Secrets in the Shadows (8 page)

She was in charge of who she let into her bed, and had been for a number of years. As an innocent teenager, she’d had no idea the power a woman could wield over men. She learned that lesson well, thanks to some benefactors, and she fully enjoyed her power.

Checking the bed to make sure it was neat, she turned down the covers so the sheets were exposed. She removed the throw pillows, placing them in the chair next to the bed, and reached into the nightstand drawer for the bowl of condoms she always kept on hand. The bedside lamps were already on, casting a soft glow over the room, and all she had left to do was check her personal security system.

Once that was done, she looked out over the apartment, pleased with the way it had turned out. The loft style, open and airy, still had an intimate feeling, thanks to the warm, dusky colors and strategically placed lighting. She had completely remodeled the building when she purchased it, knowing specifically what she wanted. It was all one big open room, with high ceilings and hardwood floors. The bedroom was on a dais, about four steps up from the main area. The bathroom opened up off the bedroom and, aside from the closet, was the only closed off area of the apartment.

She hurried into the kitchen and selected a chilled white wine and two glasses, placing them on a small tray. She quickly rinsed some fresh grapes and strawberries she had purchased the day before and put them in a nice serving dish. Adding a corkscrew on the tray, she carried the ensemble into the living room and set it down on the coffee table.

On her way back to the bedroom to recheck everything one last time, she lit several candles. Atmosphere was important, after all, even if just for a quick romp in bed with someone who was practically a stranger. She knew better than to entertain the notion that tonight was about more than sex. A realist, she knew what most people thought of her, how they viewed her. She didn’t believe in love, and the idea of casual sex didn’t bother her overmuch. She encouraged men to see her as a woman to be enjoyed, and she used that perception to her advantage.

Hearing his footsteps on the outside stairs to the private entrance, she went back to the bedroom, reached for the phone, and hit a series of buttons on the keypad. Three lights flashed, letting her know that her security system was online and running. She waited for him to ring the bell, and not wanting to appear too eager, she made herself walk to the kitchen before going to open the door.

He stood on the deck. The ambient lighting from the sconces on the exterior wall struck the planes of his face. They looked at each other for a few moments, and she finally spoke.

“I didn’t think you’d be calling quite so soon.”

He gave her a boyish grin and leaned his tall frame against the doorjamb. “I didn’t expect to be calling so soon, myself.” He leered down at her, eyes full of appreciation.

“I take it things didn’t work out the way you wanted them to with your little girlfriend, or you’d be with her. I’m glad.” She tugged on his shirt, pulling him into the apartment. “What happened?” She faced him, her back against the cold metal of the door.

“Let’s just say that she’s not the kind of woman a man feels comfortable calling in the middle of the night and asking if he can come over. I’d rather not talk about that, though.” He touched her shoulder, trailing his hand down and cupping her breast through the silk.

She absorbed his words with only a tiny pinch of hurt, coolly acknowledging the confirmation that he was just like all the others. Telling herself that she was reassured by his behavior, she pressed her breast against his hand.

“What would you like to talk about, then? The weather? Sports?”

He laughed huskily as she slid her hands up his arms and across his shoulders, then started unbuttoning his shirt. “I’d rather not talk.” Tilting her face up to his, he kissed her. As his lips moved down her neck, she closed her eyes, unable to hide the sadness and thankful he wasn’t looking at her face.

“Shall we go to the bedroom?” His mouth pressed against the sensitive spot where her neck joined her shoulder. She sighed as he scraped her skin with his teeth. Picking her up, he carried her across the room and into the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed and started stripping off his clothes.

Putting aside all other thoughts, she made herself focus on the present. There would be time enough in the morning, when she woke up alone, to think about the past.

Fridays were usually the busiest days at the Brown Bag, and this one was no exception. Lauren had been working on paperwork in the upstairs office, but when Janet called over the intercom to say that the lines were getting crazy, she headed down to help. Grabbing an apron from the hook behind the kitchen door, she quickly tied it around her waist and joined Janet behind the counter.

Forty-five hectic minutes later, the crowd finally thinned. Lauren heard a man come back to the counter and ask for a refill to go. She stopped cleaning the mess in the prep area and made his coffee when Janet handed her the order. After putting the finishing touches on his drink, she walked it down to the register and handed it over with a smile.

“Here you go.” Her smile froze as he reached for the cup. It had been thirteen years, but she recognized Travis Tyler. His reaction was the same as hers. He paused, a look of stunned surprise on his face. The person in line behind him cleared his throat and Travis jerked to attention. Picking up the cup, he nodded at Lauren and Janet, and headed out the door.

“What was that all about?” Janet asked a few minutes later. “You looked like you’d seen a ghost or something, girl.”

“I felt like I had for a minute there. He’s just someone I knew from years ago. I’m fine. He just startled me.”

“Oo-oh, a lost love?”

Lauren laughed. “Not exactly.” She gave a rueful smile at the thought and shook her head, moving to the register to greet another wave of customers.

For the next little while, she stayed too busy to think about what Travis might be doing in Leroy, but after the lunch crowd had moved on and things had quieted down, she let her mind wander over the possibilities. Travis had a reputation in southern Indiana as a real estate developer and commercial contractor. Based in Madison, his company had grown by leaps and bounds. She felt a little surprised that it had taken so long for the two of them to cross paths again. She was working her way through the empty dining room, wiping down tables and collecting dirty dishes, when the bell over the door rang.

Travis walked over to where she stood and studied her for a minute before speaking. “Lauren, right? Margie’s cousin?”

