Hidden Secrets

by Jannine Gallant

  “It’s tough to contain all that anticipation.” Leah took Keely’s hand. “I’d much rather play Go Fish with you than clean the kitchen. I’m sure there’s a deck of cards around here somewhere, and the dogs can take a breather.”

  Quentin paused from loading the dishwasher. “There’s a deck in the cabinet by the TV.” He smiled at Ryan, who was hovering near the refrigerator. “Why don’t you go play with them? This kitchen isn’t big enough for everyone to help out.”

  “I scrubbed pans before we ate, so the dishes won’t take long.” Paige shooed Ryan toward the doorway. You, too, Teague. Go have fun with your daughter. It’s Christmas Eve.”

  Keely released Leah’s hand and skipped across the floor, her shiny dress shoes clicking against the wood. “Once my baby sister comes, I won’t have to hang out with only grown-ups. Too bad she won’t get here for months and months.”

  Everyone turned to stare at Nina and Teague as his daughter disappeared around the foot of the stairs into the living room.

  Nina laid her palm across her stomach. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag. We were going to wait until after the holidays to tell you. I didn’t want tonight to be all about us.”

  “You’re pregnant?” Paige practically shouted as she dropped the serving spoon and ran across the kitchen to hug her friend.

  Leah wrapped her arms around both of them in a three-way hug. “I’m so happy for you. The baby’s a girl?”

  “We have no idea. It’s way too early to tell.” Teague’s smile was so wide he looked like he might burst. “Keely’s just wishful thinking.”

  Nina laughed. “She says boys are nasty, so if this is a baby brother, we’ll have our work cut out for us.”

  “I thought we were going to play Go Fish,” Keely shouted from the other room. “I found the cards.”

  Leah backed out of the embrace and wiped away a few tears. “Whatever this baby is, I’m thrilled for you.”

  “So are we.” Nina leaned against her husband as Paige released her. “But we don’t want to make a huge deal about it in front of Keely, not yet, anyway. She isn’t used to sharing the limelight, and I have a feeling there’ll be a few challenges ahead.”

  “You’ll meet them head-on like you do everything.” Leah squeezed her arm. “I’ve seen plenty of kids at school go through the trauma of a new baby in the house, and they all survived the transition. Right now, I’m going to go play cards with the little princess.”

  “If you don’t need me to help . . .” Nina glanced toward Quentin.

  “Go, all of you. Paige and I’ll finish the dishes. Put your feet up or whatever it is pregnant women do. Congrats, Teague.”

  “Thanks.”

  Ryan rested a hand on his friend’s shoulder and spoke in a low voice as the two men headed into the living room.

  “They’ll be next.” Paige snapped the lid on the potatoes and put the container in the refrigerator.

  “Huh?” Quentin took the baking dish from her and set in in the sink.

  “Leah and Ryan. I bet they’ll be pregnant in no time.”

  “I guess that’s one reason to get married. I enjoy kids. Someday, I’d even like to have a couple. Right now, I can’t imagine fitting them into my schedule.” He squirted soap into the dish and picked up the scrub pad to tackle the baked-on cheese. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Sometimes the crap you say amazes me. You don’t squeeze children into your life like leftovers in a too-small bowl. You make them a priority.”

  “Which is why I’m not ready to have any.”

  “I guess not.” She looked away. “I’ll go wipe off the table while you wash that pan.”

  “Okay.” He reached out and snagged her around the waist as she passed him, then kissed her thoroughly. “Thanks for helping me out. I know I can always count on you.”

  Her insides quivered as he released her. She wanted so badly to stay irritated with him, but he made it damn hard. Still, she couldn’t simply ignore their different priorities.

  Maybe for the next couple of days, I can.

  They finished the cleanup with only minimal conversation. The silence was easy between them, and the rousing game of Go Fish in the other room provided plenty of background noise. After she’d dried the last pan, and he’d wiped down the stove, they joined their friends in front of the Christmas tree.

