Wicked Days

by Lily Harper Hart

  “Hi, Chad. I … what are you doing here?”

  “Well, after seeing you yesterday, I remembered that you opened a nursery,” he said. “We’ve been looking for some trees to plant on the south side of the property, and I figured you would have some great stock.”

  “Sure,” Ivy said, keeping her face neutral. “I can even give you a deal … since we’re old friends.”

  “Hi, Ivy,” Heath said shyly.

  “Hello, Heath,” Ivy said, leery. Did he tell Chad we were spying yesterday? Was that why Chad was really here? “How are you today?”

  “Good,” Heath said. “I’m really good.”

  “That’s great.” Ivy decided to feign innocence. If Chad had the guts to question her about the spying she would tackle it then. “Do you know what kind of trees you’re looking for?”

  “I’m open to suggestions.”

  “I … okay. Well, for that property, I think something that flowers might be beautiful. Since you guys are growing your own food up there, cherry trees would be a nice fit. You could eat the fruit and enjoy the blooms.”

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Chad said. “I never would’ve thought of something like that.”

  “Well … I aim to please.”

  “You always have,” Chad said. “I … um … .” He glanced at Heath. “Could you give me a few moments alone with Ivy? We need to catch up, and I’d prefer doing it in private.”

  Heath shifted, crestfallen. “But … .”

  “I’m sure Ivy will grace you with her presence when we’re done.”

  “Sure,” Heath said. “I’ll just look around.”

  “You do that.” Once Heath was out of earshot Chad turned back to Ivy. “I can’t tell you how good it is to see you. You look … amazing.”

  Without an audience, Ivy was having a hard time holding on to feigned pleasantries. “You look like a reject from a bad Broadway revival.”

  “That’s not very nice.”

  “I call it like I see it.”

  “I see you’re still mad about my … indiscretion … on the camping trip,” Chad said. “I really am sorry for what I did. I was lost during that time of my life. That’s not an excuse, but I am sorry.”

  “It’s been almost ten years,” Ivy replied, nonplussed. “I’m pretty sure I’m over it.”

  “You don’t seem like you’re over it. I understand if you’re still hurt. First love runs deep.”

  He was awfully full of himself. “You weren’t my first love, Chad,” Ivy said. “You were my first infatuation. There’s a difference. You might think you crushed me when you slept with Maisie, but I already knew you’d cheated on me with at least three other girls. It wasn’t quite the heartbreak you think it was.”

  Chad balked. “I … how did you know?”

  “People couldn’t wait to tell me,” Ivy said. “I was the weird girl who snagged the high school athletic god. People didn’t understand it, and they couldn’t wait to topple it.”

  “That’s terrible,” Chad said. “I had no idea.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Ivy said, waving off his faux sympathy. “I was looking for a reason to break up with you when I stumbled upon you and Maisie. It was actually a relief.”

  “W-w-what do you mean?”

  “We both knew we weren’t in it for forever,” Ivy said. “I just didn’t want to be the bad guy and break up with you when you were going through so much. It was a decade ago, Chad. I’ve let it go. Don’t worry that you somehow crushed me.”

  Ivy knew what she was doing when she made the admission. She was curious how he would react. She wasn’t going to be disappointed.

  “You were going to break up with me? I don’t understand. That’s just … I was a catch. I was the best you were ever going to get.”

  There he is. There’s the personality Chad always struggled to hide. Even before his life fell apart, he was there. Ivy just hadn’t realized it until she was in so deep she could barely crawl out.

  “I guess that’s how you want to see it,” Ivy said. “That’s not how I see it. Now, how many trees do you want?”

  “You wait just a second … .”

  “MR. MORGAN?”

  Jack studied Ivy’s father with somber eyes and trepidation. When the man called asking Jack to stop by the nursery when he had a chance, Jack didn’t know what to think. He was still confused. Michael hadn’t left him with much room to argue, though, so here he was.

