“I thought you were convinced that it was better to keep it hidden from her at all costs,” Jared challenged.
“That was my initial thought. That was fear talking, though.” Brett heaved out a sigh and sank to the ground as his laptop flew through the window and smacked against the grass. “Oh, geez. That’s my work laptop, too.”
Jared almost felt sorry for the man. He had to give him credit. He was a lot calmer than he thought he would most likely be under the same circumstances. “I think it’s probably good that you told her,” he offered. “Although ... it probably doesn’t seem like that now.”
“How did she react?” Mel queried.
Brett arched an eyebrow and gestured toward the window, which was gaping open and had a pair of trousers hanging from the corner. “I think you can see how she took it.”
“I just meant, did she cry at first? Was she furious from the start?”
“At first she said she suspected something was going on and started crying.” Brett licked his lips and Jared could tell he was going through a great deal of pain, which was almost enough to make him a sympathetic figure ... but not quite. “She said she knew I wasn’t going out bowling.”
“Was that your excuse?” Mel made a face. “Never use bowling as an excuse. That’s too easy for the women to track down.”
Jared shot his partner a look. “How would you know?”
“Because I used bowling as an excuse when I joined a weekly poker game — I thought the wife would be a lot more upset about me losing money to other guys than hurling a ball at stationary pins — and she was suspicious because I forgot my bowling shoes one night. She called the lanes and found out that the bowling team was a lie ... and things did not go over well.”
“I can see that.” Jared wrinkled his nose. “You have your own bowling shoes?”
“That’s not important to the story,” Mel said testily. “What’s important is that you never use bowling as an excuse.”
“She never called the alley checking up on me,” Brett replied. “She knew I wasn’t that much of a fan of the game, though, and she had her suspicions. She thought I was having an affair. I tried telling her that the sex was meaningless — I mean, an affair suggests an emotional attachment, right? But she said it was actually worse.”
He dabbed at the corner of his eye as he sucked in a shuddering breath. “She said that the fact that I would betray her without an emotional attachment means that I never loved her in the first place. I tried telling her that’s not true, but the more I think about what she said, the more I realize she has a point.
“Not that I don’t love her,” he added hurriedly when he saw Jared’s brow furrow. “I do love her. I was disassociating myself from the act, though. I took no responsibility. I was feeling sorry for myself and not thinking about her. I’m pretty sure that’s not how a man who will be a father in a few weeks is supposed to act.”
Oddly, Jared found the man’s self-reflection refreshing. “Well, at least you’re actually delving into the problem. The question is: What are you going to do about it?”
“I have no idea.” Brett let out a harsh laugh and shook his head. “She’s upset and she’s supposed to stay calm. I called her sister to be with her. I think I’m exacerbating the problem, but I don’t want to leave her alone because she’s on bed rest for a reason.
“Once her sister gets here, I’ll clean up the mess out here and check into a hotel,” he continued. “She needs time to calm down. While she’s doing that, I’ll send her a steady stream of gifts to soften her up and try to figure out a way to save my marriage.”
Jared studied him for a beat and then decided to ask the obvious question. “What if she doesn’t want to save it?”
“I can’t pressure her to do what she doesn’t want to do. I want to save my marriage, but I’m not going to turn into a stalker or anything, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m going to fight. I’m going to be there for her. That’s all I can do. If she wants to divorce me, I’ll make sure that she’s taken care of and try to get a good custody deal. I won’t abandon my child.”
“That actually sounds like a reasonable plan of action.” Jared flashed a smile. “It sounds like you’re doing everything right.”
“Now, when it’s too late.” Brett stared at the second-floor window and then shook his head. “I doubt you guys were called out here to monitor this situation. They would’ve sent uniforms for a disturbing-the-peace complaint, which isn’t coming anytime soon because the neighbors love drama too much. Do you need something?”
“Actually, we do,” Jared confirmed. “The night of the fire, you were seen talking to some men on the sidewalk in front of the house. We’re told the conversation looked heated. We’re mildly curious who you were talking to, and what the conversation was about.”
Brett hesitated. “I don’t want to get anybody in trouble. It doesn’t seem like my place.”
Jared kept his features even. “We already know that Barry Watkins, Brian McKinley, and Jack Trent were there. We’re assuming you were talking to two of the three.”
“Oh, geez.” Brett made a sound halfway between a snort and a wheeze. “I guess I’m not doing any good protecting them. I just don’t want to be seen as a squealer or anything.”
“We’ve already talked to them.”
“Well, great. As for the conversation, yeah, we saw one another,” Brett confirmed. “The operation in the house was set up so we wouldn’t see each other, but we all knew. We caught glimpses in the parking lot and sometimes saw each other when leaving because most people left when they were finished rather than at the end of the hour.
“It was one of those things we all knew but didn’t comment on,” he continued. “When we saw each other outside Patty’s place we acted like nothing was happening. Inside, we didn’t even speak to each other.”
“You did that night, though,” Jared pressed. “What did you say?”
