Kept Secrets (Secret, Love & Betrayal Novel Book 2) Read online

  Kalon wiped a drip of sweat from his forehead. Renee was right in her assessment of him, and he didn’t really know what to say. He never lied to a woman about his feelings toward her until Taylor came around. A familiar laugh sent the hairs on his neck on high alert. Kalon glanced around the restaurant at the group of diners, and then he spotted her, sitting at a booth on the other side of the room. Her shoulder-length hair was in those ring curls women were wearing now, and she placed a napkin up to her perfect mouth to stifle a laugh. Her face was a little fuller, but she still sent his heart pitter patting. He tore his gaze from that direction, but Renee had followed his line of sight.

  “That’s her, isn’t it?” Renee asked, never taking her eyes off the woman.

  Kalon felt hot. He ripped the neck tie from around his neck and unbuttoned the first three buttons of his pink shirt. He glanced in that direction again, and this time she was staring back. Heat sizzled from at least ten feet away, he could feel the flame. Her eyes darkened with desire, and like before the look of longing was there. He forced himself to stay seated. Suddenly, her eyes flittered to Renee and she snatched her head forward.

  Shit, Kalon thought.

  Renee focused her attention back to Kalon. “That’s the woman who left a dagger in your heart.”

  Kalon gulped down his rum and Coke the waiter had brought with his food, and he let out a hissing sound.

  “Yes, that’s Taylor.”

  He flagged down their waiter and asked for two to-go boxes and the check. Kalon settled the tab quickly, and asked Renee, “Are you ready? I have to get out of here.”

  Renee nodded, scooted from under the table, and walked in front of Kalon. He had to look one more time; he gazed in Taylor’s direction. They locked eyes again as he continued to stroll out the café, and he shuddered at the look of hurt and disappointment in her eyes.

  ***

  Ari stood behind the wall watching Maci parade around in the kitchen singing and cooking. Jay had given him the information he had found out from Maci’s psychiatrist and it was time for him to confront her. She hummed the tune to “Diamonds”—the Rhianna song playing on the radio—as she strategically placed the boiled noodles in a row and applied tomato sauce, spinach leaves, turkey meat, and cheese to make her infamous lasagna.

  “Shine bright like a diamond,” she sang along to the lyrics, bobbing her head up down and standing at the kitchen counter. She sashayed to the refrigerator with her orange tank top on and a blue jean mini-skirt that would show the crack of her ass if she bent over.

  Ari had seen enough and came strolling into the room. Maci bobbed her head again to the music. He had to be careful in the way he approached her.

  Licking her pink lips, she advanced toward him and ripped open his button-down shirt.

  “I just need to see this chocolate chest and those abs.” She squeezed his biceps and started to sing the song again.

  “I just want to be happy; you and I are like diamonds in the sky.”

  Ari pushed her away. Maci turned aggressive and started to beat him in the chest. “I hate you.” She pounded on his chest.

  Ari held her hands. “Why are you trying to sleep with someone you hate?” he asked.

  Maci turned nice again. “I don’t know, baby.”

  Ari stepped back. “You’re crazy.”

  “Crazy about you,” Maci said.

  “Really?” Ari retorted.

  Maci nodded, advancing slowly in Ari’s direction.

  Ari took a few steps back and cleared his throat. It was best to be a few inches away from Maci for what he was about to announce. “Are you going to tell me who helped you come to Detroit?”

  Maci smacked her lips. “Are we back to that?”

  Ari cracked his knuckles and slanted his head to the side. “I wonder if it was someone I know.” Ari watched as Maci’s eyes dotted around the kitchen and back on him.

  Maci shuffled her feet from side to side. “What do you mean?”

  Ari held his index finger over his lips, as if he was trying to figure out an answer to a pop question. “Maybe my mother-in-law.”

  Maci’s chest rose and fell rapidly. She grabbed ahold of the counter to hold her up. Ari watched as she ran her hand through her tousled curls and rubbed the back of her neck, and he moved in her direction. “I guess I’m right,” Ari said.

