Harper made a face. “Don’t be a pain.”
“That’s not a very nice way to treat your best friend in the world,” Zander chided. “The best friend, I might add, who cleaned up all your clothes after you left so Jared wouldn’t see how panicked you were before your date and also cleared a spot for you two to … camp.”
Jared poured two mugs of coffee and handed one to Harper before taking a seat next to Zander at the table. This was something he could get used to, too. Zander was a pain in some respects, but Jared loved watching him interact with Harper. The vibe between the two of them was one of comfort and love. He wasn’t sure if he would ever get enough of it.
“How was your date?” Jared asked.
Zander shrugged. “It was fine until the wee hours of the morning. I won’t be seeing Mark from the gym again.”
“What happened during the wee hours of the morning?”
“Don’t ask that question,” Harper hissed.
“Why not?” Jared was confused.
“Because you’re opening a box of trouble,” Harper replied, settling next to Jared. “Zander falls in love once a week and then dumps them as fast as he hooks them.”
“How come?”
“Because I’m looking for the perfect man,” Zander answered.
“Because he’s unbelievably nitpicky,” Harper corrected.
“Give me some examples,” Jared instructed, enjoying the game.
“Well, he broke up with a garage mechanic because he smelled like gasoline,” Harper volunteered.
“It made me nauseous,” Zander said.
“He broke up with a waiter because he wore too much cologne.”
“And talked with his mouth full of food,” Zander added.
“Then there was that guy who works at the county park,” Harper said, smiling at the memory. “You chased him for two weeks and then broke up with him because he had hairy toes.”
“They freaked me out,” Zander said. “I thought he was wearing hobbit slippers when I woke up the next morning.”
“That would freak me out, too,” Jared said. “Luckily Harper’s feet are cute and dainty.”
Zander snorted. “She has huge feet for a woman,” he said. “It’s good you think they’re cute, though. You’re stuck with them now.”
“I can live with that,” Jared said, taking another sip. “So, what was wrong with this guy you went out with last night?”
“I’m glad you asked,” Zander sniffed. “My best friend clearly doesn’t care about my plight … even though I went out of my way to make sure she looked fabulous for you last night.”
“You did a very good job,” Jared said.
“That’s obvious since you two left clothes between the living room and bedroom on your way to nirvana,” Zander said.
“We did not!” Harper was mortified.
“I found your panties sticking out from underneath your bedroom door, Harp,” Zander argued, although the twinkle in his eye told Jared the gregarious man couldn’t be happier for his best friend. That was another thing Jared liked about Zander. He took joy in Harper’s happiness.
“You’re making that up,” Harper protested.
“Your panties are in the hamper,” Zander snapped. “We’ll go shopping for sexier ones in the next few days. Poor Jared deserves some options if he’s going to have to put up with that bedhead of yours on a regular basis.”
Harper instinctively reached for her hair to smooth it, but Jared caught her hand with his and pressed a kiss to her palm instead.
“Your hair looks fine,” he said. “I like it that way. It makes me take pride in a job well done.”
“You’re cheeky,” Zander said.
“Go back to your date,” Jared instructed, adoration washing over him when he saw Harper try to catch a glimpse of her reflection in the toaster. She was too cute for words. “What did this guy do that was so wrong?”
“Well, it’s tragic really,” Zander answered. “We were having a perfectly nice interlude and then … well … he took off his shirt.”
“Did he have boobs or something?”
“Worse.”
“What’s wrong with boobs?” Harper asked. “I have them. I kind of like them.”
“Yours are great,” Jared agreed, squeezing her hand when she blushed. “I don’t think Zander likes them, though.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Harper corrected. “He’s obsessed with mine. He won’t touch them, though.”
Jared frowned. “Why would he touch them?”
“I’m gay,” Zander explained. “That’s allowed. I still can’t touch her boobs. If they belonged to someone else I would be all over them. We’re too close. It feels like incest.”
“That’s good to know,” Jared said cautiously. “It’s probably going to give me nightmares, but go back to your story. I’m dying to know what was wrong with your date that you only found out when he took his shirt off.”
Zander leaned over the table, his expression serious. “He’s got an outie.”
“A what?”
Harper giggled. “Seriously? Gross.”
“I’m missing something,” Jared said. “What’s an outie?”
Zander lifted his T-shirt and pointed to his belly button.
“Oh,” Jared said, realization dawning. “Was it weird?”
“Totally,” Zander said. “I tried to ignore it, but it kept rubbing against me and … well … I couldn’t concentrate. I had to leave.”
“Please tell me you didn’t sneak out without telling him,” Harper chided.
“I’m not your father,” Zander replied. “I explained why I had to leave and he was offended. Quite frankly, I think I dodged a bullet. I wouldn’t want to date someone that shrill more than once anyway.”
“Well, live and learn,” Harper said.
“I always do,” Zander agreed. “So, tell me all about your date. I heard you ran into your mother.”
“How can you possibly know that?”
“She called my mother before she was out of the parking lot and my mother called me first thing this morning,” Zander answered. “Tell me every single thing you did – don’t get gross, though – and don’t leave anything out. We finally get to share date stories again, Harp. I’ve never been so happy in my entire life.”
