Keepers of the Cave (18 page)

The look Paige gave her caused Fiona to laugh.

“You can never have too many wineglasses,” Paige said. She turned to Fiona and grinned. “She’s not normally allowed in the kitchen.”

“Except to do the dishes, don’t forget,” CJ corrected as she twisted the corkscrew.

“Yes. And you are an expert at that.”

A muted pop and CJ held the cork up triumphantly. She was rewarded with a quick kiss from Paige. Fiona felt herself blushing once again, this time at their display of affection. It apparently surprised CJ as well because she too looked a bit flushed.

She accepted the glass Paige handed her, hoping she didn’t gag on the wine. She’d only had it once before, when Gayla and Dave had hosted a birthday dinner. She had wanted to fit in with everyone and she took a glass. The wine had tasted dry and bitter to her, and she had nearly spit it out. But since Paige and CJ had gone to the trouble, she would at least try it.

“I don’t know your preference in wine, Fiona, but this Riesling is on the sweet side, as is the Beaujolais,” Paige said. “I hope it’s to your liking.”

The wine was cool in her mouth, and she was pleasantly surprised by the fruity flavor. “I taste apple,” she said without thinking.

Paige laughed. “Very good. You must have a natural palate for wine.” She turned to CJ. “And what do you taste?”

“It tastes citrusy to me.” When Paige shook her head, CJ added, “What? Too vague?”

“A little.”

“Well, maybe my...tongue is not as talented as yours...in the taste department.”

Fiona was fascinated by the look they exchanged, and she could swear the temperature in the room rose ten degrees in a matter of seconds. Paige cleared her throat, turning to Fiona. Her gaze held none of the intensity that she’d just shared with CJ. Again, since she’d never had the closeness that these two obviously shared, she couldn’t relate to what had clearly passed between them with only a glance.

“How long have you been at the school, Fiona?” Paige asked.

“This is my ninth year,” she said.

“I guess you plan on staying then?”

“Yes. It would be hard for me to leave Hoganville.” She shared a silent laugh with herself. Not hard to leave.
Impossible.

Whether it was the wine that relaxed her or the company, Fiona didn’t know, but their lunch passed quickly. She was pleased that CJ enjoyed the chicken salad enough to request a second sandwich. By the time they were ready to take their leave, Fiona realized she had not asked even one of the questions Mother Hogan had demanded of her. Well, she would have a week before returning home. Perhaps she would run into Paige at school.

“Thank you again, Fiona. We had fun,” Paige said. “Maybe one day this week we could grab lunch together,” she suggested.

“Yes,” she answered quickly. “I would like that.”

“Great. I’ll see you at school then.”

She watched with envy as they headed to their own house, their hands clasped together, lightly swinging between them. They made a cute couple. She closed her door and leaned against it with a sigh, her eyes landing on the empty bottles of wine and the wineglasses which CJ had placed on the counter. Paige had told her to keep them for the next time they were over.

Would there be a next time?

She hoped so. She’d had fun. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed and enjoyed someone’s company as much.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CJ took her shower first, so while Paige was taking her turn, CJ took advantage of the empty bed. It was a queen, but when you live alone and are used to a king, it was a little small and a challenge to stay on her side of Paige’s imaginary line. She spread out now, arms and legs both, loving the feel of the cool, smooth sheets. Paige had excellent—and expensive—taste. She’d never given much thought to her sheets before or their thread count, but after this, one thousand thread count Egyptian cotton was her new favorite.

She rolled over, staring at the pillow Paige used. She sighed, wondering what was up with her. The lunch had actually been enjoyable. Paige was loose and carefree, and there appeared to be no tension between them at all. That was evidenced by the spontaneous kiss Paige had given her, the first one Paige had initiated between them. Yet when they left Fiona’s, Paige had reverted back to silence, staying in the bedroom, on her laptop while CJ had watched TV. Dinner had been leftovers, which was fine with her. She didn’t expect Paige to have to cook every night. She just wished things weren’t so strained between them. The only time it wasn’t strained was when they were around other people.

