Buried in Secrets (Carly Moore #4) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,102
nearly pitch black, and I banged into the wall outside the door. Cringing, I was torn between bolting down the stairs and waiting to see if Max came to the door to check on the noise. Before I could decide, the door opened and Max appeared, his hand on the door. His apartment was dark except for a dim circle of light from a couple of candles on his coffee table.
“Max, I’m so sorry,” I gushed. His face was swathed in shadows, and I couldn’t see if he was pissed. “The keg’s nearly empty, and I came up to ask which one to use as a replacement, but then I heard voices and started to leave so I wouldn’t interrupt.” I lowered my voice. “I didn’t mean to bother you. You get back to whatever it was you were doing and we’ll sort it out ourselves.”
“Is that Carly I hear?” a familiar female voice called out.
Oh shit.
Max hesitated. “Yeah, Mom.”
“Well, don’t be rude, Max. Invite her in.”
Max hesitated again, then backed up so I could enter the room.
“Well hello, Carly,” she said from across the room. She was sitting on the edge of Max’s sofa, but I didn’t see Bart. “It’s been too long since we chatted. I was hoping you’d come out to tea again.”
I stopped a couple of feet into the room. “I’ve been busy.”
“Yes, you have, haven’t you? What with Tutoring Club and your community outreach to those in peril, I’m sure you don’t have much spare time.”
Was she talking about Pam? Had she caught wind of what I was up to?
Max gave me a wary look but didn’t go over to join his mother.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” I said hastily. “I just needed to ask Max about the keg replacement, but then I heard voices and I wasn’t sure if Max had invited a lady friend upstairs.”
Emily laughed but it sounded forced. “Yes, one of my sons sleeps around while the other pines for you.” Her mouth pinched. “Shame on the lot of you for lettin’ me think you and Wyatt were together when you broke up months ago.”
I didn’t want to touch that subject. It hadn’t been my lie. That one was squarely on the Drummond men. I backed up a step toward the door. “So, Max? The keg?”
“Yeah,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck, looking thrown. “Just use your best judgment.”
“Max, why don’t you go take care of the keg so us girls can have a chat?” Emily said, but it wasn’t a question.
“Oh, that’s all right,” I said, taking another step. “I’ll just be on my way.”
“Really, Caroline,” she said in an icy tone. “I insist.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Max’s eyes widened. He started to say something, but when he saw I didn’t correct her, he stopped.
Panic flooded my body, and I nearly ran down the stairs to escape, but I had to be smart about this. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that she knew my secret. Even if Bart hadn’t told her, no doubt the information was there at her house, available for the taking. Now, I had to find out what she wanted.
I turned to look at Max, not surprised by the confusion on his face. He thought Carly was a nickname for Charlene. “I think I’ll stay and have a chat with your mother.”
He still hesitated, as though he thought leaving us alone wasn’t a good idea.
“Marco had almost run the keg dry about five minutes ago, so he needs an answer.”
“Carly,” he said, then cast a glance to his mother.
“Really, Max,” Emily said in an amused tone. “Why are you acting so strangely?”
He opened the door, and I called out, “Would you refrain from telling Marco that I’m up here?” If he knew I was alone with Emily, I suspected he’d barge in.
“Uh…” He glanced back to his mother again.
“And also keep this from your father,” Emily added. “Basically, this is all a big secret. Can you keep it?”
He shot her a dark glare. “Haven’t I already?” Then he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
“Don’t mind Max,” she said, making a dismissive wave with one hand. “He’s a bit out of sorts after the conversation we were having before you appeared.” A smile lifted her lips. “Which was quite fortuitous.” Her brow lifted. “Or was it?”
“If you’re implying that I was spying, you couldn’t be more wrong. I thought Max had brought a date upstairs. I had no idea it was you.”