Wicked Honeymoon (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 19)

by Lily Harper Hart

  Jack nodded. “I would rather have the cookbook than have to go camping to eat the food again.”

  “Ha, ha.” She poked his side and rested her head against his shoulder. “I might be able to make that morel glaze thing you had on your steak last night. If that’s the only way I can get morels down you, I’ll make it work.”

  “You don’t like morels?” Harold looked scandalized at the notion. “They’re the best mushrooms. I could eat them year-round.”

  “Me, too.” Ivy offered him the first warm smile she’d been able to manage given the man’s taciturn nature. “I freeze them in the spring and then dole them out all year. I would eat them with every meal, but Jack hates them.”

  “Is that true?” Harold turned to Jack. “How can you hate them?”

  “They taste like feet.” That was his normal answer and it rolled off his tongue with ease. When Harold merely blinked, he felt the need to expand. “I mean ... there’s a feet-like quality to them. Ivy made them for me the first meal we ever shared and it was a life-changing experience.”

  “How so?” Carter queried.

  “I fell in love with her in that very moment and realized I was willing to eat feet mushrooms simply because of that fact.”

  Ivy let loose a choking sound. “You didn’t fall in love with me that moment.”

  “I did so.”

  “You did not.”

  “You don’t know.” He shot her a stern look. “Who knows my heart better?”

  “I think I do.”

  She wasn’t far off. Still, Jack had no intention of losing the argument. “I took one look at you that night, registered the way my heart sang, and knew you were going to be it for me.”

  “Aw,” Damien and Carter chorused in unison.

  “You two really are relationship goals,” Carter enthused, his hand pressed to his heart. “Even though you fight, you’re completely in love with one another.”

  “We are,” Jack agreed, flicking his eyes to Bart, a silent dare to see if the man would open his mouth to disagree. “I happen to believe in destiny. Ivy is my destiny. I’ll never doubt that. We’ll be together forever.”

  IVY AND JACK WERE BOTH SO STUFFED AFTER dinner they decided to take a walk around the clearing to aid with digestion before heading to bed. The other guests were grouped around another bonfire, but Jack had zero interest in listening to Bart expound on marriage and business ... especially since Ivy was in such a good mood.

  “I like nature,” he noted as they stopped near the trees. “I really do. I absolutely love the way the cottage is set back from the road at home and the way the trees cut us off from the highway.”

  It was a jarring way to start a conversation and Ivy had to look him up and down twice before she realized what he was really saying. “You just hate camping.”

  “I love being with you.”

  She laughed. “You don’t have to say that every time.”

  “It’s true, though. I do love you. There’s little I love more than spending time with you, as long as you don’t make me eat feet mushrooms.”

  “See, you’ve found that people find it funny when you say that and you like playing up to your audience.”

  He couldn’t argue. “Maybe our next camping trip should involve sleeping in the backyard,” he suggested. “I think that’s the sort of camping I would like.”

  “Why would we sleep on the ground outside when we have a perfectly good bed inside?”

  “Variety.”

  “Ah.” Ivy cocked her head when she thought she saw a hint of movement out of the corner of her eye. When she looked in that direction, though, there was nothing there to see. “I think your idea about state campgrounds is smart. There’s one over in Gaylord that’s right on the lake, which means it’s in a primo spot, and it’s also five minutes away from McDonald’s in case you need a McGriddle.”

  “You laugh but those are the breakfast sandwich of champions.”

  Another hint of movement in the trees in front of them had Ivy snapping her head in that direction. Jack didn’t miss her reaction this time.

  “What is it?” He was instantly alert and swept out his arm in front of her. “Are we about to be attacked by Bigfoot?”

  She almost laughed but couldn’t quite muster the energy. “I don’t believe that we need to worry about that. I just ... thought I saw something. Before you ask if it’s a bear, it definitely wasn’t a bear. I thought it was a person.”

