Wicked Whimsy

by Lily Harper Hart

  With that in mind, Jack rolled until his chest was pressed against Ivy’s back. He felt her stir, melt into him for a second, and he recognized the moment she remembered she was angry with him and tried to pull away. That’s when he tightened his grip on her and lowered his mouth to the ridge of her ear.

  “Oh, there’s no escape, honey.” He kissed the delicate skin on her neck. “You’re not leaving this bed until you forgive me.”

  Ivy wasn’t one of those women who woke with a smile on her face – unless the strenuous activity from the previous evening was so outstanding and memorable she had no choice – but she was in a particularly vile mood this morning. “Let me go.”

  “No.”

  Ivy slapped at Jack’s hand, frustrated. “I said to let me go!”

  “No.” Jack was firm as he sobered. “I’m not letting you go until we talk about this. I’m not happy with what happened last night.”

  Ivy’s eyebrows practically flew off her forehead. “You’re not happy with what happened last night? I can pretty much guarantee that Josh is a lot unhappier.”

  Jack heaved out a frustrated sigh and released Ivy’s wriggling form. He was happy when she didn’t immediately race out of the bed to get away from him, but he knew he was in for an argument when she rolled to face him. There was fire in her eyes.

  “I didn’t send that boy with the CPS folks to be mean to you or him,” he started. “You know that. I felt bad for him. We still had to follow procedure.”

  “He was traumatized.”

  “And so were you,” Jack surmised. “You bonded with him because you found him and you couldn’t stop your heart from breaking because of the story he told. I get it … and I’m sorry. You’ll never know how sorry.

  “That doesn’t mean I had a choice in the matter,” he continued. “If I tried to keep that kid and let you fawn over him I would’ve lost my job and we both would’ve possibly ended up in jail. Is that what you wanted?”

  Ivy was mortified by the question. “Of course not.”

  “Then what do you want from me?” Jack challenged. “What magic did you expect me to weave so you could keep that kid when he belonged with the state workers?”

  Ivy licked her lips, clearly caught off guard by Jack’s tone. “Stop yelling at me,” she said after a beat, dragging a restless hand through her snarled hair. “I don’t like it when you yell at me.”

  “Yeah? I don’t like it when you treat me like dirt over something I can’t change.”

  Ivy narrowed her eyes to dangerous slits. “I didn’t treat you like dirt.”

  “You certainly didn’t treat me like the man you’re going to marry,” Jack challenged. “You didn’t treat me like a human being who has feelings, or a good cop who did the right thing.”

  Even though she was used to sticking her foot in her mouth on a regular basis, Ivy recognized when she’d stepped over a line. Jack’s demeanor told her exactly that. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” She licked her lips as she debated how to proceed. “That’s the last thing I wanted.”

  “Apology accepted.” Jack took her by surprise when he slipped his arm around her waist and tugged her to him. “We should make up the proper way so we don’t jinx anything. You can start by kissing me now. Don’t be afraid to use your tongue.”

  Ivy’s mouth dropped open as incredulity washed over her. “You … we … I’m not kissing you!” She slapped her hand to his chest to keep him at bay. “You totally tricked me. You pretended I hurt your feelings so you could cop a feel.”

  Jack’s grin was impish as he regarded her. “That’s not entirely true, honey,” he countered. “I wasn’t lying about not being happy. I much prefer waking to find you wrapped around me. It’s comfortable. I used to think I would smother if I slept with another individual like that in a bed – which is only one of the reasons I didn’t like having a serious girlfriend – but now I can’t remember a time when I was comfortable sleeping any other way.”

  Ivy glared. “That’s not going to work on me. I know what you’re doing.”

  Jack ignored the statement and barreled forward. “I didn’t sleep well because I didn’t have you in my arms,” he offered. “I also didn’t sleep well because I knew you were upset. I don’t ever want you to be upset.”

  Despite herself, Ivy found her cold reserve melting. Jack had a way about him. She was determined to keep her anger front and center no matter how adorable she found him. “I … .”

