Wicked Beginning: An Ivy Morgan Mystery Books 1-3

by Lily Harper Hart

  Ivy narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me? I ran after you because I was worried.”

  “I told you to stay over there,” Jack snapped. “You could’ve been … .” He didn’t finish the sentence. They both knew what could’ve happened. Jack’s expression softened. “Come here,” he murmured, opening his arms so Ivy could step into his embrace. He rested his cheek against her forehead for a moment, purposely ignoring Tim’s annoyed look. “I’m sorry you didn’t get your ice cream.”

  “I think I’ll manage,” Ivy replied, squeezing his waist briefly and then releasing him.

  Tim knit his eyebrows together as he looked Ivy up and down. “You look familiar,” he said. “Where do I know you from?”

  “I own the nursery in Shadow Lake,” Ivy answered, internally rolling her eyes. He’d also hit on her at least eight separate times in high school, his ego getting the better of him despite how many times Ivy shot him down. Now probably wasn’t the best time to bring that up, though. “You bought a bush for your mother two weeks ago.”

  Tim nodded and snapped his fingers. “You’re Ivy Morgan,” he said. “We graduated the same year from high school. Everyone in Bellaire used to drive to Shadow Lake because people said you were a witch and we were dying to see it.”

  Ivy frowned as Jack’s shoulders stiffened.

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Jack asked.

  “Nothing,” Tim said, shaking himself back to reality. “I’m sorry. This isn’t the time. I just knew I recognized her and it was bugging me. If it’s any consolation, she wasn’t actually a witch. She was really hot in cutoff shorts, though.”

  Jack’s face looked as if it had been carved out of granite. “She’s still really hot in her cutoffs,” he said. “I happen to prefer the skirts she wears, though. Do you want to tell me about your dead co-worker, or should we keep talking about Ivy’s shorts? He’s the one in the middle of the street.”

  Ivy rubbed her hand across Jack’s lower back to soothe him.

  “Where did you hear the shots from?” Tim asked, returning to business. “Do you think you can leave your date long enough to walk me through it?”

  Jack was furious, but he managed to hold his temper in check. “That would be the highlight of my evening.” He glanced down at Ivy. “Can you stay here alone for a few minutes?”

  Ivy wordlessly nodded.

  “Now, when I say ‘stay here,’ that doesn’t mean follow me into danger,” Jack pressed.

  Ivy scorched Jack with a harsh look, which ironically made him feel better. “I’ll be right back,” he said, brushing his lips against her forehead. “Don’t wander around in this area. Promise me.”

  “I promise.”

  Jack gave her another quick kiss to the forehead. “Let’s get this over with,” he said. “I don’t like being so … exposed … after a shooting. Someone could still be out there … watching us.”

  Ivy scanned the trees on the other side of the street. She didn’t sense any immediate danger. That didn’t mean another kind of danger wasn’t waiting for Jack down the road. That would be a worse form of danger. Ivy could feel it.

  “DO YOU want to come inside?”

  Ivy shuffled nervously on her front porch two hours later, her worried eyes trained on Jack. He’d been mostly silent for their ride home, going through the motions as he hopped out of his truck to walk her to the front door.

  “Not tonight,” Jack said quietly, his fingers restlessly roaming the palm of Ivy’s hand. “I’ll take a rain check, though.”

  Ivy pursed her lips, a myriad of things on the tip of her tongue to say to him. She didn’t say any of them. “Okay. Have a nice night.” She turned to open her door, but Jack stopped her by pulling her close, hugging her from behind.

  “I’m sorry this happened,” he murmured, rubbing his cheek against hers. “I’m sorry I’m being so hard to talk to right now. I just … .”

  “It’s okay, Jack,” Ivy soothed, leaning into him and letting him tighten his grip. “This brought back horrible memories for you. I understand. I’m not angry. I promise.”

  “I know,” Jack said, his voice barely a whisper. “You never push me. I don’t want you to think I didn’t have a good time. Up until … it happened … I was having the best time. I’m so … sorry.”

