“The investigations go at a glacial pace, something the public doesn’t understand. Shows on TV have evidence collected and looked at the same day. Labs are immediate and even the investigators are the ones running the labs. Fuck, most of the time months go by and we’re still slogging through clues. Everyone wants a quick solution. A real bang-bang, shoot-em-up kind of crime solving.” He sighed and she squeezed his hand again, drawing his eyes up to hers. “Hell, the wait time on our labs is crazy long.”
“But what you do is important, Sean. You believe in what you’re investigating. You believe that the harm to people and property is important and should be stopped. Even if you never get the glory, you’re working to right the wrong.”
He held her gaze then closed his eyes, a pained expression moving over his face. “I’m curious about your lab technician.” Hesitating for another moment, he asked, “What can you tell me about John Simpson?”
Cocking her head to the side, she asked, “John? Um… he’s really helpful. He’s always available when I need to bring anything to him. I know he’s super smart, and he always takes the time to explain things to me, you know, in a way that doesn’t make me feel dumb.”
“Did you two date?”
“Date? No! He’s just a friend.” She waited to see if he was going to say more, but he shook his head and stood. “Sean, you’ve got nothing to be jealous of. Honestly, there’s nothing there but friendship.”
Bending, he kissed her again. “I’m not jealous, sweetheart. Just... well, just curious, I guess. But thanks for breakfast, Harper. Thanks for your understanding. But mostly, thanks for last night.”
A blush heated her cheeks and she smiled. “You don’t have to thank me for that. It was my pleasure, believe me.”
They kissed, long, languid strokes of their tongues before he pulled back, regret written on his face. “I hate to do this, but I really need to leave. I know it’s Saturday, but I promised my mom that I would get a few minor repairs done on the house. Dad doesn’t want anyone to do it for him, but he’ll agree to have some help.”
“It’s my day for laundry, housekeeping, and running errands as well.” Wrapping her arms around his waist, she pulled their bodies flush, relishing the way he tightened his arms in response, holding her close. “I’m glad you stayed last night,” she admitted.
He held her gaze for a long moment. “Are you up for dinner this weekend?”
Nodding eagerly, she grinned. “Absolutely.”
Glancing down at Smokey, he hesitated. “Will your cat be okay if you spend the night with me?”
“I’ll make sure to put some extra food down for him.”
“I’ll call you this afternoon before I pick you up.”
With another kiss, they walked into the bedroom so he could grab his boots and shirt. Standing at her front door, they continued to kiss until he finally said goodbye and headed down the stairs. Going back into her apartment, she glanced down at Smokey, and said, “I promise I’ll leave extra food for you, but buddy, you’re on your own tonight!”
23
That evening Harper waited outside her apartment building, waving as soon as she spotted Sean pulling up to the curb in his SUV. She climbed inside before he had a chance to get around to open her door, and he frowned. Before he had a chance to speak, she rushed, “I know, I know, you said that you always wanted to hold the door for me, but I thought it would be quicker this way.”
He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. “Okay—for now. But next time, wait till I get you.”
Settling back into the warm seat, she watched as they drove toward the northern part of the city, where many of the older, stately neighborhoods were located. Driving down the road with large homes on either side, she peered out the window in curiosity. “I love these old neighborhoods where the homes are not cookie-cutter. Each one is different.”
“I like the different architecture as well.”
“I had no idea you lived in a neighborhood like this. Why did you buy such a large house?”
“Oh, I don’t live here.”
She swung her head around to stare at him, now noticing an unusual tenseness radiating from him.
He scrubbed his hand over his face as he slowed down. “Look, I know I should have said something earlier, but I didn’t want you to get nervous.”
“Nervous? Nervous about what?” Dread was curling through her at his response and her stomach clenched.
“My mom called this afternoon, and when I told her that I was having you over for dinner, she suggested that we have dinner with them instead.”
