attempt to make a hasty retreat, drove up over the curb as she rounded the corner.
“Wow.” Ian wasn’t sure what he’d just witnessed. “She’s insane.”
Harper started to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Ian asked, unable to find any humor in Phyllis’s visit.
Harper pointed to the end of the sidewalk where it met the curb. “I saw it earlier but forgot to go out and pick it up.” He was laughing so hard, he had to lean into the side of the house for support.
Ian walked down the steps in hopes of spotting what had triggered Harper’s funny bone. It didn’t take him long. The streetlight captured it beautifully. Right where Harper had pointed sat a Marmaduke pile of dog crap with a petite footprint planted right in the middle of it.
“Shit shack,” Harper roared.
“ H ARPER , wake up. You’re having a bad dream. Harper, wake up.” Ian grabbed Harper’s shoulder and gently shook it.
Since having it out with Phyllis Flynn the other night, Harper hadn’t been sleeping well. He’d been tormented by a series of violent dreams. This was by far the worst.
“Harper, Harper, it’s me, Ian.”
“What? Oh God, oh….” Harper propped himself up with one arm and blinked to get his bearings. Droplets of sweat trickled down from his hairline. “I’m sorry. I was having another one of those awful dreams.”
“I know, sweetie, I know. Stay right here, I’ll be back in a minute.” He got up and walked to the bathroom, returning with a large bath towel. “You’re soaking wet. Here.” He dried Harper’s face and chest. “Lift your arms.”
When he’d finished toweling him off, he stood and walked around to Harper’s side of the bed, straightening out the sheets and the coverlet. “Do you remember any of your dream?”
“I was coming out of the courthouse,”—Harper snuggled up to him when he had returned to his side of the bed—“and no matter where I turned, people were lashing out and chasing me. Reporters, Phyllis, everyone. It was like they were hunting me. I couldn’t get away. I want this case to be over with so badly.”
“Oh, baby.” He invited Harper, still breathing heavily, into his arms. Ian gently petted and stroked his man. “It will all be over soon.”
“I had no idea the Flynns would take such a toll on me,” Harper confessed. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been here. As crappy as things are right now, having you in my life has meant so much. Knowing you’ll be here when I get home at night, no matter when that is, is so comforting. I hope one day I can repay you for all you’re doing.”
Ian rested his head on Harper’s shoulder. “You make it sound like work. I’ve been waiting for years to play house with the right man. Hey, you got home too late to see, but most of the planting is done in the backyard. I had to do it in the rain, but that’s a good time to plant. It’s easier on the product.”
“I can’t wait to see.” Harper yawned, pulling Ian’s arm tighter across his chest.
“When you think about it, all this time you’ve been wrapped up in this case, you sure haven’t missed any nice spring days.” Ian wasn’t sure what would be comforting at this point.
“This summer is going to be so much fun. I can’t wait to be at your opening game.” Harper seemed to melt into him.
“Do you have any idea how proud I will feel knowing you’re there?” He kissed the top of Harper’s head, still moist from the bad dream. “Listen, I know how much pressure you’re under now.” He wanted to make sure Harper understood this. “I’m here for you. Let me help you if I can.”
“Right now, being held by you is exactly what I need.” Harper snuggled closer.
“I know I could never do it,” Ian admitted with another kiss.
“It’s a job. Nothing more, nothing less.” Harper turned onto his side and backed into him. “But I have to tell you, and this is just between you and I, Phyllis Flynn hasn’t done
“Wow.” Ian wasn’t sure what he’d just witnessed. “She’s insane.”
Harper started to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Ian asked, unable to find any humor in Phyllis’s visit.
Harper pointed to the end of the sidewalk where it met the curb. “I saw it earlier but forgot to go out and pick it up.” He was laughing so hard, he had to lean into the side of the house for support.
Ian walked down the steps in hopes of spotting what had triggered Harper’s funny bone. It didn’t take him long. The streetlight captured it beautifully. Right where Harper had pointed sat a Marmaduke pile of dog crap with a petite footprint planted right in the middle of it.
“Shit shack,” Harper roared.
“ H ARPER , wake up. You’re having a bad dream. Harper, wake up.” Ian grabbed Harper’s shoulder and gently shook it.
Since having it out with Phyllis Flynn the other night, Harper hadn’t been sleeping well. He’d been tormented by a series of violent dreams. This was by far the worst.
“Harper, Harper, it’s me, Ian.”
“What? Oh God, oh….” Harper propped himself up with one arm and blinked to get his bearings. Droplets of sweat trickled down from his hairline. “I’m sorry. I was having another one of those awful dreams.”
“I know, sweetie, I know. Stay right here, I’ll be back in a minute.” He got up and walked to the bathroom, returning with a large bath towel. “You’re soaking wet. Here.” He dried Harper’s face and chest. “Lift your arms.”
When he’d finished toweling him off, he stood and walked around to Harper’s side of the bed, straightening out the sheets and the coverlet. “Do you remember any of your dream?”
“I was coming out of the courthouse,”—Harper snuggled up to him when he had returned to his side of the bed—“and no matter where I turned, people were lashing out and chasing me. Reporters, Phyllis, everyone. It was like they were hunting me. I couldn’t get away. I want this case to be over with so badly.”
“Oh, baby.” He invited Harper, still breathing heavily, into his arms. Ian gently petted and stroked his man. “It will all be over soon.”
“I had no idea the Flynns would take such a toll on me,” Harper confessed. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been here. As crappy as things are right now, having you in my life has meant so much. Knowing you’ll be here when I get home at night, no matter when that is, is so comforting. I hope one day I can repay you for all you’re doing.”
Ian rested his head on Harper’s shoulder. “You make it sound like work. I’ve been waiting for years to play house with the right man. Hey, you got home too late to see, but most of the planting is done in the backyard. I had to do it in the rain, but that’s a good time to plant. It’s easier on the product.”
“I can’t wait to see.” Harper yawned, pulling Ian’s arm tighter across his chest.
“When you think about it, all this time you’ve been wrapped up in this case, you sure haven’t missed any nice spring days.” Ian wasn’t sure what would be comforting at this point.
“This summer is going to be so much fun. I can’t wait to be at your opening game.” Harper seemed to melt into him.
“Do you have any idea how proud I will feel knowing you’re there?” He kissed the top of Harper’s head, still moist from the bad dream. “Listen, I know how much pressure you’re under now.” He wanted to make sure Harper understood this. “I’m here for you. Let me help you if I can.”
“Right now, being held by you is exactly what I need.” Harper snuggled closer.
“I know I could never do it,” Ian admitted with another kiss.
“It’s a job. Nothing more, nothing less.” Harper turned onto his side and backed into him. “But I have to tell you, and this is just between you and I, Phyllis Flynn hasn’t done
Similar Books