  “Jack, you didn’t do this,” Ivy chided. “We were in the wrong place at the wrong time. There was no way you could’ve known that.”

  “Next time we’re going on a picnic where no one can find us,” Jack said, kissing Ivy’s cheek. “We’ll be completely alone. I promise.”

  “That sounds nice,” Ivy said, turning in his arms so she could rub her thumb against his cheek. “I don’t want you to think I’m coming on to you, but are you sure you want to sleep alone? You can stay here … with me … if you want.”

  Jack arched an eyebrow.

  “Purely platonic, of course,” Ivy added, internally chastising herself. Did he think she wanted him to do something else? That wouldn’t be good. Crap. He probably thought she was desperate and throwing herself at him.

  “Of course,” Jack said, chuckling lightly even though the sentiment didn’t make it all the way up to his eyes. “I would love to stay here with you – even if you torture me with platonic threats – but I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ll probably be restless. You won’t get any sleep if I stay here.”

  “I’m not sure you should be alone.”

  Jack rested his forehead against Ivy’s. “We both know I won’t be alone when I finally fall asleep.”

  “WHAT took you so long?” Ivy forced a smile as she handed Jack a fruity drink – complete with brightly colored umbrella – and reclined in her lounger.

  Jack glanced around the sunny beach locale, confused. “What are we doing here?”

  “Well, I knew you were going to pick a dark space to flog yourself in – huh, that could go to a dirty place if I’m not careful – so I decided to pick a nicer spot for you to beat yourself … wow, my head really isn’t in a good spot right now.” Ivy’s smile was rueful.

  Jack smirked. He couldn’t help himself. The police officer’s death was eating away at him, and even though he knew this was a dream world Ivy concocted to drag him away from the real world, he couldn’t help but be relieved that she took the destination choice away from him. He took the drink and settled in the open chair next to her. “I’m sorry I left you with dirty thoughts,” he said, sipping the fruity concoction and making a face. “What is that?”

  “Sex on the beach.”

  Jack pursed his lips. “You want me bad,” he said, resting the drink on the ground next to him. “If it’s any consolation. I regretted not staying the night with you – platonic or not – the second I left your place.”

  “I know.”

  She had absolutely no ego problems, and Jack found that refreshing. “Where are we?”

  “I don’t know,” Ivy replied. “I just wanted a bright spot with a beach. I’ve never seen the ocean except for movies. It’s probably from a movie.”

  “I guess I’m going to have to take you to the ocean one day, huh?” Jack asked, reaching out with his left hand to capture hers and bring it to rest against his chest. Whether he realized it or not, he was putting her hand over the exact spot where his own gunshot scars remained.

  “I would love to see the ocean one day,” Ivy said. “I’ve always dreamed of taking a cruise.”

  “Well, I’m not big on boats, but if you promise to wear a bikini, I could probably get behind that.”

  Ivy made a face. “Do I look like the type of woman who wears a bikini? I don’t even own a bathing suit.”

  Jack was puzzled. “You can swim, though, right?”

  Ivy nodded.

  “If you don’t own a bathing suit, how do you swim?”

  Ivy shrugged, a mischievous smile playing at the corner of her lips. She was always bolder in their dreams. “There’s a small lake about a mile away from my house,” she said. “When it
gets really hot, I usually wait until dark and then go skinny-dipping by myself.”

  Jack’s heart rate increased at the thought. “Well, we’re definitely doing that together.”

  Ivy snickered, enjoying their closeness for a moment before sobering. “Did Tim give you a name for the officer who died?”

  “Mark Dalton.”

  Ivy racked her brain for a moment, coming up empty. “I don’t know him.”

  “How do you know Tim? He’s a real douche, by the way. If you’re about to tell me you had a crush on him in high school I’m going to pretend you’re not talking.”

  “I definitely didn’t have a crush on him in high school,” Ivy replied, rolling her eyes. “He asked me out a few times … and I told him no.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  Ivy hated the pleasurable roll of her heart when Jack referred to her as “his girl” and forced herself to focus on something more important. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Jack. I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. Seeing him on the pavement like that … it must have reminded you of what you went through.”

