“Did you ever want to become a cop?” I ask, assuming the two professions are close enough that you couldn’t consider one without at least thinking of the other.
When he’s quiet again, I bite my tongue. He’s either just a slow conversationalist, or he keeps forcing himself to talk to me. Whichever it is, I wait for him to answer, glancing at Karma to keep me distracted.
“No. I don’t think that would be my thing.”
“So, you just wanted to be a P.I.?”
“Not really,” he says on a chortle. “I sort of fell into it, and discovered I liked it and was good at it.”
“I was the same way with my job. I never saw myself hanging out with babies every day, but I have a gift with them. They seem to feel comfortable around me, and I get a lot of satisfaction hanging out with kids,” I admit, unbelieving that I have now been working with kids for almost ten years. Where did the time go?
“I prefer to avoid kids at all costs.”
“Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me,” I say with a laugh. I highly doubt kids and Harvey are on the same speed. Harvey seems deliberate and guarded, whereas most kids are impulsive and unapologetically open.
He gives me a small smile. “I would think you need a lot of patience to deal with kids. So, you might be a better fit at my job than you think.”
“I tend to be the person falling headfirst into the wedding cake rather than someone blending into the background.”
“Random example,” he mutters. I wince in response.
“Actually, it’s a true story. My aunt Mimi was getting married about fifteen years ago. I hate wearing heels, but my mother insisted for the occasion. I took about ten steps into the room, hit the heel wrong, and ended up landing face-first into the wedding cake.” I flush just recalling it. It’s a common piece of fodder brought up at Thanksgiving dinners and any other special family event.
“That sounds unfortunate, but an accident.”
“Kind of like my unfortunate, but accidental burning of Joey’s house? I tend to go big when I do something accidentally. Case in point, not only did I ruin the wedding cake, but it also turned out the cake had strawberry icing, which I’m terribly allergic to. I ended up breaking out in hives and had to be rushed to the hospital.”
“Yikes.” His eyes widen.
“On the bright side, my emergency trip meant no one could be too mad that I ruined the cake.”
“Are you always that accident prone?”
“Sometimes,” I say on a sigh. “I often make an unexpected entrance. Sneaking in quietly and without notice never works out for me. Although, I will say in my defense, I think Karma should take at least fifty percent of the blame for the fire, and I was sort of forced to jump on that crazy train with Ava and the girls today. They technically did most of the stealing.”
“Not sure how cool it is to place blame on an innocent dog,” Harvey says on a shake of his head as our eyes fall on her to find her taking a dump right near a man’s foot. Of course it takes him two seconds to step back into it.
If Karma could laugh, I’m sure she would.
“Stupid dog!” the man rants, bringing his foot back as if he plans to kick her, but one look at me, or perhaps it’s Harvey’s furious glare, and he retracts his foot, storming away in a huff.
“Karma, that wasn’t nice,” I berate her, not that she’s paying any attention to me.
I grab out a bag, scoop the poop up, and tie it off so we don’t have to smell it. Thankfully, there is a bin close by, so I don’t get stuck walking around with poo for long.
“Now, what were you saying about Karma being innocent?” I ask, chuckling when Karma yanks Harvey forward and almost trips him up.
“She’s just got a sense of humor,” he concedes.
“One that keeps getting people around her in trouble. I lost count of the amount of times Joey has been yelled at by Ms. Asher from across the street because of something Karma did.”
“She has an adventurous streak about her,” Harvey defends.
“Joey said she’s a retired police dog. I thought maybe she got to a certain age and had to retire. Now I’m wondering if she wasn’t fired.”
“I know the plan was to have a dog who was trained to find explosives at the office, but I don’t think Joey stuck to that plan.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Karma acts like a puppy. I think Joey couldn’t find a dog that fit the bill, so he found this dog at a rescue shelter and couldn’t resist adopting her. If she has ever been in law enforcement, she would be much better behaved. Those dogs know how to greet people, and it isn’t by knocking them over.”
I gasp, feeling a little stupid for not coming to that conclusion earlier. It does make sense.
“I guess I can’t really blame Joey. Could you ever say no to that face?”
We both glance at Karma, who has stopped to sit in a muddy spot to lick her butt.
“Right now, perhaps.”
I again can’t tell if he’s joking or not, but I laugh all the same.
I like this guy. He’s easy to talk to, and while blindingly handsome, he’s also down-to-earth and funny.
“So, you said you fell into being a P.I., but do you like it?”
“I don’t like doing the same thing over and over. In this business, you never know what you’re going to uncover. And the clients pay you to snoop, which is nice.”
“So, if I have this correct, you’re a man who doesn’t do commitment, you’re difficult to get to know, but deep down, you’re nosy and a big softy when it comes to a certain German Shepherd.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m difficult to get to know. We only just met and you know plenty.”
“True. Although, the girls did admit to me you’re a mystery to them, and they’ve known you for almost a year.”
“Those girls you’re referring to are women. Scary, nosy, bossy women, who would love nothing more than to charge into my life and take over.”