  Michael brightened when he saw Jack. “You didn’t have to rush out here,” he said. “I know you’re busy.”

  “You made it sound like it was important.”

  “It is,” Michael said. “It’s not more important than a murder investigation, though.”

  “We’re still in the middle of things,” Jack said, confused. “I had a few minutes. Is something going on? Did something happen to Ivy?”

  Michael pressed his lips together, fighting the urge to smile. “I don’t know. Are you going to make something happen to Ivy?”

  Now Jack was really confused. “I … what?”

  “Listen, son, I don’t know you well, so I’m reluctant to broach a sensitive subject like this with you,” Michael said. “The problem is, my love for my daughter outweighs any conversational norms I might ordinarily cling to.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “My daughter is struggling with … something … where you’re concerned,” Michael said. “She won’t admit it. She’s lying to herself. There’s something about you that vexes her.”

  “Vexes?”

  “She likes you.”

  “Sir … .” Jack was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. “I don’t think this is something we should be talking about.”

  Michael ignored him. “She’s warm for your form, boy. I don’t know how you did it, but you’ve turned the woman who doesn’t want anyone into the woman that won’t admit she wants you.”

  “Sir, you seem like a good man,” Jack said, forcing himself to remain calm. “You seem like a great father. Ivy and Max are a testament to something, and I have a feeling it’s their upbringing.

  “That being said, your daughter and I are not romantically involved,” he continued. “She’s not interested in me. As … delightful … as I find her, I’m not interested either. I’m not looking for a relationship.”

  “She told me.”

  “She did?”

  “She told me all of that,” Michael said. “She told me she’s not interested in you and that you’re not interested in her.”

  “Why am I out here then?”

  “You’re both terrible liars,” Michael said. “I see the way you look at her, and she’s just a bundle of energy right now. That’s because of you.”

  “I don’t know what you want me to say,” Jack said. “I’m not lying to you. I’m not involved with your daughter, and I have no intention of changing that. I don’t want to be involved with anyone.”

  Michael chuckled, the sound low and throaty. “I see you’re just as stubborn as my Ivy,” he said. “I guess I’m just going to have to leave you two to muddle through this on your own.”

  “We’re not going to muddle through anything.”

  “You’re lying to yourself, son,” Michael said. “I guess that’s your prerogative. This isn’t any of my business. I promise to stay out of it from here on out. I just want to make you aware of one thing.”

  Jack waited.

  “If you break her heart, I’ll break your neck.”

  Jack was surprised by the threat, especially since Michael delivered it with a wide smile. “I have no intention of getting anywhere near Ivy’s heart.”

  “Good enough,” Michael said, shrugging. “I’m sorry to have interrupted your day. I hope you solve your case soon.”

  Jack did, too. The faster he could distance himself from Ivy and her crazy family, the faster he could claim the life he really wanted.

  “TAKE your hands off me,” Ivy warned, glaring at Chad as he gripped h
er elbow with enough force to whiten his knuckles. “I will hurt you if you don’t.”

  “I don’t think I like your attitude,” Chad said. “I’m the man here. You need to treat me with respect.”

  Ivy attempted to rip her elbow away from Chad, but that only resulted in him digging his fingers in deeper. “Ow!”

  “Apologize.”

  “Bite me,” Ivy shot back.

  “Apologize.”

  “Let me go right now!”

  Ivy took an involuntary step back when Chad’s grip suddenly eased. Before she realized exactly what was going on, Jack was between them and he had a harsh grip around the front of Chad’s shirt. “Don’t ever touch her.”

  Chad jerked away, casting a dark look in Jack’s direction. “You.”

  “Me,” Jack agreed.

  “Don’t ever put your hands on me,” Chad said. “You won’t like what happens if you do.”

  “Then don’t put your hands on her,” Jack said. “What are you even doing here?”

  “I was going to buy some cherry trees,” Chad said. “I think that ship has sailed.”

