“I did. I didn’t know she was my date when she leapt into the pool before me to help save the girls.”
“Sounds like you picked a winner. I met my wife when I was undercover.”
“You did?” Dare asked, closing his laptop. He hadn’t heard of many people meeting their partners while undercover and were still married after all these years. It was a big accomplishment when the job is demanding.
“Yup. I was investigating the Albanian mob selling illegal cigarettes laced with LSD. My wife was a twenty-one-year-old waitress at the diner one of the suspects ate at late at night. Somehow my cover was blown and I was getting the crap beaten out of me by the dumpster at three in the morning when she nailed the perp over the head with a tire iron. It was love at first sight. We’ve been married thirty-six years.”
“That’s impressive,” Dare told him.
“It’s good to have a woman who will have your back. Plus, I’ve seen her wield a tire iron. Let’s just say I’ve never been tempted to stray. Your date last night sounds a lot like my wife.”
Dare chuckled. “Actually, I could see Harper wielding a tire iron.”
“Then you should call her. Did you pick up on any suspects while you were at the resort?” Alec asked.
“Nothing concrete, but both Harper and I got a weird feeling from the doctor and the bartender. Plus, the staff acted like this happened all the time.”
“Then it sounds as if your second date should be at the resort again,” Alec said with a wink as he stood up.
“Should I involve a civilian?”
“We use civilians all the time when we’re undercover. The question is, would she swing a tire iron to help you? If she’s an asset, use her. Plus, I can see that you’ve looked at your phone no fewer than thirteen times since I sat down. I just gave you an excuse to call her.”
Alec walked away whistling as Dare chuckled to himself. As soon as he had a little privacy, he picked up his phone and called the number Marcy had given him.
The phone call connected and the first thing Dare heard was loud cheering. “Hello?” Harper practically yelled into the phone.
“Harper, this is Dare.”
“Who?” Harper yelled back.
Ow. Did she forget him already? “Dare. Your date from last night.”
“Oh, Dare. Sorry. It’s game night. It’s packed in here.”
“I won’t keep you then. How about a second date tomorrow night where we don’t have to rescue anyone?” Dare asked in a raised voice. He held his breath and tried to pretend he wasn’t nervously waiting for her answer.
“Sure. The bar closes at eight tomorrow night. I could do a late dinner.”
“Perfect. I’ll make a reservation at the Palms’ restaurant at nine for a date do-over. Does that work?” Dare asked and hoped she didn’t say no to going back to Palm Meadows for a second time or ask why he was choosing there.
“Sure. I’ll see you there,” Harper told him to his relief.
“Is that him?” Dare heard a deep twangy voice ask.
“Is he asking you on another date? He should if he’s smart. If he ain’t, then it’s no loss for you. You don’t want to date a stupid man.” Dare heard another slightly higher, yet equally twangy voice chime in.
“Gator, Turtle, zip it,” Harper hissed, but Dare could still hear her even though she’d pulled the phone away from her mouth. “Sure, tomorrow at nine. See you then.”
The call ended and Dare smiled at the phone. Harper wasn’t one for small talk. But Gator? Turtle? Dare had a feeling he’d like Shadows Landing if he ever visited. Back home, the men on the ranch also had weird nicknames.
Dare called the resort and made a reservation before getting back to work. He ignored the excitement he felt, knowing that in twenty-four hours he’d see Harper again. It was probably the adrenaline he’d felt from the rescue making her seem so perfect for him. Tomorrow there would be no rescues and he’d see that she was just a woman—a woman who needn’t interfere with his life or his investigation. Though now he couldn’t get the image of Harper swinging a tire iron out of his head. He wondered what it meant that after one night of knowing her, Dare knew she’d have his back.
6
Harper had been excited about the date until Dare had told her it was in the formal restaurant at the resort. Then she’d been thrown into a panic. She hadn’t needed to tell Edie or Tinsley. For that matter, she hadn’t needed to tell anyone because by the time she walked into church the next morning, everyone knew. She’d received advice from every lady in the quilting circle and half the teenagers in town. Okay, almost all the teenagers in town. Then to top it off, Reverend Winston led the congregation in a prayer for her upcoming date.
By the time Harper opened the bar after lunch, every woman in her life was lined up with clothes, shoes, and makeup. Harper’s one pair of heeled boots were ruined from her water rescue. Her cousin-in-law Darcy had come through with some really cute ballet flats. Harper’s sister-in-law, Ellery, had donated the very simple yet chic little black dress she was wearing. Harper’s other cousin-in-law, Savannah, had done her makeup, and Edie had put Harper’s long hair up.
Harper had to admit she could hardly recognize herself in the mirror. The women hadn’t gone overboard. Her hair was still in a ponytail, but it was sleek with a jeweled hair tie. The makeup was simple, just a dash here and there, but suddenly the color in Harper’s deep green eyes seemed to pop. The dress hugged every curve Harper had, but the cotton fabric mixed with spandex didn’t feel confining. She could walk to her date feeling secure that she was still Businesswoman Harper, the bar owner and not some kind of bimbo Harper.
