Jerk: A Bad Boy Romance (19 page)

“I already did.” She snatched my cup and stole a sip. “We went for a walk. And when we came back, we heard a noise and then a huge explosion. That’s it.” She plunked the cup down.

“But you said you saw someone running from the house?”

Harper shook her head. “No, I didn’t. Mike said he did. I didn’t see anyone.”

“Only Mike?” I repeated, the gears in my head whirring.

Mike claimed he saw someone.

Mike was a
felon
.

He could be lying. To throw the suspicion off himself.

He’d been on the scene of the crime both before and after the fire was set. He had the opportunity.

But why would he set my house on fire?

What could be his motivation...?

Money? Didn’t all crimes have to do with money?

I dropped my chin into my cupped palms.

Charlie’s Angel I was not.

But dammit, I wanted to know why my ranch was a pile of cinders! And I didn’t want to wait for the police to figure it out...
if
they did. Dawson didn’t have its own police department. It had a tiny sheriff’s office in town. With a couple of deputies working out of it.

Chances were my fire would go unsolved. And I would forever wonder who had started it and why.

I wouldn’t get in the way of a police investigation while there was one. But I would do what I could to help out.

“What?” Harper said, slanting me a probing look. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking...” I swallowed.

Did I want to tell her what I was thinking? She would be hurt, angry, at even the suggestion that I suspected her boyfriend of playing some part in the fire. But how could I not suspect him? He was there. He could have set the fire then coaxed Harper out of the house to keep her safe. Or he could have acted as a lookout, getting Harper out of the way so the arsonist could do his thing.

“Let me guess. You think Mike did it?” she said.

“No. I’m not saying that. I’m saying... Mike—”

She slammed her hands on the counter. “You’re saying it must be him because he’s an ex-con.”

That was it. I’d done it. I’d crossed the line and spoken the truth. And Harper was hurt and angry, just as I’d expected. But I wouldn’t apologize. There was no reason to. I wasn’t lying. I was telling the truth. “He is an ex-con and—”

“He was
innocent
.”

Of course that was what he’d told her. He was an innocent man, unfairly prosecuted for a crime he didn’t commit. How original. “They’re all innocent, Harper. Every single man in prison is innocent. At least according to them.”

“No! It isn’t like that,” she insisted. “He isn’t just telling me what he thinks I want to hear. He really was innocent. I know it.”

She sounded certain. Very certain. So certain, in fact, that I questioned my suspicion. “How could you know?”

“I... I just do,” she told her hands, still resting on the counter. She couldn’t look me in the eye now. Why was that?

Because she had no reassurances, no proof, nothing to back up her belief.

“Nobody corroborates his story. You’re just taking him at his word?” I asked.

She lifted her gaze. Jaw locked, she jerked a nod. “Yes. Yes, I am.”

“Don’t you see how dangerous that is, Harper?”

Harper slid from the stool, arms smacked over her chest, glare icy. “Don’t you see how fucking impossible it is to be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t trust you?”

“Sure, but—“

“You don’t trust anyone.” She stabbed at me with an index finger. “You don’t trust Mike. Or me, your best friend. Or even Clay.”

It was my turn to stand now. Stand and face her accusation head on. She was wrong! Utterly wrong. “Yes I do. I trust you. And Clay.”

“Bullshit! If you trusted me, you wouldn’t doubt my judgment about Mike.” She blinked watery eyes, bloodshot eyes.

She was taking my accusation a lot harder than I expected. Now I regretted being honest with her.

This was bullshit. I’d never had to keep things from Harper before. Sure, she was prone to drama. She overreacted sometimes. But I hadn’t ever felt I couldn’t be totally honest with her before today. I wanted to smooth things over, to see those red eyes clear. Yet I wanted her to understand why I’d said what I did. That was more important now, more vital than soothing her bruised feelings. “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. But you’ve made mistakes in the past, trusting guys you shouldn’t. Maybe I want to spare you another heartbreak.”

“And maybe I knew I was taking a crazy risk then, but I was willing to do it anyway because I felt—still feel—it was worth it.”

