Part 10 (2/2)

”I'm serious. She was so mad last night when you left.”

”Well, that wasn't my intention.”

”Really?” Gates lifted an eyebrow at her. ”So, what was your intention?”

”What?” She sputtered, trying to keep a straight face before finally succ.u.mbing to the thoughts of Allie pleading with Gates not to go to lunch with Sloane. ”Okay, so maybe I did want to make her mad, but she was getting on my nerves. I'm sorry you had to hear her whining about us having lunch together though.”

”It's no big deal. I let her know that the last time I checked I was still a free man and I could go to lunch and see whomever I choose. I've told her over and over I don't want a relations.h.i.+p with her but it doesn't seem to register.” He laughed, watching her intently as they sat on a bench, people watching. ”Sweet girl, but terribly misguided.”

”I still can't believe you said that to her.” Sloane wiped tears from her eyes listening to Gates tell her about Allie breaking down in tears at the thought of him spending any time with her. It was bizarre how the woman melted from confident to insecure in a matter of seconds.

”I really thought she was going to hyperventilate. Didn't know if I'd need to find someone with an inhaler or what.”

”I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh, but the way she acted last night...” Sloane trailed off. She loved the smile plastered on Gates' face. It was nice to see him relax for a change and it reminded her of happier times between them.

”But what?” Gates pressed Sloane to finish her thought.

”Uh, nothing.” She caught herself and thought better of telling him how she really felt. That she hated seeing Allie all snuggled up to him. She stood from her spot on the bench and started to walk towards the bridge they crossed earlier.

”Come on, no secrets.” She could hear him walk up behind her.

”Really, it's nothing. I know she's always wanted you, so I figured you two were closer than just friends.” She inwardly cringed at his request for no secrets. She'd been trying to figure out the best way to tell him about Brayden, but it wasn't easy finding a way to segue it into the conversation.

”You thought I wanted Allie?”

She shrugged and glanced up at him before looking at her hands and their usual nervous motions.

”Well, yeah. She was always around and I've seen you with her in pictures, so...”

”Sloane. I've never been interested in Allie. If anything, I've had to deal with her because my father set up a business deal before he died with her father. It pretty much put me in charge of all of his real estate holdings. I've been handling all of that for Allie since her father pa.s.sed away recently.”

”What?” Sloane was dumbfounded at Gates admission. How could she have been so wrong about the relations.h.i.+p, or actual non-existence of a relations.h.i.+p, between Gates and Allie? ”I thought...”

”You thought what?”

”Uh, nothing. Anyway, I'm glad we had the chance to do lunch.” She quickly deflected, trying to recover.

”Me too. It was nice being able to talk to you and hang out. Kinda like old times.”

”Yes it is.”

”I should probably get you back. I don't want you to keep secrets from Chase about us having lunch and walking through the park together. Secrets in a relations.h.i.+p don't make for a good mix.” He recounted, and she could feel her heart lodge itself between her ribs and stop. If he only knew the enormous secret she'd been keeping from him.

”Chase is fine. However, I didn't realize we'd been gone this long. I'm sure you probably need to get back too. Gelly will think I've kidnapped you for sure.” She rambled, trying her best to change the subject and get the attention off of her.

”I think you tend to forget I own the place.” He said, extending his hand to her as they started across the bridge.

”Yeah, right, you do, don't you?” She quipped, remembering how he'd told her the same thing when they were together.

”So, what time is your flight tomorrow? Not that I want to see you leave so soon.”

”At eight.” Sloane glanced at him and noticed he looked as relaxed as the day they'd spent in Charleston. It was like all of the animosity and hurt had faded and they were able to talk like old friends again.

”I'm pretty sure your little one will be glad to see you; and you're probably missing him too.”

Feeling her heart finally start beating again, she felt a little caught off guard with his mention of Brayden. ”Yes. I am ready to get back to him.” As they walked, she noticed he never let go of her hand and she figured maybe this was as good of a time as any to come clean. ”Gates?” They were getting along so well and maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't be too mad at her.

”Yes.” She only saw sincerity in his eyes, when she abruptly turned to face him. It was that look she'd missed for so long and she knew she owed him the truth.

”I wanted to-” Just then she heard his phone ring and he reached in his pocket and looked at the screen.

He hesitated then looked over at her. ”Uh, sorry, it's Evan.”

”Oh, no, go ahead. Answer it.”

”You sure? I can-”

”Yeah. I'm sure if Evan's calling, it's important.” She shrugged, urging him to answer the phone.

Taking a deep breath, he hit the answer b.u.t.ton. ”Hey.”

She listened to him talk into the receiver and could tell it must be an important call because he turned and walked a few steps away and she could see the tension return to his face as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

”Are you sure?” Sloane grimaced when he turned back to look at her before she moved to get into the car. ”I'm on my way back now.”

She watched him through the rear window continue his animated call with Evan. She could tell from his body language things weren't quite going the way he wanted them to. He finally took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair as he hung up the phone and joined her in the car.

”Sorry about that.”

”It's okay. I know you're busy.” She looked down at her hands in her lap, thinking about how close she'd come to spilling her guts. Maybe it was better this way. Something was always going to come up. Something more important than her or Brayden.

”So what were you saying?”

”Oh it was nothing. I wanted to say thanks for lunch and I'm glad we got a chance to talk, that's all.” She knew she was lying and should've gone ahead and taken the opportunity to tell him the truth, but seeing how his business always seemed to take precedence over everything only drove home her point that he was way too busy for a child in his life. As the driver pulled the car in front of her hotel, Gates reached out to touch Sloane's arm as she started to exit the car. Turning back towards him, she waited for him to say something.

”Sloane, I know things between us haven't always been the best, especially this past year. And I know you're engaged to Chase and believe me I would never do anything to disrespect the relations.h.i.+p you have with him, but I don't want to lose you...I mean, contact with you again. Do you think it's possible we could at least stay in touch?”

”I, I don't know Gates. I mean, you're right. Things are different for us now. I don't think that'd be a good idea.” She'd realized once they'd left the park that she couldn't change things between them and she was going to have to live with the decisions she'd made. G.o.d, please forgive me for this. She opened the door and stepped out of the car. If I can make it to the door, I won't look back. I'll just keep going and he won't ever know. I know it's wrong, but...

”Sloane?” She stopped in her tracks hearing him call her name and she turned to watch him exit the car. She looked in his eyes and felt her resolve melting.

”Look, I know I have no right to ask you to keep in touch after everything. So...here.” He walked closer and took her hand in his and placed a small black box in her palm. ”I want you to have this.”

”What is it?” She looked up to see his eyes trained on hers.

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