Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
H arper hadn’t stopped smiling since they’d been at the rescue. Bunny was crazy and adorable, and Archie was thrilled to have a new friend. At Mitch’s request, Harper had run back to her place when they’d gotten home and brought him over.
Mitch really wanted to see how Bunny would react to another dog. They’d run into one at the pet store, where they’d taken Bunny to get all the necessary dog accessories after adopting her, but that had been a brief, nose-to-nose sniff session before that dog’s owner had pulled the dog away.
So far, Bunny and Archie were getting on like the best of friends, tearing through the living room, then around the kitchen island, occasionally stopping mid-run to look at the humans for approval, then starting back up again.
Harper, Kyle, and Mitch had been laughing since the two dogs had begun their antics. Ruthie, who was on her daddy’s lap, had squealed several times.
“Bunny is a great dog, Dad,” Kyle said. “I love her. She’s perfect. I think Ruthie approves, too.” He kissed Ruthie’s cheek. “Don’t you, baby girl?”
Kyle helped Ruthie clap her hands.
Mitch grinned. “She’s very entertaining, that’s for sure.”
“What we need to do,” Harper said, “is get Bunny, Scout, and Archie all together at the dog park. That would be something.”
Mitch nodded. “I’m sure Lucas would be up for that. I’ll text him.” Mitch got out his phone.
Harper had to smile. Already Bunny was giving Mitch more reasons to be social. It was great. Just what Harper had hoped for.
Archie and Bunny seemed to finally be settling down. Archie came over to sit beside Harper, panting. “Had enough romping around and silliness?” She scratched his neck before looking over at Mitch. “I should go home, let you guys have some alone time with your new family member. Archie and Bunny can play again tomorrow, if you want.”
Mitch nodded. “That would be great. Why don’t you bring him with you tomorrow when you come to talk about the book?”
“Which we did not do today. I guess we’ll catch up tomorrow?” She stood, hooking Archie’s leash back onto his collar.
“That works.” He smiled at her and got to his feet as well. “Thanks for going with me today.”
“I enjoyed it. I’m so glad you ended up with her. She’s great.”
Mitch winked at her. “So are you.”
She smiled back at him. “The feeling is mutual. I can let myself out. You guys have a great night.”
Kyle made Ruthie wave. “You, too.”
“Bye,” Mitch said.
She and Archie headed down the steps and out of the house. Joyce and Beryl were on the balcony of the guest house, both of them in house dresses and looking very relaxed. Harper waved. They waved back.
She and Archie took the path through the tree barrier, back to her house. Archie stopped to lift his leg and christen some of the undergrowth. At least he wouldn’t need to go out again for a while.
She glanced at the guest house on her property as she went by, but it was hard to tell if Jack was even in there. She imagined he was. After what he’d told Harper about being stalked, she didn’t think he’d be going out much.
She felt for Jack. He was in a tough situation. Paying the woman would probably only result in her asking for more money.
Harper opened the front door and let Archie in. The faint sounds of the television could be heard upstairs. Archie ran up the steps ahead of her.
“Hey, Archie,” Willa called out.
Harper reached the second floor a few steps behind him. Willa had some reality show on. “Hi, Willa. How was your day?”
“All right. Figured out I’m going to need some clothes for my new job, but otherwise, I’ve been researching classroom stuff. I’m kind of nervous about teaching my first class.”
Harper nodded as she took Archie’s leash off. “That seems like a natural reaction, but you’ll get the hang of things after a few days, don’t you think?”
“I hope so. I’m excited about it, too. This is basically what I’ve been going to school for. I feel ready. But also, not ready. However that’s possible.”
Harper smiled. “You’re going to be great. The kids are going to love you. Plus, you have your mom as a resource. There’s not much concerning teaching and school that she can’t help you with.”
“True.”
“Where is your mom?”
“In the office, working. Did Mitch get a dog?”
“He did. The most adorable Jack Russell you’ve ever seen. Her name is Bunny and she and Archie are already friends.”
“That’s awesome. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Did you guys eat?”
“No, not yet. My mom said she isn’t hungry after eating all day at Lucas’s.”
Harper snorted. “Okay.” She went back to the office, peeking in to make sure she wasn’t interrupting Frankie in her work zone, but Frankie looked up as soon as Harper appeared.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” Harper said. “How was the big show today?”
Frankie set her tablet aside. “It was a lot of fun. Those two women did a fantastic job. Lucas wants to have them on again. In fact, he’d like to help them get their own channel started. I don’t think he’s told them that yet. But he thinks they have serious potential.”
“That’s awesome. I can’t wait to see it.”
“Same here. Did Mitch get a dog?”
Harper nodded. “Willa asked me the same thing. He did. A Jack Russell named Bunny. She’s great. You should have seen her and Archie running around together. Listen, I’m going to fix some dinner. You want something?”
“Just a really small helping. Whatever you make is fine. After picking all day at Lucas’s, I don’t have much appetite.”
“Okay. I’ll see what there is.” Harper hesitated. “Have you seen Jack at all today?”
“I did. He came over earlier, looking for you, actually. Said he’d texted you, but you hadn’t responded.”
