Secret Gifts (Steamy Version) (13 page)

"But she read the papers," Megan guessed.

"How could she not?" He looked down. "I can't imagine how she felt when she read about me with all those women—some of it was even true," he added. "But it didn't matter what parts were true. She was humiliated and heartbroken, and it was my fault."

Megan stayed quiet. There was nothing she could say to that.

"Lana tried calling me, but I never returned her calls. I told myself that it was best for her, that I was doing her a favor by ending it the way I did." Megan raised an eyebrow, and he added, "I know. I was a total jerk. But it gets worse."

"My manager, Lucas, had been encouraging me for months to make it known publicly that I was single. I'd never said anything about Lana, but I'd also never said I was single. He thought it would help my image if I started dating one of my co-stars. It didn't seem to matter that we were friends, and nothing more. But, I was dumb and I went along with it. So it was at the premiere for
Extinction
that Jennie and I showed up arm in arm."

"I remember that," Megan said. "It was big news in the industry."

"It was. It was also big news for Lana. When she saw the report on
TMZ
, she lost it. Hannah was with her and said Lana was totally out of control. She drank everything she could get her hands on and then before anyone could stop her, she got in her car."

Megan brought her hands up to her face, trying in vain to cover her horror. "No."

Gage nodded, and dropped his eyes. "My sister was in the car, too. She'd tried to take Lana's keys away but couldn't. I guess she thought it would be better if she was with her. Thank God, Hannah was okay."

"And Lana?" Megan was afraid to ask.

Gage shook his head. A single tear streaked down his cheek.

"Oh, Gage. I'm so sorry." She reached out and wiped his tear with her thumb. "It's not your fault."

He grabbed her wrist, stopping her. "But it is." The intensity in his eyes chilled her. "That's the whole point. Lana never drank, and she certainly didn't drive drunk. She did it because of me. Because I was too big of an asshole to show her the respect she deserved. She's dead because of me."

"And that's why you haven't been home in two years?"

He nodded.

"Gage," Megan started. "No one blames you."

"Hannah does," he said. "She hates me. Lana was her best friend, and she had to sit by and watch as I destroyed her."

"But you're not that guy anymore," she said, and she meant it. The Gage she'd come to know was nothing like the hard partier from the media. The Gage she knew was funny and kind, and loved the outdoors. He would never intentionally hurt anyone.

"It doesn't matter, Megan."

She grabbed his arms and forced him to look at her. "It does," she said, putting as much force into her voice as she could. "It absolutely matters." She leaned over and kissed him tenderly. Just enough to let him know she cared.

"Aren't you afraid of a scandal?" he said. There was a hint of humor in his voice, but Megan shook her head seriously.

"No," she said. "This is life, and I meant it when I said it wasn't your fault. Besides, if the press was going to hear about it, they would have already."

Gage nodded and pulled her in for another kiss.

A cough behind them startled them apart and Megan turned to see Ryan watching them.

"Well, isn't this cozy," he said, with a smirk.

Gage pushed his chair back and stood, facing the man who'd interrupted them. He'd pulled away from Megan, but it felt important to retain some contact, and he didn't care who saw. "Can I help you, man?" Gage said. He knew he looked intimidating and he squared his shoulders back, facing the man head on. "This is a private conversation."

"Oh, I see that," the man said. "But I have some business with Megan."

Gage looked down at Megan.

"I work with Ryan," she said. "Gage, this is Ryan Grace." She waved her hand. "Ryan, obviously, this is Gage Mitchell."

He could tell there was more to their relationship than Megan was saying; in fact, from the way Ryan was staring at him—like he wanted to choke him with his bare hands—Gage could guess exactly what the nature of their relationship was.

"I have some work-related issues to discuss with Megan," Ryan said. He spoke to Gage but his gaze was aimed directly at Megan. "It's important."

"I'll come and find you right away, Ryan," Megan said. She got up from her chair and stood next to Gage. "I just need to finish up here."

"Oh, I think you're finished," Ryan said.

Gage bristled. "Excuse me?" He hated to use his celebrity status, but some situations called for it. "You do realize that you work for me, right, Ryan Grace?"

