Turning up the radio, she sang along with a current chart-topper as she left the barren farm fields behind and turned onto the coast road leading to Siren Cove. Whitecaps topped a stormy sea that pounded the Oregon coastline, but the gray sky couldn’t dampen her excellent mood. Having Quentin around fulltime instead of for an occasional visit would be terrific. While she adored Nina and Leah, both women were occupied with new husbands and didn’t have a lot of time to just hang out anymore.
Despite her growling stomach, she made a left-hand turn into Nina’s neighborhood once she reached town. She had a couple of hours before her next appointment, plenty of time to feel out her friend on the subject of renting her house. Pulling into the driveway of the old Victorian home, she parked next to Nina’s Mini Cooper. Hopefully she wouldn’t mind an interruption if she was busy painting.
Dashing through the rain from the van to the front porch, Paige gave a perfunctory knock on the door before pushing it open to step inside. “Nina, are you home?”
“In the kitchen.”
“Good, you’re not working.” After pulling off her wet boots, she crossed the newly refinished hardwood floor to the arched doorway and paused. “Wow, it smells great in here.”
Nina glanced up as she dropped a spoonful of dough onto a cookie sheet. “Chocolate chip. Keely will be home from school soon. Want one?”
“I should probably eat some lunch first.” Wandering closer, she leaned against the island. “How’s life?”
Her friend’s green eyes sparkled. “Really great. Eloping was the right call. Teague and I are married without all the fuss, and after the nightmare his daughter and I went through last summer, she now has the stability she needs.”
“That’s terrific.”
Nina slid the cookie sheet into the oven and set the timer. “Definitely. I’m happier than I’ve ever been. What’s going on with you? You look like you’re about to burst with news.”
“Quentin closed escrow on the Poseidon Grill. He’s moving back to Siren Cove.”
“Oh, yeah? That’s awesome.” Crossing her arms over her chest, Nina grinned. “Having him around will be a boost to all of our social lives. The man certainly knows how to have a good time.”
“True.”
“What about the redhead he brought to Leah and Ryan’s wedding, the one with the funny name? Weren’t they pretty serious?”
“Blaze? I think it’s a nickname, and knowing her, probably one she gave herself. He broke up with her not too long ago. Then he dated a foreign model on the rebound, but that didn’t even last a week. Last I heard he’s between girlfriends.”
“Interesting. Are you still seeing Ryan’s rock climbing buddy, Tom?”
“No.” A dart of pain slid through Paige’s chest. “He was tired of the long-distance thing. Ryan mentioned he’s dating someone else now.”
“Why didn’t I hear about this?”
Running a finger along the grain through the granite countertop, she shrugged. “You were on a tropical island saying ‘I do’ when we split up. I guess I forgot to mention it after you got back.”
“So, both you and Quentin are currently single?”
“It looks that way.”
“And will be living in the same town?”
“Yep.” Paige glanced up. “Where are you going with this?”
“You two have been closer than most married couples since you were in diapers. It just seems like—”
“You’re kidding, right? Why the heck would we want to ruin a perfect friendship by trying to make it something more?” She gripped the edge of the counter. “Do I look stupid?”
“Not in the least. Forget I opened my mouth.”
“I will if you rent him your house.”
The timer on the stove buzzed. Nina used a hot pad to pull the tray of cookies from the oven. “What are you talking about?”
Paige waved in the direction of the smaller home on the opposite side of the cul-de-sac. “A couple of weeks ago, you mentioned you weren’t sure what to do with your house now that you’ve moved in with Teague and Keely.”
“True, but I still use my art studio over there.”
“You have space here to set one up in a spare room. My guess is you haven’t yet only because you can’t be bothered.”
Nina grinned. “You know me so well. Anyway, I’m not sure I want to rent that house. I kind of like not having neighbors in our little corner of the hood.”
“Quentin needs a place to live while he’s getting the restaurant up and running. Maybe he’ll stay longer since he likes this area, but it won’t be indefinitely. Also, we’ll be invited to any parties he might have, so you won’t be able to complain about the noise. Seems ideal since you know he’ll pay his rent on time and not trash the place.”
“You make a good point. Actually, several. I wouldn’t mind the extra income. We could start a college fund for Keely, and you never know when—”
Paige’s eyes widened. “Oh, my God. Are you pregnant?”
“Not yet, but we’re trying. Both Teague and I want a baby before Keely’s too many years older.”
Rounding the island, Paige hugged her friend. “That’s great. I’m so excited for you.”
“Well, it hasn’t happened yet. But to get back to your question, I’d be down with renting to Quentin. Next time he’s in town, we can discuss it.”
“Cool. I’ll let him know.” She glanced at the digital clock on the stove. “Damn, I need to get moving. I have to unload this morning’s purchases, eat something, and then get to my next appointment. Busy day picking antiques.”
Nina held out a cookie. “You should slow down and smell the flowers. Or in this case, the sweet scent of chocolate chips.”
With a laugh, Paige took the still-warm treat. “Thanks. Maybe one of these days, I will. Stranger things have happened, but I wouldn’t count on it.”
