Part 11 (1/2)

”I picked it up for you. The day you left. I knew that day when I left to meet Victor that I hurt you. I seemed to always do that to you and I wanted to show you how sorry I was and how committed I was. I hated what I did to our relations.h.i.+p. At the time, I thought I was doing what was best.”

”You kept this since that day?” She clutched the box turning it over in her hands and seeing him nod.

”Yeah, I guess in some way, I thought maybe you'd come back. But you didn't...and then, well, it started to serve as a reminder that I'd messed up the best thing that had ever happened to me.” Sloane's mouth went drier than a dust storm in the desert as she listened. The best thing that had ever happened to him.

”Gates-”

”Just open it.”

Turning the box over in her hands, she opened the top and gasped at the bracelet and charm lying against white satin. Taking it out of the box, she realized the charm was a tiny silver baby rattle. Looking up at him with puzzled eyes, Sloane waited for Gates' explanation. ”A baby rattle?”

”Yes. The last night we were together we took a walk after dinner. You remember? You were in one of those moods where you 'wanted to feel the wind on your face and know you were alive'.” He grinned at her and she felt the muscles tugging at the corners of her mouth as she thought back to that night and their walk.

”I can't believe you remember that.” She continued to look at the charm bracelet in her hand and admired how beautiful it was as she listened to him.

”I loved how happy you were when you stopped and looked in that jewelry store window. I didn't know what you were stopping for at first, but then I saw you were staring at a platinum baby rattle. And all I could think at that moment was how I wanted a family...with you.”

Sloane looked into Gates' eyes. Her heart beat once, then twice, and for a moment she swore it stopped. For the first time in her life she finally knew what time standing still truly felt like. ”What?” It was like everything she'd ever thought about him was wrong. She believed he didn't want children. That he was only committed to his work. Stunned, she felt like her feet were anch.o.r.ed in the sidewalk and she had no clue how to react.

”Look, I told you I have no illusions about us. I know you're in love with someone else now and you two have a son together. I messed up with you. I put everything before you and if I truly loved you the way you deserved, h.e.l.l, we'd be married and I'd be your son's father.” He paused and Sloane felt instant pain behind her eyes. She blinked quickly to keep the tears that were promising to fall at bay. ”I wanted to let you know I'm happy for you. I wanted to be the one to add charms to that bracelet for you,” he said wistfully and motioned to the bauble she held in her hands. ”But now, you've found someone else who can do that. You found someone who puts you first and someone you could have a family with. You deserve it.” He gently leaned over and kissed her forehead. She looked at him with wide eyes and before she could respond, he stroked her chin with his forefinger, tapped her gently on the tip of her nose and strode back to the awaiting car.

”Gates?” She watched him stop and turn back towards her. Don't do it Sloane. She knew it was dangerous to even entertain the idea of getting close to him again. She was so close to being able to get what she wanted and to live her life with her son and never have to tell his father the truth, but was that really what she wanted? At this point, her head was swimming and the possibility of being close to Gates again was pulling her under. ”I'd like to keep in touch...I mean if you really want.” You fool. What are you doing?

”Great. I'd like that. I'll talk to you soon.” She watched him light up as he disappeared into the car.

Watching it pull away, she sighed before looking at the keepsake in her hand again. ”Great.”

”So, how'd it go?” Liyah had barely given Sloane time to get settled in for the day before she'd walked in her office and plopped down in the chair in front of her.

”Good, but you won't believe who was at the awards banquet.” She reached over and logged into her computer then sat back in her chair.

”Who?”

”Gates. I mean, I should have guessed he would be since he's the developer for the project, but-”

”Whaaaaat?” Liyah sat forward looking at Sloane with a sly grin.

”Yeah. And before you get all giddy, he was with Allie Gentry.” It still made her sick to her stomach to think of Allie wound around Gates like the string on a yo-yo. Even though he'd told her Allie meant nothing to him, it didn't set well with her.

”You're kidding me? When did they start dating? Are you okay?” Sloane watched the grin plastered on Liyah's face slowly fade.

”I'm fine. Really. Gates told me at lunch later that Allie was just a friend. No big deal.”

”Whoa, wait a minute; put the horse before the cart. What're you talking about, Gates told you at lunch? You're leaving a lot out here missy.” Liyah crossed her arms and sat back in the chair.

