“I didn’t consider that,” Zander admitted, glum. “We didn’t know.”
“Had you stayed at home, where I knew you were safe, you would’ve had cell phone reception and known that Dalton was free and running the streets,” Jared pointed out. “I am not trying to be mean to her but – dammit! – she needs to pay attention to what’s going on at any given time.”
“I get that.” Zander rubbed his hands over his bare knees. “She’s inside ripping apart, though. She’s sorry. You’ve made your point. Can’t you – I don’t know – give her another chance?”
“She doesn’t need another chance,” Jared replied. “The first chance isn’t over. Nothing is over. I simply want her to think about what she did.”
“So … you’re torturing her?”
“If that’s the way you want to look at it.”
“Okay, um, that’s weird. How long do you plan on torturing her?”
Jared glanced at his watch. “Five more minutes.”
Zander jolted. “Seriously?”
Jared nodded. “I’m fine torturing her, but now it’s starting to turn into torture for me.” He grabbed the plate of food and shoveled a forkful of potato salad into his mouth. “This is really good.”
“I’m an excellent cook.”
“You’re a good friend, too,” Jared noted. “Things would’ve been worse if she was running around alone today. You didn’t let that happen even though you knew I would be just as angry at you as I am at her.”
“I will never abandon her.”
“I know.” Jared rested the plate on his knees and sawed into the steak. “What kind of lingerie did she buy?”
Zander snickered. “I think I’m going to let you be surprised.”
“Oh, so now you’re torturing me?”
“If that’s the way you want to look at it.”
JARED LEFT Zander to handle the dishes and found his way to Harper’s room. She sat on the floor in front of the full-length mirror attached to her closet door staring at her sunburned cheeks.
“Are you in pain?”
Harper jerked her head in Jared’s direction when he closed the bedroom door and shuffled toward the bed. “I guess it depends on what type of pain you’re talking about. I … are you here to say something that’s going to break my heart?”
It took Jared a moment to realize what she was insinuating. “No. Harper, I need you to come sit over here with me.” He patted the bed.
Harper remained worried he was about to drop an anvil on their relationship, but she did as instructed. “I’m sorry.”
“I know you are.” Jared collected her hand and cupped it between his. “Heart, first off, I need you to stop worrying that I’m going to break up with you because of something you do. The only thing you can do to put this relationship in real jeopardy is cheat on me.”
“Which I would never do.”
“I know. Couples fight, Harper. Sure, we fight about different things than most couples, but it’s still relatively normal in the grand scheme of things. I am not going to break up with you because we had a fight.”
“Okay.” Harper let loose with a relieved sigh. “I’m still sorry. I didn’t think … .”
“Don’t.” Jared extended a warning finger. “We both know you thought before you did it. You thought long and hard and did it anyway. Please don’t insult my intelligence by claiming otherwise.”
“Fine. I thought about it.” Harper dragged a frustrated hand through her hair. “I can’t explain why, but I needed to see Jack Corgan. I had this notion in the back of my head that he had answers and I needed to know for sure if he could answer some of our important questions.”
“It sounds like you got answers,” Jared supplied. “They weren’t the answers you were expecting, though, were they?”
“Zander told you about that?”
Jared nodded. “I’m glad you found that out. I would’ve been happier had you waited until this thing with Tim Dalton and the Reiters was handled first, though.”
“I kind of wish I had, too.” Harper’s smile was rueful. “I won’t do it again. I’m … sorry.”
“You can’t keep apologizing.” Jared squeezed the hand in his lap tighter. “You are so very important to me that I’ll be gutted if something happens to you. You need to know that.”
“I know it. I feel the same way.”
“Then think,” Jared pressed. “Think how you would feel if I did something stupid and died. Think about living without me and then turn it around and do your best to protect my feelings. Can you do that?”
“I can try.”
Jared cocked a dubious eyebrow. “That’s not really the answer I was looking for.”