Chapter Two
Quentin Radcliff cruised down the coast road, singing at the top of his lungs to a U2 classic. As he shifted down on the approach to a tight corner, the engine of his Jaguar growled, but the tires held with only a slight squeal on the rain-slick highway. Maybe he was driving too fast for the shitty conditions, but where was the fun in life if you didn’t push the envelope?
He hadn’t planned to make the long trek from Seattle to Siren Cove when he’d rolled out of bed at the crack of nine after a late night, but that’s exactly what he found himself doing. The challenge of opening a new restaurant awaited. The fact that the Poseidon Grill was in his old hometown only added to his enthusiasm. Even though his family had moved away twenty years before, this spot on the Oregon coast was the one place that felt most like home.
Maybe because Paige was there. The only person in the world he could tell all his troubles to. The friend who never judged. The woman he counted on to always have his back. Knowing his best bud would be within shouting distance was possibly the most satisfying part of this whole deal.
True, the new proximity would change the dynamics of their friendship. Hopefully for the better. She hadn’t opened up a whole lot about her most recent breakup, and he couldn’t help wondering why. With both Leah and Nina getting married in the past year, he’d sensed a tension in Paige. Possibly she needed a sympathetic ear right now nearly as much as he did.
When a small red fox darted across the road, he braked hard and skidded. Correcting with the skill born of long practice, Quentin slowed down a fraction. He might be fond of living life on the edge, but he wasn’t a complete idiot. When his cell rang, he turned down the radio, put the call on speaker, and answered.
“What’s up?”
“How would you like to move into Nina’s place?”
Quentin couldn’t repress a grin. “The woman is extremely hot, but her husband is a bad-ass firefighter and might not appreciate me poaching his wife.”
He could almost see Paige’s eye-roll.
“Hilarious. Her old house. She said she’d consider renting it to you.”
“You can talk to her about it when you get to town. Any idea when that might be?”
He glanced at the dashboard clock. “A couple more hours, give or take. I cut over to the coast. It takes longer, but the drive is more scenic.”
“What! You’re on your way here?”
“I’m anxious to get started on the restaurant renovations. It was a spur of the moment decision.”
“No kidding. If I’m not back to my shop by the time you arrive, just go on upstairs. Mindy’s holding down the store while I’m out antique hunting and will give you my spare key.”
“Thanks for being flexible about this. If you have plans tonight—”
“No, just a seller with a lot of potential. I’ll be home in time for dinner.”
“Maybe I’ll swing by the grocery store first and cook tonight. Nothing fancy, but it seems like a fair trade for a place to sleep.”
Her laughter made him smile.
“A Quentin Radcliff specialty—simple or not—sure beats the takeout I’d planned to grab on my way home. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Bye, Paige.”
He disconnected and turned up the radio. When his phone rang again, he didn’t even look at it before answering. “What did you forget?”
There was a moment of silence before a high-pitched voice whined in his ear. “Me? I didn’t forget anything, but you sure as hell did. I had to find out from your manager down at The Zephyr that you left town for good without even calling to say good-bye.”
Quentin released a long breath and prayed for patience. “Don’t be so dramatic, Blaze. I’m hardly gone from Seattle for good. I’ll be back in a few months, once I get my new restaurant up and running.” His tone grew sharp. “Anyway, we’re not together anymore, so I don’t have to check in with you before I make a decision.”
“You needed a break when things between us got serious. I understood, even though it didn’t make me happy. But after your little fling with Inga, we talked about getting back together.”
He ignored her tearful pleading, despite the sudden ache in his gut. “You talked. I listened politely and said no. We’re finished, Blaze.”
“But—”
“Look, I’m driving. I have to get off the phone.”
“Then I’ll call you when you get to Siren Cove. We obviously need to have a serious conversation since you’re being so unreasonable.”
He gripped the steering wheel harder. “Calling me this evening is pointless since I’ll be busy.”
“You can’t possibly be planning to work tonight.”
“I’m making Paige dinner.”
“Of course you are. I should have known you’d go running to her. She hated me from the start. If you hadn’t let her opinion influence you—”
“I’m not having this conversation. You need to move on with your life. I am.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. I have to go. Bye, Blaze.”
Throwing the phone on the passenger seat, Quentin rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Damn. Damn. Damn.” He felt like dog shit. Hurting a woman he’d once thought he loved was the last thing he wanted, but Blaze refused to accept the fact that their relationship was over.
Paige had tried to warn him months ago, but he hadn’t listened. Moron. By the time he realized Blaze’s need to constantly please him was brought on by a deep-seated dependency, bordering on psychosis, the damage was already done. Short of marrying the woman, there seemed to be no solution other than a quick, painful break.
Except Blaze wouldn’t let go.
Just one more reason why getting the hell out of Seattle was a great idea. Maybe putting physical distance between them would help her find closure. He sure hoped so.
And the next time Paige gave him advice, he’d damn well take it.