When the bathroom door opened, she dutifully scooted back to her side, mindful of Paige’s line. When the light went out she squinted in the darkness, watching Paige move to the bed. Just the sight of her coming to their bed caused her libido to kick into gear and she turned away.

“I had fun today,” CJ said, trying to break the ice.

“Yes, it was.”

CJ rolled toward her. “You know, I was thinking, maybe we could lose this imaginary line here,” she said.

“I don’t think so.”

“I like to roll around a little bit. I’m used to a king.”

“So am I.”

“Good. Because I hate the line. Every time I roll over I have to be careful not to get into your space.”

“As it should be.”

“Come on, Paige. Please?”

“No. Stay on your side.”

“No. We’ve played by your rules long enough. My turn. I’m giving you official notice that I will not abide by the imaginary line.”
So there.

“No.”

“Yes.”

CJ let her hand drift onto Paige’s side, only to have it slapped. She very nearly giggled.

“Don’t make me hurt you,” Paige threatened.

“As if.”

Without thinking, CJ moved her foot, rubbing it lightly against Paige’s leg. This earned her a growl as Paige slammed her fists onto the bed.

“God, must you?”

“I must.”

“I feel sorry for your mother. You were probably a horrible child.”

The words were said in jest, she knew, but they hit home all the same. She felt the tightness in her chest, and she drew a shaky breath.

“Yeah, sorry. I was apparently a terrible kid,” she murmured, squeezing her eyes shut to try to keep the memories away. Terrible kid. She learned quickly all the different ways punishment could be doled out.

Paige grabbed her arm, squeezing tightly. “I’m so sorry, CJ. I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“It’s okay. You shouldn’t have to worry about every single thing you say.” She rolled her head to look at her. “I have a few issues from my childhood still. I’m working through them. I shouldn’t be so sensitive about it. I...well, it’s been twenty years.”

Paige loosened her grip but didn’t remove her hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No. But thanks.”

“I...I don’t really know what happened,” Paige said. “Just hearsay and gossip at the office. I don’t want to assume.”

“Whatever you’ve assumed, it’s way worse.”

She rolled over then, her back to Paige. She kept her eyes closed, almost wishing she could cry. Now, she wished that. As a kid, she refused to cry, refused to give in. He would win then. But now, she just wished she could cry and get it out. She was startled to feel Paige’s hand on her back, rubbing, soothing her. How nice would it be to roll over and let Paige hold her?
Would Paige hold her?
Her touch was comforting, yet it felt strange. She never felt a comforting touch before. Not even in those darkest times when her father visited her did her mother ever come to her aid, ever come to comfort her. That job was left to her sister, who needed her own comforting. She relaxed now, her eyes closing, her mind easing as Paige continued to rub lightly back and forth across her back.

As she was about to drift off to sleep, she felt Paige move, sliding up behind her protectively. Paige slipped an arm around CJ’s waist, then let out what CJ thought sounded like a contented sigh, her breath on her skin.

“I think you’re over the line,” CJ whispered.

“Yes. I am.”

CJ smiled, then took Paige’s arm and pulled it tighter against her. She didn’t try to analyze the meaning of Paige’s actions. She simply closed her eyes, loving the feel of Paige resting close behind her.

***

Paige knew she should move. CJ was already asleep. She allowed herself a few more seconds before slowly unwrapping herself from around CJ. God, what game were they playing? What game was
she
playing? Yes, they had sex. More than six months ago now. Just a one-night stand, basically. A one-time lapse in judgment.

And she couldn’t seem to get past it. She wasn’t comfortable with casual sex. CJ, on the other hand, had perfected it to a fine art. She rolled over onto her back, her fists balled together.
We had sex.
And all of this, this
acting
they were doing, was blurring the line. It was becoming too real. When they were around others, Paige could pretend that it was all just for show, she could let go of her inhibitions, but here, alone, she tried so hard to keep things professional between them.

She nearly laughed out loud.
Professional
? No. There was nothing professional about the situation they were in. Like now. The need to comfort CJ had been overwhelming. She had sounded so wounded, so defenseless, her voice conveying a
need
that Paige didn’t understand. And all Paige wanted to do was protect her. But in reality, all it did was blur the line even more. She rolled her head slightly, looking at CJ’s sleeping form, wanting nothing more than to go to her again, to slip her arm around her, to feel CJ pull her closer.

