Read Online Ghostly Deceits (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 3) by Lily Harper Hart - Free Book Online Page A

myself.”
    “I’ll catch you,” Jared said, slipping his arm around her waist and tugging her head to his bare chest. “Go back to sleep, Heart. We have a big day ahead of us.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “It’s okay,” Jared whispered, stroking the back of her head. “I’m right here.”
    Despite his statement, Harper was convinced she would have trouble drifting off again. She was wrong.

Seven
    J ared woke early the next morning, taking a moment to bask in Harper’s warmth as she slumbered with her head on his shoulder and then glanced down at her quiet form. He usually didn’t get a chance to enjoy mornings with her because Zander was already in bed with them when he woke up. As annoying as he found the situation, he was surprised to realize he almost missed the sound of their low murmurs and whispers as they tried not to wake him.
    Jared traced lazy circles across the back of Harper’s neck, studying her blond highlights and listening to her soft sighs as she slept. He could spend the entire day exactly like this and be happy.
    As if on cue his stomach growled, causing Harper to shift.
    “So much for the perfect morning,” Jared muttered, forcing a smile when Harper tipped her chin in his direction. “Good morning.”
    “Morning,” Harper murmured, struggling to get her bearings. “What time is it?”
    “It’s still early,” Jared said. “We have two hours until we have to be downstairs for breakfast and the first murder.”
    “Is there going to be more than one murder?” Harper asked, making a comical face as she yawned. “I guess I’m not up on the rules of this thing.”
    “I’m sure we’ll figure it out as we go along,” Jared said. “In fact, if you wanted to go downstairs for breakfast and then turn around and come back for a nap and skip the murder mystery, I would be fine with that.”
    “We have to play,” Harper said. “That’s why we’re here. It’s not fair to Josh to skip out on the game.”
    “I thought we were here to spend time alone and cuddle,” Jared said, tickling her bare ribs and drawing her close so they could snuggle. “I love how warm you are. I love how soft these sheets are. I … really am hungry.”
    Harper giggled. “I guess we should get up and start getting ready.” She said the words but didn’t make a move to leave her toasty spot.
    Jared brushed her hair away from her face and met her blue eyes with a concerned look. “You had a nightmare last night. I just remembered.”
    “It was fine,” Harper said, rolling her eyes. “There’s no reason to get up in arms about it. It was just a dream. It wasn’t even Jim this time.”
    “What was it?”
    “It was a dream, Jared,” Harper chided. “It was nothing.”
    “Then tell me about it,” Jared pressed. “If it’s nothing, you shouldn’t have a problem sharing it with the group.”
    “Fine,” Harper said, her eyes flashing as she tried to put a little distance between them. Jared kept her snugly against his chest and patiently waited for her dream retelling. “It’s really nothing,” she said, giving up and collapsing back against him. “I was running down a long hallway and I kept looking over my shoulder. I got to a set of stairs and realized I was here … I mean, in my dream, I was in the Stokes Hotel.
    “Anyway, I was so busy looking behind me because I wanted to see who was chasing me I tripped and fell down the stairs,” she continued. “When I turned there was a hand coming toward me and that’s when I woke up.”
    Jared kept one arm around Harper’s waist as he rubbed his thumb against her cheek. “Do you know who was chasing you?”
    “I think it was you,” Harper said. “You wanted another bath.”
    Jared cracked a smile even though he wasn’t sure he wanted to let her off the hook. “That shows what you know,” he said. “We’re getting clean in that huge shower this morning.”
    “Oh, good. I love variety.”
    “Who was chasing you in the dream?” Jared asked,