The Sculptor's Seduction (The Gentlemen's Guild Book 2)

by Dr. Rebecca Sharp

  Sloane glared at her and Ellie just rolled her eyes.

  “Of course, girls talk, Sloane. My point is that you had someone that you desired – that you loved – standing in front of you, willing, and you still resisted her to protect her. Would your dad have done that for your mom? It doesn’t sound like it… What makes you think you wouldn’t be able to resist your desire for someone else, who you don’t care as much about? Think about how many women have tried to sleep with you over the years because of the Guild. Or how many Pierce and Tristan probably tried to push on you that you turned down when you had no one to turn them down for. Would your dad have done that? I don’t know what you see, Sloane, but in you, I see the furthest thing from someone who is unable to control himself. I see someone who is afraid because he’s finally found the one person worth giving up some of that control for.”

  Sloane cleared his throat. “I think you should go. I need… to be alone.”

  The words weren’t said with anger or insult. Instead they were the soft acknowledgment of a man who, for the first time, considered the fact that maybe he wasn’t destined to be like his father, that he was worth loving, and that his love was worth giving. And the magnitude of revelation needed isolation to process.

  “We’re here for you, Sloane. And if you decide to let yourself be worth loving, I know her love will be waiting.” With those final words, he heard her leave his studio, closing the door softly behind her.

  Sloane sat unmoving. Her words sinking in and weighing in on the battle that had been waging in his mind.

  Ellie was right.

  He had denied himself for how many years now. His dad barely made it a week before he was going out to get more. Not only had Sloane denied himself by not looking for that type of relationship, but he’d denied himself all those times Pierce and Tristan had tried to set him up with women, to the point where they’d finally given up; his dad never would have turned down a willing woman.

  He’d even tried to turn Cyn down – not because he was afraid of what he would become, but because he was afraid of what he would do to her. She was the only one though where his restraint had failed him; she was the only one where he finally gave in not because of his need for her – which was immeasurable – but because of her need for him.

  All this time, he’d been afraid of what he could become instead of realizing the man that he was. And the man that he was could never turn into his father. The man that he was loved Cyn too much to ever treat her that way.

  And that was the biggest difference.

  His father never loved his mother no matter how much she loved him. As a kid, he’d assumed that his father had loved his mother but just couldn’t control himself. His greatest realization was now that he knew what love was, he finally grasped that his dad could never have felt that for his mom; because if he loved her even an ounce of the way that Sloane loved Cyn, he never would have done the things that he did.

  This is what Cyn had freed inside of him; only he’d silenced it for so long, that his heart couldn’t find the words to explain exactly what she’d done – but Ellie had found them. As she had spoken to him, his heart pounded to every beat of truth in her thoughts.

  So, for the first time in days, he walked out of the studio and went home. He needed to shave and shower and sleep. And then, he needed to try to win back his woman.

  Cyn set the paintbrush down, inspecting her work. The first coat of the light lilac she had picked out was up on the wall. She smiled as it brightened and illuminated the space even more.

  She’d spent almost every waking minute in her new studio over the past two weeks determined to make all of the necessary changes herself without asking Sloane – or his assistant – for anything else. The first few days they’d cleaned the place from floor to ceiling, removing the layer of dust that had collected since the last renters left.

  She was grateful for the days Ellie had come with her to help – not just for the extra set of hands, but for a female friend to talk to now that Tash had left. They’d talked about Sloane a bit at first, but then moved onto other topics. Having worked in the business consulting world, Ellie talked to her a lot about different things that she could do to really jump start the dance school and get people in and get classes filled. She’d been a little anxious about that part; she knew how to dance, but running a business was a whole different story. Talking with Ellie calmed her fears. It made her feel like she could handle it – and that she had a good support system to go to if she had questions. But mostly, the conversation and the work helped to keep her distracted from her heartache. No matter what she was doing or what they discussed, Sloane was never far from her mind.

  The sun was beginning to set and normally she’d work right through into the night, especially now that the place was really starting to look like how she wanted, but they were having a going-away party for her at the Paradise tonight. Terri had pushed it back after everything that happened with Tash.

  So, she cleaned up her mess, changed into dark jeans and a tight, blue v-neck top and left her space for the weekend. Every time she closed the door behind her, she still felt like it couldn’t be real – that she couldn’t be doing this.

  And as much as she finally felt like she was out of the ‘in-between’, her heart now felt empty without him.

  Chapter 26

  He’d come home on Saturday and collapsed into bed, finally sleeping peacefully for the first time in days; so peacefully, that he’d slept until noon today. When he woke, his first thought was of her and why she wasn’t next to him in bed, wondering if she was up dancing again. Then, he’d remembered with clarity the fog that he’d been in for days and the events – his actions – that had caused it.

  He’d showered and shaved, finally recognizing the man in the mirror again. Now, he just needed a plan. Walking into the kitchen, he saw Cyn’s pointe shoes on the countertop where he’d left them. After calling around, he found a cobbler a few blocks over. The man cleaned and patched them up as best he could, suggesting that Sloane just get a new pair. But that was out of the question. These represented everything that she’d worked towards, that she’d put her heart and soul into – everything about herself that she should never have cause to question again.

