Harper blew out a reticent sigh. “Okay. It’s just … I don’t think you’re going to like what I have to say.”
“I think that we’ve been together long enough that we both know it doesn’t matter if I like what you say. I still want to hear it.”
“Right. So … um … I need to get back out to the spot where we found the body.”
Harper’s admission was enough to throw Jared for a loop. “I’m sorry but … what?”
“I need to get back out there,” Harper pressed. “I need to look around.”
“Why?”
“To see if Tabitha Darden’s ghost is hanging around.”
Harper’s answer was simple and it was hardly the first time Jared heard her express the exact same sentiment. Given where they were, though, he couldn’t help being surprised. “You want to ghost hunt on our vacation?”
“I don’t want to ghost hunt on our vacation,” she clarified. “I feel the need to at least try, though. If that woman is running around in the woods, shouldn’t we at least offer our services to help her?”
“I don’t know.” Jared chose his words carefully. “It’s not my case.”
“That didn’t stop you from spending your entire afternoon working with Jack and Brian.”
“No, but … wait, did that upset you?” Jared searched Harper’s face for an answer. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because it didn’t upset me as much as make me curious,” Harper answered. “You were the one keen to spend time with me and you didn’t even hesitate to stay behind and work on a case you won’t get paid for.”
“I don’t care about the money.”
“I know that.”
“I do care about you,” Jared added. “I didn’t think you would be upset. I wanted to hang around long enough to get more information. I clearly didn’t think it through, which is on me.” Jared ran the back of his knuckles down Harper’s arm as she sat on the end of the bed with him. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
Instead of responding in kind, or mustering a set of tears, Harper merely smirked. “You didn’t hurt my feelings.”
“Then why are we talking about this?”
“Because I’m going to need your help to get back to the scene,” Harper replied. “I have to look, Jared. I know you don’t always understand the things that move me, but I have to look because … Zander found her. We were there when it happened, so it’s like I found her, too. I want to make sure she’s put to rest if I can.”
“Plus she might have answers about who killed her,” Jared mused, rubbing the back of his neck. “I get what you’re saying and I’m not altogether against it. We do have a minor problem, though.”
“And what problem is that?”
“How much did you tell Ivy about your abilities?”
“What do you mean?”
“How much did you tell her?” Jared repeated. “I mean … did you tell her you regularly talk to ghosts and help them cross over? Were you vague or in depth?”
“What does that matter?”
“It matters to me.”
“Because you’re embarrassed by what I do?”
Jared scowled. He sensed a trap and wasn’t keen to fall in it. “You know better than that. I’m not embarrassed by anything you do and never will be. Try giving me a little credit.”
“I guess I don’t understand the question,” Harper said after a beat. “Have you ever known me to hide my abilities?”
“No.”
“I’ve found it easier to tell the truth from the beginning,” Harper said. “I make that a hard and fast rule. This is no different. I told Ivy the truth. I like her. Why would I lie?”
“And what did she say?”
Harper chewed on the inside of her cheek as she debated how to answer.
Jared narrowed his eyes as he watched her think, intrigued. “Are you holding something back?”
“Not really,” Harper said, shaking her head. “It’s just … Ivy has talked to a ghost, too.” Harper related Ivy’s story for Jared, and when she was done, she found him staring into space. “What do you make of that?”
“If I’d never met you, I would say she was crazy,” Jared replied honestly. “The thing is … do you think it’s possible for one person’s soul to displace another?”
Harper answered without hesitation. “I do. Definitely, I do.”
“Why do you think Ivy was able to see that one soul?”
“Maybe she’s somehow special,” Harper suggested. “Maybe she has an ability like me.”
“Is that all she told you?”
“Pretty much. I got the feeling she wanted to tell me more, if that helps, but she keeps things close to the vest. That’s probably because she’s had to protect herself in a sparsely populated area her entire life.”
“You’ve had to do the same,” Jared pointed out. “You’re pretty open.”
“Yes, but I get the feeling Ivy’s childhood was different from mine,” Harper explained. “People were forced to accept what I could do because I had a couple of high-profile saves. It sounds to me as if Ivy was ostracized and pegged ‘different’ by everyone in town.
“She didn’t have a Zander to protect her while growing up,” she continued. “It sounds like she had Max – and he obviously loves her – but I can’t help but think our childhoods were vastly different.”
“Max is definitely different,” Jared agreed. “I didn’t like the way he was flirting with you.”
“Something tells me that Max is that way with everyone. I mean … come on … he was kind of flirting with Zander and Shawn by the end of dinner and he very clearly doesn’t roll that way.”
“I still don’t like it.” Jared was firm. “You’re my Heart.”
Harper smiled as she rested her chin on his shoulder. “I am. I don’t think you have to worry about Max, though. He’s simply the gregarious sort. He had more fun teasing Ivy about making a friend than he did talking to us. She’s the one he was most interested in.”
“Yeah, that was kind of funny,” Jared conceded, his lips curving. “I do find it a little hilarious that you and Ivy have bonded so quickly. I don’t ever remember you doing that before.”
