Wicked Honeymoon (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 19) Read online

  Jack snickered. “They said basically the same thing to me. One of them — the darker haired one — seems a little intense.”

  “That would be Damien. He’s shyer than Carter, but they’re both having a good time. I think they’re going to get rowdy around the fire at night.”

  “Do you think wedding planners plan their own weddings? I mean ... isn’t the point to push off all that work on other people?”

  “I think so, but I also think those are the types of guys who prefer being in charge. They wouldn’t trust an outsider to do what they already know they can do best. They take pride in their work. I think they’re going to be fun.”

  “Actually, I think they are, too. That brings us to Lily and Bart Coulson.” He tilted his head toward the final couple. “They’re in their forties. He’s an oil tycoon and he says the market is going to rebound any second. He made sure to tell me that in case I wanted to invest.”

  Ivy chuckled. “That was nice of him.”

  “His wife is a former nurse who now works at home. She made a point of telling me she was only a nurse for three months, like that was somehow important. It sounds to me as if she hosts a bunch of parties for her husband’s business, but I didn’t follow that part all that closely.”

  “They’re trying to save their marriage,” Ivy mused in a soft voice.

  Jack snapped his eyes back to her. “Did they tell you that?”

  She shook her head. “No, but it’s pretty obvious. They’re out of sync with one another. They seem hesitant. Lily is interested in saving the marriage. I’m not so sure about Bart. He might already have a foot out the door.”

  “That’s kind of sad.” Jack found he was suddenly uncomfortable. “I’m not going to lie. I don’t like spending the beginning of our marriage with people who are likely to talk badly about the institution.”

  “I don’t disagree with you but there’s nothing we can do about it. I’m predicting that Bart spends all his time talking to Harold and Lily gravitates toward Vanessa.”

  “And why do you think that?”

  She held out her hands and shrugged. “It’s just a feeling.”

  “There’s also the guides,” Jack noted. “Tyson Stephens and Cara Alexander. They’re both in good physical shape and seem to be comfortable with people. Since there are so many varying personalities in the group, that’s likely a good thing.”

  “I like how you checked out their physical fitness,” Ivy said on a laugh.

  “Hey, they’re going to be the ones in charge of our lives when we’re on the river. We don’t know this area. We need to trust them. Tyson is more active with the guests than Cara. She seems to hang back. Maybe too many people make her uncomfortable. She actually seemed surprised when I addressed her. So did he, for that matter.”

  “I asked and Tyson has been doing this for like eight years. Cara has been doing it for four. Tyson said they’ve run this route hundreds of times and there’s nothing to worry about.”

  “That’s all well and good, but you’re my wife.”

  Ivy waited for him to expand. When he didn’t, she prodded him. “And?”

  “And I want you safe, sound, and happy. The guides are going to be partially responsible for making sure you stay that way. I want to make sure they’re capable before I open us up to their leadership.”

  “And?”

  He shrugged. “And they seem okay. I see no reason not to trust them.”

  “Well, that’s good, Detective. I would hate to spend our honeymoon not trusting the people we’re traveling with. That wouldn’t be weird or anything.”

  He shot her a rueful smile. “We are who we are, honey. I can’t change who I am. I’m the man who wants to keep you safe.”

  “I wouldn’t want you to change who you are.”

  “Right back at you.” He snagged her hand and pressed it to his cheek, grinning as the condensation from the can hit his skin. “I think we’re going to be in for an interesting trip.”

  “I happen to agree.”

  “I’m still anxious about the food.”

  “Hopefully you’ll be pleasantly surprised on that front.”

  “We can hope.”

  3

  Three

  “We’re starting with a lazy river run this morning,” Tyson announced once everyone was grouped together. “We’re using tandem kayaks. If you would prefer single kayaks, we can make that happen, but we’ve found most couples prefer the tandems so they can talk during the trip.”

  Through all her planning, Ivy hadn’t thought to ask that question. She slid her eyes to Jack. “Are you okay with that?”

  He looked unsure. “I’ve never been in a tandem kayak before,” he admitted. “What’s the difference between that and a regular kayak?”

  “It’s bigger.”

  He made a face. “Oh, really? I never would’ve guessed.”

  “Two people are in it instead of one.”

  His expression was bland. “Are you trying to kill me?”

  She chuckled. “They’re a little more difficult to steer but still easier than a canoe, which is wide. Canoes are a lot more difficult to maneuver and more prone to tipping over.”

  “Well, I kind of want to see it before I make my decision.”

  “That sounds like a good idea.”

  The other members of their group were already buzzing and picking kayaks. Ivy led Jack to a purple one at the back of the configuration. All the kayaks were different colors — likely so everybody would be able to keep their belongings straight Ivy figured — and the one at the back of the group caught Ivy’s fancy straight away.

  “This doesn’t look so bad,” Jack noted as he studied it.

  “It’s a nice model,” Tyson agreed as he moved to join them. “We didn’t get much chance to talk earlier. You guys are from Michigan, right?”

  Ivy nodded. “We are. Shadow Lake.”

  “Whereabouts is that? I spent a bit of time in Michigan during my younger years but haven’t been back in quite some time.”