  Jack shook his head to cut her off. “I love you. That’s the one thing I know with absolute certainty. I don’t like it when you’re angry with me. I know that, too. I also did the right thing when it came to Josh. I couldn’t let you keep him no matter how your heart broke at the prospect of sending him away. You are not trained to deal with a kid in mourning and Josh needs specific care going forward.”

  Instead of fire, Ivy met Jack’s statement with morose resignation. “I know.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “He was begging, though. He was so afraid.”

  “Oh, I know.” Jack pulled her tighter against him, internally sighing when she stopped fighting and rested her head on his chest. His hands were calm and steady as they rubbed her back. “Honey, I don’t ever want to tell you no, but I didn’t have a choice last night. You know that, right?”

  Ivy mutely nodded, a tear spilling on her cheek.

  “Oh, don’t do that.” Jack swiped at the tear. “I hate that.”

  “I’m sorry.” Ivy sniffled a bit but managed to pull herself together. “I didn’t mean to jump all over you. When that man showed up from the state and physically removed Josh from the house even though he was sobbing … and begging … and crying … .”

  “You fell apart,” Jack finished, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “That’s because you’re a freaking warrior and wanted to fight for that boy from the moment you saw him. There’s only so much you can do, honey. You can’t be everything he needs. You’re not equipped for that.”

  “I know.” Ivy did know that. She understood Jack was right. That didn’t change the fact that she was traumatized when Josh was practically ripped away from her and dragged toward a van for transportation. “You heard his story, though. He’s all alone. I mean … what’s going to happen to him?”

  “I don’t know.” Jack opted for honesty. “The first order of business today is tracking down family members for Josh.”

  “You heard him. He doesn’t have anybody.”

  “That he knows of,” Jack corrected. “It sounds to me like the kid had a rough year. To lose his mother the way he did to a terrible illness and then to have his father gunned down in front of him that way, it’s a lot for a kid to deal with. He might not have been thinking clearly.”

  “Yeah. I guess.” Ivy rubbed at her red-rimmed eyes, the gesture somehow childlike and innocent to the point that it tugged on Jack’s heartstrings. “How much is he expected to go through?”

  The real question, Jack silently muttered in his head, was how much was Ivy expected to go through. “I’ll keep you updated on what we have. I promise.” He nestled her face against his chest. “We had to wait for the state police tech team to finish last night, but we’re on this hard starting today. I promise we’ll come up with some answers.”

  “Okay.” Ivy made the sniffling sound again.

  “Honey, are you trying to kill me?” Jack wrapped his arms tightly around her slim back. “You know I can’t stand it when you cry.”

  “I’m not crying.”

  “You sound like you’re crying.”

  “I have something in my eye.”

  “Tears?”

  “I’m okay, Jack.” Ivy’s expression was rueful as she pulled back, her eyes glassy but resigned. “I’m sorry I was mean to you. I just … I felt horrible. You know if I feel horrible that you have to feel it, too.”

  Jack didn’t want to encourage bad behavior with a smile, but he couldn’t stop himself. She was too adorable for words. “Well, honey, I’m happy to co
mmiserate with you. However, I don’t like it when you take things out on me that I can’t control.”

  “Yeah. That wasn’t fair.” Ivy ran her index finger down his cheek. “Do you want me to make it up to you?”

  Jack’s lips curved when he picked up on what she was offering. “Well, we have an hour before the painters arrive and I have to leave for work. What did you have in mind?”

  For the first time all morning, Ivy mustered a legitimate smile. “Why don’t I just show you? It will probably lose something in the telling.”

  “That sounds like a fabulous idea.”

  JACK HAD AN EXTRA spring in his step when he let himself into the office he shared with Brian. The office aide, Ava Moffett, happened to be delivering reports when he arrived and her eyes gleamed with warm welcome when she caught sight of Jack.

