He snorted and grabbed another slab. “You’re never going to sleep if you eat too much sugar.”
“You let me worry about that.”
Jared happily mashed together the dessert sandwich and handed it to her. “Eat up.”
“That’s the plan.” She had to elongate her mouth to bite in because the s’more was so thick, and the face she made had Jared’s heart swelling.
“I love you so much.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead as she methodically chewed, causing her eyebrows to hop.
“I love you, too,” she said after swallowing. “Is there any specific reason you love me right now?”
“All of them.”
“All of what?”
“All of the reasons. There isn’t a single thing I don’t love about you.”
“Oh, I feel the same way.” Genuinely touched, he slipped a strand of her flaxen hair behind her ear. “How do you feel about taking this mutual adoration society to our tent and getting some sleep? I think we’ll both be sharper tomorrow if we let our minds rest.”
“I happen to think that’s a fabulous idea,” Zander announced, appearing out of the darkness and settling himself in the spot next to Harper. He smirked at the dirty look Jared shot him and barreled forward. “I think if I have to watch you two fawn over each other for another second I’ll puke ... and nobody wants that.”
“Oh, geez.” Jared rolled his neck. “Now we definitely need to get out of here.”
Harper graced him with a wry smile before focusing on Zander. “Did you get anywhere questioning people?”
He shook his head. “No, and I’m really starting to dislike Harris.” He looked over his shoulder to make sure nobody was eavesdropping. “He’s still going to try to convince you to move up here and join his team.”
Harper’s smile slipped into a scowl. “I don’t understand why he’s so fixated on that. It makes no sense.”
“Oh, it makes sense.” Jared moved his hand to her back to rub at the tension weighing down her shoulders. “Your reputation in certain corners of the world is pristine. In fact, you’re kind of a celebrity of sorts.”
Harper balked. “I’m not a celebrity.”
“I said of sorts ... although you’re totally hot enough to put every Hollywood starlet to shame.”
“So cute.” Harper pinched his cheek and gave it a little jiggle, grinning when he shot her a warning look.
“I thought we already talked about this. I’m smoking hot, just like you.”
“I stand corrected.” Harper went back to munching on her s’more. “I’m still not a celebrity,” she added while chewing.
Jared’s grin only widened. “Is it any wonder I’m totally gonzo for you? I mean ... head over heels.”
“No wonder at all.” Harper smiled and swallowed. “You still haven’t told me how I’m a celebrity.”
“Oh, that.” Jared forced his mind to abandon fanciful thoughts of love — for now — and focused on the Harris problem. “I just meant that there are paranormal groups out there dedicated to talking about people who can communicate with ghosts.”
Harper’s forehead wrinkled. “You’re talking about the internet.”
“I am.”
“Have you been lurking around these chat rooms or something?”
“I might’ve taken a peek when we first started dating.” It wasn’t something he was keen to admit, but it was in the past and they were so much more now than they were at the time. In fact, they were more than he ever envisioned them being. “I was curious about what you could do. Mel told me a few stories, and I wanted to see if there was more out there.”
“And you found stuff about me in these chat rooms?”
“Baby, I found entire forums dedicated to you. There are people fascinated with what you can do. Your reputation is much stronger than you believe it is, much more widespread. That’s why Harris came after you specifically.”
“Well, that and the fact that Evian Springs was likely too expensive for him,” Zander added.
“Probably,” Jared conceded. “That’s neither here nor there now, though. Harris has put all his eggs in Harper’s basket, and he wants her to join his team.”
“No, he wants me to lie about seeing ghosts and turn myself into an actress,” Harper countered. “That’s not something I’m comfortable doing.”
“And I don’t blame you. You’re open about what you can do. Harris either can’t or won’t see that.”
“I think it might be a combination of both,” Zander admitted. “When I was talking to him, it was as if he had tunnel vision. He couldn’t see beyond what he wanted. He’s created some fantasy world that’s taken over his reality.”
“Do you think that fantasy world involves committing murder in an effort to promote the greatest murder-mystery event in the state?” Jared queried.
It took a moment for the implication to set in with the group.
“Are you asking me if I think Harris is capable of murder?” Zander asked finally.
Jared shrugged. “Maybe he didn’t carry out the murder himself. Maybe he hired someone else to do it.”
“Except he has no money,” Shawn argued. “How could he finance a killing without cash?”
“Maybe he’s not as broke as we think,” Jared argued. “Maybe he’s only pretending to be broke.”
“To what end?” Harper challenged. “How does pretending to be out of money benefit him?”
“It might get a certain blonde to take pity on him and join the payroll.”
Harper immediately started shaking her head. “That was never going to happen. How can you even think that?”
“I don’t think it. He might’ve thought it, though.”
“I still don’t understand, though,” Harper persisted. “Do you really think he would kill Leslie just to further his business interests?”
“Money is an interesting motivator. Most people can’t imagine killing for it. Others, though ... .”
“To some, money is everything,” Shawn volunteered from his spot next to Zander. “I had an uncle who thought nothing of ripping off family members to further a drug habit. He practically tore my mother’s family apart when I was