"Gage." Megan put a hand on his arm, no doubt meant to calm him, but the man deserved to be taken down a few pegs.

"It's fine, Megan." Ryan smoothed his palms down the front of his pants. "He has a point. The Grace Agency has been hired by Gage Mitchell and his manager, although by the looks of it, I'm not sure we've managed to do our job very well." He raised an eyebrow and Gage had the sudden urge to punch the smirk right off his face. There was something about the man that made his fists curl.

“I think Megan’s done a fine job,” Gage said.

“You would,” Ryan said, and if Megan hadn’t had a hand on his arm, Gage would have punched the jerk.

Megan stepped between the men. “I’ll come talk to you right away, Ryan. I was just filling Gage in on some of the details. I won’t be long.”

Ryan gave her a look that made it quite clear he didn’t believe her, but he said, “I’ll leave you two alone. I actually need to speak to my mother about a few things, anyway. It seems that maybe you haven't done such a good job keeping Mr. Mitchell here out of trouble."

Gage felt Megan stiffen next to him. “Ryan, I need to explain—“

“No, Megan,” Ryan said. He glanced between the two of them. “I don’t think you need to explain anything. I got it.”

Ryan left the room and Gage turned and took Megan by the arms. “What was that all about?”

“He’s the boss’ son,” Megan said.

“And?” He knew there was more to it.

“Ryan and I used to date.”

Gage felt a burn of jealousy in his gut. But he wasn’t surprised at the news. “You dated? Like, once or twice?” It was suddenly very important to know the details.

“Three years.”

“Three years.” The burn grew hotter. “And, why do I get the feeling the breakup was recent?” Gage turned away, trying to compose himself. He didn’t need her to see how affected he was by her news.

“Gage, I—“

“You don’t owe me an explanation,” he said, although it was the one thing he wanted most.

Megan put her hand on his arm, forcing him to turn around. “Maybe I don’t,” she said. “But I want to.”

He waited, listening.

“I ended it,” she said. “He wanted to get married and settle down, but there was something missing.”

He had the crazy urge to ask her if there was anything missing between them, but he knew it was ludicrous to even suggest such a thing.

“He’s angry with me,” Megan continued. “And I think he’s the one who called your family.”

Gage's dislike of the man grew and his fist itched to see him again so he could show him exactly what he thought of him. But no. As soon as the thought popped into his head, he pushed it out. He wasn't a fighter, and it wouldn't serve any purpose. "I don't understand," he said. "How would he know about my family? No one knows." As he said the words, the realization hit. He looked at Megan. "You knew. You heard me on the phone." He shook his head. "But you said you didn't tell him anything. Megan, you promised me."

"All I said was that you'd talked to her. He was pushing me about you." She grabbed his face and forced him to look at her. "He didn't believe I could keep you out of trouble. All I said was that you'd talked to your sister. I had no idea he'd bring them here and I had no idea what the history was with you. There was no way I could know.”

His first instinct was to be angry, but he was done being angry with Megan. She was the only one who knew about Lana and didn’t judge him. Not that a lot of people knew about Lana. Except…

“Dammit,” Gage said. “Do you think he heard us talking?” He looked from side to side, hoping to see…what, he didn’t know. “Of course he heard, and now he knows about Lana.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “But he won’t say anything, right? I mean, that’s exactly the type of scandal that would cost me
Tumbleweed
.”

Megan looked down, not meeting his eyes.

“He won’t say anything, right, Megan?” Gage tilted her face up to face him, and the only answer he needed was in her eyes. “Dammit.”

“I’m sorry,” Megan said. “I don’t know for sure that he’ll say anything, but he’s angry. I should probably go and talk to him before he can—“

“Gage?”

They both turned to see Lisa standing in the door. Gage tried not to sigh. The day just kept getting better and better with people popping in unexpectedly. “Lisa,” he said. “This isn’t really a good time right now.”

Megan ignored Lisa, focusing instead on gathering up her things, throwing her barely touched lunch into the trash. Gage knew Lisa was a bit of a sore spot with Megan, and the faster he got rid of her, the better.

“That’s what I told the reporter,” Lisa said.

Megan froze, and Gage’s stomach clenched.

“What are you talking about?” he said. “What reporter?”