  “I was starting to think you weren’t going to show up.” Ava was relatively young, in her late twenties, and she’d been rather overt when displaying her interest in Jack since he landed in Shadow Lake a year before. As the chief of police’s daughter, Ava thought she was a catch even though Jack did his best to convince her otherwise whenever she threw herself at him.

  “Good morning, Ava.” Jack met Brian’s amused eyes as he headed to his desk. “What? Why do you look so happy?”

  “I was just about to ask you that same question,” Brian drawled, leaning back in his chair. “You’re all … glow-y … this morning.”

  “That is true, Jack,” Ava said as she planted her rear end on the corner of Jack’s desk and looked him up and down. “You’re radiating from within today. That must mean you’re in a good mood.”

  “I have nothing to complain about,” Jack clarified. “I don’t know what ‘radiating from within’ means, but it doesn’t sound horrible so I’m fine with doing it.”

  Brian snorted, legitimately amused. “I wasn’t sure which Jack I’d be getting this morning. Given Ivy’s mood when Josh was taken away last night, I figured you were in for a rough one. I’m guessing you two made up.”

  Jack’s cheeks burned under his partner’s studied gaze. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

  “No one would want to own up to kissing Ivy Morgan and telling about it,” Ava muttered loud enough for Jack to hear the words.

  “Oh, don’t get me wrong, I have no problem singing to the rooftop about Ivy,” Jack shot back. “As for this morning, though, what we did was private.”

  “Oh, you’re such a schmuck.” Brian rolled his eyes and stared at the ceiling. “You know I don’t like hearing about this stuff. To me she’ll always be the little girl in pigtails who her father carted around with him everywhere for a time. She handed out lollipops to people she liked.”

  “To me she’ll always be the weird girl no one liked in high school,” Ava offered. “There’s a reason for that. Kids know when someone is frightening and not worth their time.”

  Jack furrowed his brow as his dark gaze landed on Ava. “Is there a reason you’re hanging around our office today?”

  “There is.” Ava bobbed her head. “I dropped off a report for Brian. It’s supposed to be very important.”

  “It’s from the state police,” Brian volunteered as he flipped open the file in question. “They had K-9 units and tech teams out in the woods all day yesterday.”

  “I know.” Jack turned serious. “I could see the cars going up and down the road from the bay window in the living room. Ivy wasn’t talking to me, so I had nothing better to do than watch traffic.”

  Brian chuckled. “You two are a little co-dependent for my comfort level.”

  “I think we’re just co-dependent enough,” Jack countered.

  “And I think she cast a spell on you or something,” Ava groused in a low voice. “Everyone knows she did something to get you to focus on her while ignoring everyone else … like me.”

  Jack managed to tamp down on his fury, but just barely. “Is there a reason you’re still here, Ava?”

  “What?” She adopted an innocent expression and pressed her hand to her chest. “Why would you possibly ask that? I’m here to help.”

  “You’re here to give me indigestion,” Jack corrected. “Since Ivy cooked a big breakfast before sending me on my way, I think the heartburn you’re going to generate is going to be something fierce. I’m telling you right now, you don’t want to push things this morning.”

  “I never push things.” Ava’s smile was serene. “I’m a giving soul. I was merely explaining why you made a big mistake when you decided to hitch your wagon to Ivy Morgan.”

  “Since I love her and she makes me happy, I’m going to go with my first assumption that you’re jealous and a terrible individual,” Jack countered. “I don’t care what you think about Ivy. Your opinion has no bearing on me.”

  Ava let loose with a disgusted growl in the back of her throat. “You’ll change your mind when you finally see for yourself that I’m right.”

  “Well, until then, I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention Ivy. Not even one word.” Jack was firm. “I’ll come to you when I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve made a mistake. Until then … stuff it.”

  “Fine.” Ava’s eyes flashed with annoyance as she stood. “I’m guessing you’re going to be coming to me sooner rather than later.”

  Jack snorted. “And I’m guessing you’re going to be waiting for a long time and end up bitter and disappointed. That doesn’t bother me because you’re already the bitter sort. Now … go.” He made a small shooing motion with his hand and focused on Brian. “Anything in that report we can work with?”