“And you agreed?” she screeched. “Without telling me?” She quickly glanced down, glad that she had chosen to wear a nice pair of jeans and a pretty pink sweater but was mortified that she had not taken more time to fix herself. “I can’t believe you did this!” She jerked down the sun visor, checking the mirror, wanting to assure herself that her makeup was right for dinner with his parents.
“I honestly didn’t think it would be a big deal.” Reaching across, he took her hand in his. “Really, Harper, you’re beautiful. It’s just dinner with my parents. My sister, Erin, might be there also. It’s no big deal, I promise.”
She had no more time to object considering he parked on the street in front of a large, two-story home. Her mouth hung open at the number of cars parked in the driveway and in the front. Her chest heaved and she croaked, “Please, tell me there’s no one else here except your parents.” In her peripheral vision she could see him scrub his hand over his face again before squeezing the back of his neck.
Sighing heavily, he mumbled, “Fuck. It looks like Mom may have invited the rest.”
“The… the rest?” Her gaze moved from the house over to Sean, seeing the uncharacteristic hesitation in his eyes.
Appearing to steel himself, he said, “It’ll be fine, babe. Honestly.”
“Sean, this is not my definition of fine.” She watched as he climbed from the driver’s seat and walked around, opening her door. For a few seconds, she considered keeping her ass planted on the warm seat of his SUV but knew that would be cowardly. Sucking in a deep breath, she let it out slowly and allowed him to assist her down. He linked his fingers with hers as they walked toward the front door. “Sean, I can’t go in there and be pissy, but we’re going to talk about this when it’s all over with!”
His hound-dog expression almost had her forgive him instantly, but she faced toward the door, refusing to look at him again.
Just as they reached the door, it was thrown open, and before she had a chance to speak, a darling, dark-haired little girl stood in the doorway smiling up at them. “Hi, Uncle Sean!” Before they had a chance to greet her in return, the little girl looked over her shoulder and screamed, “Mom! Uncle Sean and his girlfriend are here! And she’s pretty!”
Sean chuckled as he squeezed Harper’s fingers. “That little princess is my niece, Colleen.”
As they stepped into the foyer, a tall, curvy, beautiful woman appeared. She immediately hugged Sean, then leaned back and stuck her hand out toward Harper. “Hi, I’m Tara, and I see you’ve already met my little hooligan, Colleen.”
“Hello.” Harper smiled, taking Tara’s hand in her own. “Your daughter is adorable.”
“Unfortunately, her latest thing is to stand in one room and scream into another, as you obviously were shown.” Tara stepped to the side and added, “Mom would have greeted you, but she’s in the middle of basting her roast. Come on back.”
Sean helped her out of her coat and draped it over the banister. With his hand resting gently on her lower back guiding her down the hall, she was immediately greeted by another man looking very much like Sean. They were the same height, same build, same blue eyes, same hair color, although this man’s hair was much longer. The difference was the rougher edge to this man’s face as his gaze darted between Sean’s and Harper’s.
Sean smiled, extending his hand forward for a shake. “Kyle! Good to see you.”
Turning to Harper, he introduced, “Harper, I’d like you to meet my brother, Kyle. And this beautiful lady is Harper Walsh.”
Kyle grinned, moving forward to place a kiss on her cheek. She tried to remember what Sean had said about this brother. She knew he was a detective but could not remember what department. Before she had a chance to speak, Sean was already giving his brother a playful punch in the shoulder.
“Hey, no making moves on her. I’ve got dibs.”
Shooting him a glare, Harper was uncertain she liked having anyone call dibs on her. Before she had a chance to say anything, Sean wrapped his arm around her and steered her further down the hall. Before they made it to the kitchen, she saw the third McBride brother, Rory. Jeez, the McBride genes are strong. Recognizing him from the bar, she smiled her greeting.
“Good to see you again, Harper,” he said. His gaze took in her splinted wrist and winked. “I can’t believe you’re still with my brother after everything that happened to you.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek, as well. “Seriously, how are you?”