“What made any of those assholes worth it?” Shaking my head, I lifted my hands. I hadn’t seen the conversation going this way, veering down a road we didn’t need to take today. “Never mind. That was in the past. I’m sorry I brought it up. I was just trying to prove my point—”

“That I’m an idiot who falls for jerks? That I don’t know a loser when I see one? That I would date a guy who was capable of burning down your fucking house and not realize it?”

The way she said it, I was the one who sounded like a jerk. But it was true. She’d been burned in the past because she’d taken the word of a total jerk. The fact was I knew very little about Mike. His past. His family. Was he the innocent man he’d convinced Harper he was?

Or was he a conniving liar who might have set my home on fire?

He’d had the opportunity. He’d been there with Harper.

But what I didn’t understand was why. Why would he want to do such a thing and risk getting thrown back into prison, after he’d worked so hard to get out? Had he been hired by someone? If so, who?

I had to give it to him—there were some pieces that didn’t exactly fit. But overall, he still looked like a possible suspect to me. And as long as he was, I didn’t want him anywhere near me. That was going to be tough, though, with Harper living at Clay’s ranch.

“I sound like a bitch,” I admitted. “I’m sorry.”

My apology was accepted with a strained smile and a nod. Harper was still hurt. And that didn’t sit well with me. Granted, once again my inability to trust the people closest to me was causing problems.

Maybe it wasn’t possible for me to set aside my fears and suspicions and blindly trust people? Maybe I’d never be that person, the one who didn’t force her friends to prove their trustworthiness over and over and over again.

Ugh. Just thinking that, putting myself in their shoes, made me angry with myself.

But.

But... I might be right this time. It could have been Mike.

Or a lot of other people, I reminded myself.

I looked at Harper. Her mouth was pulled into a thin line, her eyes wary, and her jaw tense. I wrapped my arms around her. “I’m sorry, Harper. I know I’m a pain in the ass. I’m trying to change that.”

Harper’s drama queen sigh could probably be heard in China. “Yeah, you are. But I love you anyway.”

“And I love you.” I released her. “You’re sure Mike had nothing to do with the fire, aren’t you?”

“Absolutely positive.”

“Then I’ll take your word for it. I trust you.”

A
fter our argument Harper mumbled something about getting some fresh air and left Clay’s house. I might have stopped her, but instead I decided she needed some space to cool off. I’d apologized. We’d hugged and made up. I was forgiven. But it would take a while for Harper to forget. I totally understood.

Meanwhile, I tiptoed back to Clay’s room to get my phone.

Clay was out cold. That was good. After staying up all night he deserved some sleep. He had to be totally exhausted. Moving as swiftly but silently as I could, I grabbed my phone and headed back to the door, taking only a couple seconds to stare at the handsome man sprawled in the bed. He was a sight; that was for sure. Handsome. Sexy. His broad chest rose and fell with each breath and memories of our love-making flashed through my mind, of his muscles flexing and rippling.

I grabbed my purse and gently closed the door on my way out. I would make the phone call in the living room, where I wouldn’t disturb him.

Minutes later, I had an appointment to meet with Hardin, the lawyer, in his office. Now there was only the question of how I would get there.

Since I’d returned to Dawson, I’d suffered the lack of reliable transportation. My car ran. Every now and then. Not regularly enough. As a result I’d put more miles on Clay’s truck and Harper’s car than my own. And I’d grown really, really tired of relying upon Clay or Harper.

If I had anything to say about it, that would be changing. Soon.

In the meantime, I needed to get to town.

I checked outside. Two vehicles sat in Clay’s miles-long driveway: Clay’s truck and Harper’s car. My car was at Silver Sage. With any luck it had been torched too. At least I’d be able to collect some insurance money if it was.

Praying Clay left Harper’s keys in the ignition, I headed toward her car first. She wouldn’t be upset if I borrowed her car for an hour or so. She was, and always would be, the best friend I could ever have. And I hoped someday I’d be able to pay her back for all the kind things she’d done for me over the years.

“Thanks, Harper,” I whispered as I plopped into the driver’s seat. Sure enough, the keys were there. I cranked on the engine. Before shifting into gear, I checked around me, thinking I might see Harper and take her to town with me.

No such luck.