  “Good,” Jack said. “Follow your ship to the parking lot and get your ass out of here. I’m not joking.”

  “Is this your property?”

  “No,” Jack said.

  “Is she your property?”

  “No.”

  “Then mind your own business,” Chad said.

  “Listen, I don’t know what you think you’re doing, and I don’t know what you hoped to accomplish by coming here, but if you don’t leave right now I’ll arrest you,” Jack threatened.

  “On what charges?”

  “Disturbing the peace.”

  Chad looked like he was going to argue further, but instead straightened his shoulders. “You two need to stay away from my property, too,” he said. “If I catch you spying out there again, I’ll have you arrested.”

  Well, that answered that question. “Don’t come back here, Chad,” Ivy said. “You’re not welcome.”

  “Oh, Ivy, don’t let regrets about the past cloud your future.”

  “Oh, Chad, fire that fortune cookie writer who scripts your little platitudes,” Ivy shot back. “They don’t work on me.”

  Chad cast one more derisive look at Jack and then disappeared behind a row of trees. Once he was gone, Jack turned to Ivy. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

  Ivy rubbed her elbow. “I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “What are you even doing here?”

  “I … .” There was no way Jack could tell her the truth. “I came out to see if you’ve gotten anywhere on the symbols.”

  “Not yet.”

  “Um … .”

  “You could have called to ask me that,” Ivy pointed out.

  “I was in the neighborhood.”

  They lapsed into uncomfortable silence, which Jack couldn’t take.

  “Okay, well, keep me posted,” Jack said. “I need to get back to the station.”

  Jack gave her a wide berth as he circled behind her and headed for the parking lot. His fingers were itching to touch her – he couldn’t explain it – but there was no way he could stay on this path.

  If he wasn’t careful, Ivy Morgan was going to be the one thing that could change his life – and that was the one thing he couldn’t allow. He wasn’t good enough for her, and he wouldn’t make the mistake of convincing himself otherwise.

  She deserved better.

  Nineteen

  Ivy was still lost in her head when she left the nursery and turned toward home four hours later. Her father tried to engage her in conversation a few times over the course of the afternoon, but Ivy’s stilted and uninterested replies finally told him the one thing he needed to hear: She wanted to be left alone.

  The walk between Morgan’s nursery and Ivy’s house wasn’t a long one, but Ivy opted for a meandering path so she could think. Chad’s visit was the stuff of nightmares, and if she wasn’t convinced he was hiding something before, she certainly was now. The question was: Was he trying to hide the fact that he was a murderer or a random pot grower with impulse control issues?

  Once Chad found out Jack and Ivy were spying, his first inclination was to confront her. Sure, he’d gone about it in a roundabout way, but he’d never had any intention of buying cherry trees. He was trying to feel Ivy out. He wanted to know if she was suspicious, which she was.

  His unfettered reaction to her disrespect was a whole other issue, and it was one Ivy wasn’t in the mood to dwell on. All she wanted now was to eat her leftover pasta and curl up with a good book. She needed to escape to a different world because she wasn’t overly fond of the one she was living in now.

  Ivy was halfway up the front steps to her cottage when she noticed something on the front mat. She approached slowly, her eyes adjusting to the dimming light. It took her a moment, but she recognized the gift for what it was: a bouquet of flowers.

  For a brief moment, Ivy’s heart soared. Was this why Jack was here? Did he leave flowers? Ivy instantly hated herself for her reaction. She did not want Jack Harker. She didn’t. He was off limits to her head and heart. She couldn’t fool herself into thinking otherwise.

  Ivy’s hand was almost around the bouquet when her gaze shifted to the attached card. There was no writing on the envelope, and instead of picking up the flowers Ivy snagged the card and opened it.

  Her heart hammered the second the pagan symbols from Mona’s body swam into view. She still didn’t recognize them for what they were, but she knew they were a warning. Jack definitely hadn’t left the flowers.