“I’m good, thank you,” she lied, beginning to feel anxious as more people crowded into the hall.
Another dark-haired, attractive woman stepped into sight, a little shorter than Tara, with a leaner, athletic body. Sean introduced, “And this is Rory’s twin, Erin.”
Trying to remember what Sean had told her about his siblings, she said, “I understand you recently got out of the service. I’m sure it’s wonderful for your family to have you back.”
Erin offered her a smile and warm hug but made no other reference to her time in the service. She murmured, “It’s nice to meet you.”
Harper hoped she had not stuck her foot in her mouth but had no time to question Sean before the back door opened and another woman popped in. Cute, with dark hair streaked with pink and blue, her gaze landed on Sean first and she squealed, “Sean! I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever!”
He gave the other woman a hug and then introduced his younger sister. “This is Caitlyn, the baby of the McBrides.”
She threw her arms around Harper and hugged her as well, still talking to Sean. “Rory told Erin who told me that you were dating someone. I can’t believe I’m the last to know.”
Sean’s family was friendly, but Harper was overwhelmed and had not even met his parents yet. Before she had a chance to worry about it, a lovely woman with soft silver hair cut in a shoulder-length bob popped around the corner, wiping her hands on a dishtowel.
“Oh, my goodness,” the woman cried out and rushed to greet Harper. “I’m so sorry I didn’t greet you at the door. I was trying to get the roast out of the oven when I heard Colleen yelling.”
Sean, coming to Harper’s rescue, wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Harper. Harper, this is my mother, Sharon.”
Sharon stepped back and peered at Harper, smiling widely. “My dear, you’re just as beautiful as Sean said.”
Shooting a sideways glance up at a grinning Sean, she looked back at Sharon. “Thank you so much for having me for dinner.”
Waving dismissively, Sharon said, “Oh, it’s our pleasure.”
A sound came from the door leading to the backyard and Harper watched as two men and another woman entered. Harper leaned gently into Sean’s side, glad for his arm around her shoulder to hold her up. Both men were tall, easily topping over six feet, but one man looked exactly like an older version of Sean. A bit heavier in the middle and with steel gray hair cut high and tight, she was sure that it was his father.
Guessing correctly, she watched as Sharon rushed over and grabbed the man’s arm. “Colm, come meet Harper!”
Sean’s father stepped forward and shook her hand, greeting her warmly. “Harper, it’s a delight to meet you.” He turned toward the other couple and said, “These are our neighbors and dear friends, Chauncey and Hannah King.”
She recognized Chauncey as the Police Commissioner from having seen his picture in the news. His wife was tall and slim, although dwarfed by her husband who towered over everyone. Both walked toward her, hands extended, and greeted her just as warmly as Sean’s family.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Harper,” Hannah exuded. “We’ve known Sean since he was a toddler. When Sharon called to tell me that you were coming to dinner, I insisted that we come and meet you as well. Our kids will be visiting for Sunday dinner tomorrow, so I’m afraid none of them are here to meet you tonight.”
“Thank fuck,” Sean breathed.
Firing a wide-eyed expression toward him in admonition of his cursing in front of his parents but also glad that there were no more people she was going to have to meet, she turned back to Hannah and smiled.
Sharon clapped her hands and rubbed them together. “Now that everyone’s here, we can eat!”
Hannah, Tara, and Sharon set the platters of food on the long counter, and Sean ushered her to the front of the line. Eyes wide, she whispered, “Sean! I don’t want to go first!”
“Mom’s made it obvious you’re the guest of honor, sweetheart. You best get going, or the hungry mob behind you will become ravenous.”
Refusing to pile too much food on her plate, Harper hurried along the counter before being ushered into the dining room. Soon, the family was ensconced around a massive table in an equally massive room. With so many people around the table all talking at once after the prayer was said, Harper found it difficult to try to keep up with everyone’s conversations. Tara and Erin had their heads bent toward each other, deep in a conversation between the two. Caitlyn was sitting next to Colleen, giggling with her niece. Kyle and Rory were in a discussion with Chauncey, and Sean and his dad were discussing football. She finally gave up trying to listen to the various conversations and allowed Hannah and Sharon to draw her into their own.