  Maci glanced over her shoulder, and Ari wondered what she could be looking at. Adrianne was at school and the only thing that sat behind her was a stack of knives. She wouldn’t, Ari thought. However, he could never be too sure with Maci’s mental state.

  Ari only wanted to talk and get some questions answered, but when he took a step in Maci’s direction she sprinted out of the kitchen and through the back door.

  ***

  Ari had sat at Maci’s house for two weeks, waiting on her to return. The news that Jay had given him on his visit to Chicago, he never would had guessed in a million years. Tammy Briggs was the culprit behind the master scheme of helping his daughter’s mother, Maci. Tammy had paid Maci a hefty sum of money to get out of town and never come back according to Jay’s informant. He also went on to say that Tammy was the woman at the house helping Maci to move out, and had him knocked upside the head and placed in his bed back at home.

  This story explained a lot of things for him. Ari scratched his head. “Mrs. Briggs cared so much about her reputation in the community that she was willing to tamper with people lives.” Ari let out a sigh.

  He sold almost everything in the house and packed Adrianne’s clothes. Maci wasn’t fit to be a mother and she hadn’t returned. At this point, he just wanted to talk to her. He didn’t even know she was seeing a therapist.

  Ari wondered what else he didn’t know about Maci Anne Drummer. He googled her and found all type of charges for theft and her ten year probation sentence.

  “Damn,” Ari blurted.

  He didn’t even know the mother of his child. A one-night stand he had three years ago had changed his life forever. He placed his head in his hands. One bad choice had decided his future. Gathering the rest of his belongings, he headed for the door. He had to pick up Adrianne from school and their next stop was Chicago.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Taylor sat at her dresser on a stool, rehearsing the speech that Toni had written for her. Applying a new earth tone lipstick called “Chintz” by Mac to her lips gave her a more exotic look. She rubbed her lips together and made a pucker sound.

  Reading over the materials, she started to apply mascara to her eyelids but her hand started to shake.

  Get it together.

  In two hours she will be seeing Kalon at the Chicago Magazine Conference and her nerves were on edge. That dreadful day at the Hard Rock Café still haunted her, seeing him with that woman had frazzled her brain cells. Everything was a blur for her now, which was why she still hadn’t remembered the speech yet. Every thought was consumed by the one man she tried so hard to forget.

  It’s impossible to forget the man when you’re carrying his child.

  Taylor pushed her qualms to the side for now. She had bigger problems to deal with. This year’s conference was going to be televised in Chicago and Indiana. The planner for the conference had relayed this message to her two days ago. Taylor tried to steady her hand again to apply the light blue powder.

  “Shit,” she shrieked.

  When some of the powder went into her eye, she pulled a Kleenex out the box and held it over her eye to wipe it clean. The images of her parents had danced in her head; she was sure they would be watching the televised program since they knew she would be speaking. Taylor hadn’t spoken to her parents in a few months, and for them to find out about her pregnancy on television might be surprising, but she didn’t really care.

  Her mother was keeping a secret too, she just didn’t know what it was. And Ari, she hadn’t seen or talked to him since that day she sent him packing with a set of divorce papers. Regardless, what Ari would think was something s
he didn’t concern herself with anymore. In her mind, he was her ex. The one person she cared the most about was Kalon; she didn’t want him to hate her for not telling him, but she didn’t know how. And seeing him with that woman let her know he had moved on.

  Fluffing her ring curls out, she decided that was enough make-up. Her face had gotten fatter, and now she had a small wobble to her walk. Her size had gone from a 10 to a 14 and her boobs had swollen to a size of watermelons. She had decided to wear this flowing gown by Vera Wang.

  Taylor had it ordered in black to hide her full figure. The gown could be used for a wedding reception dress, but it was just right for tonight. It was haltered and fitted around the breast area. The rest of the dress was puffed out and long to the floor.

  Taylor slipped the dress on and zipped it on the side. She walked over to the mirror on the door and turned back and forth.

  “I look like a balloon,” she said to her reflection.