  Ivy turned swiftly, scanning the darkening woods that surrounded her house. She’d always felt safe here. This was her home. She was untouchable here. She couldn’t help but feel as if someone was watching her, though.

  With shaking fingers, Ivy drew her cell phone out of her pocket and punched in the number to the police station. She needed help – and something told her she needed it now.

  JACK was a bundle of nerves as he pulled into Ivy’s driveway. He could see her pacing in front of the bay window, and his heart lodged in his throat as her lithe frame moved to and fro. She was beautiful.

  She was also in trouble, he reminded himself.

  Jack pocketed his keys and jumped out of his truck, glancing up when he heard the front door open. He increased his pace so he could get to her quicker, and he couldn’t hide his surprise when Ivy threw herself into his arms.

  He fought the urge to hold her – for exactly one second – and then tightened his arms around her and pulled her as close as he could manage without climbing inside of her skin. “Are you okay?”

  “I … .”

  Jack pulled away, moving his hands up to cup the back of her head and force her gaze to his. “What’s wrong?”

  Ivy pointed at the flowers, her finger shaking. “I found those on the porch when I came home tonight.”

  Jack waited, and when Ivy didn’t give any further information he hunkered down so he could study the bouquet. “They’re flowers.”

  “I know that,” Ivy said. “I … this was with them.” She handed the card to Jack.

  He studied it briefly, his heart clenching when he recognized the symbols. He still didn’t know what they meant, but one thing was clear: They were a warning. Someone was sending a clear message to Ivy.

  “Do you think Chad left these?”

  Ivy shrugged. “Who else?”

  “You didn’t see him leave them, though, right?”

  “No.”

  Jack sighed, running his hand through his hair as he studied her expressive face. “You haven’t seen anyone hanging around here, have you?”

  “No.”

  “Okay.” Jack knelt down. “I’m going to take these and … .”

  Ivy’s hand darted out, stilling Jack. “Don’t touch those.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s Windflower. It’s poisonous. It will give you a rash … and maybe som
ething worse if you’re not careful.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Ivy rolled her eyes. “This is what I do for a living.”

  “I haven’t forgotten,” Jack said, straightening and holding his hands up to placate her. “I won’t touch them. Let’s go inside. You look a little shaken.”

  “Someone was here, Jack. Someone came to my home.”

  An invisible hand snaked around Jack’s heart and squeezed it. She looked rattled. No, she looked terrified. It was something he never wanted to see on her face. “Come on, honey. Let’s go inside.”

  There was no teasing in his words tonight.

  “I NEED to do something,” Ivy said, walking back and forth in front of the counters in her small kitchen. “I need to think about something else. Food. Do you want food? I want food.”

  Jack wasn’t hungry, but he was willing to agree to anything that would stop Ivy’s relentless pacing. “I could eat.”

  “I made pasta last night. There’s plenty leftover for both of us. I’ll heat it up.”

  “Okay.”

  After leaving the flowers on the porch and calling Brian, Jack took photos and then watched as the older police officer confiscated the unsafe blooms and tossed them in his truck so he could transport them back to town.

  After a brief discussion, Brian left Ivy in Jack’s capable hands – and now Jack had no idea what to do. Ivy was a nervous wreck, and he felt like he might jump out of his skin at any moment. Being around her was turning him into a wreck, too – it was just a wreck of a different sort.

  Jack watched Ivy work for the next twenty minutes, keeping his mouth shut and his eyes open. She knew what she was doing around a stove. Her hands were deft, and when she pushed the plate in front of him Jack was surprised to hear his stomach rumble in approval at the scent.

  Maybe he was hungrier than he thought. “This looks good.”

  “I like to cook,” Ivy said, sliding into the open chair next to him. “I … I didn’t even ask if you’re okay with this. I don’t have any meat, but I might have some canned soup or something in the pantry if you’d rather have that.”

  “Why wouldn’t I want this?”

  “You said the morels looked gross.”