Page 102 of Luck of the Devil

“That was wrong of me,” he said, his tone shifting into something almost apologetic. “I was upset that you were so adamant and wouldn’t take the union lawyer’s advice. I was trying to save your career.”

“How magnanimous of you.”

Across the table, James shifted again, his expression unreadable, but his jaw flexed.

“Harper,” he said with a heavy sigh. “Why is it so hard for you to believe I care about you?”

“Stop.”

“No,” he said, becoming more insistent. “I love you. You know that.”

A lump filled my throat, not because I loved him, but because I’d been stupid enough to believe him. I’d learned the hard way that Keith Kemper only loved one person—himself.

I shoved my emotions aside and focused on the fact that his declaration had very odd timing. “Why tell me this now? After five months?”

“I never made a secret of the way I feel about you, but you cut me out of your life. That was your choice, not mine.”

“We both know it happened because you refused to accept my decision to stand by my word.”

James released a low grunt, almost like he was biting back a comment.

“Look,” Keith said, adopting his I know better than you tone. “That’s all water under the bridge.”

James’s coffee cup hit the table with a loud thunk.

“And you’re right,” Keith continued, “I called for a reason other than your mother. I was worried after the prosecutor called about you. Are you in trouble?”

“Nope,” I said tightly. “And he was likely calling you as a reference since I was the one who contacted him about a case last week.”

“A case?” he asked in surprise. “Are you working for the police department there? You always claimed the Jackson Creek police were corrupt.”

Claimed. How had I never realized how much he belittled my insights?

“No,” I said, ignoring his jab. “I’m a private investigator, and I was working a case for a law firm and thought Mr. Deveraux might have information about a possible suspect. But it turned out to be a dead end. I solved the case last Saturday. He returned my call right after I found out about my mother’s death, so I didn’t answer. I suspect he was following up.”

“So you’re not in trouble?”

“Why would I be in trouble?”

James snorted, shaking his head with a muttered curse under his breath, unmistakably aimed at Keith.

Keith was silent for a moment, as though trying to figure out what to say next. “I miss you, Harper,” he finally said, using the warm tone that had often convinced me to go along with what he’d wanted. “If you’re a private detective now, then you’d have more business in Little Rock. I can even throw some cases your way.”

“You’re suggesting I move back to Little Rock?” I asked, my voice sharp with disbelief.

“I know you’re hurt by everything that happened last year, but yeah. I miss you. I’d like to start over.”

Keith knew how much I hated Jackson Creek, and that I’d loved living in Little Rock. But there was no way I was going back to be with him. He was delusional. Not after how things ended.

“Thanks for your generous offer,” I said in a tight voice, “but I’m happy where I am. Was there anything else you wanted? Because I need to get back to my case.”

“You’re working another case?” he asked, clearly surprised.

“I’ll take that as a no.” I ended the call and stared at my plate, trying to figure out what had just happened.

“Your ex, obviously,” James said in a dry tone, lifting his coffee to his lips. He held his mug in a death grip.

“No need to tell me I was an idiot to fall for his shit. I figured it out eventually.”