Harper opened the small purse Ellery had insisted she carry when her phone rang. She pulled it out, and at the same time saw lip gloss with a note tied around it. Put me on. Harper shook her head and answered the phone.
“Are you calling to wish me luck on my date too?” Harper asked Edie’s brother, Walker.
“Not exactly,” Walker said with amusement. They were lifelong friends and now they were family in a way since Walker had married one of Harper’s Kentucky cousins.
“But I am!” Layne, Walker’s wife, called out in the distance.
“Thanks,” Harper mumbled as she tried to apply the lip gloss.
“I’m calling because the uncles found out about the date and did a background check on him,” Walker told her.
Harper dropped the tube into her bag and focused solely on the call. “They did? What did they find out?”
“Huh. Most of the women get mad at that,” Walker grunted in surprise.
“It’s an invasion of privacy!” Layne yelled.
“I know he’s hiding something, and I want to know what it is,” Harper told him. “Privacy be damned.”
“This is why we’re friends,” Walker said with a laugh. “Okay, so here’s the scoop.”
Harper hung up with Walker and took a deep breath. Everything made sense now, including this so-called second date. She locked her car and slowly walked inside as she tried to think about what this all meant. Was she here because he wanted her to be or because she was helpful to him?
Harper bit her lip and then stopped as she practically heard Tinsley screaming at her to not mess up her lips. Harper had been used before. She didn’t want to be used again. She couldn’t believe she had allowed herself to get her hopes up with Dare.
Harper was telling herself she would end it over dinner when she walked into the restaurant. The hostess was talking to her, but all she saw was Dare. He stood up from the table for two and her heart stopped beating for a second before going into overdrive. He wore a black suit that fit him to perfection. Under it was a black dress shirt and deep blood-red tie. His short, shaved black hair matched his suit and the way Dare’s eyes looked her over had Harper changing her mind before his eyes left her lips. He was sexy as hell with an edge that drove her wild. Maybe just one night of sin wouldn’t hurt. She could always end it in the morning.
&nbs
p; Dare had stood the second he’d seen Harper walk in. He’d almost done a double take. The dress, the hair, the sparkling shoes . . . they didn’t seem to be her, but wow! Harper was stunning and she didn’t even know it. She was beautiful whether she was in a tank top and jeans or a fitted black dress. It was the way she carried herself that turned him on so much.
He had to drag his eyes from Harper’s body and back up to her face as she walked toward him. Dare moved to hold out her chair and hoped she didn’t look too closely at his pants. Watching her body moving toward him had been erotic, but seeing the interest in her eyes had him ready to turn her around and take her someplace private.
“I’m glad you could make it for our do-over date,” Dare said as the waiter poured Harper’s wine.
Harper smiled but didn’t answer until they were alone. “Interesting that we’re back at the Palms. How did you choose this place for dinner tonight instead of any of the award-winning restaurants in Charleston?”
Dare recognized that tone. It sounded innocent, but it wasn’t. He leaned back in his chair feeling alive at the challenge Harper presented. Women had never really challenged him before. It was one of the reasons he’d slowed down on his dating. He had wanted more. He just hadn’t known what that more was until right then. Harper didn’t back down. She demanded to be treated as an equal because she knew her own worth and he loved it.
“I thought we’d use the free dinner the doctor gave us,” Dare told her as both sat back while the waiter put down some warm cornbread with specialty butters. “Since I had the added benefit of already knowing I’d enjoy my time with you, I thought I’d do something a little grander than just sitting at the bar having a drink.”
The waiter left to give them time to look over the menu, but Harper didn’t pick hers up. She leaned forward with a sweet smile on her face that had Dare’s blood pumping. She was up to something and he couldn’t wait to hear what was on her mind.
“The free dinner is very romantic. Here I thought we were here because you’re undercover for the ATF and are here investigating some deaths that the FBI, local law enforcement, and the DEA believe are the result of tainted alcohol being served at the resort.” Harper sat back and cocked her head to one side waiting for him to respond.
Dare was proud of himself for keeping his face completely relaxed even as she smiled sweetly at him. “Why would you think that?” Dare asked, not allowing his voice to give any indication of what he was thinking or feeling even though inside he was floored. There was no way she could know that.
“I told you I’d find out,” Harper said as her grin widened. Damn it all if Dare didn’t respect the hell out of her right now. He was also slightly terrified. If she found out, so could the hotel. “All I had to do was tell my family I was going on a second date. It’s not something that happens very often. I knew my brother or one of my cousins would tell our family in Kentucky. Then it was only a matter of time before they did their thing and sent me a dossier on you.”
“And you came anyway?” Dare asked, still not confirming his undercover work. He didn’t want to involve her more than she was. A date to provide cover was one thing. A person with knowledge of his undercover work was something entirely different. That knowledge put them both in danger. He’d only met Harper once. How could he trust his life to her?
“You’re using me. I deserve to know why.”
Dare felt the truth of her words like a slap in the face. “I’m sorry. Tonight was a mistake.” Dare set his napkin on the table and moved to stand up.