Alone, I drove into town, nerves jangling. I was too busy praying there was insurance to listen to the radio. In fact, my mind was so occupied I pulled up in front of Hardin’s office before I even realized it. I cut off the car and scurried up the front steps.

Inside, I checked in with his receptionist and took a seat to wait. My heart was thumping hard and fast. My palms sweating. I wished Clay or Harper had been able to come with me. I could use some moral support. Of course, I could’ve waited until Clay woke up to do this. I knew he would have come with me. Gladly.

If only I wasn’t so frickin’ impatient.

But impatient I was. And so I would have to face this alone.

The little bell above the main door tinkled, and naturally I glanced that way to see who had arrived.

Of all people, it was Carrie, Clay’s sister. She snapped a quick look my way before checking in with the receptionist. Then she took a seat one chair away from me and beamed, “Hey. Fancy meeting you here.”

“Yes,” I agreed.

“Glad to see you survived.”

“Survived what?” I asked. Had news of the fire traveled that fast already?

“Being the live-in nursemaid to my moody brother, of course. The last time I saw you, you were taking over my post at his bedside.” Carrie tipped her head. “What did you think I meant?”

“Oh yes. That’s right. I forgot. I thought you meant... well, haven’t you heard?”

She scrunched up her pretty face. “Heard about what?”

“Someone set my house on fire last night.”

“No! I hadn’t heard. Which surprises me. News travels so fast around here.” Leaning toward me, she set her hand on my knee. “That’s awful! What happened? You say
someone
set your house on fire? Do you know how did it? Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine. I wasn’t home. It was arson. But I don’t think there are any suspects yet.”

“Why would someone do such a thing?”

“I wish I knew the answer to that. In fact, that’s why I’m here. To see if there was an insurance policy on the property. I thought it might have been set so someone could collect an insurance payout.”

“Hm. I doubt that. Knowing real estate law like I do, random people can’t take out policies on property they don’t own. So if there is a policy, either you or my brother would be the beneficiaries. Nobody else.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“Sorry. But I’m glad to see you’re okay.”

The receptionist announced from her desk, “Miss Pierce, Mr. Hardin will see you now.”

I stood, smoothed my sweaty palms down my thighs.

“Good luck,” Carrie said, giving me a reassuring smile. “I hope you find the culprit.”

“Thanks.”

***

T
wenty minutes later I was breathing easier. As executor of my aunt’s estate, Hardin had been responsible for purchasing a new property insurance policy when my aunt died. The house and its contents were covered. I would be receiving a check within the next few weeks.

That was a
huge
relief.

But then he dropped a bomb on me.

I was on the verge of losing the ranch and the rest of my aunt’s estate.

All of my troubles—the shortage of help, my lack of experience—had led to the ranch’s rapid financial decline. And it would be almost impossible to turn it around. Making matters worse, it would take weeks to receive the funds to buy the equipment that had been destroyed in the fire. Plus I would have to rebuild almost half the barn and replace several months’ worth of feed and straw. In the meantime, I would be forced to pay weekly payments to the neighbor for housing and feeding our animals.

It wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t going to save it. I could see that now.

I’d lost it. All of it. Already.

Stunned by the bad news, I exited Hardin’s office. Carrie was waiting where I’d left her in the lobby. I acknowledged her with a nod and headed toward the door. Outside, I heard the door shut behind me and turned to learn she’d followed me.

“Didn’t you have an appointment with Mr. Hardin?” I asked.

“Yes, but it can wait.” She gave me a kind smile. “You look shaken. I wanted to make sure you’re all right.”

“Thanks. I’m okay.” I didn’t sound okay. I blinked. It felt like the weight of the whole world had just landed on my shoulders. I couldn’t hold it up. My vision blurred. I sniffled. Dammit, I was going to cry. Out here. In the middle of the freaking street. Embarrassed, I dragged my trembling hand across my face. “I should go.”

“Like that? Tell me you aren’t driving.”

Ignoring the worry I heard in her voice, I practically ran to Harper’s car. My head was spinning. Literally. If I didn’t sit down in the next few seconds, I was going to pass out.

Carrie hooked her arm through mine, catching me as I was about to sink to the ground. “Come with me. Can you make it up the stairs?” She motioned toward a building. Her apartment building.