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AIDAN PUSHED AWAY FROM the desk and leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his temples, trying to ease the oncoming headache. So far, nothing today had gone right. First thing this morning, he’d been scheduled to meet with several of the coven’s high council elders to discuss Harker’s death.
What should have taken only thirty minutes turned into a two-hour inquisition. After some heavy persuasion by Drake, they eventually cleared him of any wrong-doing and let him leave.
Knowing Paige was angry with him further added to his stress. He wanted to resolve the situation but wasn’t sure how to proceed. After his meeting, he’d found himself hovering across the street from her shop. He never made it through the front door, because every scenario he imagined ended with her never speaking to him again.
Right now, only his uncle and the high council knew about his involvement with the healer, and he planned to keep it that way. At least until he’d talked to Paige. Leaving her alone for a few days to give her a chance to calm down had seemed like a logical plan. Now he wasn’t so sure.
A rap on the door startled him from his thoughts. Drake walked into his office, carrying a file. “Did I hear correctly, you volunteered to help with the festival?”
He cringed. Gossip in Wicks Hollow traveled faster than a text message. “Yeah.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re watching after Paige.”
No one in the office had been around when Margaret stopped by to ask for his help, but still, Aidan shouldn’t be surprised. Somehow his uncle always knew what was going on with him and his sister.
“You want some advice?” Drake asked.
Not really. “Do I have a choice?” Aidan rubbed the tense muscles in the back of his neck.
“Tell her how you feel.”
Damn, am I really so transparent? Aidan groaned. The last thing he wanted was to discuss the topic of his love life, or lack thereof. “Did you need something?”
Drake dropped the case file on his desk. “I need you to investigate a possible murder.”
“So, who’s the victim?” He flipped open the file.
“Harker McCrary.”
His head shot up. “What?”
“His sister doesn’t think his death was an accident and wants us to investigate.”
He’d had a similar reaction when he found the body, but he hadn’t been able to find any evidence to suggest foul play. He quickly scanned the two sheets of paper in the file. As he’d suspected, there wasn’t much to go on. The autopsy from the police department listed cause of death as a broken neck.
Was it possible he’d been shoved down the stairs? And if so, by whom? Who would want the coven healer dead? He didn’t think the man had any enemies, at least not any apparent ones. He worried Paige might somehow be involved, and his stomach muscles tightened. “Why are you giving this to me?”
“One, you found the body.” A fact his uncle still wasn’t happy about, judging by his disapproving stance. “Two, Mason and Alex are scheduled to be in Portland for another week, and I don’t have anyone else to assign the case. His sister Kayla is expecting your call. Numbers are listed in the file.”
Drake turned to leave and stopped in the hallway. “Oh, and you have a visitor.”
Aidan’s heartbeat jumped when he saw Paige walk up to his uncle and give him a hug.
“He’s all yours.” Drake’s unsympathetic grin made him squirm.
“Thanks.” Paige gave the older man a bright smile and entered the office. She closed the door and immediately pinned Aidan with a glare frostier than an arctic winter.
She crossed her arms. “Do you have something you want to tell me about Harker?”
Fuck, she knows. And by her pissed-off expression, she’d also learned about his involvement. What he couldn’t figure was how she’d found out.
“Paige, I...”
“Don’t bother. I already know you’re the one who found him.” She slapped her hands on her hips and paced in front of his desk. “I know you think because Alex and I are friends, you have the right to play the overprotective big brother.” She stopped moving and glared at him. “Well, you don’t. I’m not a child anymore. I’m a grown woman, and I don’t need you watching out for me or interfering in my business.”
This was definitely not a big-brother thing. Though he didn’t think he’d be able to convince her otherwise.
She planted her palms on the edge of the desk. “Do you understand?”
Damn, she was adorable when she was mad, and he fought the urge to grin. He’d been watching her nice ass strain against the fabric of her black dress pants. Now she was leaning on his desk, and he couldn't keep from staring at her gorgeous breasts peeking above the edge of a snug, cobalt blue shirt.
The scent of fresh herbs and wildflowers teased his senses. The woman had no idea how beautiful she was or what kind of effect she was having on him. He shifted in his seat, trying not to think about the uncomfortable tightening in his groin.
When he didn’t respond, she smacked the wooden surface. “Are you listening to me?”
His attention quickly returned to her face. “Every word.” He didn’t bother getting out of his chair. First, he didn’t want her to see the very noticeable bulge in his jeans. And second, he knew from past experience it was safer to let her finish.
#
WHEN PAIGE FIRST STEPPED into his office, she’d been angry and unsure how to handle Aidan. She was so focused on getting his attention, she hadn’t noticed she’d been flashing him a view of her breasts until she caught him staring at her chest.
A fevered warmth shot straight to her core, interfering with her concentration. The hungry way he stared made it impossible to process any rational thoughts. She needed some space and pushed away from the desk.
He leaned forward and clasped his hands together. “I’m sorry. How can I make it up to you? I’ll do anything.”
The same question had been rolling through her mind ever since her conversation with Selene. The only thing bothering her more than his irritating ex-girlfriend was finding a cure for the demon magic.
The blackened charm in her pocket was proof the problem wasn't temporary. How long before the corrupting powers consumed her and drove her insane as they had the warlock? Once that happened, the coven leaders would be forced to lock her away. “I do have one thing in mind.”