  Sitting down in the chair, she slipped her three-inch black heels on her feet. One piece of fashion Taylor held on to was her heels. She had noticed over the years that some women still wore their pumps being pregnant, and she’d vowed to be one of those women. In her opinion, heels gave an extra sexy bounce. Placing her lipstick and eyeliner in her sequined black clutch purse, she headed toward the door.

  A short blow from the limo driver’s horn let her know that it was time to go. Stepping out into the cool Chicago night air, she grasped the shawl a little tighter around her shoulders. The driver walked around and opened the door. Slipping into the spacious seat, Taylor let out a nervous breath.

  “Here I go.”

  ***

  Kalon mingled around the room with Renee’s arm interlocked with his. He swiped a champagne glass off the tray as the waiter floated by and handed it to Renee, then grabbed another flute glass for himself. Renee wore a long green, floral gown that fit her slim, petite frame like a glove. Her long, spiral-curled hair was pulled back into a ponytail. The floral gown gave a radiant glow to her caramel-colored complexion.

  This year Ephraim came to the conference with his girlfriend, Shelly, Renee’s cousin. The foursome engaged in small chatter about the Bulls game. The Miami Heat had won the championship, and Ephraim kept talking about it to anyone who would listen.

  “There will always be next year.” Kalon patted Ephraim on the back.

  Ephraim gave Kalon a whatever look. Kalon felt a tug at his arm.

  “Why are all these women glaring at you?” Renee whispered.

  Kalon gazed around the room and noticed that most of the women who were looking, he had slept with.

  “I used to be,” he paused, searching for the words, “let’s just say I had a way with the women.”

  Renee slanted her head to the side and gave him a lopsided grin. “Okay, that means you used to be a player.”

  Ephraim was obviously eavesdropping on the conversation because they both broke out in laughter.

  “Nothing gets past you, my dear.” Kalon patted Renee’s hand.

  It was like they were friends, and he didn’t want to ruin their friendship. Renee had a great sense of humor; she was a good girl and he was still a bachelor, untamed. Therefore, he was extra cautious when it came to sending her mix signals.

  The MC tapped the mic a few times. “Excuse me, everyone, but cocktail hour is over. Can you all please take a seat at your assigned tables?”

  Kalon pulled the card out of his suit jacket to see his table number. This year was a little different from last year, where the hostess told you what table you were sitting at. This year your table number came on the invitation.

  Kalon glanced over at Ephraim. “We’re at table four,” Kalon announced. This was a little closer to the stage. Kalon guided Renee by the small of her back to the table set for twelve. The program was face down and Kalon flipped it up.

  His breath wedged in his throat.

  A picture of Taylor graced the cover, and underneath was the slogan: Guest speaker from Dynasty magazine, Taylor Briggs Gallagher. Renee rested her hand on top of Kalon’s.

  “Breathe,” she told him.

  Kalon hadn’t noticed he was still holding his breath, so he exhaled slowly. Ephraim sat on the left of him, and tapped his shoulders.

  “So this is the infamous Taylor.”

  Kalon nodded as he continued to stare at the almond eyes staring back at him.

  The MC announced, “Dinner is served.”

  Men and women with white shirts and black pants weaved their way through the tables carrying trays on their shoulders. They sat covered plates in front of each guest. Kalon glanced around the room in hopes of seeing Taylor. He gave up when he didn’t spot her after the fifth glance.

  The MC strolled back onto the podium. Kalon became nervous and his breathing shortened. “We’re about to bring out our guest speaker for tonight, while you finish up your desserts.”

  Kalon looked down and noticed that the waitresses had set a vanilla ice cream cake in front of him.

  “Do you want some coffee, sir?” Kalon’s mouth became dry.

  “No,” Renee answered for him.

  He gave her a half-smile. He knew he was being rude to his date, but the anticipation of seeing Taylor again was killing him. That day at the café he ran as fast as he could. To be in her presence and not be able to touch her was havoc to his senses.

  MC continued, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the newest up and coming CEO of Dynasty magazine, Taylor Briggs Gallagher.”

