She expected Trace to fire an angry retort, instead, he laughed.
Laughed.
Skye glanced over at him in surprise.
“Noah,” Trace murmured, “I’d heard you made a new acquisition in town.” His eyebrows rose as he took in the hotel. “Nice. You’ve done well for yourself.”
“As have you.” That golden stare was back on Skye. Still too intense. “Very well,” the man added as his voice deepened.
Trace wrapped his arm around Skye. “You said yourself, I’ve already staked a claim.”
Skye licked her lips—and tasted Trace.
“Skye Sullivan, I want you to meet Noah York. Noah is…an old friend of mine.”
The name clicked for Skye. York Towers. The guy had hotels all over the United States. Those Towers were usually in the biggest cities, but they were also found in some secluded, high-end getaway locations. Near pristine beaches. Cradled amid mountaintops.
Noah reached for her hand. He bent his head. “It’s great to finally meet you.”
Finally?
He released her and eased back. “I figured nothing would keep you away from this event, Trace.” His shoulders straightened. “Not when we both know what it’s like to be those kids.”
Her gaze sharpened on Noah.
Then someone called his name. Noah sighed. “Business.” He pointed at Trace and Skye. “But I’ll be seeing you both later.” Another nod, and then he was gone.
“We should go inside. The auction will be starting soon,” Trace said.
She started walking automatically, but her fingers reached out to touch his arm. “Trace, what did he mean when he said it was finally good to meet me?”
His stride never faltered. “Noah and I go way back. Surely you realize that I’ve talked about you before?” He gave her a fast glance. “How could I not?”
His words were easy. The explanation was simple, but a knot had formed in Skye’s stomach.
“Now, let’s go bid a ton of money, baby. We’re supposed to have fun tonight.”
Yes, yes, they were.
They slipped into the ballroom. A stage had been set up for the auction. Business first, then Skye knew that the band would begin playing for the dancers.
This wasn’t a night about fear.
This was about the future.
Starting fresh. Giving the children a future.
Once, Skye had been a lost teen. So scared. Alone. From beneath her lashes, she watched Trace. Then she’d found him, and everything had changed for her.
***
Noah had almost f**ked up.
Trace kept his arms around Skye, moving fluidly with her as they danced across the ballroom. Her face was lit up, her eyes shining.
Skye loved dancing.
And she loves me.
Noah would have to be careful. Trace planned to catch the man alone at the earliest opportunity. Noah would understand—as many couldn’t—just how important some secrets were.
He hadn’t realized that Noah was already back in town. If he had, Trace would’ve talked with him sooner.
It was just a little slip. Skye believed what I told her.
Lying to Skye wasn’t something that Trace enjoyed doing. She had so much faith in him. The lies he told her ate at his soul.
But he wanted her protected.
I have to make sure she doesn’t find out.
The music ended. Because he knew that she liked it, Trace dipped Skye. Her cheeks flushed. More of that sweet, wonderful laughter slipped from her.
He eased her back to her feet, keeping a light grip on her. He hadn’t noticed any weakness in her injured leg, but, when it came to Skye, Trace didn’t want to take any chances.
The band announced that they’d be taking a short break.
Trace glanced over and saw Melanie Petrie, the organizer of the charity event, as she talked quietly with two of her staff members. “Can you excuse me for just a moment?” Trace asked Skye. “I need to speak with Melanie.” Because he wanted to make a substantial donation, one that would be in Skye’s name. He’d tell her later, when they were alone.
He couldn’t wait to be alone with her again.
“Of course.” She gave him an easy smile. “I wanted to step out on the balcony anyway. I’ve heard the fountains in the courtyard are quite incredible.”
They were. Trace also knew that they were well guarded. The event had a ton of security in place. And I have my own men here, too.
“I’ll join you there,” he promised her.
Trace watched her walk away. He couldn’t take his gaze off her back. All of that beautiful, silken skin.
“You’re one lucky bastard.”
He inclined his head at Noah’s words.
“Is there a particular reason you were giving me a go-to-hell look earlier?” Noah asked him.
“You mean other than the fact that your eyes were looking at Skye far too damn much?” Trace turned toward him. His back teeth had clenched, and Trace had to force his jaw to relax. “She doesn’t know about my past. I want it to stay that way.”
Noah whistled. “You’re marrying her, and she doesn’t know?”
“How many women know about your past, Noah?”
Noah’s brows climbed.
“The last thing I want is for her to fear me,” Trace said. “Especially after everything that happened.”
Noah nodded. “I’m sorry. I…I read the stories. Was it as bad as they said?”
For an instant, Trace remembered the basement. The darkness. The fear that had eaten at him.
She’d looked so beaten. Skye hadn’t even believed that he was really there, not at first. She’d thought that she was seeing a ghost. He’d had to convince her…
I found you. You’re going home with me. You’re going to dance, and we’re going to f**k and laugh and be happy. Do you understand?
Trace cleared his throat. “It was even worse.”
Noah swore.
“Skye doesn’t need any more fear,” Trace told him, needing Noah to get the message.
His old friend nodded.
Noah started to walk away. Trace moved, blocking his path. “I want you to come to my office tomorrow. We have to talk.”
“Look, I said—”
“Ben Sharpe was murdered.”
Noah’s lips parted in surprise. “The hell he was.”
“He died right after he came to visit me, telling me that the past was coming back.”
“The past is dead.”
“Yes, that’s what I said, too. Then Sharpe wound up butchered in an alley.”