Midnight Secrets

chapter

TWENTY-FIVE


When he was a kid, if anyone had told Zach that he’d someday have dinner with the mayor of Midnight at his home, he would’ve asked them what they’d been snorting. It’d never been his dream to hobnob with the elite of this town or any other. He shot a glance at the woman sitting beside him. She was the only elite he’d ever been interested in impressing.

Five days had gone by since the incident with the dead animal on her doorstep. Nothing unusual had happened since then. He was close to thinking that some bored teens had found roadkill somewhere and thought it’d be cool to dump it at someone’s door, and it just so happened that person was Savannah. Not that his concern had eased up any. After going through those few hellacious hours when he’d thought something had happened to her, it was going to take a hell of a lot more time for him to stop worrying.

Since that day, he and Savannah had reached a new level in their relationship. They saw each other every day, often had meals together, and spent their nights in each other’s arms. Things had progressed much quicker than he ever could have hoped. His feelings for her were a thousand times stronger than they’d been ten years ago. She went into his arms every night as if she belonged there and was more than content to stay there forever. Everything should be perfect. So why the hell wasn’t he happy?

Apparently feeling his eyes on her, Savannah twisted in her chair and gave him a smile. Still sweet, still beautiful, but so full of secrets. There was something missing. Something she wouldn’t share or wouldn’t tell him. It was as if she was holding something back—an emotion, a feeling. He didn’t know.

Every time he brought up her life in Nashville, she became evasive. Did she think he’d think less of her if she’d had romantic relationships? It hurt like hell to think of her with another man, but she was a young, beautiful woman. It was only natural for her to have had relationships. Had she been married before, engaged? He wanted to know everything about her and still felt he knew so little.

“You’re awfully quiet. Everything okay?”

Zach pulled himself out of his useless introspection. He should be damn happy for what he had right now. A month ago, he figured he’d never even have a chance to be with Savannah again, in any way. This was a hell of a lot better than he deserved.

“I’m fine.” And, since he didn’t want to discuss how un-fine he was, he changed the subject. “I saw you and Corwin in deep discussion a few minutes ago. He giving you some legal advice?”

He’d meant it as a small joke. Corwin Banks was the most prominent attorney in Midnight, but Zach would bet his last dollar that Savannah was the more knowledgeable when it came to legal issues. She smiled but her eyes remained solemn. Dammit, there it was again. That look of secrecy. Why?

“We were just talking about old times. When my parents were alive.”

“They were friends?”

She nodded. “Whenever I come to the Kilgores’ for dinner, Lamont always invites some of my parents’ old friends.”

“Is that hard for you? Hearing them talk about your parents?”

“It used to be. Not so much anymore.”

“Time give you a different perspective?”

“I guess.” She shrugged and smiled vaguely. Her voice softened as she asked, “So, your place or mine tonight?”

“Your choice. I’m off tomorrow.”

She grinned cheekily. “I was kind of hoping to get you off tonight.”

Surprised laughter erupted from him. Learning that Savannah had a wicked, sometimes bawdy sense of humor had been an extra delight. He might have doubts about a lot of things, but when it came to the heat between them, it was hotter than ever.

“What’s so funny?” Nesta asked.

Savannah felt a blush to the roots of her hair. She could tease and joke with Zach about things she’d never consider saying to anyone else.

Before Savannah could answer, Nesta giggled. “Never mind. By the look on Savannah’s face, I know it was meant for only you two.” She beamed at them. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you two together. I remember when you were both just young’uns and looked at each other like there was no one else in the world. It’s so good to see you acting like that again.”

Her blush deepened. This thing with Zach was too new and fragile to discuss in public.

“Now I’ve gone and embarrassed you even more.” She looked over her shoulder. “Lamont, get over here and get me out of this hole I’m diggin’.”

Savannah laughed and hugged the older woman. “You’re fine. This is just kind of new to us, too.” She shot an amused look at Zach and was surprised that he wasn’t smiling. In fact, he looked downright grim.

