Free Millionaire in a Stetson by Barbara Dunlop Page B

a conventional mother.”
    “How so?” Sawyer struggled to contain his eagerness. This was exactly the kind of conversation he’d been hoping to have.
    The bartender banged something beside them, causing Niki to still. Sawyer held his breath.
    But then the man moved on, obviously packing up the liquor.
    “She was an orphan,” said Niki. “Her parents died in a car accident when she was eleven.”
    Sawyer hadn’t known that. Interesting that it wasn’t something he’d come across in his research.
    “She was in and out of a few foster homes. She ran away from the last one when she was fifteen, taking care of herself after that. She called it ‘living by her wits.’ Sometimes it meant sleeping with wealthy men. Not that they paid her for sex.”
    “I didn’t assume—”
    “They usually gave her a place to stay. You know, downtown apartments while their families lived in the suburbs. Things like that. They bought her gifts, gave her advice. She told me she listened carefully to everything they said, overheard hundreds of telephone conversations, and eventually discovered the stock market.”
    Sawyer found himself grudgingly admiring Gabriella.
    “She studied hard and learned how to put the pieces together. Eventually, she had enough money to take care of herself. But she still kept up the affairs. I think she felt safer with men who could never claim her as their own.”
    Niki fell to silence. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.”
    Neither did Sawyer. He was shocked at her openness. Not that she’d revealed her mother’s name. And she did assume he thought she was from Boston.
    “Oh, I remember,” said Niki. “I had an unconventional childhood. That was my point. Ga— My mother and I were more like sisters or friends. She was only eighteen when she had me, and nobody had ever taught her how to be a mother, so she assumed what she found fun, I would find fun. And once she had money, we played our way from Rio to the South of France.”
    “How did you go to school?”
    Niki laughed. “Off and on. Luckily, I was smart, and I caught up easily.”
    “I’m convinced you’re intelligent,” Sawyer told her honestly. “What happened to the money?”
    “What do you mean?”
    He chose his words carefully. “You’re living with your brothers. I assume that means that money’s gone?” It would also give her a strong motive for blackmailing the people in the diary.
    “The money’s not gone,” she told him softly.
    The storm continued to rumble above them. Aided by their cell phones and the occasional flashlight, people were making their way toward the exit. The bartender had loaded up a cart of supplies and was pushing them away.
    “Yet, you’re here,” Sawyer said to Niki. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness, but she was still a dim outline in front of him.
    “I’m here to meet my brothers.”
    “Are you staying?”
    A soft sigh escaped from her lips, and she rested her hand on his thigh. “Some days, I wish I could.”
    There were so many things he wanted to ask her, so many things he didn’t dare.
    He put his hand on top of hers. “Where are you sleeping tonight?”
    As soon as the words were out, he could have kicked himself. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—I wasn’t asking—I wasn’t making you an offer. Not that I wouldn’t make you an offer.” Sawyer didn’t know what was the matter with him. He didn’t ramble like this. He simply didn’t.
    She hadn’t responded.
    “I’m not trying to flirt,” he assured her. “But it does seem to be some kind of a knee-jerk reaction when it comes to you.”
    Her finger went across his lips. “You should probably stop talking.”
    “Yeah.”
    “I’m sleeping at the Mayor’s mansion. Seth Jacobs is Katrina’s oldest brother.”
    Sawyer barely heard the words. Niki’s index finger was soft and warm across his lips, and it was all he could do not to kiss it, draw it into his mouth, curl his tongue around it.
    His hand