More Than Cookies (The Maple Leaf Series) (20 page)

A noise over by the fireplace caught Orion’s attention. Ranger was sprawled out on the floor, his long legs thrust out in front of him and his big tongue lolling out as he dreamed.

This was how it should be. A man, his dog, his daughter, and his… his… hell, his woman. He had to admit he wanted Sage to be his woman. Kissing her in his kitchen right before Myah announced she needed someone to brush out all the knots in her wet hair had been like taking a trip to paradise. An all-inclusive resort trip too, not the cheap motel kind. As much as he’d wanted Myah in his house, that kiss made him want to clear everyone out and finally have his way with Sage once and for all. How many times could they come that close and be denied? It bordered on tortuous.

The evening had made up for their lack of lovemaking though. They’d played a few games, all four of them, ate more cookies, and laughed more than Orion could ever remember laughing before. Sage, once again, surprised him by getting along famously with Myah just as she had with Ian. It was as if she’d always been present among them. He couldn’t figure out how she managed to be so familiar, but she was. Familiar, kind, funny, gorgeous… Christ, he could go on all day about how fantastic Sage Stannard was.

But how had they ended up sleeping on the couch in a big heap? The only person missing from the living room now was Ian.

Dad!

Had his father gone to bed on his own? Shit, he needed to find out—though every fiber of his being wanted to stay right where he was.

Carefully, he slid Myah off his lap, and she immediately readjusted herself to continue sleeping on the couch cushions beside him. Freeing himself from Sage proved to be a bigger challenge. She had a solid grip around his waist, her head resting on his shoulder. He wrestled with having to go find Ian and not wanting to disturb her. Truthfully, it was more about not wanting to leave her side than disturbing her, but he had no choice. He had to find his father.

“Sage,” he whispered as he ran his finger along her cheek.

She didn’t stir at all.

“Sage.” A little louder this time, and he combed his fingers through her hair, pulling it back away from her face. Her perfect, perfect face. “I have to get up, beautiful.”

She squirmed a little closer, her arms getting a little tighter. His efforts were having the opposite effects and the more she burrowed toward him, the less he wanted to be free.

Finally, he closed his hand around her wrist and with a little force, he managed to lift her arm enough that he could slide out. The moment he stood, she lifted her head and her eyes shot open. She blinked several times and eventually focused on him.

He raised his hand and put a finger to his lips, asking her to be quiet for Myah’s sake. She nodded, a sleepy grin on her lips that rooted him to the spot where he stood.

“Where’s Ian?” she mouthed.

Ian. Right. Got to find him.

Orion made his way to Ian’s bedroom after checking the bathroom. Both rooms were empty, but Ian’s pajamas were at the foot of his bed, so he’d changed into regular clothes. Orion went into the kitchen and peeked out the window above the sink. He let out the breath he’d been holding when he caught sight of the top of Ian’s head by the edge of the porch.

Gardening.

Thank God, his father was just safely playing in his flower beds. Orion didn’t need to add any missing people to his list.

Speaking of missing people, time to check on Adriana.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed her cell number when he didn’t see any messages from her. Again, her voice mail came on. He called her house and office phones with the same results. He was about to call the police and officially report her as missing when talking outside made him go to the back door instead.

He stepped onto the porch while two uniformed police officers walked past Ian and up the porch stairs.

“Are you Orion Finley?” one of them asked.

“Yes.” Orion held up his phone. “You guys are good. I didn’t even dial yet.”

Their grim faces clearly meant business. Not a time for jokes.

The male officer said, “I’m Officer Kevin Sencotte.” He gestured to the female officer by his side. “This is Officer Diana Landis. Is that Adriana Whitfield-Finley’s car in your driveway?”

“Huh?” Orion walked to the end of the porch, his right leg feeling stiff today, and looked to his driveway where Adriana’s Mercedes SUV did in fact sit. “Um, yeah, that’s her car, but I don’t know how it got there. It wasn’t there last night. She’s been missing since yesterday. I haven’t been able to reach her.”

“She left my six-year-old granddaughter home alone,” Ian added.

Ignoring Ian, Officer Sencotte said, “We received an anonymous tip her car was here. Is she inside, Mr. Finley?”