“They wanted for us to give each other alibis just in case. I still naively believed it wouldn’t be necessary. They were angry when I said I didn’t want to be a part of it. I assumed they served as each other’s alibis, which is why I didn’t want to rat on them.”
“We never really gave them a chance to try because we had their license plates on video,” Mel explained.
“Ah.” Brett bobbed his head. “That makes sense. That didn’t even occur to me ... even though that’s how you managed to track me down.”
“Was there anything else?” Jared queried. “I mean ... did they say anything else? Was either of them holding a gas can?”
“A gas can?” Brett was clearly flabbergasted. “Wait ... do you think one of them started the fire?”
“We’re just covering all our bases,” Mel reassured him.
“Uh-huh.” Brett didn’t look convinced, but he held out his hands and shook his head. “We honestly only talked for a few minutes about the alibi thing. I was more interested in getting away from the scene and home than they were. I left them still talking.”
Mel and Jared exchanged a quick look.
“Thank you,” Mel said after a beat. “We appreciate your time. As for this ... .” He gestured toward the window, to where boxer shorts were now fluttering toward the ground. “I hope you guys can put things back together.”
“You and me both.”
14
Fourteen
Jared was surprised when he walked through the front door of the house after his shift and found the dining room table set, candles lit, with a full feast awaiting. Harper, dressed in simple black pants and a cashmere pullover, stood expectantly next to the table.
“Do I even want to know what this is?” Jared asked as he studied the scene. “You didn’t do something else weird, did you?”
“Define weird.” Harper’s smile never faltered. “If by weird you mean romantic and sweet, then yes I did.”
“Uh-huh.” Jared kept his suspicious face on as he shifted out of his coat and moved to
ward the table. His eyes widened when he realized exactly how much food was on display. “Is that steak?”
Harper nodded.
“And garlic mashed potatoes?”
Another nod.
“Oh, and that looks like my favorite chocolate cake from the bakery downtown on the counter.” Jared’s eyes lit with delight as he moved around the table and headed in that direction.
Harper’s arm shot out and she grabbed him before he could move too far away. “Dinner first,” she chided. “Dessert is for later ... and will be served in bed.”
He pursed his lips as he shifted to face her, genuine amusement lighting his features. “What’s all his about?”
“Can’t a woman just want to shower her fiancé with love, affection, and food?”
“Absolutely.” He bobbed his head without hesitation. “I love it when you do that. This is different, though.”
Harper’s smile faltered. “Why do you say that?”
“Because I know you. This is ... your attempt at an apology,” he surmised finally and shook his head. “Harper, it’s okay. We’re not fighting.”
She folded her arms over her chest and jutted out her lower lip. “Did I say we were fighting? No. That’s not what this is about.”
Jared knew otherwise. “Come here.” He snagged her around the waist and tugged her into his lap on the oversized chair located at the edge of the living room. He could smell the heavenly aromas of the dinner Harper had put together — and desperately wanted to eat it — but some things were more important. “I’m not angry,” he whispered, pressing his lips to the sensitive ridge of her jaw.
“I didn’t say you were angry,” she countered. “I just ... .” She trailed off, uncertain.
“It’s been a trying few days for us,” he said after a beat, debating what he wanted to say before speaking. “You’re upset by what I said, but you don’t want to admit it. I’m worried about you and I don’t want to admit it. I think we should just get that stuff out there and deal with it rather than glossing over things.”
“You haven’t had a problem admitting you’re worried about me,” she grumbled under her breath. “You say it every five minutes.”
He snickered at the petulant way she delivered the line. “Fair enough. I haven’t done a very good job of hiding my worry. Honestly, though, I don’t think that I should have to hide it. I feel it, so I want to talk about it. That’s why this relationship works.”
“You shouldn’t have to hide it,” she agreed. “I feel as if I’m walking on eggshells right now because you’re worried, though, and it’s kind of giving me a stomachache.”
He tightened his grip on her. “I’m sorry. That’s the last thing I want. The more I dwell on it, though, the more I think I’m right. Ultimately it doesn’t matter. You’re an adult with a job to do. I know I’m being unreasonable. I can’t even explain why I’m doing it.”
“I have a theory.”
He smirked as he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “I’m dying to hear your theory.”
“I think getting engaged has made everything real for both of us. It seemed like the natural next step, but now you’re coming to the realization that you’re marrying a woman who hunts ghosts for a living and you’re wondering how that’s going to work over the long haul ... or if you even really want it to work.”
“Absolutely not.” Jared vehemently shook his head and shifted her so she had no choice but to look into his eyes. “That’s not what’s going on. I proposed because I knew you were who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. No one else. I can’t love anyone else because you’re it for me.
“I don’t want to change you and I’m not having second thoughts,” he continued. “If I’ve somehow made you think that ... well ... I’m sorry. What has become clearer over the past few weeks is that I love you more than anything and I can’t help but worry over you. That might not be what you want to hear but ... there it is.”