“I think that’s a little harsh. They aren’t …” I think back to how I felt as we leaped into Zander’s car. I was a little scared. And they were definitely nosy when it came to Joey and me. Not to mention I did get the feeling they were very much in charge of their lives, as well as their significant others’. In fact, after one forced lunch, I also agreed to a dinner and drinks with them.
“Exactly,” he says with a smirk.
“Fine. Why are you talking to me, then?”
As he remains quiet for a short while, it takes everything in me to wait him out.
“Because, like you said, I’m a big softy for a certain German Shepherd and you come along with her.”
I roll my eyes. “Wow, you really know how to make a girl feel special.”
“I admit, making men feel special is more my specialty.” He winks at me, and I find myself laughing again.
“Harvey, I can’t tell if you’re making jokes or it’s completely unintentional, but I think you might be quite funny.”
“You would be the first person to say that,” he mutters blandly.
I slowly shake my head. “Then everyone else needs to get their sense of humor checked. You’re hilarious.”
“Thanks, I think.”
I sneak a glance over at him and see he has a small smile on his stern lips.
“We should probably head off soon,” I say as I notice the cooling weather and darkening clouds, rain undoubtedly not far away. I’m sad summer is on its way out already.
“Would you like me to walk you back home?” he offers, proving again what a loss to womankind him batting for the other team is.
“That would be great.”
We walk mostly in silence, both avidly watching Karma’s excitement over every new smell she discovers along the way.
I’m grateful not only for the company, but also the fact that my arm is getting a break from having it almost dislocated by Karma. Harvey seems to be managing much better than I ever could.
“Same time tomorrow?” I
throw out as we near my front door, holding my breath again. Today with Harvey has gone better than I could have ever hoped.
For over two years, I held myself back from making friends. I was hurt and knew the answer wasn’t to hide away from everyone, yet that’s what I did. This is the first time I have put myself out there, but that doesn’t mean he wants to be my friend.
“Sounds good,” he finally replies, seemingly unaware of my internal worry. “How about I meet you here”—he nods at my house—“instead of at the park?”
“Awesome. Do you have your phone on you?” I sound embarrassingly relieved, but he doesn’t seem to think it’s weird, or maybe he just doesn’t notice.
When he pulls out his cell, I program my number into it.
“Let me know if anything comes up,” I tell him.
After a quick goodbye pat for Karma and a wave for me, Harvey disappears back down the street while I enter my house with a smile.
I have hidden myself away for years, afraid to do more than what I was already managing. I was alone, but never realized how lonely. I was friendless, but never realized I might be shut off from the world. I’m not sure I’m ready to fall in love again, but maybe I’m ready to love and be loved.
Maybe I’m ready to let friends back into my life, starting with Harvey, Sasha, Ava, and Cynthia. Then, when I can trust myself to believe it, Joey … since friends is all we will ever be.
Chapter 7
Two weeks pass with almost no interaction from Hart, and with Joey making himself as scarce as possible.
You would think that Joey keeping a physical distance means I am doing the same emotionally, but I must be a closet masochist. The more I weigh up the pros and cons list for a potential, and completely delusional on my behalf, relationship between us, the more I see Joey is too much of a risk. My brain must be stuck on opposites day because, instead of helping me realize I need to put this silly fantasy to bed, I move in the other direction.
Maybe I just like an impossible challenge. Or maybe I like heartbreak. Either way, my feelings for Joey refuse to stay in the friend zone. I’m concerned that, when I see the girls tonight, they are going to pounce on me about Joey. In fact, I know it.
I receive almost daily messages from at least one of them, mostly general how are you doing messages. And I have spotted a trend between them, to the point where I don’t even have to look at who is sending the message to know where most come from.
Cynthia appears to be a fan of sending me funny memes. Ava usually has a baby theme, since I assume she thinks I can relate since I’m usually surrounded by small children. And Sasha’s are always about Joey. If she’s not asking me if we are together yet, then she’s giving me updates on him, or openly asking where he is disappearing off to.
I fear that tonight, with my feelings jumbled and my brain and heart in such a disagreement, I might end up making things worse for myself.
If the girls even get a whiff that I like Joey, I know they won’t let it go.
Do I really want to guilt Joey into something he doesn’t want? Or that I am no doubt not ready for?
I glance around the quiet park, pondering if I should completely give up on Harvey turning up. So far, we haven’t missed a day walking Karma together, but he sent me a message saying he was running late, so I risked shoulder dislocation and started walking Karma myself.
Surprisingly, Harvey has been great company. After our initial meeting, where he grunted at Sasha outside their office, I assumed he wouldn’t be interested in hanging out with me. Besides, I’m not social enough to keep a conversation going through someone’s brooding silence. But it turns out Harvey is quietly funny, incredibly sweet, and a huge softy deep down. He even lets Karma bowl him over every time she sees him, loving that affection, knowing she does, too.
He’s turned into a good friend, and while our conversations have stayed mostly above the surface, I have been too afraid to voice my thoughts on Joey. But with tonight looming, I hoped to get his opinion. Maybe if I do, then I will be able to resist openly talking about Joey and getting everyone’s hopes up that there is more to this than there is.