God, don’t do this.

Maybe they should just do it. Just sleep together again and get it over with. Maybe it would ease some of the tension. She groaned.
Did I just think that? I do not want to have sex with CJ.

Yes. I do.

She rolled over in frustration, her back to CJ now. No, she did not want to have sex with CJ. Been there, done that. So no. No, no, no.

She heard a scraping noise and she opened her eyes, the eerie feeling of someone watching her making the hairs on back of her neck stand up. She glanced at the window, the blinds lowered haphazardly, an inch of space remaining on one corner. The loud scream was out of her mouth before she could stop it, and CJ shot out of bed, her eyes wide.

“What the fuck?”

Paige scooted up against the wall, clutching the sheet up to her chin. She pointed to the window with a trembling hand. “Someone...something...was at our window.” She was nearly panting and she tried to catch her breath. “There was something outside there,” she whispered. “It was looking at us.”

“Something? What do you mean
something
?”

“It could have been a person, but I don’t think so.”

CJ rubbed her eyes. “Well, you scared the shit out of me.” She opened the tiny nightstand beside the bed and took out her service weapon. “I’ll take a look. You stay here.”

Paige threw the sheet off. “Are you out of your mind? Do you know what happens to people in movies when they stay behind?” She found her own gun, holding it tightly in her hand. “I’m ready.”

CJ stared at her. “In the movies?” She shook her head. “Come on then.”

They went into the kitchen, CJ stopping her when she lifted her hand to turn on the lights. She motioned silently to the back door located at the edge of the kitchen. Paige could feel her heart pounding in her chest as CJ reached for the doorknob.

“No. Don’t,” she whispered.

CJ frowned. “What is it?”

“Don’t open the door,” she said. “I have a bad feeling.”

CJ stared at her. “We
are
both FBI agents. You do remember that, right?”

Paige smiled, then motioned between them. “Yeah, and we’re both in underwear and bare feet.”

“But we have big guns.” She motioned to the door again. “Besides, whatever was out there is long gone by now.”

Paige sighed, still hesitant. She realized she was being ridiculous. “You’re probably right. Can we at least take a flashlight?”

CJ nodded, going quickly to her bag and pulling out a small one. She clicked it on, then opened the door slowly, flashing the beam toward their bedroom window, then to the woods behind it. There was no sign of movement.

“Come on.”

Paige followed closely, looking from side to side, imagining...
something
...leaping out at her from the woods.

The air was warm, humid. The nearly full moon shrouded by thin clouds, making the shadows long and dark. A light breeze rustled the leaves of an oak tree over their heads, making them both jump.

“Jesus, we’re acting like a couple of kids,” CJ whispered.

She stopped next to the window, bending over, looking inside. Paige did the same, shocked at how well she could see inside the bedroom. CJ flashed the light around on the ground and Paige pointed to what looked like crumbled leaves. The area was disturbed, as if someone had been standing there.

“Could be tracks,” CJ murmured, following them until they disappeared into the woods. A bare, sandy spot had a perfect imprint of...what? CJ knelt down, holding her palm out, the print larger than her extended hand. She glanced up at Paige.

“Bear?” they asked simultaneously.

Paige looked back down at the print. “Claws,” she said, seeing the indention in the dirt.

“Yeah.”

“What would a bear be doing looking in our bedroom window?” she asked.

“Well, hell, I don’t know what it is. Do they even have bears around here? I know we’re out in the middle of the woods, but I don’t think bear run rampant out here.”

Paige jerked her head around, hearing twigs breaking, then the sound of something running. Something...
large
. Just as she grabbed CJ’s hand, they heard the loud, piercing scream that they’d heard last week. It sent chills down her spine and she gripped CJ’s hand harder. “Let’s go back inside.”

“Good idea.”

They both hurried back to the house, and Paige quickly locked the door behind them. She then turned on the lights and went to the front door, making sure it was locked as well.