  Jack craned his neck so he could look back at the bonfire, counting heads. “Everybody is there. Once the food workers finished cleaning up, they left. Everybody who is supposed to be here is over at the fire.”

  “I probably imagined it.” Even as she said it, the words didn’t feel right. “Or it’s ghosts.” She meant it as a lame joke and yet the story Cara told them the previous night popped into her head. “Maybe it’s the spirits Cara mentioned.”

  “I would prefer if there were no spirits.” All amusement fled Jack’s features. “Do you really think it was ghosts?”

  Ivy hesitated and then turned to look into the woods they’d just passed. There was nothing there, and yet the feeling that she was being watched was back. “We know ghosts are real.” She adopted her most reasonable tone. “I mean ... we both know that’s a thing. You’ve seen them, too.”

  “Not really. I’ve heard them. I’ve ... well, okay, I have seen them.” He’d only seen a ghost when one popped up to tell him Ivy was in trouble, and even then he wasn’t certain what he was really seeing. “Do you think it’s possible that all the ghosts of the people who have died in the river are somehow hanging out together?”

  Ivy held out her hands. She’d heard stranger tales. “If they were yanked out of their lives and don’t realize they’re dead, then maybe.”

  “You should call Harper,” he offered, referring to her ghost-hunting friend from Southeastern Michigan who helped put souls to rest on a regular basis. “If there really are ghosts running around out here, she might want to take a trip.”

  “She just got married,” Ivy reminded him. “The reason we couldn’t go is because their wedding was so close to our wedding. I don’t think Jared is going to enjoy a trip to the river to put ghosts to rest in lieu of a honeymoon.”

  “Jared probably thinks camping is stupid, too. He was a sensible guy as I remember him.”

  Ivy let loose a dry chuckle. “That shows what you know. I talked to Harper right before her wedding, wished her luck. She mentioned that they’d just been on a camping trip when I told her how we were spending our honeymoon. She said that she and Zander have decided they’re ‘inside’ people.” She used the appropriate air quotes.

  Jack smirked. “Okay, maybe Harper is the sensible one.”

  Ivy fell silent as she scanned the woods again, ultimately letting out a sigh. “I know you’re going to think I’m crazy,” she started.

  “I already told you I like that you’re crazy.”

  “I think there’s something here, Jack. I think there are spirits watching the river. I don’t know if they’re ghosts or fairies like Cara suggested — although I would tend to lean toward ghosts because I’ve never seen a fairy — but I definitely think there’s something here.”

  “Do you want to know what I think?”

  “Not if you’re not going to agree with me.”

  He plowed forward anyway. “I think you’re so used to mysteries ... and ghosts ... and magic ... and witches that you can’t help yourself from believing that we’re surrounded. The thing is, you’re the one who is magic, honey. You’re the one who is fantastical. I think these are just woods.

  “As for those stories Cara told,” he continued. “I think those are just a way to entice the guests. We know that things like that are real, but people make up stories like that all the time. It’s part of the fun of the trip.”

  She cast him a sidelong look. “Are you having fun?”

  “Am I with you?”

  She nodded.

 
“Then I’m having fun.” He swooped in and gave her a kiss. “As for the rest of it, I don’t think there’s anything to be afraid of. I know I got worked up right alongside you earlier, but the odds of us finding trouble out here seem slim.”

  “What about the bears?”

  “I’m over the bears.”

  She didn’t believe it, but what she wanted more than anything was a peaceful night’s sleep. “Maybe you’re right.” She linked her fingers with his. “Do you want to deliver on that promised romance from earlier, or are you too tired?”

  “Oh, I’m never too tired to romance you.”

  “Good answer.” Even as they wandered away from the trees, Ivy could feel someone watching her. Was it a human? Was it a ghost? Was it something else? She had no idea. It wasn’t a feeling she could shake, though, and she’d learned long ago not to ignore her feelings.

  For now, they would rest. She wouldn’t let this go, though. She simply couldn’t.

