Ghostly Worries (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 4) (10 page)

“It’s not too much to ask,” Harper conceded. “I … .” She broke off, her eyes darting to the door as it flew open to allow Jared entrance. She was taken aback by his mussed hair and wild eyes. “What the … ?”

“You’re under arrest,” Jared barked, his chest heaving.

“On what charges?” Jason asked, legitimately alarmed.

“Stealing our woman!” Zander announced, racing into the restaurant behind Jared. “We don’t take kindly to people like you around these here parts.”

“I’m just here to watch the show,” Mel said dryly, trailing his nephew inside.

Harper didn’t have to ask questions to know how things got out of hand so quickly. “You’re in big trouble, Zander!”

“
W
hat’s going on
?”

Harper’s gaze bounced between faces as she internally cringed at Jared’s flushed features and avoided eye contact with Mel out of fear he would burst out laughing and make matters worse.

“I told Jared about Jason being a murderer,” Zander announced. “He insisted on coming over at once to arrest this … thunder stealer.”

“Thunder stealer?” Jason made a face as he kept his hands flat on the table. Harper was convinced he was worried Jared would shoot him even though the police officer didn’t have a weapon in his hand. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, you know what it means,” Zander hissed.

“I really don’t.”

Harper rolled her eyes until they landed on Jared. “What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” Jared shot back, annoyed. “This guy was dating the victim and failed to tell us and instead of sharing the information you gleaned at the library with me you couldn’t run over here fast enough.”

“That is not what happened,” Harper argued.

“Zander said you made up a lie about walking back to the cottage just so you could get rid of him,” Jared challenged.

“Okay,
that
happened,” Harper conceded. “I just didn’t want to bring Zander with me because … well … you know why.”

“Thunder stealer,” Zander whispered, shooting eye daggers in Jason’s direction.

“That doesn’t explain why you didn’t come to me,” Jared pointed out. “That should’ve been the first thing you did.”

“I considered it, but I wanted to talk to Jason first,” Harper explained. “I was worried that he would be the prime suspect no matter what – even if there was a reasonable explanation for why he was with Rosie. I wanted as much of the information as possible before I came to you.”

“I see,” Jared said, licking his lips as he kept a wary watch on Jason. “And how did that go?”

“Are you really interested or would you rather stare holes in Jason’s head?”

“Oh, let him stare holes,” Jason said. “I would rather him stare holes than shoot them. I’m innocent, by the way.”

“He is,” Harper confirmed. “Rosie came up to him outside of the restaurant and asked if he had a private room for dates. They weren’t on a date themselves.”

“I explained we didn’t have anything like that and she was really disappointed,” Jason volunteered. “She said that she wanted a romantic evening out, but she didn’t want people to stare.”

“Did she say why people would stare?” Mel asked curiously.

“No, and I didn’t ask,” Jason replied. “I didn’t think it was any of my business.”

“Oh, he’s lying,” Zander said. “No one could listen to a question like that from a woman and not be interested in whatever clandestine affair she had going on. It goes against human nature itself.”

“Perhaps it goes against
your
human nature, but it doesn’t go against mine,” Jason argued. “I really didn’t care. I’ve been busy with a million restaurant things and caring about why a strange woman wanted a private room wasn’t on top of my to-do list.”

“Oh, thunder stealer, thou art tricky,” Zander intoned.

“What is this ‘thunder stealer’ stuff?” Jason asked, risking a gaze in Harper’s direction. “Do you know?”

“I do, but I really can’t explain it,” Harper replied. “You two need to hash that stuff out on your own.”

“Oh, I can’t wait.” Jason’s tongue practically dripped sarcasm as he locked gazes with Zander. “Do you have something you want to tell me?”

“Yeah,” Zander said. “Your shoes are ugly and your guitar playing isn’t all that.”

“Okay, we’re getting off topic,” Mel said, resting his hand on Zander’s arm and shaking his head as he positioned himself between the two men. “Rosie didn’t mention who she wanted to have dinner with. Did she mention anything else to you?”

“No,” Jason answered. “When I explained about the room she asked about the menu and we talked about how hard it is to open a new restaurant. The entire conversation lasted fifteen minutes. I didn’t even get her name and I had no idea it was the same woman Harper found under the deck until she came here asking questions. I didn’t see the body that day.”

“I told you,” Mel said.

