Wicked Delight

by Lily Harper Hart

  “I mean she was staying at the local hotel, went to her room last night, and then somehow disappeared,” Brian replied. “No one knows if she left of her own volition, but since she was heading up her own television show, pretty much everyone agrees that’s doubtful.”

  “We know about the show,” Jack said dryly, exchanging a quick look with Ivy. He didn’t look happy about the new development. “It’s a dating show.”

  “How do you know that?” Brian was genuinely curious.

  “It’s a long story. How can you be sure she’s really missing?”

  “I can’t. That’s why I came to get you. It’s our job to track her down.”

  “Do you think we have time for breakfast before then?” Jack asked, casting a glance over his shoulder in Ivy’s direction. “The pancakes are almost done. I mean … odds are she went to yoga without telling anyone or something.”

  Brian snickered. “That’s pretty close to what I told the guy who is heading up her security. He said that’s not possible, though, and doesn’t have much of a sense of humor.”

  “She has her own security?”

  “The show has security,” Brian clarified.

  “Well, breakfast first,” Jack said. “Then we’ll head off and Ivy can go to work.”

  “Um, actually, I was kind of hoping Ivy could help us,” Brian hedged, uncomfortably shifting from one foot to the other.

  “Ivy?” Jack scratched his nose. “Why do you want her involved?”

  “Because she can find things others can’t.” Brian wasn’t comfortable talking about Ivy’s abilities, which seemed to be getting more and more powerful with each passing day. She’d even taken to acknowledging there was a chance she was a witch, something that she would’ve denied with her dying breath a year before.

  “I don’t know that I want her put on display like that,” Jack countered.

  Brian kept his eyes on Ivy. “We won’t tell them why she’s with us. If they ask, we’ll simply say she’s helping because you’re together or something. I doubt they’ll question it.”

  “I don’t know.” Jack turned to Ivy. “I think you should say no.”

  She made up her mind on the spot. “I’ll do it.”

  Jack exhaled heavily. “Or you could do the exact opposite.”

  She patted his arm. “It’s going to be okay. Have a little faith.”

  “Yeah. I’ll get right on that.”

  Three

  Jack wasn’t keen on taking Ivy to work with him. He enjoyed partnering with her, that wasn’t up for debate, but this wasn’t the sort of situation he wanted to make a regular occurrence. To him, a search party that included an official security team was dangerous. He didn’t want anyone to find out about Ivy’s abilities. Not because he was embarrassed or anything, but because he feared someone would try to take her from him because she was so powerful.

  “You need to calm down,” Ivy instructed her fiancé as she smoothed her black shirt in front of the police station. They’d gathered there to meet with the other members of the production so they could come up with a plan. It was better to combine their efforts than trample over one another.

  Jack slid her a sidelong look. She wore jeans instead of one of her usual ankle-length skirts, which she seemed to have an endless supply of, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She looked beautiful, as always, but it wasn’t her normal look. “I think you’re the one who is nervous,” he countered. “You got dressed up and everything.”

  Ivy frowned as she stared down at her jeans. “I didn’t get dressed up. I just … if we end up looking for her in the woods, a skirt isn’t going to be the smartest outfit.”

  “I guess.” He moved his hand to her back. “Remember, you’re with us because we needed an extra body. Try to keep whatever you do to find her under wraps unless you’re with Brian or me.”

  Ivy pursed her lips. “I’m not new.”

  “I know. I just … I’m nervous, too.”

  She cracked a smile, which did wonders for both of them when it came to soothing nerves. “We’re going to be fine. We’ve done this before. Er, well, kind of.”

  “Not with a television crew … or an outside security team. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

  “I promise.”

  “Thank you.” He squeezed her hand and then stepped off the curb. “Come on. We’re gathering in the square. It looks like the security team is a lot bigger than I thought it would be.” He frowned as he started out toward the large group of men buzzing about. “Seriously, who needs twenty security guards?”

  Ivy followed him, her eyes keen as she scanned faces. “I don’t think they’re all security guards.”