  11

  Eleven

  Ivy’s dreams were of the whispering variety. She walked along the river, alone, and tried to ignore the sound of faint voices from beyond the trees. She was calm — there was no reason to be afraid, she reminded herself — but she couldn’t shake the prickling sensation on the back of her neck.

  “What are you doing out here?” Jack appeared out of the darkness, an impatient look on his face as he glanced around. He seemed taken aback when he saw the glittery figures dancing through the trees. If that’s what they were doing. Dancing? Maybe it was something else. “Is this what you saw earlier?” He seemed terrified at the thought.

  Ivy shook her head. “No. This is like the dream I had before, though, the one I told you about.”

  “I thought that dream involved naked nymphs singing and splashing in the water.”

  Ivy shot him a dirty look. “Nobody said they were naked. I never mentioned splashing either. I mentioned hearing voices and the current of the river.”

  “I think you’re suggesting I turned it dirty in my head.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m suggesting,” Ivy agreed. “You’re such a ... man.”

  “Oh, don’t even.” He poked her side. “I’m not a man in the way you make it sound.”

  “Um, yes you are. You only came because you expected a bunch of naked wood nymphs frolicking.”

  “No, I came because you called me.”

  She stilled, surprised. “What do you mean?”

  “You called me,” he repeated. “I wasn’t dreaming before I came here. I was out. Like ... completely and totally out. Then I heard you.”

  “You heard me?” Ivy was beyond confused. “I didn’t say anything. I was just watching. I knew they wouldn’t respond to me and yet I can’t shake the feeling that they have a message.”

  “You called for me,” Jack insisted.

  “I did not.”

  “I felt you call for me.” Jack refused to back down. “That’s the only thing that could’ve roused me to come out here.”

  Ivy chewed on her bottom lip, confusion etched across her face. “I wasn’t afraid. I usually call for you when I’m afraid.”

  “This is true.” He moved his hand to her shoulder and rubbed, debating what to make of the situation. “Maybe you’re confused. Maybe you wanted me here so we can figure this out.”

  The suggestion nudged a smile out of Ivy. “Maybe.” On impulse, she sidled closer to him and offered up a hug. “I always want you with me.”

  He kissed her forehead. Despite the arguing over the past two days — which sometimes seemed endless — he’d never loved anything in this world like he loved his wife. She was his everything, his reason for breathing it seemed, and he would move Heaven and earth to get to her ... whether she believed she needed help or not.

  “Well, let’s break it down.” He kept her close as he regarded the flitting light. “It looks like women.”

  “It does,” Ivy agreed. “It doesn’t look like ghosts, though.”

  His forehead creased. “What do ghosts look like in your head?”

  “They look like people, only ... more transparent. They have an ethereal quality. I don’t know how to explain it. I know they’re ghosts, but they still look mostly human.”

  “They don’t look like ghosts in horror movies, right? I mean ... there’s no missing appendages or open wounds, is there?”

  For some reason, the question made Ivy smile. “No, it’s not like horror movies.”

  “Don’t laugh.” Jack wagged a finger. “It was a reasonable question.”

  “I would never say otherwise.”

  He cast her a weighted look and then turned back to the glowing figures flitting across the water. They were a stark contrast to the dark shadows hovering behind the trees on the shoreline. “Are those ghosts?” He pointed toward the shadows.

  She held out her hands. “They don’t look like any ghosts I’ve ever seen but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything given my state of mind.” She hesitated and then barreled forward. “We both know I’m cracking a little bit.”

  He immediately started shaking his head. “You’re not cracking.” He was firm. “You’re simply excitable. I like that about you.”

  “You didn’t seem to like it when you suggested I take a nap.”

  “That was for me as much as you. I don’t understand any of this.” He was pensive as he glanced between the two factions, light and dark. “I have to ask a question that feels absurd on the surface, but I can’t stop myself.”