  The room started to applaud, and Kalon focused his attention on the steps at the end of the podium. He noticed Renee watching him closely, but he would explain to her later. The curtain moved from behind the stage and opened automatically as Taylor came out from behind it, waving like Miss America.

  She was simply beautiful. Kalon squinted his eyes, realizing that she had definitely gained weight over the past few months, and noticed she had a heavenly glow. When Taylor parted her lips to speak, Kalon wished he could sample a taste.

  “Thank you,” she said. “Good evening. I want to thank the Chicago Magazine Conference for honoring my company, Dynasty Magazine, this year.” The crowd applauded again.

  Taylor began to speak again, and Kalon realized that their eyes had locked, causing Taylor to stammer over her words. It was like a magnetic energy was pulling them together. “I … I … want to start out by telling you about our mission.” She focused her attention on the audience.

  Kalon listened intently to Taylor’s thirty-minute speech. Lastly, she ended with, “Some of you may have read some things about me in the tabloids, but that is not the vision of Dynasty Magazine. And like they say, you can’t believe everything you read.”

  With that she sent a wink to the crowd. The audience applauded again and stood to their feet. Kalon caught the glance Taylor sent his way as she left the podium. Ephraim nudged Kalon in the arm, and at the same time Renee tried to get his attention. He stood, still clapping like a crazy maniac.

  When he sat, Renee asked, “So, she’s pregnant?” Kalon stopped the mini concert he was giving Taylor.

  “What?” he asked.

  Ephraim chimed in, “Yeah, man, she’s definitely pregnant.”

  Kalon shot his eyes to the corner of the room as people reached out to shake Taylor’s hand. He noticed the wobble in her step, and his legs took on a mission of their own. He turned to Renee and said, “Excuse me.”

  ***

  Somehow, Taylor had to keep it together standing on the stage in front of thousands of people in the audience and out in TV land. The seductive stare Kalon was sending her, sitting two steps away, made her clit throb. The man oozed of sexiness; he’d had that Mohawk cut again, and his fully grown goatee made her nipples hardened. He definitely had that rugged, dangerous swag going on. Taylor felt the release of her juices when she turned and looked his way before exiting the stage. She knew she should have kept her head straight and continued to ignore him, but his burning gaze beckoned h
er.

  “That was a wonderful speech.” Taylor thanked the older man and moved, on shaking hands here and there. The bulbs from the media cameras flashed in her eyes and people stood in a row to meet her. Taylor tried to move through the crowd too quickly, but when she turned and saw Kalon walking her way she began to panic.

  She already needed to change her panties, and the one person she hoped would keep his distance tonight was heading straight toward her. Just when she thought she had greeted everyone and the coast was clear, Taylor tried to make a beeline for the exit. Unfortunately, she was too slow. He gripped her upper arm from behind and led her to the outside balcony through some double French doors.

  Taylor kept her head straight as she moved toward the railing and darkness engulfed her. She never turned around to see her culprit; she already knew by the way her body was responding to his touch. Her juices continued to flow and she was sure by now the liquid had dampened her dress. Taylor hated the way her body responded to him.

  Standing out on the secluded balcony, she kept her body facing forward.

  “Taylor, don’t be afraid to look at me.”

  Taylor narrowed her eyes as she turned around to stare at the figure standing before her. Her pupils started to adjust to the darkness and she noticed the stress lines under his eyes. His eyebrows were creased together.

  “How have you been?” he asked.

  Taylor licked her chapped lips and fidgeted with the shawl draped around her shoulders. She wondered if he knew.

  “I’m good.”

  Kalon rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, I can see that.”

  Kalon moved closer, and Taylor’s back hit the railing. He rested his hands on each side of her and trapped her with his eyes. Taylor didn’t have anywhere to run. Her breathing quickened and she began to pant heavily.

  “Kalon, someone can come out here.”

  Kalon grunted. “I don’t care.”

  His pupils dilated with the blazing gaze of the white moon reflecting from his radiant caramel skin.