“I know but … I’m impulsive,” Harper admitted. “I’ll do my best. I’m so … .”
“Don’t.” Jared pressed his finger to her lips. “Don’t apologize again. I can’t take it.”
“Can you take a hug?” Harper was hopeful and Jared couldn’t stop himself from snickering as he opened his arms and pulled her to him.
“I definitely need the hug,” he murmured, stroking the back of her hair.
“Are we okay?” Harper’s voice was barely a whisper as she rested her chin on his shoulder.
“We’re almost there. I’m going to need some time with you before I fully relax.”
“Do you want to start with ice cream cake?” Harper asked, her voice hopping. “I picked out a really good one. It has Oreos.”
Jared chuckled. “I want to start with the lingerie. Then we’ll move on to the ice cream cake. Then we’re going to combine the cupcakes with the lingerie.”
Harper’s chest rumbled with laughter and the sound was enough to cause Jared’s weariness and worry to evaporate, at least for a little while. “That sounds like a plan.”
“It does indeed. Now … let me see the goods. I’ve had a really rough day and you’re the only thing that can cheer me up.”
18
Eighteen
Harper woke to a feeling she couldn’t describe. She was almost positive someone was watching her and yet that seemed impossible because she was home … and safe. She was certain of that.
Harper shifted her head, studying Jared’s silhouette in the darkness to reassure herself that he was not only close but comfortable as well. The moonlight from the window glinted off his strong cheekbones and she took a moment to absorb his beauty.
“You’re so pretty,” she whispered, running her finger along his jaw.
“Thank you, Heart,” Jared murmured. “Do you want to tell me why you’re watching me sleep instead of resting yourself?”
Harper jolted at the sound of his voice, surprised to find him awake in the middle of the night. “Why aren’t you asleep?”
Jared wrenched open an eye and stared at her. “Why aren’t you asleep?”
“I asked you first.”
“Fair enough.” Jared shifted to get a bit more comfortable. “I felt you wake up. When you sleep, you’re generally dead to the world. Your head was heavy on my chest – exactly how I like it – and then it was suddenly gone. That’s why I woke up.”
“Oh, that’s kind of sweet.” Harper’s cheeks burned. “Now you’re even prettier.”
Jared mustered an impish smile. “Thank you. Are you hopped up from all the sugar we ate? It wouldn’t surprise me if you were. I’ve never seen anyone eat that much ice cream cake in one sitting.”
“No, you burned off the sugar buzz.”
Jared’s smile shifted to lazy. “Thank you. That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me all day.”
“I just said you were pretty.”
“Yes, but I find compliments about my sexual prowess to be so much more entertaining than compliments about my face.”
Harper heaved out a sigh. “You’re getting less pretty by the second.”
“You’re pretty enough for both of us.” Jared slipped his arm around her waist, tugging her closer. “Put your head down and go back to sleep.”
“Okay.” Harper did as he instructed, even going so far to close her eyes. The second she did the feeling returned, as if she was being watched, and she bolted to a sitting position.
“Heart, what’s going on?” Jared was more annoyed than anything now.
Harper didn’t immediately answer, instead narrowing her eyes as she peered into the darkness. “Is someone there?”
“Where?” Jared glanced around the bedroom, confused.
Jack Corgan floated forward, the moonlight hitting him at just the right angle so it looked as if starlight sparkled through him. “Hello, cutie.”
In her head, Harper knew she shouldn’t have been surprised. Jack could go anywhere he wanted, whenever he wanted. Her heart rebelled, though, and before she realized what was happening, Harper let loose with a shrill scream.
Jared jolted, grabbing her arm as she scrambled for the top sheet so she could cover herself. “What is wrong with you?”
“Jack Corgan is here,” Harper gritted out, making sure her breasts were covered as Jared arched an eyebrow and stared at the part of the room that had Harper’s full attention.
“Harper!” The bedroom door flew open to allow Zander and Shawn entry. Jared was happy to note that Shawn, at least, armed himself with a baseball bat before entering. Zander was brandishing a toilet brush.