* * *
Paige pulled up behind the moving van in front of Lola Copeland’s home and parked. The Craftsman style house had a spectacular ocean view, which was probably the reason it had sold a few months after going on the market, despite the outrageous price tag. If Paige had an extra million lying around, she would have put in an offer on the place. Unfortunately, that kind of cash was far beyond her means.
After getting out, she slammed the door and headed up the walkway, passing two men straining under the weight of a floral-patterned couch. The older one nodded at her. The younger gave her an appraising look. Completely unwarranted, in her opinion. She wore jeans with a pair of tall, heeled boots and a cowl neck sweater. With strands of blond hair escaping her braided updo, she had a feeling she looked more messy than sexy.
Reaching the open front door, Paige gave a sharp knock and called out, “Miss Lola, may I come in?”
“Heavens, yes. How are you Paige?” No taller than Paige’s diminutive five-foot two, the older woman was easily twice as wide. She hurried down the stairs, hands fluttering, her face creased in lines of worry. “This move will be the death of me. My daughter tells me I don’t have room for half my furniture in the new place, so I need to downsize to get rid of a few things fast.”
“I’ll be happy to take a look at what you’re selling.”
“Good. Good.” She reached the entry and kept moving. “Right this way. Most of what I plan to part with is in the dining room.”
Paige followed her through the echoing house to a room crammed with furniture. “Wow.” She mouthed the word behind Lola’s back.
“I had the movers put everything that’s on the chopping block in here so they can load the van without making mistakes. I hope you can squeeze between the pieces.”
“I can fit.” She edged sideways around a massive grandfather clock. “Not all the furniture in here is old enough to interest me, though.”
“I figured as much, so I taped prices on the pieces I thought you’d want. Much easier than haggling like a couple of Wall Street traders.”
Paige eyed the sticky tag on an old treadle sewing machine and raised a brow. “That’s retail, Miss Lola. I have to make a profit.”
The woman’s lips trembled. “You know I made some bad investments, right? This house was mortgaged to the hilt. I’m being forced to leave my home, the place where I raised my children and buried my husbands . . . all three of them.”
Paige hoped she didn’t mean the last part literally but refrained from asking. “I’m truly sorry for your misfortune, but I still can’t pay you retail.”
A sly grin curved Lola’s lips. “It was worth a shot. You’re a smart cookie, Paige. How about if I knock twenty-five percent off the total.”
“I have overhead. Make it thirty-five, and we have a deal. That’s a bargain, and you know it.”
“Fine,” she readily agreed. “You have me over a barrel since I’m in a rush to sell.”
Paige winced. I should have asked for forty.
“Do you want the sewing machine? I remember my grandma using it to make doll clothes back when I was just a little bitty thing. I still have the doll. Frances was her name. She has a real china head. I put her in that armoire towards the back of the room.”
“I’m interested in both.”
“Of course, Frances won’t come cheap since she has sentimental value.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
Lola let out a loud, honking belly laugh. “Because you’re sharp, like I said.”
Three hours later, the movers had carried all her smaller purchases to her van, and Paige promised to return in the morning with a trailer for the armoire and sleigh bed. After typing up a list of goods and printing it out, she handed the proof of sale to Lola along with a check. “I wish you luck with your move. Nina mentioned you’ll be living closer to your daughter now.”
“I will, and I’m surely looking forward to spending more time with my granddaughter.”
“I noticed you aren’t selling any of Nina’s paintings.”
“Are you kid
ding? My hope is they’ll be worth a whole lot more than I paid for them within a few years. Nina’s making a real name for herself in the art world.”
“She really is. I have a few pictures she gave me as birthday gifts, but I’d never part with them.”
“You’d be surprised what you can do when push comes to shove.”
“I suppose so.” Paige paused in the yard beside a pile of trash bags and cardboard boxes filled with what looked like miscellaneous crap.
“My son promised to squeeze me into his busy schedule later and take a load to the dump.” Her voice dripped sarcasm.
Paige bent to sort through one of the boxes and came up with a footed china cup with a spray of roses on the side. “If you don’t want this teacup, I’ll take it. I see that it’s cracked, but it’s a popular pattern.”
“How much will you give me?”
The container also held a few other pieces of mismatched china, an old tennis trophy, a cookie jar in the shape of a beehive, and a pair of Egyptian themed brass bookends.
“Twenty bucks for the lot.”
“Sold.”
Paige pulled her wallet out of her purse, extracted a twenty, and handed it over. “A pleasure doing business with you Miss Lola.”
“You bet. Have a nice evening, Paige.”
Hoisting the cardboard box, she headed toward her van. “I intend to.”
After dropping her final purchase on the passenger seat, she started the engine. Surely, Quentin would be in Siren Cove by now. When she reached Old Things, she turned down the narrow alley beside her shop and pulled to a stop near the back door. The rays of the setting sun reflected off the windshield of Quentin’s black Jaguar parked in the small lot. Giving two toots on the horn, she turned off the engine, then slid from the seat to the ground. By the time she rounded the van to the rear doors, her old friend emerged from the store and scooped her up in a bear hug to spin her in a circle.
Hidden Secrets Page 2