Harper launched into the retelling, Zander interrupting to ask questions whenever the mood struck.
Jared leaned back in his chair, amused as he sipped his coffee with one hand and held Harper’s hand with the other. He definitely could get used to this.
Thirteen
“You, my Harp, are practically glowing,” Zander said two hours later as he pulled into his regular parking spot at GHI. “You look … happy.”
Harper bit her lip, pleased and embarrassed at the same time. “I need to ask you something.”
“Yes, I think I’m always going to be this handsome,” Zander said without missing a beat.
Harper’s smile slipped. “Not that, Mr. Ego,” she said. “I need to know what you said to Jared on the front porch yesterday.”
Zander was taken aback. “Why?”
“Because I think you said something to him,” Harper replied. “Before you get worked up, all he said was that you made him promise to make you dinner and warned him about hurting me.”
“I did say those things.”
“What else did you say?” Harper knew Zander too well to let him lie to her.
“I told him that you were nervous and to call me if you freaked out,” Zander answered, opting for honesty. “I’m not going to feel bad about loving you. I think he’s a great guy and you’re going to be happy. I wanted him to know that you were nervous, though.”
“Did that … turn him off?”
Zander smirked. “Obviously not since you two ripped each other’s clothes off to get at each other.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Harper said, her cheeks burning.
“Harp, he was as nervous and excited as yo
u were,” Zander said. “It worked out. I’m not going to apologize for taking care of you. No matter what happens, that’s always going to be my job.”
“Thank you.”
Harper took Zander by surprise when she leaned over and kissed his cheek. Zander pulled her in for a hug before they exited the car and moved toward the office.
“Now that Jared has cleaned out the cobwebs and left for work – with a goofy smile on his face, mind you – you have to tell me how you two actually ended up in bed,” Zander instructed. “I was worried he’d wouldn’t make a move on the first date. I’m glad I was wrong, but I have to know how it happened.”
Harper sighed. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “We were standing on the front porch feeling like an idiot, and I was going to go inside without so much as a kiss when he kind of grabbed me and kissed me. After … I just asked him if he wanted to come inside.”
“Oh, you’re so cute,” Zander cooed as he pulled open the door to the office. “I hope this means you two are going to be getting down and dirty on a regular basis now. Jared and his mastery of sex are going to be the best elixir for your skin known to man.”
Molly and Eric looked up as Zander and Harper entered, causing Harper’s already flushed cheeks to redden.
“Zander!”
Zander wasn’t bothered in the least to have an audience. He knew his voice carried and he was fine with it. “Good morning, kids,” he said. “How is everyone doing this fine spring day?”
“It’s eighty degrees,” Eric said, his expression dour.
“Yes, but it’s technically still spring for a few more weeks,” Zander pointed out. “That’s why you have to love a Michigan spring. One day will be eighty and the next will be forty. That’s one of the reasons Whisper Cove is so much fun.”
“You’re in a good mood,” Molly said, her eyes bouncing between Harper and Zander. “Did you have a good date last night?”
“Alas, my date had an outie so I had to cut the evening short,” Zander replied, sitting in his desk chair and twirling to add flair to the conversation.
“What’s an outie?” Eric asked furrowing his brow.
“A belly button that pokes out,” Molly explained. “I think they’re kind of cute.”
“And I think they’re weird,” Zander said. “It’s like one of those timers that pops out when the turkey is done.”
“If your date went bad, why are you in such a good mood?” Eric asked.
“Because Harper’s date went like a dream,” Zander explained. “She and Jared are officially on … and I believe they climbed on top of each other several times last night – and again this morning – if the noises I heard from her bedroom are any indication.”
“I’m going to kill you,” Harper hissed, lowering her chin and averting her eyes from Molly’s curious stare. She didn’t even want to risk a glance at Eric in case his head magically imploded.
“That’s great,” Molly enthused, her voice climbing an octave. “Oh, I’m so happy for you. I need to know everything.” She jumped to her feet and scurried over to Harper’s desk. “How does he look naked?”
Harper sat in her chair and purposely swiveled so her back was facing her colleagues. “Um … he’s very attractive.”
“He’s definitely attractive,” Zander agreed. “I couldn’t get a very good look at him because he dressed for breakfast, but I did get a glimpse when he snuck into the bathroom this morning. He thought no one was looking. He’ll get over that. He could be the cover model on a romance novel.”
“Oh, yay!” Molly clapped as she hopped up and down. “I’m so excited. How did this happen?”
“Yeah, how did this happen?” Eric asked, his voice hollow.
Harper pursed her lips, mortified by Molly’s excitement and Eric’s obvious misery. “It’s kind of a long story.”
“I’ll tell it,” Zander offered, twirling in his chair again. “So, Harper and Eric went up to the high school after checking out that house yesterday and ran into Jared. Jared refused to leave until she agreed to go out with him.
