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“Gwen and her teah with my afternoon appointments”

He nodded Feeling stupidly relieved Gabi had his back

And because she was there for hiifted a reprieve of a few hours He’d worry about his father—about his life—later

GABRIELLE WAS ALONE in the apartht

Lia to be out of court at three She’d expected hi for him And he hadn’t shown up

She’d started to worry Then to think he’d decided to have a night on the town to get away frorab a beer with someone he’d met in court She just hoped Tanner ith him

In case he’d slipped his bodyguard, she’d started to worry again that so had happened to him So she’d called Just to make sure he was okay And he hadn’t picked up

Because he ith a woman?

He didn’t need her getting all female on him He was a man with a full life of his own He didn’t answer to her

Nor should he

So she’d hung up without leaving a e And paced

Tanner had been pretty insistent that he wouldn’t leave Liaer

She had to face facts He ith a woman She just knew it Beautiful women had always fallen at Liaeous A lot of theh money to make up for any of his father’s losses It was no wonder he’d never been able to settle for just one

It had always been that way, from the time they’d first met There was no reason for her to feelput out She was neither rich nor gorgeous Never had been Never even particularly wanted to be And she’d never, ever wanted to be one of his women