Wicked Beginning: An Ivy Morgan Mystery Books 1-3

by Lily Harper Hart

  “You be careful,” Millie warned. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

  “I never do stupid things,” Ivy said, striding off in the direction of the stranger. She kept her pace even, but purposeful, and after a few moments, the stranger shifted his eyes from Kelly to Ivy. Ivy still couldn’t make out his features, but whatever the man was hoping to accomplish was cut short when he turned on his heel and walked out of the barn.

  Ivy broke into a run. “Hey!”

  By the time she raced out of the barn, the area surrounding it was empty. She scanned the open expanse, hoping to see a glimpse of the man. When she heard a car engine fire up, she shifted her attention to the parking lot just in time to see a red Ford Explorer speed out. She was too far away to get the license plate.

  “Crap,” she muttered, reaching for her phone. “Jack is not going to like this.”

  Twenty-Two

  “So, let me get this straight … .” Jack pinched the bridge of his nose to keep from shaking Ivy, frustration bubbling up as he internally warned himself that picking a fight – especially now, when Jordan was on his way – would be a bad idea. “After your house was broken into and you were thrown into a wall, you took it upon yourself to chase a stranger. Is that what you’re telling me?”

  “Don’t you even think of yelling at me,” Ivy warned, her eyes narrowing. “I didn’t realize I was going to be chasing him. I just wanted to know why he was staring at Kelly. It was broad daylight, and there were people around.”

  “I’m going to have to … .” Jack broke off, miming strangling her.

  Ivy had to purse her lips to keep from smiling. He was cute when he was animated. “Is that some form of interpretive dance? I didn’t know you were into that.”

  “Don’t push me,” Jack said, extending a finger in Ivy’s direction. “I will spank your bottom blue.”

  Ivy scowled. “And yet you say that like it’s going to turn you on.”

  “Oh, you have no idea, honey,” Jack said. He placed his hands on his hips and looked over Ivy’s shoulder so he could watch Kelly on the swing in the front yard. While she’d displayed reticence to the announcement that her brother was on his way, she was keenly nervous while waiting for him.

  Ivy followed his gaze, nervous butterflies flitting through her own stomach. “You’re sure he wants to see her, right? She can’t take another disappointment.”

  “I’m sure,” Jack said. “He feels guilty. He honestly thought he was doing the right thing.”

  “It sounds like he’s done well for himself,” Ivy said. “Maybe they’ll be able to work something out so they can see each other on a regular basis. When Kelly is released from the system, she’ll have someone on the outside to help her.”

  “He’s done amazingly well for himself,” Jack said. “He’s soft-spoken, he’s kind, and he’s a hard worker.”

  “Good,” Ivy said. “I suppose I should get inside and make dinner.”

  “I brought steaks,” Jack said, reaching for the bag he’d dropped on the lawn chair when he approached Ivy upon his return to her house.

  Ivy made a face. “I don’t like steak.”

  “I didn’t buy one for you,” Jack said. “I figured you can eat your … asparagus burger … while the rest of us eat real food. I’m sure you can handle the sides.”

  “You’re really pushing your luck,” Ivy said, grabbing the bag from him and glancing inside. “I don’t even know how to cook these.”

  “I guess it’s good you have a world-class griller here to help you then,” Jack said, grabbing the bag back from her. “Don’t touch those. You’ll get … alfalfa sprouts cooties all over them.”

  “I’m going to give you cooties,” Ivy threatened.

  “That’s what I’m hoping for,” Jack said, swatting her rear to prod her into the house. “We have to get Kelly taken care of first, though.”

  “Stop saying things like that.”

  Jack waited until they were safely inside the house – and away from Kelly’s prying eyes – before grabbing the front of her shirt and pushing her against the wall. “No.” His eyes were soulful as he dropped a soft kiss on her mouth.

  Despite the warning in the back of her mind telling her to pull away, Ivy returned the hot kiss. When Jack finally pulled away, Ivy had to check herself briefly to make sure she was still dressed, and then she fixed him with an icy stare. “You’re really full of yourself.”

