Keepers of the Cave by Gerri Hill Page A

Certainly not monetarily, even though they tried to play that card.” She looked away. “I had trust funds. They couldn’t touch that. But they tried to threaten my stake in their wealth.” Paige set her wineglass down, uncomfortable with the conversation. “When they realized I didn’t care about that, they backed off. I think they assumed I would give it up eventually.”
    “Well, if they were thrown for a loop about the FBI, I bet they really freaked about the gay thing,” CJ said, pushing her plate away to cup her wineglass with both hands.
    Paige felt a blush coming to her face but was unable to stop it. She picked up her glass, hoping CJ wouldn’t notice but knowing that she would.
    “Paige?”
    Paige cleared her throat. “They don’t...well, I’ve never mentioned it.”
    CJ stared at her. “You’re in the closet ?”
    “I guess you could say that.”
    CJ met her eyes, her own widening. She stood quickly, pushing her chair back, her head cocked to the side thoughtfully.
    “Okay, wait a minute.” She turned away from Paige for a second, then looked back around quickly. “What are you saying exactly?”
    “What do—”
    “You weren’t—”
    “What?”
    “I mean, with me, God, it wasn’t your first time?” CJ’s eyes widened. “Jesus, was it?”
    Paige raised her eyebrows. “Oh, come on. Really?”
    “Granted, you knew what you were doing,” CJ murmured, almost to herself. “No. Couldn’t be. You were too—” She glared at Paige. “Right?”
    “Please sit down. You’re overreacting,” she said. “And as if I’d have been the first virgin you’d ever slept with,” she added.
    CJ again had a panicked look on her face. “Paige, seriously. I wasn’t the first woman you’d been with, right?”
    Paige frowned. “Where is this coming from? Was I that bad that you thought it was my first time?”
    “No. God, no. You were fantas—” She paused. “That’s not—” CJ sat down again. “I’m sorry. Of course it wasn’t your first time.” She tried to grin. “What was I thinking?”
    Paige stared at her. “What is wrong with you?”
    CJ shook her head. “Nothing. I’m sorry. I just don’t like to be anybody’s first. It’s scary.” She took a big gulp from her wine. “So you’re in the closet? Wow. I mean, with everyone ?”
    “Obviously not with you.”
    It was CJ’s turn to frown. “Paige, the guys—Ice and Billy—I mean, we flirt all the time.”
    “Yes. And that’s expected now. I play along with it, as do you.”
    “But you know they think you’re gay. Right? I mean, they know, they don’t think. Well, they think they know. Christ—”
    Paige laughed. “While I haven’t brought my personal life to the job—ever—I don’t doubt that they assume, simply from the lack of me mentioning a boyfriend.”
    “And you don’t think your parents assume the same?”
    Paige smiled, hoping it reached her eyes. “I’m very busy. I don’t have time to date,” she stated.
    “Oh my God,” CJ murmured. “There’s not some guy, is there? I mean, that your family is holding out hope for?”
    Paige looked away. Crap. She sighed. “Seth Buchanan.”
    CJ stared at her. “Come on. Seriously?”
    She stood, picking up both of their plates. “Seriously.” She had hoped that would be the end of it, but CJ followed her into the kitchen, bringing their wineglasses with her.
    “So how often do you see this Seth person?”
    Paige took the glass CJ held out to her. “Family get-togethers, that sort of thing,” she said evasively.
    “And how often is that?”
    “Not too often. My family is in Dallas, remember.” She set her glass down. “Why so curious?”
    “Are you kidding me? You drop the I’m in the closet bombshell and you think I’m not curious?” CJ arched an eyebrow. “Are you sleeping with him?”
    “Of course I’m not sleeping with him,” she snapped.
    “Does he know you’re gay?”
    Paige sighed, wishing this conversation would come to an