”Liyah, I am in way over my head.” Sloane started to fill Liyah in about the terrace and the conversation between her and Allie. And how Gates had played right into the confrontation and confirmed their lunch 'date' in front of Allie, making her madder than a rodeo bull.

”Oh wow, to be a fly on the wall. That had to be priceless. I wish I could've seen that hussy's face,” Liyah laughed as Sloane continued with the remaining parts of the lunch date, the charm bracelet and how he'd asked her to keep in touch.

”So? You left it at that? Sloane, what's wrong with you?”

”What else was I supposed to say Liyah?” She watched Liyah stand up and start to pace back and forth in front of her desk.

”Are you kidding me? Sloane, he practically said he still loves you and wants to be with you and you don't jump into his arms? Are you crazy? You could've told him that Brayden was his and he would've probably asked you to marry him on the spot.”

”I panicked. I wasn't expecting him to say he wanted a family with me. Or that Allie was just a friend. All of this, everything I ever thought about Gates is wrong.” Sloane shook her head. It wasn't like she hadn't kicked herself enough while replaying their last conversation, but she had to be realistic about the situation. She'd still kept a secret from Gates. A pretty big one and it wasn't something she could go into lightly.

”You had the perfect opportunity to tell Gates about Brayden and you blew it.”

”Liyah, I froze. I was in shock. What was I supposed to do? I've been kicking myself over this since then, but I don't know, maybe it's for the best. Right after lunch, he got a call he had to take. Business is always going to be first with him.”

”Sloane cut the guy some slack would you? He's the CEO of a multi-million dollar company for crying out loud. He can't just play hooky every day. He has to do what he has to do to run his company. What do you want him to do, never answer his phone?” Liyah stopped her pacing to stare at Sloane.

”No Liyah. I know he has to work. It's just, I know what it's like to look forward to spending time with him only to be cancelled on because something more important comes up. I don't want that to happen to Brayden.”

”Well, you better work up the nerve to tell him, and soon. If he wants to keep in touch with you now, it's only a matter of time before the truth about you and Chase, and also the truth about Brayden, comes out. Then you're going to be in a pickle.”

”I know.” Looking at the angelic face of her little boy in the photo on her desk, Sloane exhaled softly, knowing she was sinking deeper and deeper into the hole she'd dug.

”Why in the h.e.l.l are you in such a good mood lately?” Evan and Gates had finished up a lunch meeting and were on their way back to the office.

”What're you talking about?” He knew exactly what Evan was referring to. It had been a little over a week since Sloane visited New York and Gates had talked to her practically every other day since then. They laughed and chatted with one another and it honestly felt like they'd never been apart.

”You've been in a mood since Sloane was here a few weeks ago.” Evan paused, watching Gates' smile grow bigger and he raised an eyebrow at his best friend. ”If I didn't know any better, I'd swear you were scamming on Chase's woman.”

”Whatever.” Gates chuckled, entering his office, followed by Evan. ”If I recall, she was 'my woman' first, but that's not what's going on.”

”I'm calling it like I see it. You two are keeping in touch aren't you?”

”Look, Sloane and I are friends, nothing more. I respect the fact she's marrying Chase. I haven't done anything out of the way to give her any impression that I'm trying to get her back. I'm merely keeping in touch.” Gates wished he believed the lines he was feeding Evan, but he had to do something to remind himself Sloane did belong to someone else now.

”You can try and snow me if you want to, but I know you, Gates. And even though that's not in your nature to go after someone else's significant other, that's exactly what you're doing,” Evan laughed, walking towards the door. Stopping before he could exit entirely, he leaned back in and added, ”I can't blame you though. She's still as beautiful as ever.” Evan winked before he shut the door.

Blowing out a deep breath, Gates sank back into his chair and swiveled to look out of the window. ”She's definitely that.”

”That picture of you and Brayden is priceless. Did you send one to Avery?” Liyah asked, watching Sloane feed the little monster. He was the cutest thing with big auburn curls on his head and plump cheeks and he was so independent that he was trying his best to grab the spoon each time she put it near his mouth.

”Yeah, I got the reporter to send me a copy so I forwarded it to her and she absolutely loved it.” Sloane giggled, wiping Brayden's hands for the hundredth time. ”You need to stop or we're going to end up with food all over you rather than in you.”

”So, have you talked to Gates?” Liyah reached over and tickled the little boy under his chin and he burst into a fit of giggles.