  “No? Who do you think they are?”

  “You.”

  “Me?” He slowed his pace. “What do you mean by that?”

  “Not you specifically. More … what they wanted you for. They were looking for people to date Éclair yesterday,” she reminded him. “A lot of those men look to be a certain type … and that type reminds me of you.”

  Jack glanced at her over his shoulder, his brows knitting together until he turned back to the men and frowned. He realized what she was trying to say after a moment’s contemplation. “Oh, geez. Those are the guys who were going to be competing for her … attention.”

  “I think that’s a polite way of putting it.” Ivy sped up so she reached the group of men at the exact time Jack did. She was eager to get to the bottom of things. “Hello, everyone. I’m Ivy. Who are you?”

  A number of eyes turned in her direction, some of them appraising and others full of annoyance.

  “Who are you?” A well-built man with blond hair and green eyes stepped forward. He wore cargo pants and a polo shirt with “Moss Security” embroidered on it.

  “I just said my name was Ivy.”

  “Yes, but who are you?”

  “She volunteered her time to help us search,” Jack responded smoothly, stepping closer to Ivy in a protective manner. The man didn’t appear threatening, but the police detective wasn’t thrilled with his aggressive tone.

  “And who are you?” the man asked.

  “Jack Harker. I’m a detective with the Shadow Lake Police Department.”

  “Oh.” The man relaxed his stance, if only marginally. “My name is Rick Moss. I’m head of Moss Security.”

  “It says it on his shirt,” Ivy offered helpfully.

  Jack’s lips twitched, but he managed to hold it together. “It’s nice to meet you.” He shook Moss’s hand but remained close to Ivy. “How about everyone else?”

  “I’m Roy Donahue.” A gray-haired man wearing glasses stepped forward and introduced himself. “I’m producing Hearts on Fire.”

  Ivy slid a quick glance to Jack. “I thought that other guy was the producer. The one with the terrible name.”

  Moss snorted. “You mean Carson Prickwillow?”

  “That would be the terrible name.”

  “He’s actually Éclair’s agent and she managed to wrangle him a producing credit on the production,” Donahue explained. “He’s a producer in name only.”

  “Oh, well … .” Ivy wasn’t sure how to proceed and looked to Jack for help.

  “What about everyone else?” Jack asked, keeping the conversation on point. “Can you make introductions?”

  “Sure.” Donahue bobbed his head. “Those gentlemen over there, the three wearing the security shirts, are part of Mr. Moss’s detail. The rest are competitors on the show.”

  “Okay, well … do they have names?”

  “I’m sure they do, but I can’t remember them right now.” Donahue was sheepish. “This whole thing just came together. I thought I was producing an antiques show in the Upper Peninsula, but it got changed at the last minute. I only got here yesterday.”

  “I bet you were more excited for the antiques show,” Ivy commented.

  “You have no idea.” Donahue’s gaze was curious as it washed over her. “I’m sorry … I guess I’m
still not clear on exactly what’s happening here. Who are you again?”

  “Ivy Morgan,” Jack replied, his tone no-nonsense. “She’s my fiancée. When my partner contacted me regarding Ms. Sheridan’s disappearance, she volunteered to help with the search. She grew up here. She’s familiar with the area, unlike me. I’ve only been here a year.”

  “Oh.” Apparently happy with the explanation, Donahue bobbed his head. “That makes sense.”

  A quick look at Moss told Jack he was more dubious. He wisely kept his mouth shut, though. “My partner is getting a map so we can break up the town into a search grid,” Jack explained. “It would help if I understood Ms. Sheridan’s movements before her disappearance. I guess I’m unclear as to how you know she’s missing.”

  “We were supposed to do a final walk-through today,” Donahue explained. “We were going to decide where the men would take Éclair on each date. The dates, mind you, are supposed to last a full day and include things like hikes … and kayaking down the river … and even walks to some lake that’s nearby.”