Despite her best intentions to remain stern, Harper snickered. “It’s okay. I get it. I worry over you, too.”
“Do you wish you hadn’t fallen for a police officer?”
“No. I love everything about you. Do you wish you hadn’t fallen for a ghost hunter?”
He smiled into her hair. “No. I love everything about you.” His breath was a teasing whisper against the ridge of her ear and it caused goose pimples to break out on her arms.
“I don’t want to fight.” She laced her fingers with his. “I promise to be better about telling you where I’m going, at least as long as this investigation continues. I can tell you’re bothered by what’s happening ... and I honestly can’t blame you.”
“It bothers me because it obviously bothers you.”
“It does bother me, and I can’t put my finger on exactly why. I’m not sure I believe it’s because I’m suddenly displaying the emotions of ghosts but ... that suggestion has weirded me out a little bit and I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to pretend I wasn’t burying the possibility.”
“You don’t have to be afraid.” His fingers were gentle as they brushed her hair away from her face. “No matter what, I’m always going to love you. Nothing you do could ever change that. Nothing you become could ever make me stop caring. We’re ... meant to be. I believe that here.” He tapped the spot above his heart. “Nothing will ever make me not believe it.”
“Oh.” She grinned at the earnest expression on his face. “That was kind of a dopey thing to say, but I liked it.”
He tickled her ribs, causing her to squeal. “I was being romantic.”
“I love a dopey romantic.”
He heaved out a sigh and pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Let’s have this magnificent dinner that you obviously ran all over town to collect and then I’ll show you exactly how romantic I can be.”
“That sounds like a plan to me.” On impulse, she threw her arms around his neck and held him tight. “I don’t know why I feel edgy like I do. I’m trying to figure it out. I don’t want you sitting around worrying about it, though. I’m going to be okay.”
Jared stroked his hand down the back of her head. He never knew it was possible to love this way. It seemed like something that only happened in movies. Now that he had her, though, he never wanted to let her go. He would do whatever it took to protect her. That might cause strife occasionally, but he had no doubt they would be able to get through it.
“You’re going to be okay,” he agreed. “We’re going to be okay, too. I just ... sometimes I freeze at the thought of something happening to you. I guess it might be codependent to say, but when you’re keyed up, I’m keyed up, too. I think we’re just going to have to get used to that, accept it and learn to deal.”
She laughed at his expression. “I’m okay being codependent.”
“Me, too.” He leaned in and graced her with a deep kiss. “I’m ready for dinner, though. You went to all our favorite restaurants and got our favorite things. I don’t want to miss out on that.”
“And after that?” Harper smiled. “Romance, right?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Then it’s going to be the perfect night.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
“HOW IS THIS ROMANTIC?”
Harper’s plans had gone up in smoke after Jared had finished his steak, but before he’d hit the cake. Suddenly, before the dishes had even made it to the dishwasher, he was on his feet and insisting they go to Patty’s house.
She put up a fight even as he dragged her to his truck. Still, he couldn’t be deterred.
“It’s romantic because we’re together,” he replied, not missing a beat. He parked in the lot behind the house and joined fingers with her as they headed toward the house. “Besides, once we’re done here we’ll head back and then I really will romance your socks off.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that before.” Harper rolled her eyes. “I still don’t understand why we’re here.”
“Because we ha
ven’t been inside together and now seems like the perfect time, when I know nobody else will stumble upon us ... like Mel. He would give me endless grief if he knew I brought you here.” He used his master key to open the lock and lifted up the police tape so she could slip under it on her way into the house. “You wanted to see inside. Now is your chance.”
“And what do you want?” She was genuinely curious.
“I want to look around again. I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve somehow missed something. I don’t even know how to explain it.”
Harper worked her jaw and then nodded. “Okay. It’s a strange form of foreplay but let’s do it.”
His grin only widened. “Thank you.” He pulled out his flashlight and lifted it so they could study the hallway. They were entering at the back of the house and Harper was certain she’d never seen this part of the structure before.
“This is weird, right?” She was thoughtful as she turned in a circle and studied the open doorways. The atmosphere would’ve been creepy if she’d been with anyone other than Jared. She felt safe with him, though, and she was more than happy to search the house. She’d been anxious for just this opportunity for days.
“What’s weird?” Jared slid his eyes to her. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“The hallway. It’s not like a house hallway. It’s more of a bed and breakfast hallway.”
“Yeah. The house has undergone a lot of internal renovations,” Jared agreed, turning back to the wall. “This is the tunnel.” He pushed the correct spot to open the panel.
Harper leaned closer to him and peered inside. To her, it looked like a dark passageway to hell and she wasn’t even remotely interested in setting a single foot over the threshold. “And that leads to the basement?”
“Yeah. We can go down if you want.”
Harper immediately started shaking her head. “I’m good. Thanks, though.”
Jared pursed his lips, legitimately amused. “You don’t have to go down. It’s not necessary. If you want to see, though, I promise to protect you. I’ll even flex my muscles while I do it.”
Ghostly Business Page 14