  Then he’d taken them and had them boxed up and wrapped. But, as soon as he got home and set the gift on the table, he was at a loss of what to do next. So, he texted Tristan to see if he was home and if he could stop by. A few minutes later, his friend showed up, a knowing smile on his face.

  “She got to you, didn’t she?” Sloane didn’t have to ask to know that he was referring to Ellie.

  “She’s good…” What else could he say?

  Tristan laughed. “You don’t have to tell me that” and then he clapped him on the back, walking into the apartment. “So, what’s on your mind?” He pulled out one of the counter stools and took a seat. “Oh, before I forget – I got a text from Morgan the other day. They are in London; Ana got them a townhome near Hyde Park. So, they’re settling in.”

  “How’s Tash?”

  “Ok, I guess. I think she and Ana are getting along. I think they are all figuring out how to make it work – or should I say, make it work with Pierce… the crab-ass.”

  Sloane felt a smile creep onto his face as he nodded like he expected nothing less from their friend.

  “He asked how it’s going here – with Sanchez?”

  “Well, the day that Pierce moved Tash over to Morgan’s, I called the manager of her apartment complex – one of my smaller subsidiaries owns the building – and had him call the police. So, they documented the scene and boxed up all the girls’ stuff. I sent private security over to the precinct to pick it up and deliver it to them at Morgan’s and Terri’s; I don’t know how far Sanchez’s reach extends so I wasn’t going to take the chance that he could be paying someone in the police.”

  “Good call.”

  “Other than that, I’ve been having people look into him but he
’s a slippery sonofabitch. So far I haven’t got enough to be able to suggest that he be looked into. I’m trying to use my real estate contacts to find something fishy with all the port-side buildings that he owns, but nothing yet.”

  “Gotcha…” Tristan pursed his lips. “Well, if there is anything that I can do to help, just let me know.” Sloane nodded. “Anyway, back to my original question – what’s on your mind?”

  He sighed, walking over to the windows and staring out at the park below.

  “I fucked up – big time.”

  He heard Tristan chuckle. “Been there, done that, have the t-shirt.”

  “I know. And that’s why I called you. Because somehow you made it up to Ellie. How do I make this right? How do I make up for the things that I said to Cyn and how I treated her?” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Ever since I talked to Ellie, it’s all I want to do, except everything that runs through my mind to say doesn’t seem good enough.”

  He heard Tristan come up behind him, the two of them standing and staring out to the horizon.

  “Nothing you say will be good enough.” Sloane’s head jerked to his friend. “But, that’s where love comes in to make up the difference.”

  What if love wasn’t enough?

  “It will be enough,” Tristan continued as if Sloane had spoken his thoughts out loud. “If Cyn loves you like Ellie tells me that she does. The fact that you are there groveling and begging for her forgiveness… because she loves you, she will forgive you.”

  “I told her that I didn’t love her and that I would pay her for our time together. I saw the look in her eyes, Tris. I purposely made her feel like she was nothing more than a whore and that I could easily put a price on everything that happened between us.”

  Tristan remained silent for a moment and Sloane knew that he was processing just how much of an ass he had been.

  “Sloane, remember the week I basically tried to drown myself in alcohol on that couch over there? I still don’t remember much, but I know that I told you everything that happened with Ellie, everything that I said to her.”

  “Yeah…”

  “Then you know that I basically told her that everything that happened between us meant nothing to me; that not only did it mean nothing, but that I was only using her to get revenge on her father – that I only wanted her to love me so that I could break her heart. Oh, and I told her all of that while she lay in a hospital bed, thinking that her cancer had returned.” Tristan exhaled as though he still couldn’t believe his actions – and that was how Sloane felt right now about what he had done to Cyn. “I’m not saying that what you did isn’t fucked up or isn’t as or more fucked up than what I did, but I do know that for Ellie, that was the worst possible thing she could have heard at the worst possible time, and yet, she still somehow forgave me.” He paused again. “No, not somehow… She forgave me because she loves me.”

  He processed what Tristan had said. It was true, his friend had treated Ellie like garbage because he was afraid to lose her and they still made it through. He had treated Cyn like shit because he was afraid of hurting her even worse, but if she loved him like she said that she did, maybe it would be enough to forgive him.

  “I just don’t want to hurt her…”

  “If you let fear – fear of hurting her, fear of losing her – run your life, you will. So, stop worrying about controlling yourself and worry about restraining that fear because it’s doing nothing for you or for your life.”

  “What do I say to her?”

  “The truth.”

  The words hung between them for a few minutes as they continued to watch the meanderings of the tiny people below.

  “I think you know what you have to do… to get her back. I don’t think you called me down here to tell you what to say. I’ve known you for a long time, Sloane, so I’ll tell you what you did really call me down here for.” Tristan turned to face him. “You’re not your father and you’re not going to hurt her. So, stop punishing yourself and go get your girl.”

  He clapped him on the back again and made for the door, leaving Sloane alone with his hope in what Tristan had said – that love would be enough.