“I was fascinated to hear that you work for Eastern Mutual Insurance Company,” Sharon said. “Colm and I have used them for our homeowners and car insurance for years. I always liked working with them but confess that I’m glad I’ve never needed them for anything major. Especially when our children all became adults and got off of our car insurance, that was certainly a lot cheaper!”
Laughing, Harper agreed. “I’m sure!”
“I believe he said you examine fire sites for the company?” Sharon continued, her smile firmly in place while her gaze stared intently at Harper.
Nerves making it difficult to eat, she focused on her reply. “That’s how we met. I’ve been working in fire evidence collection and am almost certified as a fire investigator.”
With the nerve-wracking attention on her, she tried to find a way to deflect. Looking around the table, she said, “Sean has told me how much fun it was growing up with so many brothers and sisters and the King family next door.”
“Do you have any family in the area?” Sharon asked.
“No. I have a much younger brother in the military and my parents live in North Carolina. I came to Hope City for college and never left.”
“I’m sure your parents miss you terribly,” Sharon said. “When my children were in the military, I worried so about them. I know it must seem strange that they all came back to Hope City, but I’m selfishly very glad.”
“Me too!” Hannah chimed in. “I’m sure Sean will have you meet my oldest, Brock, soon. They’ve been best friends since they were little.”
Harper glanced around the table, unable to keep the smile from her face as she saw the heartfelt camaraderie among his friends and family.
“Brock was shot in the line of duty, and his new girlfriend is taking care of him right now.”
Hannah’s words caused Harper’s fork to stop on its path toward her mouth. Shot? He was shot? Certain that she had heard incorrectly, she turned toward Sean.
“It was only a .22,” Kyle said, shrugging as though the news was nothing. “It’s not like it’s the first time he was shot. He’s probably just using it as an excuse to stay in with Kallie.”
“Kyle!” Sharon fus
sed, and Hannah shook her head at him.
Eyes wide, Harper dropped her fork into her plate, sucking in a quick breath. “Shot?” she repeated, her voice barely a hoarse whisper.
“He’s okay, sweetheart. Honest,” Sean assured.
No one else seemed concerned, so she picked up her fork again, trying to still the shock inside as well as watch how the two incredible families handed adversity.
Sean’s attention turned back to Harper as dessert was served, and he placed his arm on the back of her chair, his fingertips playing with her shoulder. Leaning closer, he whispered, “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
She smiled. “Yes. I still can’t believe you didn’t prepare me for this, but your family is wonderful. But... in the future, keep me in the loop.”
Before she had a chance to say more, she could hear the vibration of Sean’s phone and her heartbeat stuttered. Holding her breath, she watched as he pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen. Scooting his chair back, he kissed the top of her head, mumbling, “Sorry,” before he walked out of the room, answering, “McBride.”
Her gaze stayed locked on the space where he had left, not realizing that the table had gone quiet.
“I suppose you never get used to it,” Sharon said softly.
Swinging her head around, Harper noticed that all eyes were on her, and she offered a tight smile. Seeing movement at the doorway to the dining room, she spied Sean standing there, his eyes on her.
“I’m sorry, Harper.” He directed his comments as though she were the only one in the room. “We’ve got to go.”
Immediately pushing her chair back, she looked down at Sharon. “Thank you so much for having me to dinner.” Casting her gaze around, she smiled. “It was so nice to meet all of you.”
The others rushed to assure her that they wanted to see her again, but she noticed Chauncey staring at Sean. Sean must have understood the unasked question because he gave a short nod toward him, and Harper knew he was responding to Chauncey as the Police Commissioner and not his neighbor.
A Hope City Duet Page 40