“Well, great,” Jared muttered, his cheeks burning as mortification took over. “I … um … .”

“Don’t worry about it,” Jason said, taking pity on the fumbling cop. “I don’t blame you for thinking the worst of me. I didn’t exactly endear myself to you last night.”

“What does that mean?” Mel asked, genuinely curious.

“Nothing,” Jared replied hurriedly.

Harper crossed her arms over her chest as she stared her boyfriend down. “Nothing?” She already knew the gist of the conversation, but it irked her that Jared refused to discuss it. “Really?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Jared said. “I … it’s not important.”

“I still want to know,” Mel said.

“I’ll tell you later,” Zander offered.

“You stay out of this,” Harper snapped, wagging a finger in Zander’s direction. “You’re in so much trouble when we get home you’re going to have to invent a new word for it.”

“How is this my fault?” Zander’s voice hopped as he put his faux-innocent act on display. “I was looking out for my best friend … the liar.”

“I’m going to beat the crap out of you when we get home.”

“Whatever.” Zander didn’t look worried in the slightest. “If he’s not a murderer can I go? I need to moisturize tonight after all the walking in the sun Harper made me do this afternoon. I’m going to get wrinkles.”

“I think you should definitely go,” Mel said.

“Great.” Zander didn’t even cast a glance over his shoulder – or an offhand apology in Jason’s direction – when he left. “I’ll leave a fresh pie on the counter for you, Harp.”

When she didn’t immediately respond he frowned.

“I’m also going to lock my door and leave you and the pie alone together so you can work out your anger without me around muddling the process,” Zander said. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“I can’t wait,” Harper spat.

Once Zander was gone the room fell into uncomfortable silence. Finally Mel cleared his throat and drew three sets of eyes to him. “I’m sorry for any confusion, Jason. We might have more questions later, but for now I think it’s fair to say you’re not under arrest.”

“That’s a relief,” Jason said, chuckling lightly. “I don’t think I would do well in prison.”

“I’m sorry,” Jared said stiffly. “I had no right to barge in here like that.”

“You thought Harper might be in trouble,” Jason said. “I don’t blame you.”

“It was still wrong,” Jared said. “You have my sincere apology.”

“Thank you.” Jason’s expression was unreadable as he watched Jared walk toward the door. Harper’s unhappy countenance could be read from a mile away, though.

“Where are you going?” Harper asked, hurrying after Jared. “Are you just leaving?”

Jared briefly locked gazes with his blonde, guilt and shame reflected in his eyes as his stomach revolted and threatened to betray him in front of an audience. “I have work to do.”

“That’s it?”

“I have work to do,” Jared repeated.

“Okay,” Harper said, swallowing hard as her heart lurched. “Will I see you later?”

“I’ll probably be pretty late,” Jared said. “I’ll go back to my place tonight and … um … call you tomorrow.”

That was it. He didn’t offer her a kiss … not a hug … not even a flirty lopsided grin. He just walked out the door and headed toward the parking lot.

Harper was at a total loss. “What just happened here?”

J
ARED
stayed
at the office until after dark, only dragging himself home when his eyes started to cross and he couldn’t look at another file. His heart was heavy as he let himself into his quiet house and he hated how empty the abode felt. He’d gotten used to the warmth at Harper’s place and found he missed it terribly when forced to spend the night alone. He wasn’t technically alone. His tenant Jeff Clarke lived in the room above his garage, but the lights were already out and Jared knew the man went to bed long before ten so he could rise early and get to mowing before the uncomfortable heat settled in on the day.

Jared jumped when someone knocked on the front door, his heart pounding as he reached for the handle. He hadn’t even moved entirely into the living room yet and already someone was visiting. He had visions of finding a bloodied and beaten Zander on the porch, an irate Harper taking her wrath out on the only man brave enough to cross her path. He hated his cowardice, but he didn’t think he could face her after what occurred in the restaurant.

“Dinner?”

Jared lifted his eyebrows when he found Harper standing on the porch with a picnic basket in her hand. Her expression was neutral, but a duffel bag rested at her feet and Jared had the distinct impression she wasn’t going to let him get rid of her no matter what argument he managed to muster.

“You brought me dinner?” It was a lame greeting, but Jared was so flummoxed he didn’t know what else to say.