  “Is it present time?” Keely asked, dancing around the room. The dogs scrambled up off the rug and joined her, barking in excitement.

  Quentin winced. “Maybe we could put them outside.”

  “Good idea.” Teague left the couch and herded the dogs toward the front door. “I don’t know why we let them in to begin with. The rain stopped hours ago.”

  When he returned, he glanced toward the tree. “I see a couple of gifts under there with Keely’s name on them.” He smiled at Paige and Leah. “That was awfully nice of you.”

  “Are you kidding? Shopping for a little girl is a blast.” Paige settled on the floor and let the periwinkle folds of her dress slide over her knees. “Nina and Leah and I have been exchanging gifts for as long as I can remember. We couldn’t leave Keely out.”

  “I don’t see anything with my name on it,” Ryan jokingly complained.

  Leah poked him. “Start your own gift exchange. Ours is girls only.”

  He pulled her in close and kissed the top of her head. “No worries. I’ll get the only thing I want later tonight.”

  Her response was lost as Paige handed a gift to Keely. The girl squealed as she ripped it open. “You got me a crown? It’s so pretty.”

  Paige smiled. “It’s a tiara to go with your princess dresses. Every princess should have a special crown.”

  “You know her so well.” Nina adjusted the tiara more securely on her stepdaughter’s head. “What do you say?”

  “Thank you.” Keely scooted across the rug to hug Paige.

  “You’re welcome, sweetie.” She handed over an oblong box wrapped in bright Santa paper. “What did Leah get you?”

  “I’ll find out!”

  While Keely thanked Leah for the light-up wand and waved it over her head, the women opened their gifts from each other. Every now and then, Paige glanced at Quentin as the men discussed the football season. He seemed to be having a good time.

  A few minutes after he rose to his feet and stepped over wrapping paper to head into the kitchen, she put aside the soft scarf and earrings she’d received to follow him. Pausing inside the doorway, she studied his expression before entering the room. “Is something wrong?”

  Quentin sliced the chocolate cheesecake he’d baked earlier. “Of course not. I figured I’d serve dessert now since Teague and Nina will probably want to take off soon. Keely seems to be winding down.”

  She leaned against the counter. “If you were in Seattle for Christmas, what would you be doing?”

  “Probably hanging out at my restaurant, maybe going to a club with friends afterward.”

  “Not much like the family-friendly party we have here.”

  He transferred the dessert plates to a tray. “Siren Cove isn’t exactly a hotbed for nightlife. Anyway, I’m having a good time. Ryan and Teague and I all have different interests, but we still click.” He nodded toward the coffee pot. “Do you want to grab some mugs? I made decaf, and we can doctor it with shots of Kahlua. Well, not for Nina, but the rest of us.”

  Paige prepared a second tray with the coffee paraphernalia while he decorated the slices of cheesecake with raspberries. “Those look beautiful.”

  “They’ll taste even better.”

  “I get the feeling this is all pretty tame for you.”

  He set down the bowl of berries and turned to face her. “Tame isn’t a bad thing.” He stepped closer and cupped her chin. “If I wanted wild, I could have had it last night. I didn’t. I’m enjoying this . . . and you. Honestly, hanging out with our friends for a quiet evening beats the hell out of partying in the city.” He bent to kiss her and smi
led. “Maybe we’re all getting old.”

  “Somehow, I don’t think you’re ready for a rocking chair on the front porch just yet.”

  “No, and neither are you. Maybe you and I aren’t on the fast track toward diapers and formula like the others, but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate a night like this.” He stepped back. “Is the coffee tray ready?”

  “Yeah, it is.” She followed him into the other room, thinking about what he’d said. Keely sat on the couch next to her dad with her head resting against his shoulder. Paige’s heart melted a little. She was pretty sure she was ready for what her best friends had. But Quentin obviously wasn’t.

  They ate the delicious cheesecake, drank their spiked coffee, and reminisced about past Christmases until Keely fell asleep. After exchanging hugs and handshakes all around, Teague carried his daughter home, with Nina by his side. Ryan and Leah left a few minutes later, and Quentin let Leo back inside. The dog shook his head and glared at him, then walked over to sit at Paige’s feet.