  “You can ask me anything.” Ivy was deadly serious. “Even if I make fun of you, I’ll always answer.”

  “If you could answer without making fun of me, that would be great.”

  “I’ll do my best.” Ivy waited, hoping she looked patient rather than antsy, which was how she felt.

  “Do you think those stories Cara was telling could be real? The stuff about the wood nymphs I mean. I would’ve ignored those up until I met you.” He reconsidered after only a second. “Actually, I would’ve made jokes about anyone who told a story like that and pretended it was real.”

  “And now?” Ivy was honestly curious. “Are you telling me you believe in wood nymphs now, Jack?”

  He was sheepish. “I believe in you, and I believe there’s more out there than I can see with my naked eye. The fact that we can do this is proof of that.” He gestured toward their magically delicious — and mildly terrifying at the same time — surroundings. “I believe in everything because of you. This, though, is a stretch.”

  Ivy understood what he was saying, her eyes automatically flicking back to the light fragments. “I don’t know what to tell you, Jack.” She opted for honesty. “I always believed in ... alternatives, I guess that would be the word ... but wood nymphs are stretching it for me, too.

  “The thing is, in my heart, I feel as if something is happening here,” she continued. “Before you say I just like the drama — something you like, too, so it really infuriates me when you say it — I feel it. Here.” She tapped the spot above her heart. “It’s not something I’m manufacturing out of boredom or anything.”

  “I really hope you’re not bored on our honeymoon.” He stared into her eyes before ultimately sighing, moving his hands to her shoulders so he could rub. He’d learned a long time ago, practically from the first moment they’d crossed paths, that her instincts weren’t to be ignored. “Tell me exactly what you feel.”

  “Like someone is watching me.”

  His emotions were difficult to mask as he regarded her. “Do you feel a specific presence?”

  “I ... don’t know.” Ivy had no idea how to qualify her feelings. “I feel as if someone is out there watching me. It’s happened a few times now. I don’t know if it’s the same someone. I don’t know if it’s a person or wood nymphs. And, yeah, that sounds weird to say. I just don’t know.”

  Sensing her frustration was about to bubble over, Jack pulled her to him and held her tight. “We’ll figure it out.”


  “Do you believe me?”

  He realized that was what she needed reinforced more than anything. “I always believe you.” He rested his cheek on top of her head. “Don’t ever think I doubt you. Even if I tease you, I always believe you. You’re the one thing in this world I’ll always believe in.”

  He could have no idea how much she needed to hear the words. “So ... you don’t think I’m crazy, right?”

  “I told you that I like my women crazy.”

  She frowned.

  He softened his voice. “Honey, I don’t think you’re crazy. I was the one who freaked out about the blood first, in case you can’t remember that far back. I think maybe there’s something going on here, too. We need to take time to figure it out, though. We can’t jump to conclusions this go-around.”

  “So you’re saying you don’t want me to call Bart a filthy potential murderer again, right?”

  He laughed and tightened his grip on her, swinging her around. “That’s exactly what I mean.”

  “What should we do for tonight?” Ivy was earnest. “How are we going to figure it out?”

  “We’re going to sleep tonight. We both need the rest. Tomorrow, we’ll work together to find answers.”

  “Okay.” Ivy pressed her hand to his cheek, enjoying the feel of his warm skin on her palm. It was a dream and yet everything felt so real. “I really do love you, Jack.”

  “I love you more.” He pressed his lips to her palm.

  “It’s not a competition.”

  “Of course not. I’ve already won.”

  JACK WOKE IVY WITH A SOFT KISS. Somehow, during the night, she’d rolled so she was almost completely on top of him. From the look on his face, he didn’t appear to care.

  “Did I cut off your oxygen supply?” She was sheepish as she studied his face. His morning stubble seemed even sexier than usual — if that was even possible — given their surroundings. It made him look rugged, and she was a big fan of rugged.

  “Why? Did you try to strangle me in my sleep without telling me?” he asked on a grin.