Chapter 15
Skylar and Haven
Haven took a deep breath when she heard the knock on her door.
It was Skylar. He had called last night to say he had returned and wanted to make sure she was still okay to go out with him Saturday night.
She had assured him she was looking forward to it, and had thanked him for the second delivery of roses she had received that day.
She still had no idea where they would be going on their date.
The only thing he’d told her was to be dressed for a night of dancing.
That excited her because she loved to dance but didn’t get a chance to do it often.
Before opening the door, she paused. She had missed Skylar. Tremendously. How could she feel so strongly about a man she’d just met? They hadn’t even known each other for a week. Yet, something felt right about this. About him.
Over the past couple of days, she had tried to convince herself that they were moving too fast. But now, knowing he was standing on the other side of the door, she was filled with something she hadn’t truly felt since losing Gramma Dora ─ a profound sense of happiness.
Smiling, she opened the door. Skylar stood there, looking as handsome as he had that first night. Without saying a word, she took a step back, and he entered the room, closing the door behind him. Then he pulled her into his arms, and she went into them willingly.
This kiss was different from the others they had shared.
It was hotter. It was as if he was putting everything he felt into this kiss.
As their tongues tangled, she felt a need build up in the pit of her stomach, a need that only he could create.
Her legs started to tremble so badly that she was afraid they wouldn’t hold her.
Sensing her dilemma, he broke off the kiss, swept her into his arms and carried her over to the loveseat, sitting down with her on his lap.
He began whispering words in her ear as he placed kisses along her jawline. Unfortunately, he wasn’t speaking English. “I don’t know what you’re saying, Skylar.”
He lifted his head and smiled down at her. “My apologies. I often lapse into Italian. I was saying how much I’ve missed you, Haven.”
She smiled. “And I missed you, too.”
He returned her smile, and her heart felt as if it was about to explode. At that moment ─ although she didn’t understand it—she realized that she had fallen in love with Skylar.
She could honestly say she had never been in love before. She hadn’t even had a serious boyfriend. Then again, she’d never truly wanted one after seeing how Darrell Edwards had treated her friend Tia Ashford, in high school.
Tia had become pregnant in their senior year, and Darrell, the star player on the football team, chose to accept a college scholarship rather than do the right thing.
Haven could understand them not wanting to marry, but Darrell refused to take any responsibility at all.
He hadn’t even wanted to acknowledge the baby, although everyone in Tifton knew the child was his.
In the end, Darrell left for college and went on to play in the NFL, while Tia raised their son alone, still living in Tifton.
Her friend’s situation had served as a cautionary tale for Haven.
Skylar stood with her in his arms and placed her feet on the floor. “Are you ready for a night of dancing, my golden girl?”
His nickname for her was starting to grow on her. “I can’t wait.”
He scanned her outfit. “I love your dress. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she said, smiling. Since he had indicated a night of dancing, she had gone shopping at one of the property’s boutiques and hoped the dress she’d chosen ─ wine-colored, with short sleeves and a ruffled hem ─ would be appropriate.
He took her hand. “I plan to make this a night you will remember.”
Skylar led Haven through the hotel’s revolving door and to the car where Ricco was standing, waiting.
He was glad she didn’t understand Italian, or else she would have heard his admission of love.
If there had been any doubt in his mind before, it was erased the moment she had opened the door to him.
He had been truthful with her. He had missed her, and more than once, he had been tempted to call. However, closing the Napa Valley deal had required his full concentration. But now he was back, and tonight, she would have all of him.
“Hello, Ricco,” Haven said, giving his chauffeur a huge smile.
“Hello, Miss McGuire. You look nice.”
“Thank you.”
“What about me, Ricco? Don’t I look nice, too?” Skylar asked, grinning.
Ricco rolled his eyes. “You always dress the part, Sky. I expect no less.”
During the car ride, Skylar kept the conversation going, listening to her talk about the conference and the workshops she had taken.
She was fascinated by how the use of advanced technology could make the various stages of research more efficient, from the creation of new drugs to clinical studies and trials.
This week, they focused on developing methods to more effectively diagnose various diseases and enhance patient care.
She also mentioned that people were leaving her alone now.
In fact, they seemed to be avoiding her.
He didn’t think it was necessary to let her know that he had asked Dante to handle the situation.
Through the use of the hotel’s video cameras, it had been fairly easy to identify the people who had approached her.
Dante had personally informed them that Skylar Kingston would not tolerate any harassment of Ms. McGuire. He’d also placed a call to Marimar Pharmaceuticals and spoke directly to Haven’s boss, relaying that same message.
Skylar didn’t know what he’d ever do without his best friend and godbrother.
“We’ve reached our destination, Sky,” Ricco said.
Haven glanced out the car’s window and then back at him. “We’re at the Sedona Airport?”
He smiled. “Yes.”
“Our date is here?” she asked, a confused look on her face.
“Part of it, yes. My jet will fly us to our final destination.”
She turned to him with excitement in her eyes. “Honest?”
He chuckled before placing a kiss on her lips. “Yes, honest. But don’t ask where we’re going because the final destination is still a surprise.”
As Skylar watched Haven, he thought her excitement had to be contagious.
She had told him that she had never been in a private jet and couldn’t believe she would be flying in one now.
He gave her a tour of his jet, and she seemed impressed with everything she saw.
More than once, she had tried tricking him into telling her where they were going, and he reminded her that the surprise had been her idea.
Once the plane took off, she regaled him with stories of her family.
Her love for her Gramma Dora was obvious, and he thanked God the woman had been there for her.
She also told him about her plans to join her grandmother’s first cousin and his family for Thanksgiving.
They were the only family she had left, but there were a lot of them.
When she asked about his Thanksgiving plans, he told her that since his father’s death, he hadn’t celebrated any of the holidays.
Once in a while, he would join Dante and/or Ricco’s family, but more often than not, he just hung around home.
“I knew you, Dante, and Ricco had more than an employer–employee relationship,” she said.
“They were my father’s trusted friends as well as his employees.”
They had been in the air for at least an hour and a half when his pilot’s voice came over the intercom. “Please put on your seatbelt. We will be landing in twenty minutes.”
Haven snapped on her seatbelt and then glanced over at him. “Now, will you tell me where we’re going?”
He saw no reason not to, at this point. “We’re landing in San Francisco and having dinner at my home. Afterwards, I’m taking you dancing at one of my nightclubs.”
Haven fell in love with Skylar’s home the moment she crossed the threshold.
It had to be the most spacious and elegant house she had ever stepped into.
But it was a little sad that he lived here alone.
He mentioned that he had thought of selling it and buying a smaller place, but he wasn’t ready to let go of the memories that he and his father had created there together.
His father had purchased the house the month he was born.
She understood, since that was the reason she had yet to sell her grandmother’s home.
There were too many happy memories, and she wasn’t ready to relinquish them.
She didn’t mind paying a housekeeper to come in periodically to dust and air out the place.
Nor did she mind the expense of having someone look out for Gramma Dora’s flower garden, which she had loved.
And several times a year, she would return to Tifton and stay in the house for a few weeks, just to feel her grandmother’s presence.
Skylar had shared some of his fondest memories as he gave her a tour of his home.
There had been the room where he’d learned how to play pool, the room that still contained his massive collection of Lego blocks, his small office next to his father’s large one, where Skylar had been included in all of his father’s business decisions since he’d been ten.
Along the walls, there were framed photographs of him and his father from the time he was a baby.
He favored his father tremendously. She wasn’t surprised to see his father had worn his hair long, as well.
And like his son, he had been a very handsome man.
Since there were no women in the photos, she could only conclude that his father never remarried.