“There wasn’t any press invited to the party,” Megan said.

“Well, they’re here.” Lisa flipped back her hair and put her hand on her hip. She glared in Megan’s direction.

“What did you say?” Megan demanded.

“I told her I didn’t make it a point to kiss and tell,” Lisa said. She directed her response at Gage, but he didn’t miss the way Megan stiffened and crossed her arms.

“What. Did. You. Say?” Megan asked again through clenched teeth.

Gage cursed himself for his stupidity, and total lack of discretion. “Megan, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about—“

“I told the reporter about our trip to the hot springs,” Lisa said.

Gage froze. “You what?”

“What trip?”

He looked at Megan, but before he could answer her, Lisa said, “Of course, I wasn’t going to tell her about our skinny-dipping, but it just kind of slipped out.”

Megan’s face fell. Her mask of irritation, slipped long enough for a flash of hurt to cross her face.

“Megan, I…” She turned away, so Gage focused on the other woman. “Lisa, why would you say that? What were you thinking?”

“What? It’s the truth.”

Gage heard Megan gasp behind him, and the sound physically hurt him. “It’s not the…” He looked at Lisa, and then turned to Megan. He wanted to, but he couldn’t lie. “It’s not the whole truth,” he said. Megan’s chin quivered, but she bit her bottom lip. “Megan, it’s not.”

“It is the truth, Gage,” Lisa said. She stamped her foot and crossed her arms like a little girl about to have a tantrum. “I am not a liar and you know it.”

He opened his mouth to object, but closed it again when he connected with Megan’s eyes.

“Tell me the truth, Gage,” she said. Her voice was soft, but he could detect the slight shake in it. “Please.”

He nodded. “It’s true.”

Lisa smirked, but Gage wasn’t focusing on her. Instead, his eyes were on Megan, the hurt taking over her beautiful features. “Megan, I–“

“No.” He reached for her, but she shook her head and pushed past him out of the room.

Gage moved to go after her, but Lisa stepped in front of him. “I hear there’s a party tomorrow,” she said. “And you’re going to need a date.”

He looked over her shoulder, trying to see where Megan went. “It’s not going to happen, Lisa. You and I both know nothing happened up there." He glared at her and tried to keep his anger in check. "You had no right to say anything at all to that reporter."

She opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water. Finally settling on her words, she said, "I only told the truth, Gage Mitchell. And if you can't handle it, maybe you need your little babysitter more than you think."

She spun on her heel and stomped out, making her the second woman to leave him in a huff. But only one of them meant anything to him. And Lisa was right about one thing. He did need his babysitter. He needed her in his life and he wasn't going to let anything or anyone ruin it.

Never in his life had he felt the way he felt with Megan, not even with Lana, and he wasn't going to let anything ruin that. He stormed down the main hallway, dodging the massive number of people who'd managed to arrive for the party the next day.

"So much for keeping it small," he muttered to himself.

The second Gage stepped into the main lobby, he realized his mistake. Reporters and media descended upon him before he even had a chance to realize what was happening.

"Gage. Gage," one man called as a recorder was thrust in his face. "Can you tell us about the upcoming premiere? Are you excited? What can we expect from you?”

Gage shook his head, trying to remember some of the media training Lucas had tried to thrust upon him. He forced a smile and nodded, but he couldn't focus on the reporter. He was too busy scanning the crowd. Had Megan come into this chaos, or had she retreated to her room? Damn, he thought. He had no idea where she was staying since she'd moved out of his suite.

"Gage," another reporter called out. He vaguely recognized this one. She worked for one of the trashy tabloid magazines and she always twisted whatever he said. "Who will you be taking to the party tomorrow? There's rumors that you've been spending an awful lot of time with a blond who works here. Can you confirm or deny those rumors?" Another recorder was pushed in front of his face.

There was no way he was answering that question. Not even with a “no comment” and a smile the way he would have in the past. He didn't want to answer any of their questions, he just wanted to find Megan.

"Excuse me," Gage said. He tried to gently push through the crowd, but there was no give. "I really have something important I need to get to. I'll answer all your questions later." Maybe if he agreed to play their game, they'd cooperate with him.