  Jack swallowed hard. “I froze for a second on the street,” he admitted. “You could’ve been hurt because I forgot my training.”

  “Oh, get over yourself,” Ivy muttered. “You didn’t freeze. You threw me against the wall of the pizza shop and covered me with your own body. You were ready to sacrifice yourself to keep me safe.”

  “But … .”

  Ivy cut him off. “I was there, too,” she said. “You protected me at great risk to yourself. Don’t think I didn’t notice. I didn’t appreciate it either. I can take care of myself.”

  Jack frowned. “Excuse me for living!”

  Ivy tried to hide her smile, but ultimately lost the battle. “Next time we’re shot at I’m going to throw myself on top of you and shield you with my body. How do you like that?”

  Jack shrugged. “I didn’t hear a word of that sentence after you admitted you were dying to throw yourself on top of me.”

  “You’re such a pervert.”

  “Says the woman who keeps offering me sex on the beach.”

  They relaxed into the dream, their banter keeping things from getting too deep. It was the one thing Jack needed, so Ivy gave it to him without reservation. The real world could wait until morning.

  Three

  “You look a little tired this morning, daughter. Were you out playing with your new boyfriend last night? Do I need to have a talk with him regarding your beauty sleep?”

  Michael Morgan didn’t bother trying to hide his smile the next morning as Ivy greeted him at the nursery gate with a scowl.

  “Ha, ha,” Ivy said, rolling her eyes. “You leave Jack alone. He had a rough night.”

  “Oh, that’s always what a father wants to hear before his morning coffee,” Michael said, accepting the thermos Ivy shoved in his direction. “Did you two finally give in and embrace temptation?”

  “Dad!”

  Michael chuckled. He was used to his daughter’s moods. She embarrassed easily – especially where he was concerned – and he enjoyed pushing the envelope. He liked to keep her on her toes. “I was just asking out of parental curiosity,” Michael said, flipping the top off the thermos and inhaling the rich scent with an appreciative groan. “You make a mean cup of coffee.”

  “If you weren’t my father, I would fire you,” Ivy warned.

  “If you weren’t my daughter I would … .” Michael squeezed Ivy’s cheek and gave it a good jiggle. “You’re so cute. Other than the circles under your eyes, I would say whatever you and Jack did last night was good for you.”

  “I am not talking with you about that,” Ivy said, wagging a finger for emphasis. “That’s none of your business.”

  “It must’ve been good then.”

  Ivy inhaled heavily through her nose to calm herself. “If you must know, we had a lovely dinner in Bellaire,” she said. “Then, as we were taking a walk for ice cream after, we heard shots. We found a policeman dead on the street.”

  Michael stilled, surprised. “I … are you making that up to get back at me for prying into your personal business?”

  Ivy shook her head.

  “Oh, Ivy,” Michael said, brushing his daughter’s hair away from her face so he could take in her weary demeanor with a fresh set of eyes. “I’m so sorry. That must’ve put a real damper on your date.”

  “You could say that,” Ivy replied dryly. “Jack was … shaken up. We had to answer questions from the police for a few hours. As you can imagine, our night didn’t exactly end on a romantic note.”

  “That must’ve been terrible for Jack,” Michael mused. “After the way he was shot … .” Michael broke off, realizing what he said when it was too late to haul the words back into his mouth.

  Ivy slitted her eyes. “Who told you about that?”

  “I … .”

  “It was Max, wasn’t it?” Ivy charged. “I’m going to … .” She broke off, miming strangling someone.

  Despite the seriousness of the situation, Michael wanted to laugh at the display. He wisely thought better of it. “Your brother may have let what happened to Jack slip,” he conceded. “We both know he has your best interests at heart, though. You might want to give him a pass on this one.”

  “Why would I possibly give him a pass?” Ivy was incensed. Her brother only knew about Jack’s ordeal because the police officer bravely related the story to a local runaway trying to come back from her own tragic situation. “That was not Max’s story to spread around.”