He cringed. “I’m not going to like it, am I?”
“Probably not, but you did say anything.”
“What is it?” He moved his chair back and got to his feet.
She held up her hand. “Not so fast. I need you to swear you will do whatever I ask.”
He walked around the desk and stopped in front of her. “First, tell me what you—"
“Do you want to make this up to me or not?” She refused to let his nearness tempt her senses or change her mind.
“Dammit, Paige. This is not a game.”
“And I’m not playing.” She poked his chest with her finger. “Either you want to help, or you don’t.” She held her breath, hoping she hadn’t pushed him too far.
Finally, after a long hesitation, he growled, “Fine. Now tell me.”
She blew out the breath she’d been holding and took a step closer. “I want you to get me into Harker’s office so I can access his computer.”
“What? Why?”
“He has some information I need.”
“And you found out that because he was a healer, his office won’t release any client-related documents. Not unless you get authorization from the coven or set up an appointment with his replacement.”
“Exactly.” She'd discovered the depressing news when she’d stopped by Harker’s office before coming here.
He scratched the back of his head. “What did he have that was so important?”
“Still none of your business.”
“I'm not thrilled to be doing this, but since I already agreed...”
“Thank you.” She rose on her toes and pressed a soft kiss against his cheek. “You can pick me up after work.” She turned and headed for the door.
#
AIDAN HAD THREE MORE hours before he was scheduled to pick up Paige. He still couldn’t believe he’d let her talk him into accessing Harker’s office. He desperately needed someone to talk to about his rash decision to help her, or give him some insight on how to deal with the stubborn woman.
Too bad Alex was out of town. Besides being Paige's best friend and the one person who knew her best, his sister was a great listener and always had good advice. And if the advice didn’t help, verbally sparring with his adventurous sibling would at least alleviate his pent-up stress.
With no leads on the dead man’s case, he’d scheduled a meeting with the agency’s newest client. Maybe Harker’s sister could provide him with a much-needed clue into her brother’s death.
It was after five, and the sun was already setting by the time he knocked on the front door of her gray ranch-style home. A younger, shorter, female version of Harker answered the door. Her short, straw-colored hair tapered from the middle of her neck to a spot below her ears. The puffy area below her reddened eyes stood out against her pale complexion. “Can I help you?”
“Are you Kayla?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m Aidan St. Claire. We spoke on the phone.”
“Oh, right. Please come in.” She stepped back, making room for him to enter.
She closed the door behind him and led him into a small living room. He glimpsed inside her home and noted it was the opposite of her brother’s immaculate, expensive house. The furniture was worn, though well-maintained, and the interior had a cozy, welcoming appeal.
“Please, have a seat.” She sniffed and pointed to a beige love seat covered with overstuffed pillows.
He sat on the chair and waited for her settle on the couch opposite him. “I understand from my uncle you don’t believe your brother’s death was an accident.”
“The police told me they thought he tripped on his shoelace and fell down the stairs.” She grabbed a tissue from a box sitting on a nearby end table. “You have to understand. Harker was a perfectionist. There was no way he was walking around with untied shoes.”
“What do you think happened to him?” Aidan asked.
“I don’t know.” She nervously twisted the tissue with her hands. “He hadn’t been acting like himself lately.”
“How so?”
“He seemed preoccupied, secretive. He never kept secrets, especially from me.”
Aidan leaned forward and propped his elbows on his thighs. “Do you have any idea what might have been troubling him?”
“No, but I think it had something to do with a woman.”
“What makes you think there was a woman involved?” He thought about Paige’s recent dealings with Harker, and his stomach tightened. He knew she wasn’t capable of killing anyone and hoped like hell she wasn’t somehow involved with his death.
“I found a fancy scarf under a pillow on his sofa. When I asked him about it, he got real defensive and said it belonged to a client.” A fresh tear streamed down her cheek.
“You didn’t believe him.”
“No.” She swiped the tissue across her face.
“Any ideas about the person’s identity?”
She sniffled and shook her head. “It was strange. He seemed like he wanted to tell me, but acted as if something was forcing him not to speak.”
Something about Kayla’s comment troubled him. What if magic was at the bottom of Harker’s death? "Would you consider having an elder test your brother’s body for any magical residue?"
"I already checked. I even postposed the funeral. Since the Wicks Hollow police department deemed Harker’s death an accident, the coven won’t interfere." She sniffled again. “That’s why I contacted your uncle.”
Damn, I'm running out of options. Maybe, if he was lucky, there were some missed clues in her brother’s home. Something to explain Harker’s strange behavior. “With your permission, I’d like to stop by his house. See if I can find anything helpful.” He didn’t mention he’d already been there once, or why.
“You believe me, then?” She raised her slumped shoulders.
“I can’t promise I'll find anything.” He’d had his own suspicions, but he didn’t want to give her any false impressions. Not until he’d done more investigating and determined Harker’s death wasn’t caused by an accident.
She jumped up from the couch. “Let me get you a key.” She walked across the room and dug through her purse until she pulled out a yellow metal ring. “I haven’t been to his place since...”
Her despair wrenched his insides. She handed him the ring and returned to her seat. “Please find out who did this to my brother.”
