this to impress Mr. McCall?” If she didn’t know better she would swear Chase sounded a little annoyed at the amount of time she was putting in to ‘re-doing’ her presentation for Gates.
Her fingers froze in mid-sentence and Sloane turned, resting her arm on the back of the chair to look at Chase. “What’re you getting at?”
“I’m just saying, you’ve already gone to dinner with him and now you need me to watch Brayden again tomorrow night. Another date with him, perhaps?” Chase raised an eyebrow and sneered.
“Chase, I told you I don’t have a clue what he’s thinking, especially after dinner the other night. I’m doing this because I promised Liyah I would do everything in my power to make sure this project comes to fruition.”
“You’re working mighty hard to perfect a presentation that’s already perfect. I know you’re passionate about this project, but I think you have some unresolved feelings for this guy.” Reaching over, Chase corralled Brayden who was on his hands and knees and headed towards a paper clip beneath Sloane’s chair. “Am I right?”
“What difference does it make?” Contemplating Chase’s comments, Sloane swiveled around to look at her screen and thought about her latest run in with Gates. He’d been so angry with her and she knew there was no way he could still want her in his life. Regardless of his sudden change of heart, this was a business deal for him, nothing more.
“A lot. You do, don’t you? You want him back?” Chase looked at her then he smiled at the baby bouncing on his lap.
“I don’t see what any of this has to do with that. I’m trying to get this project done and he’s the only obstacle at this point.” Sloane knew even as arrogant as he was, she still had feelings for Gates; but she was trying her best to put them out of her mind.
“Why can’t you answer my question, Sloane?”
“Why can’t you let it go, Chase? You’re starting to sound like a broken record.” She peered over her shoulder at his glib expression.
“Sloane, just answer the question.”
“Yes, okay, maybe I do, but right now…” Pausing, she let out a deep breath before placing her head in her hands. She knew he was right and she hated it when Chase could see through her. He was one of the best friends she’d ever had and he was amazing with Brayden. And if she weren’t still in love with Gates, Chase would make an amazing boyfriend, she was sure. “Things can’t be different between us. It’s too late for that. I figure if we can get this project to go through, then he’ll leave town. Plus after the other night, I can’t tell him about Brayden. He hates me. I won’t subject my baby to that.”
“Look, I’m nowhere near an expert on this. But I hardly doubt Gates hates you. Think about it. Why would he be here throwing a monkey wrench in a project you’re working on? Plus, is it really fair of you to keep Brayden from his dad? If it were me, I’d want to know about my son.”
“I know that you, Aunt Avery and Liyah are all concerned, but my mind is made up. At this point, I really don’t have a choice. Gates has no room in his life for a child. And I don’t want him to treat Brayden like his father treated him. Just pushing him to the side until he finally decides he has a use for him.” Sloane cringed at the thought of how Victor used Gates for his own benefit. When he and Bailey were children, he separated them from their mother and it was only when Gates grew up that Victor decided his own son had value.
“Look, Sloane, I’m not trying to tell you what to do. Really, I’m not. But I think you should be more worried about how to keep this little one from growing up and resenting or hating you for keeping him and his father apart.” Standing, Chase placed Brayden in his bouncer and gathered his things to leave. “Think about it.”
###
“Well, well, well, someone’s pretty special.” Sloane looked up to see a huge bouquet
Her fingers froze in mid-sentence and Sloane turned, resting her arm on the back of the chair to look at Chase. “What’re you getting at?”
“I’m just saying, you’ve already gone to dinner with him and now you need me to watch Brayden again tomorrow night. Another date with him, perhaps?” Chase raised an eyebrow and sneered.
“Chase, I told you I don’t have a clue what he’s thinking, especially after dinner the other night. I’m doing this because I promised Liyah I would do everything in my power to make sure this project comes to fruition.”
“You’re working mighty hard to perfect a presentation that’s already perfect. I know you’re passionate about this project, but I think you have some unresolved feelings for this guy.” Reaching over, Chase corralled Brayden who was on his hands and knees and headed towards a paper clip beneath Sloane’s chair. “Am I right?”
“What difference does it make?” Contemplating Chase’s comments, Sloane swiveled around to look at her screen and thought about her latest run in with Gates. He’d been so angry with her and she knew there was no way he could still want her in his life. Regardless of his sudden change of heart, this was a business deal for him, nothing more.
“A lot. You do, don’t you? You want him back?” Chase looked at her then he smiled at the baby bouncing on his lap.
“I don’t see what any of this has to do with that. I’m trying to get this project done and he’s the only obstacle at this point.” Sloane knew even as arrogant as he was, she still had feelings for Gates; but she was trying her best to put them out of her mind.
“Why can’t you answer my question, Sloane?”
“Why can’t you let it go, Chase? You’re starting to sound like a broken record.” She peered over her shoulder at his glib expression.
“Sloane, just answer the question.”
“Yes, okay, maybe I do, but right now…” Pausing, she let out a deep breath before placing her head in her hands. She knew he was right and she hated it when Chase could see through her. He was one of the best friends she’d ever had and he was amazing with Brayden. And if she weren’t still in love with Gates, Chase would make an amazing boyfriend, she was sure. “Things can’t be different between us. It’s too late for that. I figure if we can get this project to go through, then he’ll leave town. Plus after the other night, I can’t tell him about Brayden. He hates me. I won’t subject my baby to that.”
“Look, I’m nowhere near an expert on this. But I hardly doubt Gates hates you. Think about it. Why would he be here throwing a monkey wrench in a project you’re working on? Plus, is it really fair of you to keep Brayden from his dad? If it were me, I’d want to know about my son.”
“I know that you, Aunt Avery and Liyah are all concerned, but my mind is made up. At this point, I really don’t have a choice. Gates has no room in his life for a child. And I don’t want him to treat Brayden like his father treated him. Just pushing him to the side until he finally decides he has a use for him.” Sloane cringed at the thought of how Victor used Gates for his own benefit. When he and Bailey were children, he separated them from their mother and it was only when Gates grew up that Victor decided his own son had value.
“Look, Sloane, I’m not trying to tell you what to do. Really, I’m not. But I think you should be more worried about how to keep this little one from growing up and resenting or hating you for keeping him and his father apart.” Standing, Chase placed Brayden in his bouncer and gathered his things to leave. “Think about it.”
###
“Well, well, well, someone’s pretty special.” Sloane looked up to see a huge bouquet
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