  “I don’t think your buddy liked being left out in the cold.”

  “He’s getting spoiled. He thinks he’s a person.”

  “A dose of reality is good for everyone now and then.”

  She leaned back against the couch cushions. “I can’t argue with that. Having unrealistic expectations isn’t healthy.”

  He crossed the room, nudged Leo out of the way, and sat down beside her. “You’ve been acting a little strange all evening.” He picked up her hand. “Not to the others, just me. Are you pissed about that whole stupid date I went on with Clea?”

  “Of course not. I’m the one who asked you to volunteer for the bachelor auction in the first place. It’s certainly not your fault Clea outbid me.”

  “Nothing happened between us. You know that, right?”

  She twined her fingers through his and squeezed. “I trust you completely. Always have, always will.”

  “Then what—”

  When the doorbell rang, Leo leaped to his feet and barked like a trained attack dog.

  “Nina must have forgotten something.” Paige reached out to lay a calming hand on her dog’s head. “Quiet, boy.”

  Rising to his feet, Quentin headed to the entry. Paige closed her eyes and contemplated her options. Starting a discussion—which was sure to lead to an argument—about their future on Christmas Eve didn’t seem like a great choice. Better to wait, even if her insides were tied in knots . . .

  The front door squeaked as Quentin opened it. “Hey, Chris, this is a surprise. What brings Siren Cove’s finest out on Christmas Eve?”

  “I was hoping for a few minutes of your time, if you don’t mind answering some questions.”

  “Of course not. Come on in. Paige is here.”

  Paige sat up straighter and held onto Leo’s collar as Chris Long entered the room behind Quentin. “Did you need to know something else about the necklace we found in the woods?”

  “No, this doesn’t have anything to do with that.” He glanced at Quentin and shifted from one foot to the other. “Uh, can we speak privately?”

  Quentin stopped beside Leo as the dog lay back down on the floor. “What’s this about?”

  “Clea Merrick.”

  “I don’t mind talking in front of Paige. I took Clea out last night on the date she won at the Winter Ball. What the hell did she say that would involve the police?”

  “Nothing, since she’s gone missing.”

  Quentin’s face lost some of its color, and he dropped down onto the couch beside Paige. “Shit.”

  “This isn’t an official case yet since she hasn’t been missing for forty-eight hours, but I told Ruth Merrick I’d see what I could find out. Apparently, this isn’t the first time Clea has disappeared with a man for several days, but her aunt swears she wouldn’t have blown off their Christmas Eve dinner without a word. She’s understandably worried.”

  “Did she tell you I took Clea out last night?”

  Chris nodded. “She also said her niece never came home afterward.”

  “Dammit! I didn’t want to leave her at that bar, but she insisted. When I went back for her—”

  Chris’s eyes darkened, and he took a notebook and pen out of his jacket pocket. “Maybe you could start at the beginning of your date and fill in the details.”

  Quentin’s hand shook when he ran his fingers through his hair and let out a harsh breath. Paige scooted a little closer and laid her palm on his thigh.

  “I picked her up around seven, and we drove to Newport. We ate at a restaurant on Yaquina Bay.”

  “Which one?” Chris asked.

  “The Bayview Inn.” Quentin looked over at Paige. “To be honest, we argued. Let’s just say we had different expectations for how the night would end, and Clea wasn’t happy.”

  “You expected her to sleep with you.” Chris’s voice cooled.

  “I’d rather not discuss it.”

  “Look, you volunteered to have this conversation. I’m happy to bring you down to the station if—”

  “I don’t want to disrespect any woman, but I’m not going to take the heat for Clea’s questionable social habits, either. She wanted to hook up. I told her I was involved with Paige.”

  “Then what happened?”

  Quentin told him about dropping Clea off at the bar.

  “And that was the last time you saw her?” Glancing up, Chris kept the pen poised above his notebook.