“What are you going to do, clean the ghost to death?” Jared asked dryly.
“We heard Harper scream,” Shawn said, glancing around. “We thought someone snuck into the house.”
“Like Tim Dalton,” Zander hissed. “We thought he killed you and was about to take off with Harp through the window.”
“Oh.” Jared’s expression softened. He was actually mildly relieved to know Shawn thought ahead to grab the bat. If something did happen to him and Harper was in danger, Shawn would be her best chance at getting away safely. “Thank you for coming so quickly. Both of you. Really. It’s just … what were you going to do with the toilet brush, Zander?”
“No one likes germs. I was going to tell whoever was in here that it was infected with a deadly form of Chlamydia.”
“Oh, well, at least you had a plan.”
Zander puffed out his chest and straightened his shoulders. “Why did Harper scream? Were you doing something funky to her in bed? Women don’t like being surprised in bad ways even when it’s dark, just for the record.”
Jared scorched him with a glare. “No. She says there’s a ghost in here.”
“Where?” Zander glanced around, mildly interested. “I don’t see a ghost.”
“Do you ever see ghosts when I see them?” Harper snapped.
“No, but … where is he?” Zander pointed his head toward the corner. “Is he over here?”
“You’ve got quite the little reverse harem going here, don’t you, chickie?” Jack smirked as he took in the three men. “That one looks as if he could go right back to sleep even though you told him there’s a ghost in the room and that one is going to clean me to death.”
“Jared had a long day and he’s tired,” Harper shot back. “He’s not going to fall asleep while you’re in here.”
“Oh, Jack Corgan.” Zander made a face. “He’s a little weasel, isn’t he? Ask him what happened to his wives.”
“I don’t like this one at all.” Jack jerked a thumb in Zander’s direction. “He’s kind of a ponce, isn’t he?”
Harper wasn’t sure what Jack meant when using that term. “He’s my best friend.”
“I knew he was saying something nasty about me,” Zander muttered. “Is he making fun of my pajamas?”
Harper looked Zander’s expensive sleep pants up and down. “I don’t know. Maybe. He said you were … well, I’m not going to say what he said you were because I don’t know if it’s good or bad.”
“That means it’s bad,” Zander said.
“Whisper it to me,” Jared prodded. “I’ll tell you if it’s bad or not.”
Harper rolled her eyes. “I’m not doing that either.” She focused on Jack. “What are you doing in my bedroom in the middle of the night? Most ghosts follow proper etiquette and visit during daylight hours … or at least wait until I’m dressed to make a visit.”
“Oh, are you naked under there?” Jack looked intrigued.
Harper clutched the sheet tighter to her chest. “That’s none of your business.”
“This one isn’t your husband, though, so that’s technically immoral.” Jack moved closer to Jared so he could see him up close. “Works out a lot, huh? What happened to his chest hair?”
“He shaves it,” Harper replied, annoyed.
Jack was confused. “Why?”
“Look around,” Harper said, tilting her head to the side. “They all shave their chests. That’s what muscular dudes do these days.”
“Oh, I get it. It’s so they can show off their muscles, huh?”
“Basically.”
“What did he say?” Jared was mildly interested in the conversation now that it had turned to him. “Is he insulting me?”
“He thinks your pecs are out of this world,” Harper replied.
“They’re nowhere near as good as my pecs,” Zander argued. “Plus, he has freakishly large nipples.”
“Knock that off.” Jared extended a warning finger. “I’m sick to death of you talking about my nipples.”
“We’re all sick to death of you talking about his nipples,” Shawn interjected. “I’m starting to get a complex because you’re much more interested in his nipples than mine.”
“Your nipples are lovely,” Harper offered.
“Don’t comment on his nipples,” Jared ordered. “I know he’s gay but … it’s weird.”
“This entire conversation is weird, if you ask me,” Jack said, hovering close to Harper’s side of the bed. “As illuminating as it is, though, I honestly came here for a reason.”