“That’s right.” She returned his smile, shaking the hand he offered. “It’s been a few years. How are you, Travis?”

“I’m doing well.” He held her hand for a few seconds longer than necessary before letting it go. “I’m a little surprised you remember me.”

She laughed and pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, it’s hard to live around here and not know your name, but the time we met was rather… memorable. You saved Margie and me a lot of trouble that night at the lake. I’m not liable to forget that. What brings you to Leroy?”

He grinned. “Business. What else is there? Any chance you can take a break? I’d like to buy you a cup of coffee.”

“I think that can be arranged. Give me just a minute.” Lauren excused herself and went to the kitchen to tell Janet she was taking a break. She untied the apron and hung it on its hook. Back in the dining room, she washed up at the sink in the prep area. She dried her hands and asked Travis what he wanted to drink.

He shrugged. “I’m pretty open to anything. Surprise me.”

Lauren thought for a minute then decided to try a recipe she was thinking of adding to the menu. “You like sweet coffee?”

“I like sweet anything.” He strolled around the dining room. As she pulled their drinks together, he stopped to look at the collage of black and white photos arranged near the door.

“Nice pictures.”

“Thanks. One of my friends took those last year at the Independence Day celebration.” She reached into the bakery case and pulled out a couple slices of carrot cake, setting them on a tray next to their coffees. Collecting napkins and silverware, she picked up the tray and moved to where he stood, still looking at the pictures.

She shifted the tray to her left hand and pointed to a picture of Ava. “That’s my daughter.”

“She’s adorable.” He took the tray. “Where do you want to sit?”

Lauren directed him to a booth, and he asked how much he owed.

“Not a dime.” He started to protest, but she stopped him. “I’m trying out a new recipe on you, one that isn’t on the menu yet. You’re my guinea pig. I can’t charge you for that.”

“So, you’re the owner?”

“Yes.” Reaching for her coffee, she inhaled the aroma before taking a cautious sip of the spiced mocha latte. Approving it, she nodded, watching him pick up his glass mug and taste the drink.

“Wow, that’s good. What’s in it?”

“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”

“Well, you should definitely offer it on the menu, whatever it is. How long have you owned this place?”

“For five years now. I managed the diner that was here for a couple of years before we had a major fire. After that, I bought Corrine out and this café was born. What about you? I know you’re a developer, and pretty big from the sound of it, but what else have you been doing these past years?”

“That’s pretty much it. Got married, had two kids, got divorced. My ex moved them out of state, so I hardly ever get to see them, and my parents are off traveling the world. I’m pretty much alone. Work fills the void.”

“I can understand that. Having Ava and this place kept me sane when I got divorced. At the time I wondered how I would ever get through things, having a six-month-old and a diner to manage, but being so busy kept me from dwelling too much on things I wasn’t ready to deal with.” She stopped, looking at him with a self-conscious laugh. “Why is it so easy for me to talk to you?”

“Because we’re perfect strangers who only see each other every decade or so.” His prompt response made her chuckle. Turning serious, he asked about Margie. “Have you seen her recently?”

Lauren had been expecting the question, but actually hearing it unsettled her more than she thought it would. She reached for her mug, needing something to hold. “I’ve neither seen nor heard from Margie in thirteen years. How much do you know about what happened that summer?”

“She left in a hurry, without saying goodbye to a lot of people. I know there was a scandal of some sort, that the police were involved, and that half her family left not long after she did. That’s about all.”

Lauren agreed. “That’s a pretty neat summation. I’d rather not discuss the details, but it was a bad situation for everyone. Suffice it to say, she had good reason for leaving, but she didn’t choose the best way to do it.” She took in the shuttered look on his face. “I take it you haven’t heard from her?”

“Nope. The last time I saw her was the night of that party. Things weren’t exactly pleasant between us at the time. We’d had a big fight a couple of weeks before that, and we both said things we shouldn’t have.” He twirled his mug around on its base.

Hearing what he wasn’t saying, Lauren sat up and rested her arms on the table, astonished. “You were in love with her, weren’t you?”

Travis snorted and sat back. Meeting her eyes, he seemed to realize that she wasn’t teasing or making fun of him. He sighed. “I was completely head over heels for Margie. I admit that after she disappeared, I fell apart a little. I got drunk and stayed that way for a week. By the time I sobered up, she was long gone, and so were her parents. Neither of her brothers who stayed here knew anything, or if they did, they weren’t telling me. After a while, I decided to just let her go. I figured if she wanted to hear from me, she’d call. It’s not like I moved away. I’ve been in Madison ever since.”

“I had no idea that’s how things were between you. She never said a word to me. Of course, she changed so much that summer… there were a lot of things she didn’t tell me,” she added bitterly.

“Yeah, I gathered. That night at the party, you seemed pretty blown away by the whole thing. It was clear you were out of your element. No offense.”

Lauren shook her head. “None taken. If you hadn’t come to our rescue, I don’t know what would have happened.”

The party they referred to had happened that fateful summer. After spending a week at Lauren’s, she and Margie had driven to Clayhole and the Vernon’s farm, where Lauren was going to spend a few days. The night after they arrived, Margie managed to get permission from her parents to go out. She guided Lauren to Travis’s secluded property, situated on a small, private lake near Madison, Indiana. Unaware of what they would be walking into, Lauren had innocently gone along.

When they arrived, the party was in full swing, with dozens of teenagers and young adults scattered throughout the small cabin. There was a full, open bar, with alcohol and even some drugs, and most of the people in attendance were well on their way to being drunk or high, if not both. As soon as they arrived, Margie disappeared with some guy. While Lauren was searching for her, she ran into Travis.