Page 29 of Silver Secrets

Sloane hadn’t said a word since leaving the sub shop. Her mind was caught cycling between complete happiness for her friends, who were so free in their love, and envy, because she could never see herself having that. And then there was what Gage said to Emma, about making their outing into a date. Her heart skipped a beat as she let her mind wander to what a real date with Gage would be like.

“You don’t have to apologize. Emma is just… Emma. And I like that she just says what’s on her mind.”

Gage nodded as they continued their walk towards the benches.

“Would it be so crazy?”

“Would what be?”

“If this were a date.”

“Well, yes. Because it isn’t. We were all supposed to be going to the farmer’s market as friends.”

“You’re right, but since it is just the two of us, we could choose to do something together that wasn’t originally planned with the group. Just a you and me type of thing.”

“Are you saying youwantto take me on a date?”

“Is that such a crazy idea?”

She shook her head back and forth. “Not because of you. It’s just… I haven’t been on a date in a very long time.”

“I haven’t either.”

“Shit!” Sloane’s foot slipped off the sidewalk, and she stumbled, trying to right herself before her ass hit the pavement. Embarrassment burned through her body, knowing an entire weekend’s worth of shoppers were likely witnessing her fall flat on her face. But then, she didn’t hit the ground. Instead, something much worse happened.

Gage reached out. His hand wrapped around her arm. And once he had her in his grasp, he pulled her into his body.

She immediately stiffened, willing her mind to stay in the moment. With a deep inhale, she grounded herself in his scent. It was all sandalwood and pine, and it mixed perfectly with the scent of grass and fresh air around them. Scents that reminded her she was safe. It wasn’thim.This was Gage.

“You okay, Red?”

“I need you to let go of me,” she whimpered. He looked down at her confused. “Gage, I need you to let go of me. Please. I’m going to panic if you don’t let go.”

“Shit. I’m so sorry.” Gage let go of her arm and took two steps back, his hands immediately going into his pockets. “I just saw you falling and didn’t want you to get hurt.”

Sloane took another deep breath, letting her eyes drift closed. “I appreciate that. Thank you.”

She forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, finally making their way to a bench near the gazebo in the center of town. They silently set out their lunch in between them, but Sloane had lost most of her appetite.

Her hand rested on the sub for a second before she picked it up, handing it to Gage. He reached out to take it from her, but his hand rested against hers. And he didn’t try to move away.

She jerked back, quickly grabbing a bag of chips to open them.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t… You know you can’t touch me like that.” Gage’s eyebrow’s flew up so fast she thought they might try to escape right off his face.

“Finally ready to tell me why?”

“No.”

“You’re like a toddler sometimes.”

His response had her jaw dropping open. “Excuse me?”

“I used to have to make sure I never phrased something as a question to Mikey, because he would always take the easy way out.”

“That’s not what I’m doing.” She folded her arms across her chest.

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