  Jack smiled, loving the pouty look on her face. “I can’t wait until we have some time alone together. I’m going to show you just how full of myself I am.”

  Secretly, Ivy was looking forward to that, too.

  JORDAN was nervous as he hopped out of his truck in Ivy’s driveway. Jack met him on the front porch, a welcoming smile in place as the younger man trudged up the steps.

  “Did you have trouble finding the place?” Jack asked.

  “Your directions were good,” Jordan said. “I didn’t see the house at first because of the trees, but I realized where it was once I passed by. I didn’t overshoot it by much.”

  “That’s good.”

  “This is a cool place,” Jordan said, scanning the property. “Do you live here?”

  “I live over on the river,” Jack said. “The land is great. The house is a dump.”

  “And this house belongs to … what did you say her name was?”

  “Ivy Morgan,” Jack said. “If she runs hot and cold on you, don’t worry about it. I’m the one irritating her right now.”

  “How did you do that?”

  Jack tilted his head to the side, considering. “I won’t stop kissing her.”

  Jordan snorted. “I see.”

  “It’s a long story,” Jack said.

  “I’m guessing it’s one of those stories that’s going to have a happy ending,” Jordan said.

  “I’m starting to think that myself,” Jack said. “Don’t worry, she’s a wonderful woman. She just has attitude.”

  “All the best ones do,” Jordan said, sucking in a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

  “It’s going to be okay,” Jack said, patting him on the shoulder. “Kelly has been looking forward to seeing you all day, even if she won’t admit it. Just … be prepared for her to be hostile for the first few minutes. She’s got a lot of resentment pent up about what’s happened to her throughout the years.”

  “I don’t blame her,” Jordan said. “When do you want me to start questioning her about what happened?”

  “Don’t force it,” Jack said. “Get to know her first. We’ve survived this long. Another couple of hours isn’t going to kill us.” At least Jack hoped that was the truth. He led Jordan into the small cottage and pointed toward the patio through the back sliding glass door. “She’s out there.”

  Jordan stared for a moment, his heart clenching when he saw Kelly. He would’ve recognized her anywhere. Even though eight years had passed – eight important ones for Kelly – it was almost as if he was staring at a younger version of their mother when he saw her animatedly talking to the woman next to the grill.

  “Ivy has pink hair,” Jordan said.

  “Some of it is pink,” Jack replied. “I thought it was weird at first, too. It fits her personality, though.”

  “Her personality is pink?” Jordan arched an eyebrow.

  “Her personality is fiery,” Jack said. “Come on. I’ll introduce you. Besides, I don’t trust her with those steaks alone.”

  Jack pushed open the door, ushering Jordan out in front of him. Kelly’s gaze locked with her brother’s the second she saw him, and Ivy couldn’t help but notice Jordan clasped his hands together – the same way Kelly did when she was nervous – when he saw his sister for the first time in eight years.

  “Hey, trouble.”

  Kelly opened her mouth to respond, years of anger and bitterness ready to pour out like a waterfall. Instead, she burst into tears and rushed to him, letting him hug her as he shed a few tears of his own.

  Jack moved away,
offering them some privacy, and edged Ivy away from the grill with his hips as he took the pronged fork from her and flipped the steaks wordlessly. Ivy watched the brother and sister cry, her heart flopping, and then lifted her glassy eyes to Jack’s. He bent over and kissed her on the nose quickly before shifting his attention back to the grill. “I see you didn’t burn them.”

  “I … .” Ivy wrinkled her nose. “I’m perfectly capable of cooking cow flesh.”

  “I love it when you refer to it that way,” Jack said. “It gives me this low-down tickle in my stomach.”

  “I’m going to tickle you.” Ivy realized what she’d said and made a face. “Wait. That came out wrong.”

  “Oh, no,” Jack teased. “I think it came out exactly right.”

  “You’re a pig,” Ivy said.

  “Oink.”

  “THIS looks great,” Jordan said, smiling appreciatively as Ivy slipped a heaping plate of steak, potatoes, mushrooms and vegetables in front of him. “I can’t remember the last time I had a home-cooked meal like this.”