Orion shook his head. “No. I called you guys last night to report her missing, but was told I had to wait until morning. I have no idea how her car got here or why it’s here.”

“Is your daughter, Myah Finley, inside?” Officer Landis asked, after checking her phone.

“Yes. As my father said, Adriana left Myah home alone yesterday. Myah called me, very upset, and I brought her here after not being able to reach Adriana.”

“Your ex-wife has official custody of Myah, correct?” Sencotte asked.  

Why did he feel as if he were under a microscope? “Yes.” Should he get Jack over here?

“And you are filing for a modification to that custody agreement. Just filed it this week. Isn’t that right?” Landis tapped the screen on her phone.

There didn’t appear to be a “good” cop in this duo. They were both playing bad cop and making Orion super uncomfortable.

“I did file for a modification, as is my right.” Now he was feeling a little defensive, as if he needed to choose each word he said carefully so it wouldn’t be used against him later.

“Mind if we check inside, Mr. Finley?” Sencotte motioned to the house behind Orion.

“Check for what?”

“Any signs of Adriana Whitfield-Finley,” Landis answered.

“I told you I don’t know where she is.” He held up his phone again. “I was going to call you to report her missing. Remember?”

“Don’t get upset, Mr. Finley.” Sencotte held up his hands as if to settle Orion.

“I’m not upset.” Though he could be. Soon. “I’d just like to know what you think you’re going to find in my house.”

“Well, we’re hoping to find Mrs. Whitfield-Finley, of course.” Landis handed her phone to Orion. “Did you receive this message from your ex-wife?”

Orion read the same message Adriana had sent after she’d found out he filed for the modification. “Yes.”

“She was clearly bothered by the modification request.”

“Of course.” And the message made her sound like a fucking lunatic, so why were the cops on his ass? Where were they going with this? Why did his stomach suddenly feel as if he’d swallowed rocks?

“May we?” Sencotte pointed to the open porch door.

“Go ahead.” Orion stepped out of the way, not sure what else to do.

He followed the two officers into the house, waving Ian in as well. His father climbed the steps and grabbed onto Orion’s arm.

“Are we in trouble, Orion?” Ian wrung his hands, the precursor to an episode.

Don’t need that right now.

He took his father’s hands in his own. “No, Dad. We haven’t done anything to get us into trouble.”

“Are they going to take Myah away?” His father’s eyes grew watery.

Orion pushed away the sting in his own throat. “Not if I can help it.”

Chapter Sixteen

Sage was in mid-stretch on the couch when Orion and the two police officers strode into the house. Orion was so caught off guard by everything that happened on the porch that he couldn’t enjoy how cat-like and sexy Sage was, stretching like that.

Ranger got up and came over to Orion, sniffing the air around the two officers.  

“Have a seat there, both of you, while we have a look around,” Officer Landis said.

Orion guided Ian to the living room and pointed to the big, cushiony chair opposite the couch. “Stay right there, Dad, okay?”

Ian nodded, but the hand-wringing was happening again. Sage moved to the edge of her seat and said, “Would you like something to drink, Ian?”

“Yes, please.” His response was robotic and he didn’t exactly look at Sage. Instead, his gaze was zeroed in on Myah, still asleep on the couch. Her back was to Ian and she was curled up in a tight little ball.

Orion patted Ian’s shoulder. “It’s going to be okay, Dad. They’re just having a look around. We didn’t do anything wrong so there’s nothing to find.”

Sage went to the kitchen and pulled out a glass. Orion liked how she knew where things were in his kitchen as if she were at her own home. She opened the refrigerator and took out the pitcher of lemonade she’d made last night. After pouring a generous amount in the glass, she brought it into the living room and sat on the end of the coffee table in front of Ian.

“Here you go, my friend.” She handed him the glass and rested her hand on his knee. “The police are just doing their job. They have a duty to explore all possibilities.”

Ian took a sizable swig of the lemonade and slowly licked his lips. He heaved in a big breath and let it out. “I’m okay.”

And the weird thing was, he was okay. Orion couldn’t believe it. Not only had his father fended off an episode, he also was aware enough to declare himself over it. That was a first.

