Wicked Warning (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 5) by Lily Harper Hart

no reason she can’t go out there with us.”
    “I don’t have a problem with her going with us,” Brian said. “I’m just surprised you’re being such a marshmallow.”
    Ivy snickered, the memory of her conversation with Jessica popping into her head.
    “What was that laugh?” Jack asked.
    “Nothing,” Ivy said, shaking her head. “It’s just something I remembered.”
    “About me being a marshmallow?”
    “Maybe.”
    “Oh, I’m going to marshmallow your cute little behind off later,” Jack said. “You have no idea.”
    “I’m looking forward to it,” Ivy said. “Now, where is my pie?”

    “ T HIS PLACE is pretty rundown ,” Ivy said an hour later, glancing up as Jack extended his arm to make sure she didn’t trip over the fallen branch she stepped over. “I can walk. You know that, right?”
    “It was instinct,” Jack said, rolling his eyes.
    “That’s because he’s a marshmallow and wants to cushion your fall with his … marshmallow stuff,” Brian said, his eyes twinkling.
    “I think he’s a cute marshmallow,” Ivy said.
    “Handsome,” Jack corrected. “I’m a handsome marshmallow.”
    “You two make me tired,” Brian said, climbing the steps to the house. “I guess we should start inside.”
    “Jessica says she wasn’t kept inside the house, though,” Ivy said, glancing around. “Where is the root cellar?”
    “I guess it would be this way,” Brian said, leaving the front door untouched and following the path that led around the side of the house. “I … um … here it is.” He leaned over and grasped a rusty handle, exchanging a quick look with Jack before pulling.
    When Ivy glanced over her shoulder she found Jack holding his gun in the ready position. “What are you doing?”
    “Just being careful, honey,” Jack said, using his free hand to push Ivy behind him. “Odds are no one else is out here. We don’t want to be caught unaware in case that’s not the truth, though.”
    Brian struggled with opening the hatch, and when he did he took a step back. The sun was high in the sky and Jack and Brian used the bright light to scan the dank space below.
    “It’s empty,” Jack said, holstering his gun. “I’ll go down first.”
    Brian nodded, watching as his lanky partner hopped through the opening and disappeared from sight. Ivy moved up to the edge of the cellar and strained her eyes as she tried to ascertain what – if anything – was down there.
    “Jack?”
    “I’m here,” Jack said, appearing in the center of the hole. “This place is empty. Jessica wasn’t held here.”
    “Jessica said she was in a cellar for years and then moved to the bunker,” Ivy said. “She had no concept of time while she was being held. I want to see it.”
    “It’s dirty,” Jack argued.
    “So is your mind,” Ivy shot back. “I want to see.”
    “You’re in a skirt,” Jack said, refusing to give up and acquiesce to her demand.
    “Fine,” Ivy muttered, moving to the lip of the hatch. “I’ll climb down myself. Get out of the way.”
    “Ugh, you’re such a pain, woman,” Jack muttered, extending his arms. “Come on. I’ll catch you.”
    Ivy hopped down, landing softly thanks to Jack’s strong arms. She took a moment to exchange a challenging look with him before glancing around the cellar. Jack was right. It was completely empty.
    “There’s nothing here.” Ivy was frustrated as she paced the small area. “I mean … nothing.”
    “I’m pretty sure that’s what I told you,” Jack said. “You just had to look for yourself, though.”
    “She’s stubborn,” Brian said, smirking through the opening. “You might find it annoying at times – especially when she’s fighting with you – but when she’s fighting for you I’m going to wager you like that stubborn streak of hers.”
    Jack grinned. “Don’t kid yourself,” he said. “I like her stubborn streak when she’s fighting with me, too.”
    “You two are officially sick.”
    “I don’t