A Secret to Keep by Railyn Stone Read Free Book Online Page A

there? I can come back if you need me.” Gates shook his head as he listened to Evan. His friend never ceased to amaze him. Evan was dedicated, but what was most touching to Gates was the fact he was so dedicated to him.
    “I’ll be here a couple of days. I want to talk with Tom from D&S and I guess I’ll be nice and give Sloane and Liyah a chance to present their proposal.” Gates plotted as he stared out of the window. He still couldn’t think straight. Since he’d run into Sloane in Antony’s office, he was having the hardest time concentrating on anything. Thoughts of her consumed every waking moment of his life. Her soft skin and the inimitable scent of her perfume and the way it threw his insides into a tizzy. It was enough to drive him insane and he wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to go through with any of this.
    “Gates, you’re taking this too far, you know that, right? You sure you don’t need me?” Gates heard the concern in Evan’s voice and he was thankful for having a friend like him. Evan had always been there for him through every good and bad decision he made and Gates trusted him more than anyone.
    “Stay at home with your wife, Evan. I know what I’m doing.”
    “Do you? Gates, I really feel like I need to be there to run interference between you and Sloane. Dammit, she’s not the same girl she was a year ago.”
    Gates scowled at the frustration he heard in Evan’s voice. He knew his friend knew him well enough by now to know he wouldn’t back down from a challenge, nor was he going to walk away from the opportunity to get under Sloane’s skin. “Well, I guess we’ve both changed then, because I’m not the same man I was then either.”
    “Look if you need me, I’m on the next flight.”
    “I know. Thanks. Tell Kelsie I said hello.”
     
    ###
     
    Against her better judgment, Sloane decided to give Gates another call. She was a little worried when he decided to postpone their scheduled meeting for the week. Plus, the torture she received from Liyah day in and day out about hanging up on him had her more than a little bit nervous. She knew he was being difficult and only delayed their meeting because she’d hung up on him, but she was determined to do what it took to make sure the hospital was built. Taking a deep breath, she waited for him to answer.
    “Gates McCall.”
    Her body automatically went into shiver mode as his voice resonated through the receiver. Yep, there go the chills again. She could feel the tiny hairs on her arms stand at attention and she swallowed hard to remove the cotton from her mouth. How can his voice still throw my heart into arrhythmia? “Gates, I really need to talk to you about the other day.”
    “Meet me at Elijah’s at seven.” His quick retort caught her off guard and she paused for a moment to comprehend his reply.
    “What? You’re in town?”
    “Yes. You heard me. Meet me at Elijah’s. It’s on Ann Street.”
    She regained her composure and frowned at his abruptness. “I know where it is. I do live here you know.”
    “Good. Then you shouldn’t be late. I’ll see you at seven.” Click.
    Pulling the receiver from her ear, Sloane looked at it in disbelief. Did he just hang up on me? Who was he to bark out orders to her? The nerve of this man, she seethed. Gingerly hanging the phone on its base, she sat back in her chair and shook her fists in the air. “Ooooooh, he makes me sick.” Picking up the stress ball on her desk, she flung it across the room. It barely missed Liyah as she opened the door and ducked as the small pink pig sailed over her head.
    “¿Qué diablos?” Startled by the UFO, Liyah looked from Sloane over to where the innocent little pink pig came to rest on its side.
    “Oh Liyah I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to-” Sloane pressed her hands to her mouth and her eyes widened as she watched her friend stoop to pick up the stress ball.
    “It’s fine. But are you okay?” Liyah asked as she shut the door