  “Um ... about thirty minutes away from Traverse City.”

  “That’s a beautiful area.”

  “We like it,” Jack agreed.

  “Are you guys okay with this kayak?” Tyson looked curious. “You’re probably used to using one just like this at home, right?”

  Ivy hesitated and then shook her head. “Not exactly. We have separate kayaks at home.”

  “It will be fine,” Jack said automatically.

  “We’ve never been in a kayak together,” Ivy countered. “I think maybe I should be in back.”

  Jack’s forehead creased. He wasn’t certain why that was important. “Okay. If you want to be in back, that’s completely up to you, although I’m taller so it seems like I should be in back.”

  “I’ve been kayaking my whole life,” Ivy explained to Tyson.

  “It’s totally up to you,” Tyson replied. “This leg of the trip is extremely easy, though. It’s restful and quiet. It will give you a chance to talk to the others as you’re heading down the river.”

  “That sounds fun.” Jack grabbed their bags and shifted them toward the kayak. “Where do we stuff these?”

  “There are spots in the front and the back.” Ivy grabbed a black round cover and popped it up from one end and motioned for her bag. “Mine will go in here and we’ll put yours in the front.”

  “Okay.” He watched her stuff the bag inside and then followed suit.

  Once he was certain they were settled, Tyson drifted off to chat with the other guests as they readied to depart. Jack took the opportunity to watch him. The man seemed genial and friendly, apparently knew his stuff, and didn’t hurry people into the kayaks before they were ready. That wasn’t all Jack noticed, though.

  “Why are all the men getting in the back of the kayaks?” he asked out of the blue.

  Ivy kept her focus on her storage bin. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “The men. They’re all getting in the ba
ck and the women are getting in the front.”

  “Oh, um ... it’s probably preference.”

  The fact that Ivy refused to make eye contact had Jack suspicious. “Mrs. Harker, I don’t think we should start out our honeymoon with a blatant lie.”

  She blew out a sigh and straightened, pressing her lips together. The last thing she wanted was for her and Jack to engage in one of their patented fights. Now was not the time. Actually, it was the worst time imaginable. “Jack ... .”

  “Tell me,” he insisted.

  Ivy knew she had no other choice. “You steer better from the back.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning I would be in control of steering us if I was in the back.”

  He remained confused. “Why is that a problem?”

  “I never said I had a problem with it.”

  “Yeah, but you’re acting squirrelly.”

  “I don’t act squirrelly.”

  “You do, too.” Jack flicked his eyes back to the other kayaks. “Is this a gender thing? I mean ... are these other men taking the back because it’s expected of them?”

  “That’s a ridiculous question.”

  “And it’s one you haven’t answered,” Jack pointed out. “I want to know.”

  Ivy decided to take the stubborn bull by the horns, so to speak. In this case, the bull happened to be her husband, but she had no choice but to face down his potential wrath before he turned a minor argument into a major one. “It’s not about sense of direction as much as ... strength.”

  He frowned. “Wait ... .”

  “I’m not saying that I’m stronger than you,” Ivy reassured him quickly. “I’m not saying that at all. It’s just ... I know what I’m doing. You have never been on a long kayak trip like this before. I think it’s best if I’m the one who starts in the back.”

  Jack couldn’t shake the feeling that she was trying to hoodwink him. “What if I want to be in the back?”

  “Then you can be in the back.”

  “That easy?”

  Ivy held out her hands and shrugged. “I don’t know that I would call it easy. If we end up in the trees a lot, the others are going to notice.”

  “And they’ll think it’s me because I’m the one steering,” he mused.

  “Pretty much,” Ivy agreed. “I’m willing to be the one to drive us into the trees if need be. I’ll incur all the off-color female driver jokes they throw at me.”

  Jack wasn’t an idiot. He knew what she was really saying. “You don’t think you’ll drive us into the trees at all.”

  Ivy was something of an expert when it came to navigating a river. She felt she would be the better option at the back and she refused to hold her tongue on the issue. “I think it’s less likely.”

  Jack glanced toward the other kayaks for a beat and then back at his wife. “Will I look like a weenie to the other husbands if you steer?”

  The question made her laugh. “I’ll beat them up if they suggest anything of the sort.”

  He let loose a sigh and then shrugged. “I don’t want to look like a weenie. I also don’t want to drive us into the trees because that’s not a good look either.”

  “Does that mean you’re willing to let me steer?”

  “Yup. For all we know, it could become the rage with all the husbands. I’ll be setting a trend.”

  Given some of the alphas they were traveling with, Ivy didn’t see that happening. Still, she was relieved he didn’t put up a fuss. “Once you get more used to long trips, you can steer. You’ll probably be better at it than me.”

  “Oh, don’t placate me.” He shook his head. “We both know you’re better when it comes to steering, no matter what we do.”

  “I am,” she agreed, giggling when he pulled her to him for a kiss.

  “It’s okay,” he reassured her as he stroked his hand over the top of her head. “I’m not the sort of man who thinks he has to be stronger than his wife.”

  “You’re the strongest man I know,” she assured him, sincere. “I’ve known that since the moment I met you.”

  “You didn’t like me the day we met.”