  “Not really.” Brian was grim as he handed it to his partner. “They searched the woods for hours last night. The dogs didn’t find a trail. They didn’t find footprints … or an abandoned gun … or tire tracks along the road that would suggest another vehicle was parked there and someone took off in a hurry.”

  Jack’s heart sank. “So, you’re saying we have nothing to go on?”

  “Absolutely nothing.” Brian rubbed the back of his neck as he stared at the ceiling. “I guess that means we’re going to have to do things the old-fashioned way.”

  “Meaning we start with family and close friends and work our way out,” Jack surmised. “The problem with that is, Abraham Masters didn’t have a lot of family. We’d better hope we make some headway with his friends.”

  “That’s the plan.” Brian slowly got to his feet. “I think we should head over to Bellaire right away. We’re probably going to spend the entire afternoon questioning people.”

  “Okay.” Jack was resigned as he followed his partner. “We have to do whatever is necessary to find answers. I promised Ivy we would do our best.”

  Brian paused by the door. “Speaking of Ivy, how is she doing? Is she better now that she’s had some time to calm down?”

  “No. She cried. She’s still traumatized by Josh being taken away.”

  “She’s going to let it go, though, right? She’s not going to get involved in this, is she?”

  Jack was exasperated as he snagged his partner’s gaze. “She said she wasn’t going to cause problems.”

  “Do you believe her?”

  “No.” Jack made an exaggerated face. “You’ve met her. She’s going to be all over this until we have answers. She made a big show of saying she was going to work at the nursery today, but I’ve got twenty bucks that says she’s already on her way to the children’s home to visit Josh.”

  “Ugh.” Brian rubbed his forehead. “She’s going to be trouble if she gets involved in this.”

  “She’s already involved … and she’s already trouble.”

  “Well, at least we know what to expect.” Brian brightened a bit. “Hey, given some of her … talents … maybe she can help us. We can’t rule it out.”

  “That’s the only reason I haven’t put my foot down with her.”

  Brian’s expression shifted to rampant amusement. “That’s the only reason, huh? It has nothing to do with you being a
big puddle of goo where she’s concerned, does it?”

  “Not in the least.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “That’s good. I don’t believe me either.” Jack was rueful. “She’s going to do what she wants and I’m going to let her. We all know it.”

  Brian barked out a laugh as he clapped Jack’s shoulder. “At least you’re aware of your limitations. Believe it or not, that’s something.”

  Jack wasn’t sure what to believe. “Let’s just get to it. The faster we get answers, the more likely Ivy is not to find trouble.”

  “That sounds like a plan.”

  Five

  Jack knew Ivy well. She did indeed head to the children’s home the minute he left the house. She took enough time to shower and change, but then she made a beeline for the facility. She knew where it was because she donated her time there for various fundraisers throughout the years.

  The facility was locked, a pass card needed to gain entrance. Ivy pressed the button to call for an attendant and patiently waited to see who would show up. She was relieved when she found a familiar face waiting for her.

  “Hey, Dana.”

  Dana Wolfe-Leeds was a former Shadow Lake classmate. She graduated two years before Ivy, but she’d never been antagonistic toward the younger girl. Ivy couldn’t say that about a lot of people. Since she was different even then, she was often ostracized. Children tend to pick out the one individual who doesn’t fit nicely into a group and peck him or her to death. Dana was never that way. Ivy occasionally ran into her in the years since they both graduated and their conversations were always friendly and amiable.

  “Hey, Ivy.” Dana was understandably confused as she looked over the visitor. Ivy wore one of her typical ankle-length skirts and a peasant blouse and she had a bag of what looked to be freshly-baked cookies in her hand. “Do you have an appointment or something?”

  “No.” Ivy had practiced this conversation in her head for the entire drive between Shadow Lake and Bellaire. She could only hope Dana would take pity on her sad tale and let her in. “I’m here to see Josh Masters.”