“Harper had a meltdown about what to wear, and Jared was a sweating mess when I met him on the front porch, but I sent them on their happy way,” he continued. “Apparently they had a wonderful time and hormones overcame them on the front porch. I found a trail of clothes between the living room and Harper’s bedroom and they boasted two of the widest smiles I’ve ever seen over breakfast this morning.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Molly said, grabbing Harper’s hand and forcing her to turn. “How does he look naked? I can tell he’s hot just by looking at him, but I need the juicy details.”
“I think we should get back to work,” Eric said.
“I think Eric’s right,” Harper agreed, locking gazes with an annoyed Zander. “I … .”
“Don’t even think about losing this moment, Harp,” Zander chided. “You’re happy. Don’t let Eric ruin it for you.”
“How am I ruining anything?” Eric asked, his eyes widening.
“You know how.”
“See, I think I’m the only one worried about Harper in this whole thing,” Eric countered. “What happens when this guy upsets her again?”
“That’s life,” Zander replied. “Nothing is perfect, although Jared seems to be a perfect fit for Harper. He’s easygoing and believes in her. Her mother showed up in the middle of dinner and he didn’t even flinch when she demanded he have brunch with her.”
“Yeah, that was a nightmare,” Harper intoned.
“Oh, no,” Molly said, giggling. “You know that means your dad is going to want to meet him, too, right?”
“My dad has already met him and likes him.”
“He’ll want a brunch, though,” Zander said. “If your mother gets something he wants it, too. He can’t help himself. Where did they land on who gets the printer and cartridges, by the way?”
“They’re still haggling.”
“I can’t believe you guys are so cavalier about this,” Eric said, pushing himself to a standing position. “Two days ago we were plotting this guy’s death because he left town and didn’t bother to call. Now we’re supposed to be excited because he took Harper out on a date … and apparently took advantage of her when it was over?”
“He didn’t take advantage of me,” Harper argued. “He … .”
“That’s enough,” Zander snapped. “Everyone in this room knows why you’re being such a pill. Harper knows it. Your little crush on her hasn’t escaped her attention. You’re not that smooth.”
“Zander, don’t,” Harper warned.
“I don’t have a crush on Harper.” Eric was shrill. “I … that’s … I can’t believe you said that!”
“Zander is right,” Molly said. “Everyone knows you have a crush on Harper. She’s too nice to shoot you down, though.”
“You need to shut up!” Eric threatened, wagging a finger in Molly’s face. “This has nothing to do with you.”
Harper felt as if she was drowning in a sea of negativity, and after her wonderful night and blissful morning, that was the last thing she wanted. She hauled herself to a standing position, shaking her head as everyone continued to battle about her love life, and moved toward the door.
“Harp, where are you going?” Zander asked her retreating back.
“I’m not letting you guys ruin this for me,” Harper said. “Zander is right. I’m happy. I want to stay happy. That’s why I’m going for a walk.”
“No one is trying to ruin anything for you,” Eric said.
“You are,” Zander shot back, returning to the argument.
“I’ll see you guys later,” Harper said, breezing through the door. There was no way she was going to be able to put up with this on a regular basis. Something was going to have to shift in that office. She had no idea what, though.
HARPER aimlessly wandered the streets for twenty minutes, her mind busy. Memories of the previous evening – every soft touch and kiss – bombarded her as she
tried to push Eric’s sad face out of her mind. She was going to have to sit him down and force some realities on him. There was no doubt about that. She wasn’t good with emotional stuff and uncomfortable conversations, and the idea made her sick to her stomach.
Before she realized what was happening, Harper found herself back at the park. It was empty. Only a ghoul wanted to hang out in a park where a boy died – and those people waited until it was dark to cut down on the possibility of people seeing them.
The police tape remained, although dragging low in some places, and Harper circled it as she tried to force her mind from memories of Jared. Derek Thompson was murdered. She was convinced of that. There could be no other reason for him to haunt his death spot. Now … if he would only talk to her.
“I see you’re back,” Derek said, popping into view.
“Ask and you shall receive,” Harper muttered.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Harper shook her head and focused on Derek. “I see you’re back, too. How are you?”
“I’m dead. How are you?”
Teenagers are a pain in life and death apparently, Harper internally mused. She didn’t even like herself as a teenager. It was getting harder and harder to pretend Derek wasn’t a snot. “I saw your girlfriend yesterday,” she said, changing tactics.
Derek snorted. “Oh, man. You saw Lexie? I’ll bet she’s milking this thing to her advantage every chance she gets.”
That was a cynical way to talk about your girlfriend, Harper internally mused. “She’s … in mourning.” Harper didn’t want to malign the girl in case she really was upset. The problem was, Harper couldn’t identify one real emotion from Lexie during their previous exchange. “Some of your friends … Brandon, Dylan, and David, to be exact … were with her. They were consoling her.”
“The only thing Brandon is trying to console is Lexie’s hoo-ha.”
Harper hadn’t heard that term in … well, she wasn’t sure she’d ever heard that term. “Her … hoo-ha?”
“You know, her … hoo-ha,” Derek said.
If he was trying to clarify something, he was doing a rotten job. Still, Harper knew what he was referring to. “Did Lexie and Brandon have a thing?”
Ghostly Issues (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 2) Page 10