Big and burly, Lamont wrapped one arm around his wife, one around Savannah, and grinned down at them both. “What’s this? My wife is saying something embarrassing?” He winked at Zach. “When I married Nesta, that was the one thing her daddy warned me about. Her family has a long history of foot-and-mouth disease … you know, insert foot into mouth.”

“Lamont Lester, that’s not true.” She paused and then added, “Okay, maybe a little true.” Waving her hand at Savannah and Zach, she said, “But don’t they look wonderful together?”

Fortunately Lamont was a born politician. “Nesta, I forgot to tell you that the caterer said they were running low on ice.”

“What?” Her eyes wide with worry, she quickly excused herself and practically ran toward the kitchen.

Lamont winked again. “That’ll keep her occupied for a while.” He leaned forward and kissed Savannah on the cheek. “You youngsters enjoy yourselves.”

After he left, Savannah took a sip of her wine and shot a glance around. So far, she had talked to Lamont and Nesta, Corwin and DeAnne Banks, Noreen Ingram, and Richard Tatum. She’d been as vague as possible with her questions surrounding the night her parents died, but her discretion would soon have to end. This subtle line of questioning wasn’t working.

Tonight she would tell Zach about her grandfather’s letters and ask for his help. Yes, she needed to see the police and coroner’s reports, but she also hated keeping secrets from him. She only had a little over a month left here in Midnight and wanted to make the most of it. They hadn’t talked about the future; Savannah refused to allow herself to think there was one. Optimistic dreams of the future no longer existed in her world. Besides, they lived hundreds of miles apart.

“You about ready to go?”

A chain reaction of sensations swept through her body. Goosebumps zipped up her spine, nipples grew tight and hard, breath increased, and her sex throbbed in anticipated arousal. They’d made love only about four hours ago and she wanted him again. Was ten years of deprivation causing this oversexed reaction? She’d like to think so but she didn’t believe that for one moment. No one had ever been able to make her react like Zach. At the mere sound of his deep, sexy voice, she went wet with arousal.

She desperately wanted to say yes. Going home and getting lost in each other sounded like heaven. But there were a few more people she wanted to chat with. “Let’s stay for a little while longer.”

Again that grim look, but he nodded and said, “I think I saw Cooper Douglas out on the patio. I need to see him about something. I’ll catch you later.”

He was decidedly upset about something. She shook off her worry and headed to the corner where Kyle Ingram was sitting by himself. Why he came to these parties she couldn’t understand. Every time she saw the poor man, he was either alone or had the saddest expression on his face. Noreen, whom she’d talked to earlier, had been her usual sour self, so maybe it made sense he came to parties. Staying at home, alone with his wife, couldn’t be fun.

“Hi, Kyle. How are you doing?”

He blinked up at her as if he’d been asleep, and then jumped to his feet. “Savannah, hi. How are you?”

Since one never went anywhere in the South without being prepared to talk about the weather, Savannah started first. “Sweltering in this heat. Must’ve been close to a hundred today.”

“That’s what I heard. Sure hope we get more rain soon. That downpour we got the other day got absorbed into the ground like a sponge.”

Remembering what she’d been doing during that particular downpour brought a new wave of heat to her body. Great. Zach didn’t even need to be near her to turn her on.

Kyle didn’t seem to notice her flushed state. The same look he had every time she talked to him came into his eyes … some sort of weird adoration. Though the look was disturbing, perhaps if he was distracted, he wouldn’t wonder too much about her questions.

“You said you went to school with my mama, didn’t you?”

A smile brightened his glum face. “Maggie Mae … I used to call her. She was one of my best friends.” His face dimmed again. “Until she went off to college.”

“You didn’t see much of her after that?”

Savannah hadn’t thought his face could get any gloomier, but he managed it when he answered, “She met your father.”

That he hadn’t been a fan of her father’s even before her parents’ deaths was obvious. Was it jealousy or something more sinister? Then why kill her mother? Why not just kill Beckett Wilde?

“You and my father weren’t friends?”

Hatred gleamed so hot in his eyes, Savannah had to force herself not to gasp and step back. The last thing she wanted him to do was shut down or guard his responses.