Sage squeezed Ian’s knee and stood. She gave Orion a look that clearly said,
That was close,
then squinted down the hallway where the muffled voices of the officers could be heard.

“What do they think they’re going to find here?
You
were the one who reported her missing,” she said.

“I never got to officially report it today,” he said. “I was about to, but they were already out there. With Adriana’s car.”

“Her car?” Sage went to the window and moved the curtain aside. “How did that get here?”

“An excellent question.” Orion rubbed his jaw. “One I’d love an answer to.”

The police officers reappeared in the living room and Ranger gave them both a good sniff again. “Does this house have a basement?” Sencotte asked, ignoring the dog.

“Yes,” Orion said.

“We’ll need to get down there.” Landis looked out the kitchen window. “And that barn too.”

“Do you have a warrant?” Sage asked.

A warrant. Yes
. Why hadn’t he thought to ask that? He’d seen enough cop shows on television.

“Who are you, ma’am?” Sencotte asked.

“Sage Stannard. I live next door.”  

“We don’t have a warrant yet, Ms. Stannard,” Sencotte said, “but we could get one if that makes you feel more comfortable.” He pulled out his phone as if a warrant were but a phone call away. Perhaps it was.

“Look, Adriana is not here. She hasn’t been in this house since the day she packed up her stuff and moved out.” Orion ran his hand through his hair, rubbing the crown of his head where a headache was blooming.

“The day she moved your daughter out too?” Landis leaned over the couch to look at Myah.

“Yes. She took Myah with her and now has sole custody of her.”

“Why did she want sole custody? Are you unfit to father her in some way?” Landis piled on the derision as if she thought Orion was some deadbeat dad.

“My son is the best father in the world!” Ian shouted, his hands gripping the armrests of the chair.

At Ian’s yelling, Myah stirred. She uncurled her body and rolled to her back. By the time she got up to her elbows, her big blue eyes were open.

“What’s happening, Daddy?” She squeezed Muddie to her chest.

“Nothing, baby.” Orion got to his knees beside the couch, and Ranger came over to lick Myah’s cheek. “These nice officers are looking for your mom.”

Petting the dog, she turned her gaze to the officers, both of which were looking down at her from the back of the couch. “She’s still gone?”

At that question, Landis came around to the other side of the couch and sat beside Myah. Her face morphed into one with compassionate eyes and a concerned smile, but Ranger was still giving her an I-might-bite-you stare.

“Your mommy is still missing, honey. When was the last time you saw her?” she asked.

“I’m calling Jack,” Sage whispered. “Just in case.”

Orion stood and nodded his agreement, feeling this situation was getting more out of his control by the moment. The content feeling he’d had upon waking this morning sandwiched between his daughter and a beautiful woman was long gone. Now everything felt… unsteady.

“The last time I saw Mommy was when she picked me up from camp yesterday. I fell asleep and when I woke up, she was gone,” Myah said.

“And you called your dad then?” Landis asked.

“Yeah. I’m only six,” Myah said, holding up six fingers. “I shouldn’t be all by myself, and Ranger had to pee.”

Landis chuckled, again all soft eyes and smiles for Myah. “You’re right. You shouldn’t be alone or expected to walk that big doggie all by yourself. Did Dad come and get you?”

“Uh-huh. Daddy came to rescue me.” Leaving Muddie on the cushion beside her, Myah slid off the couch and attached herself to Orion by wrapping her arms around his left leg.

“Dad’s a real superhero, huh?” Sencotte said.

“Yes,” Myah and Ian said at the same time.

That warmed Orion’s heart a bit, though that sick feeling in his stomach warned him to be careful what he said or did right now.

Anything could be used against me in a court of law.

He hated that those words came into his head. Where was Sage? Was Jack on his way? He felt as if
he
were on the precipice of an episode.

“Do you have any idea where your mommy could have gone?” Sencotte asked Myah.

Myah shook her head. “Nope. Finding Mommy is gonna be like finding hay in a needle snack.”

That got a laugh out of everyone, easing some of the tension, but not all of it. Certainly not all of it.

“You mean like finding a needle in a hay stack,” Landis corrected.