  “Me either,” Kelly said, her eyes widening at her own plate. “Wow. This is even better than Jack’s breakfasts.”

  “Jack cooks you breakfast?” Jordan asked, intrigued.

  “He’s been sleeping on the couch,” Kelly said. “Ivy has been sleeping with him, but I’m not supposed to talk about it. She told me today that she was going to gag me if I didn’t stop talking about Jack kissing her.”

  Ivy scorched Kelly with a look while Jack smirked. “Don’t worry. I won’t let her gag you. Keep bugging her about the kisses. I like it when she gets flustered.”

  “You like it when she does anything,” Kelly countered. “Max says you’re hot for her bod.”

  Jack faltered. “I’m going to gag Max, that’s for sure.”

  “Who is Max?” Jordan asked, reaching for the steak sauce.

  “He’s my brother,” Ivy explained. “He’s been out here a few times helping with some stuff, and he took Kelly to dinner last night.”

  “He’s really hot,” Kelly said, her giggle belying her age as her eyes looked years beyond it.

  “Don’t say things like that,” Ivy said. “Max has a big enough ego as it is.”

  “Max says he’s God’s gift to women,” Kelly said. “He told me he thought Jack was going to be his competition until Jack saw you. Then he knew he was safe.”

  “Yup, I’m definitely gagging Max,” Jack said.

  “What are you doing to me?” Max picked that moment to appear from the side of the house. He climbed the patio, grabbing a chair and pushing it between Ivy and Kelly. Once he settled, his gaze fell on Jordan. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Kelly’s brother, Jordan. You must be the infamous Max I’ve heard so much about.”

  “I am,” Max said, extending his hand in greeting. “Don’t worry if your sister has a crush on me. No woman is immune.”

  Jordan smirked, Max’s charm winning him over almost instantaneously. Ivy cuffed the back of Max’s head. “Who invited you to dinner?” she asked.

  “I invited myself,” Max replied, nonplussed. “I brought the paint you wanted for your front door. I figured you would want to reward me with a good meal. I can’t believe you made steak.”

  “Jack made steak,” Ivy corrected.

  “Good, then Jack is going to give me half of his,” Max said.

  “You can have half of mine,” Kelly offered.

  “Oh, no,” Max said, winking. “Jack is dating my sister. He owes me.”

  “I don’t owe you anything,” Jack shot back, but he was already sawing his steak in half. He speared the smaller portion with his fork and dropped it on Max’s plate. “I just happen to think rewarding you for fixing your sister’s door is worth a piece of meat. If you’d told me you were coming, I would’ve bought you your own.”

  “You should sign up for my newsletter,” Max said, his eyes sparkling. “Then you would always know where I am, just like my rabid female fans.”

  “You have a newsletter?” Kelly asked, her eyes widening.

  “Don’t listen to a word he says,” Ivy chided. “He’s full of it.”

  “Listen, little sister, I’m the one who put a new door on your house after it got kicked in,” Max said. “I’m the one who agreed to paint it because you didn’t like the color. I’m the one who … I want some mushrooms.”

  Ivy sighed and tipped half of her mushrooms onto his plate.

  “Where was I?” Max asked.

  “Right about to the point where I was looking for something to gag you with,” Jack said.

  “Wait, your door got kicked in?” Jordan asked, interrupting the friendly family banter. “How did that happen?”

  Ivy and Jack exchanged a look. Now was the time.

  “I think that’s something you need to ask Kelly,” Jack said carefully.

  Jordan shifted his attention to his sister. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

  Kelly swallowed hard, unsure. “I … .”

  “Let’s eat dinner first,” Ivy said, swooping in quickly. “We’ll talk about all of this when the food isn’t getting cold.”

  “Ivy,” Jack warned.

  “It can wait a half hour, Jack. Let everyone enjoy their meal.”

  “Fine,” Jack grumbled, turning back to his plate.

  “You’re so whipped already,” Max cackled.