I glance around, hoping to see Harvey’s familiar frame making his way over to us. Instead, Karma blindsides me by suddenly taking off, pulling her leash free of my grip.
I assume she must have seen Harvey, but the man she is fast approaching isn’t anyone I know.
“Karma!” I yell out, knowing how fruitless it is.
She leaps at the man, who has the sense to try to escape, even if he doesn’t succeed, and I wince when he lands hard on the ground.
Instead of Karma going in for a lick like she usually does, she looms over him, growling.
“Karma!” I reprimand, trying to pull her off the poor man, but she won’t budge.
“Get your dog off me!” he cries.
I begin to panic. I can’t get her to move.
When strong hands suddenly wrap around her and lift her off the squashed man, the man leaps to his feet, his body shaking.
I stare at Harvey, who shifts Karma away from him while she still tries to get at him. Then I turn my attention back to the man.
“I’m so sorry. She’s never reacted that way to someone before,” I gasp, feeling a little shaky myself over her actions. Karma has never been an aggressive dog. She’s usually just a little over-enthusiastic.
He is brushing himself off, looking white as a sheet, and doesn’t say a word. Not to rebuke me for having an out of control dog, or to forgive me by understanding that Karma meant no harm.
Seeing his phone on the ground, I reach down to pick it up, then freeze when I see a photo of myself on it. It looks like it was taken just moments before Karma attacked him.
Why does he have my photo on his phone? Is he following me? Is he some sort of creep? Or did he think he needed evidence of Karma’s owner when she started to run toward him?
“Give me that,” he snaps, his first words to me since Karma was removed. He grabs his phone before I can even touch it. Then, before I can ask him about the photo, he takes off, running like Karma is still chasing him.
“What was that all about?” Harvey asks, gripping the leash that now has mud all over it from Karma’s run through the open park.
“I have no idea.”
The photo on the phone weirds me out, but I’m just as concerned about how Karma behaved.
“Has Karma ever attacked anyone before?”
“You’d have to ask Joey, but I do know she would growl at douchebag clients. That’s why Zander kicked her out. Well, that and I’m pretty sure she could only sniff out a bomb if it was wrapped in bacon.”
I roll my eyes, watching as Karma finds a new interest in a bush. I hate to think how many passing dogs have peed on it.
“Still, it’s not good that she attacked that man.”
“No.” He frowns now, staring over at her. “Knowing Karma, she probably had a good reason.”
“And what does that mean?”
“Do you know why Karma has that name?”
“No, why?”
“Because that’s what she gives people. Good or bad, she delivers karma.”
I snort, knowing that must be bullshit. “I doubt that’s why she’s called that.”
More than likely, the previous owner just thought it would be funny.
“It’s true. Since you have gotten to know her, she has brought both Joey and me into your life.”
I think that over, not sure I believe him about the name, but smiling since he is technically right about himself and Joey.
If it weren’t for Karma, I wouldn’t have gone next door, and I definitely wouldn’t have accidentally burned Joey’s house down. And then I wouldn’t be living with Joey, getting to know him better and feeling more confused than ever about my feelings for him. But I also wouldn’t have met Harvey, who is quickly becoming a good friend. Maybe even my best friend.
“I’m still not sure this has anything to do with her attacking
a complete stranger, or that what you’re implying means I got good karma from her. I don’t consider burning a house down a good thing, even if it meant getting to know Joey better. And I’m not sure I’m completely decided on you,” I jest, smiling to let him know I don’t mean it.
He grabs his chest with his free hand, looking for all the world like I gave him a direct hit to his heart. “Ouch, that one hurt.”
“Oh, shut up.” I roll my eyes again. “Now give me your man wisdom, so I may reconsider my response as to which karma you are.”
“Man wisdom?”
“Yes, about Joey.”
“What about him?” Now he sounds hesitant, no longer the joking man from moments before.
I take a deep breath, knowing I need to get this out, that there is no point feeling embarrassed about it. Things are becoming too dire to worry about what Harvey will think of me.
“I’ve had a crush on Joey since I moved in next door to him. It’s just been an infatuation, and I’ve always known it wasn’t something deep. Joey is hot, and so it isn’t surprising I’ve fantasized about him. But now we’re living together. He’s not just some fantasy next door. He’s sweet, and kind, and annoyingly even hotter up close. Every day I find myself thinking about him more and more, and I don’t know how to shut it off.” I look over to see Harvey is still eyeing me warily.
“So, is your question what do I think about Joey, or about how to shut that off?”
“Both, if you have the answers.”
In his usual Harvey way, he takes a moment to compose an answer. I just hope it will be one that helps me.
“Joey isn’t a bad man. I can’t say much else. As to how you shut that off, I have no idea. I’ve never liked someone enough to catch feelings for them. When I’m done with them, they leave my mind, and that’s that,” he heartlessly and unhelpfully states on a shrug.
“First of all, you are useless to me.” I elbow him, liking when I listen to his chuckle. I have rarely made Harvey laugh, so I always get a kick when I do, even if it’s only a small one. “Secondly, have you seriously never fallen in love before?”
I Burned Down His House (Love at First Crime Book 3) Page 8