  He walked into the kitchen to make himself a protein shake. The blender finished running, quieting to reveal a loud knocking on his door. Walking quickly over to it, he wondered who the hell could be on the other side.

  “Sloane.” Mr. GQ stood in the hallway. Sloane scowled at him; regardless of what he’d done for Tash, all Sloane remembered was that he was the center of Cyn’s attention that night at the Paradise regardless of whether or not he was gay. “Can I come in?”

  No. “Sure.”

  “I’m sorry to show up like this.” GQ ran his hand over his mouth. He almost looked as bad as Sloane had a day or two ago. “I need to talk to you about Tash.”

  What the hell. Sloane’s eye narrowed on the man and Sebastian caught his skeptical gaze.

  “What about her?”

  “Shit… How do I start this… I don’t know what you know about me – aside from the fact that I was on the receiving end of Cyn’s dance at the club and that I stayed with Tash the night before you guys whisked her away.”

  “Yeah, that’s about it,” Sloane interjected curtly.

  “Right. Ok, guess I’ll start by apologizing for that. I just did what I was asked, Sloane. I’m not attracted to Cyn; I’m just attractive so they asked if I would do the ad. Plus, Cyn and I are friends.”

  Sloane nodded. “I know. And your gay. It’s fine.”

  Sebastian laughed and Sloane had a feeling that he was about to be in for a story that he’d have a hard time believing.

  “Well… about that…” What the fuck. “I’m not gay. Cam is my partner, but not in that way. I’m not a model/businessman; we are undercover FBI agents.”

  He stared at the man. Was this for real right now? Sloane knew he was lacking sleep, but could he really be imagining this?

  “I’ll give you a minute,” Sebastian said noticing his obvious shock.

  Sloane shook his head. “No, please continue. I’m… intrigued.”

  The spy nodded. “I guess I should say that Cam is more of my handler, but the gay couple cover seemed to work out really well because then no one really bothers us. Anyway, we’ve been investigating the Sanchez drug smuggling operation for a little over three years. Some of our contacts and Julian’s associates frequent the Paradise, although Julian himself has never been there. That is why Cam and I go there every so often – to see who is letting loose and what is being let loose.”

  Sloane pulled out a stool and sat down; this conversation needed to be taken sitting down.

  “I won’t… well, can’t… go into the details. I just need to know where Tash is.”

  “First, is your name really Sebastian?” He was curious.

  GQ’s eyes narrowed. “Yes.”

  He nodded. “Why do you want to know where Tash is?”

  “She told me what happened that night when I stayed with her. She told me how she found the drugs on his boat. I’m sure they are gone by now, but I wanted her to give Cam a full statement and have her put in witness protection until we catch him. Sanchez is dangerous, Sloane. This isn’t the type of thing where you can run and be done with it.”

  “She’ll be safe with Pierce and Morgan.”

  Sebastian shook his head in frustration. “We’ve been getting closer to linking Sanchez to the operation. The problem is that he keeps himself completely separate from almost all of the operations. Tash was the first time I’ve heard of him keeping a stash on his personal property. But more than that, after following this man and ingratiating myself into his circle of acquaintances, I know that he won’t rest until Tash is found; she knows too much.”

  “Sebastian, Tash is in London,” he revealed. Ironically, he didn’t doubt that he could trust the man sitting in front of him even though that same man had just told him that everything everyone knew about him was a lie. “I doubt he�
��s going to go across the ocean to find her.”

  “Sloane, I’m telling you, you don’t know the lengths this man will go to clean up any loose ends than can connect him to this. His operation is too big and too successful to let anything ruin it,” Sebastian said harshly, his frustration rising. “He’s going to find out that she went there. Fuck.”

  “Well, you’ve been monitoring him, you’ll know if he does and then we can come up with plan B,” he said. “It’s not like you were there to give any other options or even let anyone know what… who… you really are.”

  “Yeah because I had to fucking check in with Cam and let him know what had happened. We had to come up with a plan before I could offer anything. This is a huge operation, I can’t make rash decisions that could jeopardize anything.”

  “Why don’t you just call her? I can give you Morgan’s number if you want to ask her more questions.”

  “No,” he replied quickly. “She can’t know who I am – no one can. Hell, I’m not even supposed to be here talking to you right now. I’m already breaking protocol to tell you this; they told me to forget about her – that we would find another way to get Sanchez.” His face appeared completely tortured. “But, I can’t forget about her.” And his tone sounded like there was more than one reason for that. “And I know that Julian won’t either. God, I hope London is far enough away…” The look he gave Sloane said that he didn’t think that it was.

  “So, what do we do?”

  Sebastian let out a short, self-deprecating laugh. “Nothing. I can’t do a fucking thing to help her if he finds out that’s where she is.” He sighed.

  “Well, then it looks like you better figure out a way to connect him to something before he does.” Sebastian glared at him. “If there is anything I can do to help, I’d be happy to. I’ve tried looking into his real estate holdings near the ports, but so far, I haven’t found much. Maybe if I start looking into his personal properties.”