Harper shrugged. “I like her. She’s funny … and smart … and in some ways, she kind of reminds me of me.”
“You’ve got a pretty high opinion of yourself, huh?” Jared wrapped his arm around Harper’s waist and offered up a playful smile. “I didn’t know you were so fascinated with yourself.”
“I usually leave that to you.” Harper flicked the end of Jared’s nose. “I like it when you’re fascinated with me.”
“I feel like both of us should probably put this away and be fascinated with each other for the rest of the night.”
Harper wanted to press the issue but understood now wasn’t the time. “Okay.”
Jared recognized the worry that lurked behind Harper’s eyes. “I’ll find a way to get you back out to the scene. I promise.”
Harper brightened. “Thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Now … come over here and let me fascinate you.”
“That sounds like the perfect end to a very long day.”
“IT LOOKS LIKE IT might storm.”
Ivy stood next to the bedroom window staring out when Jack returned from the bathroom after washing his face and brushing his teeth. She looked small standing next to the large window and Jack moved to her side so he could wrap himself around her.
“You like storms.”
“I do.”
Jack kissed the nape of Ivy’s neck. “What are you thinking, honey?”
Ivy turned a quizzical expression in Jack’s direction, shifting in his arms so she could look at him. “I wasn’t really thinking anything. Why do you ask?”
“Because I know you and you’re always thinking something.”
“Not tonight. Tonight I was just thinking about … you.”
Jack pursed his lips. It was a flattering statement
… and yet he didn’t believe her for a second. “You’re full of crap.”
Ivy balked. “That is a horrible thing to say about the woman you’re supposedly in love with.”
“Don’t ever say ‘supposedly’ in correlation with the word ‘love’ when it comes to how I feel about you,” Jack chided.
“Someone has been reading the dictionary.”
“Actually I was reading that magazine you left in the living room and now I know exactly how women think thanks to it.”
“That was a crafts magazine,” Ivy said dryly.
“I still know how women think.”
Ivy barked out a laugh. “You’re in a funny mood tonight.” She tapped her finger against his bare chest, her fingers barely scraping over the scar above his heart. It used to be, when they first started dating, that Jack hated taking off his shirt because he didn’t want Ivy to stare at the scar. He was self-conscious about it. Now he hardly ever thought about it. The scar remained, but Ivy healed his heart.
“I was going to say the same thing about you.” Jack stroked his hand over the back of Ivy’s hair. “I liked watching you with Harper tonight.”
“Oh, yeah?” Ivy maintained a placid expression. “Why is that?”
“Because you have no female friends and it was eye opening watching you with a woman you’ve clearly bonded with.”
“I have female friends.”
“We both know that’s not true, so stop saying it,” Jack instructed. “I don’t care if you have female friends or not. Er, well, that’s not exactly true. Tonight made me realize you need a trustworthy female friend. You know, Harper doesn’t live that far away. If you guys want to bond and … hang out and stuff … that might not be a bad idea.”
“Oh, geez.” Ivy slapped her hand to her forehead as she took a step back. “You’re going to make a thing about this, aren’t you?”
Jack nodded. “You clearly like her.”
“Here we go.”
Jack had to force himself not to smile. He knew that Ivy would clam up if she believed he was about to make fun of her. That was her way. “It’s okay to like her. I like her. She’s funny and smart.”
“And pretty,” Ivy pointed out. “Maybe you should hit on her like my brother.”
“She’s definitely pretty, but no one holds a candle to you when it comes to my heart,” Jack said. “You know that, so let’s not fight about something that means absolutely nothing.”
Ivy pursed her lips. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“Let’s start with the truth.”
“But … .”
“You like her. It’s okay to admit it. I mean … it’s not as if you like her enough to run off with her or anything, right? Right?”
Ivy rolled her eyes so hard Jack thought she might topple to the side. “I’m not suddenly a lesbian so you can let that little fantasy go.”
“Hey, I didn’t think you were a lesbian. If you’re open to exploration, though … and want to let me watch … um … .”
“Don’t finish that sentence unless you want to sleep on the couch tonight,” Ivy warned.
“Oh, I’m not sleeping on the couch.” Jack was matter-of-fact. “I ate the feet mushrooms a second time and they were even grosser than I remember. I’ve built up like ten freebies for eating those things.”
Instead of reacting with irritation, Ivy smiled. “You did eat all of them even though I could tell you were grossed out. I guess that’s worth a freebie.”
“Ten,” Jack pressed, resting his hands on her hips. “I want ten freebies for eating the feet mushrooms.”
Ivy giggled when Jack leaned forward and made chomping noises against her neck, squirming as he tucked her close. “Fine. You get ten freebies.”
“Good.”
“Harper is not one of them, though,” Ivy clarified. “Just because I like her, that doesn’t mean you get to make inappropriate lesbian jokes. They’re not funny and I find them kind of crude.”
“I’m sorry.” Jack rocked back and forth, soothing both of them as he held her head against his chest. “I do think it’s cute how you’ve made a new friend, though. You’re so excited when you talk to her your face practically lights up.”