  “He didn’t tell anyone but your mother and me,” Michael said, his voice even as he tried to rein in Ivy’s notorious temper. “He would never tell anyone else. He told us because we’re family.”

  “He told you because he’s a gossip,” Ivy countered.

  “That, too,” Michael conceded. “Ivy, there was no harm in Max telling us what happened to Jack. We knew he went through something in Detroit, even if you were keeping it to yourself. No one is every going to bring it up to him. I promise.”

  “They had better not,” Ivy hissed. “If anyone makes Jack uncomfortable about that I’ll … . Max better sleep with one eye open. I’m not joking.”

  Michael wordlessly watched his daughter stalk away, pointed in the direction of the greenhouse, and internally cringed. Now probably wasn’t the time to tell her that Max was on his way for a visit. That would be much better as a surprise – especially when he was fairly certain she was in the mood to kill the messenger.

  “HEY, baby sister,” Max said, poking his head into the greenhouse a half hour later, a leery expression on his face. “You look absolutely beautiful this morning. That pink in your skirt really sets off your … hair.”

  Ivy scowled. “Max, I am not in the mood to see you right now,” she said, viciously hacking away at a potato plant she was trying to split up and move to separate pots. “I’m going to do this to you if you bug me.”

  Max sighed. He loved his sister, but she was prone to dramatic fits. “I heard you had a rough night last night,” he said, moving farther into the greenhouse but keeping some distance between his sister and himself. “I’m sorry that happened. I know you and Jack were looking forward to your first date.”

  Ivy made a face that would’ve been comical under different circumstances. “I am so mad at you!”

  Max groaned. “Ivy, I didn’t mean to blab Jack’s secret to Mom and Dad,” he said, plopping down on the floor and keeping his gaze locked on Ivy’s small shovel in case she decided to use it as a weapon. “I kind of forgot they didn’t know and I brought it up a few days ago. They were cool with it.”

  Ivy stilled, clutching the shovel tighter. “Why wouldn’t they be cool with it? It’s not Jack’s fault his partner was doing terrible things and shot him and left him to die in the street.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” Max said hurriedly. “You know that’s not what I meant. It’s just … that’s a lot of baggage
for one man to carry around. He almost died.”

  “He didn’t die, though,” Ivy said, tugging on her limited patience. “You shouldn’t have told anyone what he said. You promised you wouldn’t.”

  “Hey! You’re still my sister,” Max argued. “I’m allowed to look out for you. I like Jack. I think he’s a stand-up guy. On top of that I think he’s about the only one who can put up with your attitude.

  “That doesn’t change the fact that you two are going to have to work together to move past that,” he continued. “Jack is … scarred … from what happened. He needs time to work through it.”

  “Oh, well, I’m so glad that you know how to handle my relationship better than me,” Ivy deadpanned. “What would I ever do without you?”

  “You would cry without me,” Max shot back. “I know you’re upset about what happened last night, but … that’s not my fault. I’m sorry I told Mom and Dad. That was your place. They were just … going on and on about how they thought you and Jack would be married by Christmas at the rate you were going. I wanted them to rein in their expectations.”

  Ivy was dumbfounded. “Married by Christmas? Are they crazy? We just started dating.”

  Max was relieved his sister’s ire appeared to be shifting. “Anyone who has been in the same room with you and Jack knows that you two are so hot for each other that you’re ready to start the bed on fire.”

  Ivy glared at him. “That doesn’t mean we’re getting married.”

  “I’m glad you at least admit you’re hot for him,” Max said, chuckling. “Before now you were denying it every chance you got. Now you two can be hot to trot out in the open.”

  “Max … you need to stay out of this,” Ivy said, her voice petulant but yielding. “Jack watched someone die on the pavement last night. It was a cop. He can’t help but liken that situation to his own. We’re not going to be … starting the mattress on fire … anytime soon.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” Max said. “Just because something horrible happened, that doesn’t mean he’s not ready to move forward.”