A Secret to Keep (14 page)

Months later, when his father died, it gave Gates a chance to reevaluate his life. He wanted her back and he’d thought about nothing more than finding Sloane and asking for them to give it another chance. So, when he looked up and saw her standing in the back of the crowd at the funeral, he’d been surprised. His heart had leapt in his chest at seeing her glowing face. She was even more beautiful than the day she’d left him. Her soft skin had an earthy ethereal glow. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of her and was afraid if he looked away she would disappear again. He was ready to pull her into his arms and let her know no matter what, it was okay and they could start over. But when she’d left without saying anything to him, he felt something break inside. He ended up sending her a note expressing nothing but the anger he felt burning in the pit of his stomach. From that day on, he’d done nothing but focus on building his father’s business. He didn’t care anymore about what he wanted, but focused on the things that could help him keep his mind off of the woman that had stolen his heart. In some way, it made him feel better to buy up other companies because he didn’t have to think about his personal life and all he was missing. He hadn’t always been that way, but it was the only thing that worked for him and he started to understand why his father did what he did. It was easier to invest in the tangible rather than the intangible.

Gates knew he still loved Sloane but his pride prevailed and he took his frustrations out on everyone and everything around him, instead of dealing with the pain of losing her. His best friend, Evan, knew better than to believe Gates had gotten over Sloane. He was the reason the two had even met in the first place. It was at a 4
^th
of July party of a friend of Evan’s. Sloane was beautiful then, but Gates was attracted to more than that. She didn’t care who he was and how much money he had. It was the most refreshing thing he’d experienced in his life. Women had a tendency to make absolute fools of themselves because of his money and last name. Evan claimed he was lucky; Gates found it annoying. So when he met Sloane and she treated him like any other guy, he was gone. He knew from the day he laid eyes on her, she was the one he would spend the rest of his life with.

“Gates McCall, I’d like you to meet Sloane Davis.” Shaking hands with the beautiful brunette, Gates instantly knew there was something different about her.

“Nice to meet you.” Evan had told him she was beautiful, but he wasn’t prepared for how stunning she really was. Her thick locks trickled down her back in rivulets and he lost himself in the depths of her deep-set eyes. She was breathtaking and he nearly lost his ability to speak when Evan introduced them.

The two hit it off and ended up talking through most of the night. She was intriguing and probably the easiest to talk to of any woman he’d ever met. He thought it was funny, but she seemed shocked he took such an interest in what she wanted to do with her future. “Why are you having such a hard time believing that I find it interesting you want to go into non-profits?”

“I don’t know, I guess it’s because every time I say it, people look at me like I have two heads or tell me I’ll never make any money in it. What they fail to realize is that it’s not about the money for me. It’s about helping people.”

“I think that’s commendable. There’s nothing wrong with helping people.” He walked with her outside to the patio to find a quieter spot to talk.

“Thanks. You’re the first person to say that.” He couldn’t get enough of the way her eyes twinkled as they continued to chat. The two were deeply engrossed in their conversation and the rest of the people around them seemed to disappear. Even Evan and Liyah made themselves scarce and mingled with others when they noticed the pair only seemed to have eyes for each other. Gates and Sloane talked about everything that night from books to movies, to the girl that was following him at every party he seemed to go to lately.

“Allie’s stalking you?” Sloane grinned, turning to see daggers shooting from the young woman in question’s eyes.

“Not exactly stalking. I met her at a function one of my father’s business associates was having. She’s the daughter of someone he’s doing business with and I ended up being introduced to her. You know, I guess kind of like a modern day ‘arranged’ thing. She’s sweet, but all she talks about is herself…constantly.” He soaked up every bit of Sloane’s melodic laugh as he continued on about the woman. They both commented on the fact she had not taken her eyes off them the entire night. “I’m not interested, but she doesn’t seem to get the hint.” As he finished his explanation, Evan walked up to join the two of them.

“Hey Gates, we should probably get out of here. Gelly’s going to be wondering where we are.” Evan referred to their friend Angelica who was having a party further down the shore. “I’m going to say bye to a couple of people and I’ll meet you at the car.”

“Gelly? That your girlfriend?” Gates could see apprehension in Sloane’s eyes and he was quick to explain who Gelly was.

“Oh, no. We went to school together. Her name is Angelica. We call her Gelly or Gel. She’s having a party and we told her we’d be there. If you want, you’re welcome to join us.” Gates offered, hoping she would accept. He was enjoying his time so much with Sloane; he didn’t want it to end.

“Go with you guys? I don’t know. I’m just in town visiting friends with Liyah and I don’t want to dip out on her.” Sloane turned to scan the crowd for her friend before turning back to Gates.

“Both of you could come. It’s literally right down the beach.” He looked at her with hopeful eyes. He couldn’t remember ever wanting to spend time with someone as much as he did with her at that moment.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Gel’s cool and you guys will love her.”

“Well since you put it that way, let me go find Liyah and see what she says.” He nodded as she disappeared into the crowd to find her friend. As Sloane walked away, Allie seized the opportunity to move in on Gates.

“Gates McCall, have you been ignoring me?” He rolled his eyes at the sound of her voice and the feel of her arm coiling around his.

“Allie, hi.”
Great.
He cringed as the young woman purposely leaned her body against his and smiled seductively. She was so saccharine sweet it made his teeth hurt to listen to her voice and he silently prayed for someone to come and save him. As if his prayers had been heard, Sloane reappeared with Liyah in tow.

“Gates, I can’t leave you alone for a second can I? You ready to go?” She sidled up to his other arm and linked her hand in his while smiling at the other girl.