  “Yes, but I did return to the bar. I’d driven over the bridge when guilt got the better of me. I didn’t like the idea of leaving a woman alone in a strange town that way, so I drove back. I’d probably been gone about twenty minutes, total.”

  “You didn’t talk to Clea when you went back to the bar?”

  “She wasn’t there. I checked around inside and asked the bartender if he’d seen her. He hadn’t but said he’d been busy. I asked a woman if she was in the ladies’ room. She wasn’t. At that point, I figured she’d simply taken off immediately with the man she said she knew, so I gave up and went home.”

  Chris stopped writing in his book. “Were you here when Quentin got back from his date, Paige?”

  “No, I’d had a long day. I was at home asleep.”

  He eyed Quentin steadily. “What time did you leave the bar the second time?”

  “Probably around ten thirty. I got home well before midnight.”

  “Clea didn’t mention the man she saw by name?”

  “No, she didn’t. I shouldn’t have left her there by herself.”

  “Clea is an adult and has a right to make her own decisions, no matter how stupid they might be.” Paige shivered, despite the heat in the room. “You couldn’t force her to go with you.”

  “I guess not.”

  Chris put the notebook back in his pocket. “Thanks for talking to me. I imagine she left the tavern of her own volition. The bartender would surely remember any kind of confrontation.”

  “She was definitely happy to see the guy she noticed.”

  “If she doesn’t come home before the forty-eight hours are up, we’ll officially open a missing persons investigation. Stick around town since I’ll probably have more questions for you.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” He stood and followed the officer to the door.

  Chris glanced back over his shoulder. “Have a merry Christmas, Paige.”

  “Thanks. You, too, Chris. I sure hope Clea shows up soon so her aunt and uncle can enjoy their holiday. Ruth is a nice woman, and Clea should know better than to worry them.”

  “I’m hoping for the best, too.” He nodded at Quentin. “Sorry to burst in on your evening, but I appreciate your cooperation.”

  “No problem. Good night.” He shut the door behind the other man, then stood for a moment with his head hanging.

  Page joined him and wrapped her arms around him to lean her forehead against his back. “I know you’re concerned, but don’t be. Clea strikes me as the type of woman to think about her own pleasure
first and not to give a crap if she worries the people who love her.”

  “An accurate assessment. Still, I had a bad feeling about leaving her at that bar.”

  “That’s because you care about people. You have a conscience.”

  Quentin turned around and pulled her close against his chest. Warmth radiated from him as he rested his cheek on her hair and let out a sigh. “She told me I’d regret my decision not to bring her back here last night. Turns out, she was right.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Dinner was excellent, Ava. Thank you both for including me.” Quentin smiled at Paige’s mom and dad sitting across the table from them, before reaching beneath the tablecloth to squeeze Paige’s hand. “You make me feel very welcome, just like you did when I was a kid and both my parents were working long hours.”

  “That’s because we still consider you part of the family.” Sheldon rose to his feet and clapped him on the shoulder on his way around the table. “Don’t get up. I’ll bring in the pie.”

  Paige pressed her free hand to her stomach. “After all that turkey, I don’t think I can eat dessert. I’m stuffed.”

  Her mother gave her a teasing smile. “It’s blackberry, your favorite.”

  “In that case, maybe I can make a little room.”

  “I figured you could.” Ava sipped her after dinner cream liqueur. “I didn’t want to bring this up during our meal, but I heard some strange gossip at the Winter Ball. Rumor has it someone found a skull out in the woods. I don’t suppose either of you knows what that’s all about?”

  Paige seemed to shrink against her seat. “Unfortunately, we do.”

  “It’s true, then? My goodness, how awful.”

  “What’s awful?” Sheldon returned with a beautiful, lattice-topped pie in one hand and a carton of ice cream in the other. “Did I miss something?”

  “The rumor we heard at the party about the skeleton.” Ava sliced into the pie he set down in front of her and lifted out a piece. She frowned as she eased the oozing berries and delicate crust onto a plate. “Is something wrong, Paige?”