Harper pulled her phone out. “I haven’t looked at my phone all day. Been a little occupied.”
“I figured. Anyway, I told him I’d let you know. He’s asked me to do a portrait of his dad, too.” Frankie grinned. “He pretty much said money wasn’t an issue.”
“If he said it, he means it. You’re really getting busy, aren’t you?”
“Sort of,” Frankie said. She made a little face. “It almost feels too good to be true. I don’t want to jinx it, but things feel like they’re coming together in a way that’s heaven-sent.”
“I’m so happy for you.” Harper tipped her head toward the guest house. “I’ll check in with Jack, then get to work on some dinner.”
“Okay.” Frankie picked up her tablet.
Harper took the breezeway to the guest house, knocking on the door when she arrived.
Jack answered, wearing a bathrobe. His hair was damp, the smell of sandalwood and soap drifting off him. “Hey, there you are, man.”
“Did I come at a bad time?”
“No, just got out of the shower, it’s all good. Come on in. I was just about to make some grub.”
Harper stepped inside, closing the door behind her. “So am I when I get back to the house. Frankie said you were looking for me?”
“Yeah, I was.” He sighed. “She called me today. Monica. Asked when I was sending the money. I don’t know what to do.”
“You talked to her?”
“No way, man. She left a voicemail.”
Harper thought a moment. “That’s good.”
He frowned. “It is?”
“Sure. It’s proof that she’s trying to blackmail you. Get an attorney. Sue her for extortion.”
“You think I could?”
“Do you have any other proof?”
“I’ve had a few other phone calls with her, but nothing that was recorded.”
Harper sat on the arm of the couch. “Can I hear the call?”
He nodded and went into the bedroom, coming back with his phone. He tapped the screen a few times, then his voicemail recording came on, the phone set to speaker. He punched in his pin number and selected the number to hear saved voicemail messages, then held the phone out before him.
A woman’s voice filled the room. “Hi, Jack. Guess who? Still waiting on that check you promised me.”
He shook his head at Harper. “I never promised her a check.”
The voicemail went on. “I’ll give you a few more days, but if I don’t hear from you soon, I’m going to have to…let’s just say escalate things. You know what I mean. Bye now.”
Harper sighed. “I’m not sure that’s enough for an attorney to act on. It sounds like she deliberately chose her words so as not to say anything incriminating.”
He stuck the phone into the pocket of his robe. “Yeah, it does.” He groaned softly. “What am I going to do?”
“Maybe you could text her back? Play dumb. But not so dumb she suspects anything. See if you can get her to text something incriminating.”
He shook his head. “I make my living being told what to say. I get what you want me to do, but I’m not sure I know what the right words are. Help me?”
“Sure, but I have a better idea. I think I do, anyway.”
He took a few steps forward, hope springing to life in his eyes. “What? Anything. Just tell me, I’ll do it, man, I swear.”
“Hang on. I haven’t even told you what it is.”
“I don’t care. I’m desperate.”
“My suggestion is that we ask Mitch. He’s a writer. It’s what he does. I know he’ll help, because he helped me with my social media issues after I got here. But you have to be willing to share what’s going on.”
Jack didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, I’m cool with that. Mitch is good people. You know my dad loved him. Him and his wife. We all liked them. Shame about her, huh? Cancer, man. It sucks.”
“Yes, it does. How about I talk to him on your behalf and see what he thinks?”
“You have my go-ahead. I need to deal with Monica before she ruins me.”
Harper hurt for him. Yes, Jack was a serial dater, but he would never force a woman to do anything against her will. He didn’t need to. He had woman throwing themselves at him wherever he went. Harper had seen it with her own eyes. Besides, sexual assault was about power. It was a violent act. Jack was not that guy.
She got up. “I’ll be in touch as soon as I talk to him. You need anything?”
He shook his head, still looking a little forlorn. “Nah, I’m good. Got a couple of great books, plenty of food. I’m all right. Might hit the beach tomorrow. I think it would do me some good.”
“All the beach stuff is still in the storage closet in the rec room. If you want any of that.”
His smile was quick, disappearing right after it appeared. “Thanks, Harper. For everything. I’d be a wreck if I was by myself.”
She took a breath. He hadn’t asked her for advice, but she was going to give him some anyway. “You ever think about settling down? Getting married? Committing yourself to one woman, having a family, all of that?”
He nodded, seemingly giving her words serious thought. “Yeah, I have. I’d love to. I haven’t found that woman yet. It’s hard, you know? People don’t see me for me. They see Jack Marsh, movie star, celebrity, personality. Makes it hard to get to know anyone as a real person.”
“I can imagine.”
He looked past her, out toward the water. “People think celebrities have the world on a string, but the truth is, the world has us on a string, man. I feel like I’m owned by my fame. Like everything I do is scrutinized and analyzed and dissected.”
“Not while you’re here. You just relax, take some time for yourself, and get your head together. We’ll work this out.”
He frowned. “Thanks, Harper. You need me, you know where I am.”
“Have a good night.”
“You, too.”
She went back to the main house, her heart aching for him. She would find a way to help him. Hopefully, with Mitch on board.
As she stepped inside, she pulled out her phone.