“Before they got married, I told her that she’d rue the day she married that bastard.” His mouth twisted in a sanctimonious purse as he added, “I was right.”

For someone who talked almost daily to sadistic, evil people, Savannah was hard to shock or scare. This man had something wrong with him. It wasn’t just dissatisfaction with his choices in life or a bad marriage.

Despite her disquiet, she continued with her questions. Hoping to ease the tenseness, she tried a different approach. “How was it that you got into the furniture business?”

“My parents own Ingram’s Furnishings.”

“How interesting. I didn’t make the connection.”

Ingram’s Furnishings was one of the largest furniture companies in the South. Half the furniture in her apartment came from their store. She made a mental note to give it away when she returned home.

“I talked my daddy into expanding.” He straightened his shoulders as he proclaimed proudly, “I opened the first fine-furniture store in Midnight. The other one in town is just mass-produced crap.”

“Did you see my mother much after you moved here?”

“She came into the store occasionally.”

“What about my father?”

His face closed down and Savannah knew she’d gone too far—interrogating instead of holding a friendly conversation. Before she could figure out a way to get back on track, a soft hand touched her bare arm.

“Excuse me, Savannah Rose,” Gibby said. She smiled sweetly at Kyle. “Mind if I steal my niece for a minute?”

Kyle shook his head and backed away. “I was just about to say good night.” He gave a small nod to Savannah and said, “Good to see you again.”

Savannah watched as Kyle muttered something to Noreen and then they both walked toward the door. When would she ever get a chance to talk to him again?

Turning to her aunt, she smiled, thinking how pretty Gibby looked tonight. “You know, pink really is your color.”

Gibby glowed at the compliment but she had something else on her mind. “An idea came to me a few seconds ago that I thought could be significant to your investigation.”

Looking around, Savannah winced at the number of people who’d heard that statement. As Gibby grew older, her hearing had become less sharp and her voice had become louder. She took her aunt’s elbow and guided her gently toward a more private area a few feet away.

“Now, what was—”

“Gibby, I’m leaving. You coming?”

Hester, Gibby’s best friend, stood beside them.

“I’ll be there in just a few minutes. I wanted to talk to Savannah a minute.”

“I need to get home now. Scooter’s medicine was due half an hour ago.”

Savannah knew that Scooter was Hester’s elderly cat, who, she claimed, was the oldest cat in Alabama. Savannah didn’t doubt it, since she swore the cat had been around when she was a little girl.

Gibby sighed. “All right. I’m coming.”

“Zach and I can take you home, Gibby.”

Instead of answering, Gibby looked at Hester. “Go bring the car around and I’ll be on the porch.”

Her mission clear, Hester walked away.

“If I don’t go with her, she’ll pout for a week. Why don’t you come by for breakfast in the morning? I froze a delicious breakfast casserole a few months back. We’ll have a nice meal and chat.”

Since a few months back probably meant she’d frozen the casserole a couple of years ago, Savannah knew indigestion would result. However, it was worth it if Gibby had what she thought was significant information.

“That sounds good. Eight o’clock okay?”

“Perfect.”

Savannah leaned down and kissed the soft, creped cheek. “You be careful going home. See you in the morning.”

Gibby looked around Savannah. “Zach, you get my girl home at a decent hour, you hear?”

Startled, Savannah turned. Was Zach in the room when Gibby made the statement about her investigation? The glint of fury in his gray eyes answered her question. She had decided to tell him everything tonight. Wrapped in his arms, she had planned to reveal that and possibly more.

Gearing up for what was most likely not going to be the sizzling night of passion and sharing she had been anticipating, she watched Zach charm Gibby and escort her out the door. Savannah went to say her goodbyes to Lamont and Nesta. If Zach’s expression was anything to go by, she was not looking forward to the next few minutes.

Hurt and anger were each powerful emotions on their own. Mixed, they could make you say shit you’d regret forever. Which was exactly why Zach hadn’t said a word since he’d gotten in the car. Savannah had tried to open up several avenues of conversation, but he hadn’t taken the bait. Responding to anything right now would open up a chasm neither of them was prepared to handle. Once his temper was intact, they’d talk. Until then, he’d stay silent.