Releasing the breath he was holding, he leaned over and shrugged. “Sorry Allie, I have to go. I gotta date. See you.” He dislodged himself from her hooks and walked hand in hand with Sloane towards the door. As the two sauntered across the room, Sloane looked back and winked at the shocked young woman.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Gates laughed as they reached the car where Evan stood. “I owe you big time.”

“Yes you do.” Sloane giggled as the four piled into Evan’s SUV and headed to the next party.

As the plane continued to New York, Gates thought about their time together and how that chance meeting was the beginning of a whirlwind romance. He became so enthralled with Sloane he invited her to join him when he traveled to a couple of cities for business. It should have been strange for two people to hit it off like they did from the beginning, but it felt so comfortable and right. She hesitated a bit at first. But he was patient and never pressured her for anything more than her time. He didn’t try making any moves on her and they genuinely grew closer during the various trips.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Gates flirted, opening the door and stepping aside for Sloane to enter his penthouse.

“Hi yourself.” She stopped just inside and turned to face him. Closing the door, Gates closed the gap between the two, enveloping her in his embrace. He dipped his head and planted a soft kiss on her lips. He relished the thought of spending two weeks in London with her. Honestly, they hadn’t known each other very long, but it didn’t feel that way. He was so comfortable with her and it seemed like he’d known her as long as he’d known Evan. Out of all of the trips she made with him, this was the biggest. He was leaving New York to spend two weeks in London and once again he’d asked her to come along.

“I’m so glad you agreed to come with me.” Taking her hand in his, he guided her down the few steps into the den.

“How could I turn down a trip to London?”

“It’s just the trip, huh?”

“Hmmm, well, I guess it’s the company too. Your place is beautiful, Gates. I mean if you can call a guy’s house beautiful.” The place was very masculine, but it was nowhere near a bachelor pad. It was so warm and welcoming with the wine, cream and chocolate color scheme. Something his sister had done as a favor to him. He had no talent when it came to decorating anything. If it had been up to him, the house would have had stark white walls and been reminiscent of a hospital.

“Thanks. I didn’t do it, you know. I have the decorating skills of a colorblind lab rat,” he laughed, squeezing her hand. He hadn’t let go of it since she entered the penthouse.

“Well, whoever did it did a great job.” It was so easy to spend time with her and talk about anything. He had never met a woman with such a great personality and they found themselves laughing most of the time they talked, whether in person or on the phone. Since they met, they hadn’t gone more than two or three days without speaking. “I still can’t believe you want me to go with you to London.”

“Why not? I have to be there and we had a good time on the last trip you came with me on, so why wouldn’t I ask you?”

“I don’t know, maybe because you have more important things to focus on besides me?”

“They’re important, but not as important as you.” Reaching over, he pushed her hair behind her ear and motioned for her to take a seat on the sofa while he retreated to the kitchen.

“Well, I do thank you for thinking of me.” She called after him.

“So, how was your flight,” he asked, grabbing two bottles of water from the refrigerator and walking back to the den. He opened one of the bottles and handed it to her before opening one for himself. “I would have sent the jet to pick you up, but Gel didn’t get back from her meeting in Denver till late this afternoon.”

“Oh, please. First class was quite enough for me. The flight was fine. I did feel somewhat like royalty when your driver picked me up. That’s never happened to me before. People in baggage claim were looking at me like I was someone special.”

“You are special. Very special to me. I’m sorry I couldn’t pick you up myself, but I got out of my meeting late today and it was more convenient to send a car for you.”

“It’s okay. Like I said, it was kind of nice being treated like a princess.”

“Good. I’m glad you felt special. That’s something I want to talk to you about too.” He moved to sit on the coffee table in front of her and took her water from her hands and sat it down beside him. Taking her hands in his, he looked in her eyes.

“Uh oh, what’s wrong?” She looked at him with curious eyes and his lips quickly curved upwards trying to reassure her that everything was fine.

“Nothing’s wrong. I just have to ask you to promise me something.”

“All right.”

“I want you to feel special. I want you to feel important and like a princess; especially anytime you’re with me, but also when you aren’t with me.”

“Okay.” He could tell she was a little puzzled by what he was talking about so he continued with his explanation.

“There’s something I want you to promise me Sloane. I want you to promise me if I decide to do something for you or buy you something, that you’ll let me regardless of how big or small or how expensive it may be.”

“
Gates, I-” She started to refuse his offer and he shook his head before cutting her off with that million-dollar smile.

“Sloane, please? This is something I want to do. It’s not to show you how much money I have or show off or anything like that, it’s just that this is what I want to do, for you.” If he could buy her the entire solar system and hang it in her backyard, he would. There was nothing he didn’t want to do for her.

“Gates, that’s sweet, but you don’t have to do anything like that. I mean, sending me the ticket to come to New York and taking me with you to London is overly generous.” She reached out and placed her hand on his cheek and he reveled in the softness of her skin against his face.

“Let me do this, okay. Please?” He desperately wanted her to know how much he cared about her and how he wanted to take care of her. He’d never felt so deeply about anyone. It was a new feeling for him and he was completely enamored with Sloane.

“How can I say no to you when you’re looking at me like that? Okay, but nothing too extravagant all right?”

“Hmm, can’t promise that.” He reached over to the side table, reaching into the drawer and pulled out a small box.

“Gates, what’re you up to?”

“Well, I saw this and I immediately thought of you. Open it.” Handing her the box, he sat back and waited.

“You were going to buy me things regardless of if I said yes or no?” She tilted her head to the side and raised an eyebrow.

“Pretty much,” he winked. “Now open it.”

“You’re kind of demanding aren’t you?” She giggled, turning the small black velvet box in her hands.