“I think you’re exaggerating.”
“I’m not. If I realized anything through watching you interact with Harper, it’s that you need a female friend. You spend all your time with Max and me. That can’t be healthy.”
Ivy balked. “You don’t have any friends other than me.”
“That’s not exactly true. I have Brian and Max.”
“They don’t count.”
“They do count,” Jack argued. “I’ve only been in town a year. Shadow Lake isn’t very big. I go out to the bar once a week with Brian and Max. We do manly stuff while we’re there. It counts.”
“Does this manly stuff include thumping your chests and spitting tobacco?”
Jack snorted. “No, it includes talking about sports and women. That’s what men do. That counts.”
“Whatever.”
“You, on the other hand, spend all your time with Max and me. Now, I’m happy you spend a lot of time with me, but I also think you need someone to vent to and I’m not sure Max is a healthy choice.”
“I spend time with other people.”
“Who?”
“Um … my dad.” Ivy knew how lame the response sounded, but she had nothing else to offer. “He’s back in town and he’s working with me at the nursery. He counts.”
“No, he doesn’t.”
“He should.”
“What else have you got?”
“Um … Aunt Felicity.” The name rolled off Ivy’s tongue before she had a chance to think better of it. Everyone she’d named was related to her, which did more to bolster Jack’s argument than her own.
“Yeah, you need a female friend,” Jack said. “I think Harper is a good choice. She’s friendly. She’s outgoing. She’s easy to talk to. You clearly like her and because Harper already has a boyfriend she’s not in competition with you, which I think is one of your biggest problems here in Shadow Lake. People always think they’re in competition with you and know they’re going to lose because you’re the prettiest woman in the world.”
Ivy arched a dubious eyebrow. “That was laying it on too thick.”
Jack’s smile was rueful. “I know. I don’t see the line until I’ve already crossed it most of the time. I’m sorry. I can’t seem to help myself.”
Ivy snorted. “Whatever.” She rested her ear on Jack’s heart so she could listen to the steady beat. “I like Harper. That doesn’t mean we’re going to turn into teenagers and start writing and calling every day.”
“It would be okay if you did.”
“It’s not going to happen. I like her, though. You’re right about that. She makes me laugh and that Zander dude is a total trip.”
Jack smiled at the memory of Zander hitting on Max over dinner. “He does have a certain something, doesn’t he?” Jack returned to his swaying, his face sobering. “I want you to be careful when you’re running around with your new friend.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It’s not an admonishment or anything, if that’s what you’re thinking. We have a murderer hiding in our midst, though. So far we have no motive. I want you to be careful.”
“I will be. I’m always careful.”
“You’re rarely careful and now that you have a new friend, I’m guessing you’re going to be even less careful than normal.” Jack pressed a kiss to the top of Ivy’s head. “I won’t be able to take it if you get hurt.”
“I’ll be careful.”
“Good.” Jack pulled back so he could rub his thumb over Ivy’s cheek. “So … are you ready to reward me for eating the feet mushrooms?”
Ivy smirked. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’m glad you asked.” Jack’s smile turned mischievous. “How would you like to be the mushroom princess this evening?�
�
Ivy chuckled. “I’ve had worse offers.”
“Wait until I finish laying out the scenario before you say things like that.”
“I’m sorry. Continue.”
“So … as I was saying. You’re the mushroom princess and I’m your king. I think it’s time we start worshipping each other.”
Eight
Max landed at Ivy’s house five minutes before Jack left for his shift. Jack wasn’t surprised by his future brother-in-law’s arrival, but he was instantly alert.
“What do you guys have planned for the day?”
Ivy saw no reason to lie. “We’re going morel hunting.”
“Why?” Jack knew he sounded petulant, but he couldn’t keep the whine from his voice. “You picked a bushel of them yesterday before we got distracted. Why would you possibly need more?”
“You don’t understand the lifestyle,” Max chided. “Morels are only around for a few weeks. We have to take advantage of it.”
“But … why?”
“I take it you still think they taste like feet even though you ate everything on your plate last night, huh?”
Jack refused to be drawn into a potential fight with Ivy, even though he knew it would amuse Max to no end. “They were fine.”
Ivy and Max snorted in unison.
“He still hates them,” Ivy offered. “I rewarded him for eating everything on his plate like a big boy last night anyway.”
“Don’t tell me things like that.” Max held up his hands to ward off whatever dirty scenario was playing through his head. “You guys are officially sickening with the lovey-dovey stuff. Take it down a notch.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Jack smacked a loud kiss against Ivy’s cheek. “If you guys want to hunt for morels, be my guest. I’m guessing Ivy only invited you because she knows I’ll worry if she’s in the woods alone all day.”
“That shows what you know,” Max countered. “Ivy and I have had this date on the books for weeks. We usually go out together the first day of hunting season, but she wanted to spend that day with you … although I have no idea why because I’m a far better conversationalist.”
Wicked Ghostly Seas: A Rowan Gray, Harper Harlow and Ivy Morgan Mystery Omnibus Page 7