According to Gibby, Savannah was running an investigation. The conversation he’d had with Inez Peebles the other day took on new meaning. She’d said Savannah was asking questions about her parents. She was investigating what? Their deaths? If so, why? And why now?

He shot a glance over at her. She was staring out the window, her profile as classic and pure as a madonna’s. At his request, she’d worn her long hair down, and all during dinner tonight, he’d dreamed about taking her home and burying his hands in those golden tresses as he buried himself inside her. Unless he was totally misjudging the situation, neither of them would be getting that kind of satisfaction tonight.

Pulling into the drive, he got out of the car. She met him in front of the car. “Are you coming in?”

Torn between devouring that sexy, mutinous mouth and just leaving and letting her stew for a while, Zach took another direction. One he should have taken when he first suspected she was keeping secrets. “Yeah, I’m coming in and we’re going to talk. You ready to do that?”

“Yes, I was going to tell you tonight anyway.”

“Let’s go.”

They walked side by side to the front door. Zach unlocked the door and held it open for Savannah to enter. The instant he shut the door behind him, she whirled around and said, “I know you’re angry, but—”

Zach held up his hand. “Don’t even give me the bullshit of saying you were going to tell me tonight. Just tell me.”

Issuing an exasperated huff that echoed through the house, she crossed her arms and said, “Fine. Remember I told you I found letters my grandfather wrote to my grandmother?”

When he just stared silently, she continued, “He wrote that he didn’t believe my father killed my mother, nor did he think he committed suicide. He believed they were both murdered but it was made to look like a murder-suicide.”

“Did he have any proof?”

“As far as I can tell, no, he didn’t. Just his suspicions and some vague threats that Mosby made.” She turned slightly and said, “Come into the study. I faxed the letters to Sammie and Bri the other day. And I made copies for you, too.”

Did she think that was going to make this better? It made sense that she had planned to tell him at some point. She would want to see copies of the police and coroner’s reports. He could get those for her, so of course she had to tell him. What he didn’t understand was why she hadn’t told him immediately.

As he followed her into the large room that had been her grandfather’s study, he asked, “When did you find the letters?”

Her shoulders went stiff and he already knew he wasn’t going to like her answer. “Last week.” She handed him a stack of papers. “I wanted to check things out before I told anyone.”

“Anyone being me. Right? Apparently you’ve told your sisters, your aunt, and how many others?”

“That’s all, Zach. I just …”

“You just what, Savannah? Have you ever considered that the dead animal on your doorstep might be related to this?”

She shook her head. “That wasn’t anything other than a prank. You said so yourself.”

“That was before I found out that you might be attracting the attention of a killer.”

“A killer is not going to leave a poor dead animal on my doorstep.”

“Killers have a tendency to not be completely sane. Don’t discount it just because it doesn’t seem harmful.”

“All right, fine. But—”

Again Zach held out his hand to stop her. “What’s your fax number?”

“Why?”

“So I can fax you the police and coroner’s reports. I’m assuming that’s why you were going to tell me.”

“Dammit, Zach, it wasn’t like that.”

“The number.”

Green fire flashed in her eyes as she rattled off the number.

Zach turned to the door. “I’ll read over the letters tonight. It’ll take me some time to find the reports, since old records are in the storage room. Tomorrow okay with you?”

“Zach, please. You have to understand. Ever since my parents’ deaths, I’ve hated my father for destroying our family. No one ever mentioned it might not have happened the way we were told. I had to investigate.”

“You think I blame you for investigating? That’s not my problem and you damn well know it. You’ve slept by my side for the past week and you kept this from me.”

Knowing why she didn’t tell him cut deep into his heart. “Look, I’ve apologized, Savannah. I know I hurt you and I’d give my life to change what I did ten years ago. I can’t go back, I can only go forward. You need to make a decision. Either you trust me or you don’t.”

With that ultimatum, he walked out the door.