  “I thought you were pompous,” she clarified. “That doesn’t mean I didn’t like you.”

  “I’m pretty sure it does.”

  “No.” She offered up a magical smile that had everything inside Jack going warm all over. “I felt something the moment we locked gazes. I didn’t know what it was — you were a little full of yourself because you’d just moved to the sticks from the big city — but I knew there was something there.

  “It frightened me a little because the feeling was so strong,” she continued. “It didn’t take me long to figure out exactly why I felt the way I did, though. Some things are meant to be.” She pressed her hand to the spot above his heart, briefly tracing the area right next to it, where she knew the scars from him getting shot on the job were hidden beneath the blue fabric. “We were always meant to be.”

  “We were,” he agreed, not caring in the least if the other husbands thought him a weenie for being so open emotionally. “It doesn’t matter if you steer or I steer. We’re both going to end up in the same place. We always will.”

  “Aw, that’s kind of poetic.”

  “That’s how I roll.”

  “This is going to be fun,” she promised. “Just ... sit back and relax.”

  “That’s the plan.” He moved to climb into the kayak.

  Ivy waited until he was settled to speak again. “And just remember, the person in the back is the boss.” She shoved out with the paddle, dislodging the kayak, and climbed in before he could muster a word of argument.

  “What?” He craned his neck to try and see her behind him and didn’t miss her mischievous smile. “We’re going to talk about who is the boss later,” he warned.

  “You bet your sweet cheeks we are,” she agreed. “Right now, I’m the boss, and as the boss, I order you to start paddling.”

  “Ugh.” He made a disgusted sound in the base of his throat. “I knew you were tricking me somehow.”

  “I’m good at it.”

  “You’re great at it. That’s the problem.”

  WHAT JACK DIDN’T HAVE IN EXPERIENCE he more than made up for in enthusiasm, Ivy mused as she watched him work at the front of the kayak an hour later. He was keen to make sure he understood exactly what was going on and why he should paddle to the right or left at any given moment. He also paid close attention to the water ripples and directed Ivy not to point them in a specific direction several times, a development that both grated and filled her with amusement.

  “I’m not going to hit the trees, Jack,” Ivy sniped after one such admonition. “I’ve got it.”

  “I’m just making sure,” Jack shot back. “I’m trying to be helpful.”

  “Well ... keep it up.” Ivy knew better than saying something snarky. On the water, voices carried. She had no doubt the others had picked up snippets of their conversation over the course of the first hour.

  “I think I could totally steer now,” he said, resting his paddle over the opening where he sat. “We should switch.”

  “Oh, yeah? Do you think we should just hop in the water and switch now?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  “I wouldn’t suggest that,” Tyson said from behind them. When Ivy shifted, she found the amused guide moving up so he was almost level with them. “The water is six feet deep here. You’re a tall man, Jack, but you wouldn’t be able to hop back in the kayak at that depth.”

  “I didn’t realize it was that deep.” Jack looked troubled at the prospect. “How come we don’t have life jackets?”

  “Can’t you swim?” Tyson looked panicked by the potential news. “We asked when you filled out your paperwork online if you could swim.”

  “He can swim,” Ivy reassured him quickly. “He’s a strong swimmer.”

  “On a lake,” Jack countered. “We usually swim on a lake, where there’s no curren
t. It’s a small lake.”

  “You’re fine,” Ivy said. “There’s barely any current here. I’ll save you if it comes to it.”

  “Oh, ha, ha.”

  “I am the boss,” Ivy reminded him.

  Tyson chuckled. “You guys are funny. You’re not like the other newlyweds we get here.”

  “How so?” Ivy glanced around. Even she was thrown off by the depth of the water. She didn’t particularly want to wear a life jacket, but she wouldn’t mind having one handy now that she couldn’t see the bottom of the river.

  As if reading her mind, Tyson sent her a knowing smile. “The life jackets will be available at camp tonight. This stretch of the river really is gentle and there are only one or two pockets that are deeper than four feet. We just happen to be over one now and it only lasts five minutes.”

  Ivy found that was enough to placate her, at least slightly. “That’s good to know.”

  “As for why you’re different from other newlyweds, you’re not all over each other,” Tyson continued. “I’ve found most newlyweds only care about getting to the tents so they can frolic.”

  Amusement curved Jack’s lips as he slid his eyes to the guide. “Frolic?”

  “Pretty much.” Tyson laughed at Jack’s expression. “It’s a thing.”

  “Oh, I know it’s a thing. I love a good frolic. Isn’t that right, honey?”

  “I’m not answering that,” Ivy replied. “He’ll think we’re perverts.”

  “Oh, I doubt that,” Tyson countered. “It’s obvious you two love one another, and there was a moment I thought you might grope each other on the shoreline before we left, but in general you two get one another. Your relationship isn’t strained.”

  Ivy found the statement odd. “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve found that the majority of people who come on trips like this are actually trying to save their relationships, not embrace them. Take Lily and Bart for example.” He inclined his head farther up the river, to where the couple floated in their kayak, not saying a single word to one another. “They’ve barely engaged with one another. You and Jack haven’t stopped talking since you hit the water.”