body. The look he'd given her after she told him she was leaving made more sense. He was jealous. But how could he be jealous, agree to send her away and make out with another woman?
He made her head hurt, and her body ache.
Deidre emerged into the living room and turned around once completely, not expecting the views of the city from the bank of windows along one wall. The apartment was a sprawling penthouse. The floor plan was open and relaxed, with wooden floors giving warmth to cream furniture.
Nothing about this place looked like it was something Gabriel chose. Did he kill someone here recently and decide it was a nice place to keep?
She shook her head. The bedrooms were on the second floor, the master larger than her old apartment.
If she had limitless money, this was a place she'd pick out. Struck by the thought, she checked the dresser for clothing.
Her size. Her style.
This place had been hers. How was that possible, when she recalled living a full life in Indiana before moving to Atlanta? There were tags on most of the clothing, and the styles were from fall. A few months ago.
If the place didn't feel so much like she designed every detail, she'd freak out. As it was, it was almost familiar. She checked the master bath, half-expecting to find bones in the tub. The round tub was luxurious, and her thoughts turned a different direction.
Deidre ran a hot bath. The main difference between the penthouse and its contents and her own life: she'd never been able to afford anything remotely as expensive or nice. The rich cinnamon-vanilla scent of the bath bubbles filled the air, reminding her of the candle she'd bought at the farmers market the day her life went to hell. She sank into the hot water. For the first time in days, the tension in her body loosened.