“I figured you would work late, come home late, and then go to bed late without food,” Harper said, kicking her bag over the threshold as she pushed Jared out of the way to make room for her entry. “After about an hour of pouting … and another hour of crying … I decided I wasn’t going to let that happen.”

Jared wordlessly accepted the picnic basket as his eyes roamed Harper’s face. She wasn’t wearing any makeup – which was exactly how he liked her – but up close he could see her eyes were puffier than normal.

Harper was exasperated with Jared’s silence. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“I didn’t mean to make you cry.” The words were barely a whisper.

“Is this it then?” Harper asked, her voice cracking. “Are you breaking up with me?”

The simple question was enough to jolt Jared out of his self-imposed pity party. “No! Why would you ask that?”

“Because you left without even looking at me and didn’t give me an explanation or anything. Heck, you didn’t even give me a kiss.”

Jared hated the glassiness of her eyes and lowered the picnic basket to the console table before pulling her in for a hug. She was stiff, initially refusing to melt into him. He tightened his grip until she relented.

“I’m so sorry, Heart,” Jared whispered, kissing her cheek. “I didn’t mean for any of that to happen. I didn’t say anything because I was ashamed about how I acted.”

Harper pulled back slightly so she could meet his gaze. “Compared to Zander you were the picture of sanity.”

“Yes, but I don’t take that as much of a compliment,” Jared said. “I acted like an ass.”

“No, you didn’t,” Harper argued. “What happened was a mistake. Zander got you riled up and told you Jason was a murderer so you let your imagination get away from you. Do you have any idea how often I’ve let Zander rile me up and done things that were ten times worse than what you did?”

“I think you’re just trying to make me feel better,” Jared said, running his thumb over Harper’s cheek. “I’m really sorry.”

“I know you’re sorry,” Harper said, sympathy coursing through her. Jared looked truly miserable. “Why do you think I’m here?”

“Because Zander locked his bedroom door and you can’t get at him.”

“Well, that’s true,” Harper conceded. “I didn’t want to be away from you, though. I took a chance on coming here and invading your personal space in the hope that you wouldn’t think I was a crazy stalker.”

Jared barked out a laugh. “I would never think that,” he said, cupping the back of her head as he rested his forehead against hers. She felt good in his arms, as if she always belonged there. “I’m still sorry.”

“Yeah? Thank you.”

“That’s it?” You’re not going to yell or anything?” Jared was dumbfounded. “If I was in your position I think there would be yelling.”

“I think you’re being too hard on yourself,” Harper countered. “I know … .” She broke off, unsure how far she should push the issue.

“You know what?”

“I know what Jason said to you,” Harper replied finally, hating the way Jared cringed and pressed his eyes shut. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I can’t believe he told you,” Jared said. “That was ballsy.”

“He didn’t tell me as part of any master plan,” Harper clarified. “He thought that was why I was there asking questions and tripped over his own tongue to explain himself.”

“Oh.” Realization dawned on Jared. “What did he say?”

“He said that he told you he was going to ask me out even though he knew we were in a relationship.”

“Anything else?”

“He also said you refused to be controlling and told him that you had faith in our relationship and wouldn’t do something childish in an attempt to work against him,” Harper replied.

“That worked out well, huh?”

Harper giggled, relieved he seemed to be coming around. “What you said to Jason really touched me. Believe it or not, I don’t blame you for what happened today. I can practically see Zander storming into the station and whipping you into a frenzy.”

“Mel warned me on the car ride over that things might not be as they seemed, but I didn’t listen.”

“Mel has dealt with Zander and his whims for twenty-eight years,” Harper said. “You’ve only known him for a few months.”

“Still, what I did … .”

“Knock it off,” Harper warned. “I already said I wasn’t angry. If you want to know the truth, I was kind of flattered that you would drop everything and come running to save me.”

“I’ll always come running to save you, but I think you got our roles reversed,” Jared said, his voice low and shaky. “You’re the one who saved me. I didn’t even know I needed saving until I met you.”

Harper surprised Jared when she pressed a firm kiss to his lips. It took him a moment to adjust, but he was grateful to sink into the embrace. When they parted, Jared was out of breath and his house didn’t feel nearly as lonely as it did minutes before.

“Do you want to go to bed?”

Harper smiled. “What about your dinner?”

“I’m not hungry. Not for food anyway.”

“In just a second,” Harper said. “I do have one question for you.”