  “I’m seriously going to gag you, Max,” Jack said, although the smile he sent Ivy was warm. “You and I are going to have our own little talk after dinner, Mr. Morgan.”

  Twenty-Three

  “Thank you for dinner,” Jordan said, handing Ivy his plate as she rinsed dishes and slipped them in the dishwasher. “I really appreciate it.”

  “I really appreciate you coming here,” Ivy said, her eyes serious. “Kelly needs you in your life.”

  Jordan stilled. “I … .”

  “I’m not asking you to take everything on yourself,” Ivy said quickly. “I know you’re young, and the things you’ve gone through are just as bad as the things Kelly’s gone through. I’m just hoping you’ll be able to visit her from time to time.”

  “I won’t lose her again,” Jordan promised. “You know, you taking her in is a miracle. Most people in your position would’ve called the cops and sent her on her way.”

  “I’m not most people.”

  “No, you’re not,” Jordan agreed, shifting his head so he could watch Jack, Max, and Kelly cavorting outside. “Your brother is good with her, too.”

  “Max is good with everyone,” Ivy said. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s a rampant pain in the rear end, but he’s got a heart of gold.”

  “And what about Jack?”

  “He’s been wonderful with her.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” Jordan said, teasing. “Does he have a heart of gold, too? Don’t bother denying it. I see the way you two look at each other. It can’t be easy on you.”

  “Jack is a good man,” Ivy said, choosing her words carefully. “We are not in a relationship, though.”

  “Yet,” Jordan said. “Something tells me the thing holding you back right now is Kelly. That doesn’t seem fair to the two of you.”

  “We’re adults,” Ivy said. “We have a few things to … discuss … before anything happens. We’re going to make sure Kelly is settled and safe. I promise you that.”

  “You need her to talk to do that,” Jordan said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m here.”

  “I want you to bond with your sister,” Ivy said. “I know Jack prodded you into coming so you could talk with her, but you don’t have to force that issue tonight.”

  “Jack wants you to be safe,” Jordan said. “I understand that. As long as Kelly is hiding something, neither one of you is safe. I want Kelly safe just as much as Jack wants you safe.”

  “Just … be careful,” Ivy said. “She gets upset when you push her. She’s starting to volunteer more and more information, but whatever secret she’s keep
ing has to be a doozy – at least from her limited viewpoint.”

  “What do you mean?” Jordan asked, genuinely curious.

  “Don’t you remember what it was like to be sixteen? Everything is magnified when you’re that age. All the heartbreaks are bigger, and all the embarrassments seem like they’re things you’re never going to get over.”

  “Someone is trying to grab her,” Jordan said. “Someone is willing to kill you to get her. That doesn’t seem like an exaggeration to me.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” Ivy said. “I don’t disagree that she knows something important. I think she’s convinced herself that her reasons for keeping it secret are somehow dire. That’s what I was getting at.”

  “Oh,” Jordan said, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “You think she’s convinced herself that whatever perceived embarrassment comes from telling the truth is going to be worse than someone trying to hurt her … and you.”

  “Exactly,” Ivy said.

  “Well, we can’t let her think that,” Jordan said. “Do you have any suggestions on getting her to talk?”

  “Actually, I do,” Ivy said, her face sober as she regarded Jordan. “Just how far are you willing to go to keep your sister safe?”

  “As far as it takes,” Jordan said truthfully. “What do you want me to do?”

  “JORDAN and Ivy are sure taking a long time doing dishes in there,” Kelly said, glancing up toward the house as she chewed on her lower lip. “Do you think I should see what they’re doing?”

  “They’re finishing the dishes,” Max said. “They’ll be out in a second. Don’t worry about it.”

  “Max is right,” Jack said. “Ivy and Jordan will be out in a second.”

  “Max is always right,” Kelly said, giggling.

  Max winked at her. “See, a woman after my own heart. She knows quality when she sees it.”

  “She’s too young to see all the smoke you’re blowing out of your … .” Jack broke off when he heard the front door opening. Ivy and Jordan filed out. Both of them were smiling, but Jack could detect a small shift in the way they were carrying themselves. “Here they come.”