Harper reached across the table and grabbed his hand, stopping him. “I’m your cover, aren’t I?” Dare didn’t say a word as he looked in her eyes wishing like hell the answer wasn’t yes. “Is that all I am?” Dare heard the tiny hitch in her voice she’d tried to hide. Is that what she thought? That he wasn’t interested in her?
“No.” Dare answered instantly.
Dare locked his eyes with hers as she sat quietly. He willed her to believe him.
“Then,” Harper said before leaning forward again, “what can I do to help?”
This time it was Dare who was quiet. That wasn’t the direction he expected Harper to take, but he respected the hell out of her for it. “You’re a civilian and nothing is going on.”
“I am a civilian. One who owns a bar and knows the liquor business probably better than you do, especially the local business. So, what can I do to help or do I need to call my uncles?”
She smiled to show him she was joking and Dare shook his head as he tried not to laugh. Harper Faulkner was the most unique woman he’d ever met. So he did something he’d never done before. He trusted her.
“A young woman died here in late August. Her body was found in the ocean. She was a guest here. I have video footage of her in the lobby and then being denied a drink at the dance club because she was underage. I need to find out where she went after she left the club. I’m also trying to find out who the alcohol distributor is without drawing attention,” Dare confided.
“You’re trying to find out if the alcohol is being tampered with by the hotel or by the distributor,” Harper said, not even bothering asking if that’s what he was trying to find out.
“Exactly,” Dare responded. Although he didn’t want her in the investigation, it felt good to have someone in the field with him. Someone who understood what he was doing, and as Alec said, someone who would pick up a tire iron for him.
“Well, I can’t help with the girl, but I can help with distributor,” Harper whispered as the waiter approached. “Perfect timing. I am dying for an old fashioned.”
“Do you have a bourbon of choice?” the waiter asked.
Harper bit her lip as she looked at the drink menu. “You have such an excellent choice of bourbons. It’s too hard to decide. Have it be the bartender’s choice.”
The waiter took Dare’s drink order of iced tea along with their dinner order before leaving. Dare wanted to talk to Harper and was trying not to be impatient as the waiter went through all the specials. The second the man walked away, he leaned forward.
“What are you doing? You know it could be tainted.”
Harper sent him a cheeky grin. “I have a plan. Besides, you’re here to save me if it is. Now, we have a date to enjoy. What’s your plan for that?”
Dare laughed and sat back in his chair as he looked appreciatively at Harper. The more he was with her, the more his whole body came alive. Not just physically either. He enjoyed their conversations. She challenged him, teased him, and he was continually blown away by her sharp mind. It was enough to make him forget, at least temporarily, that he was on the job.
7
Harper had thought Dare would be angry. She thought he would have ended the date as soon as she told him she knew why they were there. After her college experience, Harper didn’t know if she should believe him or not when he said he wasn’t using her so she decided to listen more. She knew the red flags and purposefully steered their dinner conversation toward those flags.
She’d asked more details about his family. Dare answered them and then asked about hers. Harper did her best to scare him by talking about the overprotective uncles, the cousins who were like brothers to her, and the town that was seriously overinvested in her date.
Dare was laughing so hard by the time she finished recounting the prayer at church for their date that he was wiping tears away. “I can’t wait to meet everyone,” he said between deep breaths to calm himself.
“What?” Harper asked, almost shocked. Overbearing gossips didn’t scare him. He wasn’t trying to separate her from them. Instead he wanted to become a part of them?
“They sound like a blast. You’re lucky to have such a caring community around you.”
Harper was sure she looked stunned, but Dare was too busy saying how he can’t wait to meet the guys he heard at the bar to notice her shock.
“My job,” Harper blurted out.
“What about it?” Dare asked with a smile
still lingering on his lips.
“I own a bar.”
Dare looked confused. “Yes, I know,” he said slowly.
“I work long hours and this past Friday was an exception to make that date. Usually Sunday nights after eight are my only time off.”
“Okay,” Dare said again slowly. “What’s your point?”
“I just wanted to let you know that I’m very busy and the bar is my priority in life.”
“It should be. It’s quite an accomplishment to own your own place at your young age.”
He was too good to be true. The men Harper had been with since college always expected her to be available to them whenever they wanted. It’s why she only spent one night with them and then left without giving them her number.
Or maybe Dare was actually a kind man who supported instead of demanded. Her cousins were like that. They were great husbands who hadn’t asked their wives to change. Instead, they did everything they could to encourage them in their dreams.
Harper finished her drink as Dare told her a story about growing up. By the time the check came, Harper realized she’d had two great dates. This one was better than the first.
“So, what’s your plan?” Dare asked as he signed the check, put money in for a tip, and left the dinner vouchers.
“Watch and learn.” Harper stood and waited for Dare to protest. When he didn’t stop her but instead placed his hand on the small of her back in support, she grew with confidence. Dare was letting her take the lead . . . on his investigation. He trusted her. Marcy was right: he was a good man. They did exist outside of her family.
Fierce Shadows: Shadows Landing #4 Page 5