  “I’m familiar with the lake.” Jack brushed his hand over the back of Ivy’s head. He’d found the lake by accident one day, the day after he’d abandoned Ivy and broke her heart, in fact. The lake was a happy place now, but he’d been gutted the first time he happened upon it. “So, you’re basically saying she was going to spend twenty-four hours with each of those guys and then pick one of them to … do what?”

  Moss said something under his breath that Ivy couldn’t quite make out. She cast him a curious look but didn’t press him. Donahue continued as if he wasn’t embarrassed to answer the question, but Jack sensed otherwise.

  “To pledge herself to, of course,” Donahue replied. “The first date was meant to be a stepping stone to forever.”

  “Wait … are you saying they were going to get married after one date?” Ivy queried, horrified.

  “Not married,” Donahue corrected. “We’re working on the assumption that people know right away if they belong together. There are some who agree love at first sight is a thing and others don’t. The people who created the show are trying to prove that love at first sight is a thing.”

  Despite the serious nature of the situation, Jack’s lips curved. “Love at first sight, huh?” He caught Ivy’s gaze and winked. “It’s an interesting concept. Still, you can’t believe that true love is going to play out in front of the cameras like that. It’s not practical.”

  “Probably not,” Donahue admitted. “The thing is, most reality television show couples don’t make it. When one does, though – and it has been known to happen – it’s magical. It’s like American royalty. The fans can’t get enough of it. I mean … it’s a bloody goldmine.”

  “Uh-huh.” Jack slid his eyes to Moss. “When was the last time anybody saw her?”

  “Last night in the hotel,” Moss replied, all business. “Everyone was down in the bar. There’s not much else to do in this town.” He said it in a dismissive manner. “She was there, having a good time. She’s not allowed to flirt with the men so she had to hang around with her entourage.”

  “Whom I don’t see here,” Jack noted. “She was with two women and that Carson guy yesterday.”

  “And how do you know that?” Moss asked, suddenly suspicious. “Have you been watching her?”

  “Hey!” Ivy jabbed a finger in his direction, loyalty for Jack taking over. “Don’t you dare give him grief. He didn’t do anything to her.”

  “It’s my job to make sure of that, ma’am,” Moss replied dryly. “I understand he’s your boyfriend. That doesn’t mean you can vouch for his whereabouts for the past twenty-four hours.”

  “Actually, he’s my fiancé,” Ivy corrected, venomous. “And I can vouch for his whereabouts. We live together.”

  “Yes, but he must have gone out … and perhaps he met Ms. Sheridan while running an errand or something, became enamored with her, and decided he wanted her for himself.”

  Moss was so matter-of-fact it turned Ivy’s stomach. “He didn’t meet her.”

  “He said he did.”

  “No, he said he saw her,” she clarified. “We were right over there when it happened.” She pointed to their picnic spot. “She sent Señor Prick over to ask if Jack wanted to be one of the contestants on her show. He declined. We went back to our picnic. That’s it.”

  Moss narrowed one eye. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m very sure,” Jack confirmed.

  “And why weren’t you interested?”

  Jack scowled. “Seriously? I was out with my fiancée. We were having a romantic lunch together. I don’t need a date. I have one … for the rest of my life.”

  “I understand that,” Moss said dismissively, his eyes close to rolling. “Most people would’ve jumped at the chance to be on television, though, no matter their circumstances.”

  “Actually, I don’t agree with that assertion,” Jack argued. “I’m happy with my life. I don’t want to be on television. In fact, I was massively annoyed that my afternoon was interrupted. I did not speak to her – neither did Ivy, for that matter – and they left when I said I wasn’t interested.”

  Moss took a measured moment to stare at both of them and then shrugged, resigned. “I get it. I just don’t understand how she got out of the hotel without me noticing. I was down there until eleven. I wasn’t drunk. Somehow she got out … and I can’t figure out why. I didn’t know her well, but she didn’t strike me as a nature girl.”

  “Are you sure she willingly left?” Jack queried. “What about her friends? We’re going to have to question them.”