“Was it to see me naked? If so, you’re a pervert.”
“It wasn’t to see you naked,” Jack replied.
“Oh, well, thank you for that.”
“That was just a bonus.” Jack’s grin was more cat that ate the canary than apologetic. “Now you need to get dressed, though. I need you to come with me.”
Harper’s mouth dropped open. “I … what?”
“Did he say something about your boobs?” Jared asked. “I’ll totally punch him if he did.”
“You can’t even see him,” Zander pointed out.
“That doesn’t mean I won’t punch him.”
“He says I have to get dressed and go with him,” Harper supplied, rubbing her forehead. “This isn’t a dream, right? This is really happening?”
“Sadly, it’s really happening,” Zander replied. “Where does he want you to go?”
Harper shrugged. “I have no idea. Where do you want me to go, Jack?”
“Down to the beach. There’s something you need to see. You have to come now, though.”
“He wants me to go to the beach,” Harper explained.
“Why?” Jared looked as if the last thing he wanted to do was climb out of bed.
“He says there’s something there I need to see,” Harper answered.
Jared stared at her a moment, his face unreadable. “Do you want to go to the beach?” he finally asked.
“I … don’t know.” Harper bit her lip as she stared at Jack. “What’s at the beach?”
“A body washed up on shore,” Jack replied. “It’s important.”
Harper instinctively shifted a bit closer to Jared and he didn’t miss the alarmed look on her face. “He says there’s a body.”
“Like a dead body?” Shawn cocked an eyebrow. “That can’t be normal.”
“I like that you’re not on top of things all of the time,” Zander said, patting Shawn’s shoulder. “It reminds me that you’re human after all.”
“Okay, we’ll go to the beach,” Jared said after a beat. “We’re all going together, though. I don’t want us splitting up in the mid
dle of the night.”
“Oh, man!” Zander made a face. “What about my beauty sleep?”
“The world can only take so much beauty,” Shawn replied.
Zander beamed. “And you’re back on top.”
“And I feel sick to my stomach,” Harper muttered. “I should’ve stopped before that final piece of ice cream cake.”
“We all make mistakes.” Jared kissed her cheek. “Everyone get dressed. We’re out of here in five minutes.”
“GIVE ME your hand.”
Jared was nervous when he exited Shawn’s Ford Explorer in front of Jason’s restaurant and he instinctively reached for Harper. Shawn ended up driving because he was parked in the back of the driveway and Jared got progressively more worked up as they grew closer to the beach.
The hand that slipped into Jared’s seemed larger than it should’ve been and when Jared glanced to his left he found Zander standing next to him.
“Not you,” Jared whined, jerking his hand away. “I was talking to Harper.”
“I’m right here.” Harper moved to his right side and grabbed his hand. “It’s going to be okay.”
Jared shook his head, dumbfounded. “I’m supposed to be telling you that.”
“Oh, sorry. I’m listening.”
“Now the magic is gone.” Jared said the words, but he didn’t release Harper’s hand. He also didn’t complain when Zander and Shawn crowded him on his left flank. “Where does the ghost want us to go?”
“Down to the beach in front of the restaurant,” Harper replied, keeping one eye on Jack as she let Jared pick the pace. “Who do you think it is?”
Jared shrugged, unsure how to answer. “Did he say if it was a man or woman?”
Harper glanced at Jack, waiting for an answer.
“Man,” Jack answered. “Not too big and not too small.”
“A medium-sized man,” Harper volunteered. “Maybe it’s Chad Reiter.”
“It shouldn’t be,” Jared argued. “He’s still in the hospital. The doctor is keeping him there because he’s struggling with a concussion. The doctor can’t figure out exactly why he’s not recovering like he should be, but he authorized more extensive tests this afternoon, including a complete drug panel. I checked on Chad right before I headed over to your house. He was still in the hospital.”
Ghostly Wrecks (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 6) Page 16