  “I already have. They don’t know anything.”

  That wasn’t good enough for Jack, but further interrogation would have to wait until after the initial search. “Well, we’ll figure it out. Everyone will split up. I’m sure we’ll find her. Perhaps she’s getting her nails done or something.”

  “There’s only one nail salon in this town and her vehicle is still at the hotel.”

  “Well, that’s not a good sign.” Jack looked to Ivy. “I’m sure we’ll find her, though. Like you said, it’s a small town.”

  “Then let’s get started.”

  BRIAN GRIDDED THE TOWN AND everyone broke into various groups. To Jack’s annoyance, Moss insisted on accompanying him and Ivy, and he had a feeling it was because the man remained suspicious.

  “You don’t have to come with us,” Jack said as he headed toward the east side of town. His fingers itched to link with Ivy’s – he was simply used to holding her hand when they walked – but he didn’t think that was professional, so he refrained.

  “It makes sense for me to go with you.” Moss’s answer was simple, but Jack sensed a double meaning.

  “And why is that?” Ivy challenged, her gaze pointed ahead. Jack had no idea what she was looking for – the magic that kept bubbling up surprised her more than anyone else at times – but he had infinite faith that she could do anything she set her mind to if only she would have faith in herself.

  “Because you know the area,” Moss replied. “Or … your girlfriend knows the area.”

  “Fiancée,” Jack corrected for a second time. He had no idea why the man’s insistence on calling Ivy his “girlfriend” grated so, but it did. He was starting to think it was on purpose. “You should’ve gone with the others. They could’ve used your expert help more than us.”

  “Yes, well, I had a feeling you guys were going to be the winning team.”

  Jack ran his tongue over his teeth before reaching over and grabbing Ivy’s hand. He no longer cared what the security guru had to say. “I don’t understand why you guys are jumping to the conclusion that something bad happened to her,” he groused after a beat. “She probably found someone to hook up with … heck, maybe she went to the bar and decided to date whoever she found there.”

  Ivy slowed her pace and slowly tracked her eyes to Jack. “We should start there.”

  “I was being sarcastic, hone
y.”

  “I know that but … he’s right.” She jerked the thumb on her free hand in Moss’s direction. “There’s very little to do in this town. If she got bored and left the hotel after nine, there’s only one thing to do that late at night.”

  “The bar,” Jack surmised. “I didn’t think about it, but you’re right. We should head over there first.”

  “Wait … is that part of our search grid?” Moss asked.

  “It is.”

  “Then we should definitely head in that direction.”

  The group lapsed into silence. It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it was better than before when Moss’s disapproval was ripe and eager to rip at their throats. When the bar came into view, Ivy slowed her pace, her gaze automatically drifting toward the back of the building as a dark shadow that didn’t appear to be natural caught her attention. Moss, however, was interested in the sign on the front door.

  “It’s closed.” Moss sounded disappointed. “We can’t question anyone.”

  “I know where to find the owner if it’s necessary,” Jack replied, turning to his right when Ivy’s fingers slipped from his. She kept walking … and not in a direction he was comfortable with. “Honey, where are you going?”

  “This way.” Ivy’s voice was cloudy. “I … think I saw someone behind the building.”

  Jack was dubious, but he knew better than questioning her instincts. “It was probably a dog, but it can’t hurt to look.” He didn’t bother glancing over his shoulder to make sure Moss was following. He honestly didn’t care.

  “Why would she be behind the bar?” Moss challenged. “She’s not the type of woman to hang around in an alley.”

  “No,” Jack agreed. “You’re assuming she would’ve gone back there willingly, though. We need to prepare ourselves for every possible outcome, and that includes checking behind businesses.”

  “You think she’s dead.”

  “I have no idea.” Jack opted for honesty. “I’m not sure I would’ve organized a search this wide for a woman who took off on her own, so clearly I’m not in charge. I can’t ignore the fact that something bad might’ve happened to her, though. If we’re going to search, we have to search everything.”