Stepping into the main foyer, I was taken aback by the updated elegance of the interior. The main foyer was covered in gray and cream marble. The walls were impressively packed with floor to ceiling artwork. Portraits of men in uniform and ladies dressed in their finest crowded the walls. I suspected they must be the nobles who owned this house through the centuries. The massive wood trim was painted white, contrasting nicely with the taupe colored walls. The entrance was a large circle. I noticed a few palms next to doorways on either side. Down a main hall I could see further into the house where surely other equally elegant rooms spread off the corridor.

One of the doors by the palms on the right opened and a familiar form emerged. Garrett walked out, confidently donning a tan hat that matched a suit of the same color, and taking in the room while talking to himself in his usual fashion. When his eyes fell on me he stopped, obviously in shock.

"Mr. Sullivan? This is Mr. Steinman. He's very interested in this house, aren't you Mr. Steinman?" Barbara chirped. Garrett continued to stare at me. My first instinct was to run into his arms for much needed consolation. Instead, I shifted my weight, not sure how best to proceed considering our audience.

Barbara picked up on the changed mood and turned to look at me. "Do you know each other?"

"I... why yes we've..." I was caught off guard when Garrett started laughing.

"Well, this is just perfect!" Garrett said, grinning. "Mrs. Clark, this is Mrs. Steinman." I dropped my arm remembering I was holding onto Kael.

"Oh dear." Barbara looked up at Kael, obviously fearing she had stepped right into a messy love triangle. "And you are...?" She realized how rude she sounded and blushed. "Please excuse me. I just remembered I have another showing at eight. Everyone wanting to see homes first thing!" She headed for the door, tripping on the rug. "Oh dear," she mumbled again before disappearing outside.

True to character, Kael said nothing to her and let her leave. The moment she was out the door, Garrett ran to me and swept me off my feet into a giant hug.

"Harper! I was so worried!" Once he had ensured all oxygen had been squeezed from my lungs he released me with a quick kiss on my lips. The moment he put me down, I slapped him. His expression changed from shock to hurt. "What was that for?"

I hadn't appreciated the kiss, but his cavalier attitude to my safety angered me more. "Don't pretend you were worried. You probably sent a notice to the police with my description and headed straight here!" I shoved myself away from him and backed into Kael. "Sorry." I mumbled over my shoulder. I went on, "I would have searched high and low for you! I could have been killed! Yet all you can worry about is getting back to your investigation! Do you have any idea what I've been through these past twenty-four hours?" I took a breath. Garrett seized his window of opportunity.

"Of course, of course." Garrett looked down at the marble floors. "But that's not fair. I had no leads, no idea where you could have gone. If you think about it, Harper, this was the only place we both knew we were headed. If you were going to resurface, this was the spot." He stepped toward me lowering his voice. "This is all part of the plan. I thought this is what you would want. I was getting us some answers!" He seemed to notice Kael for the first time and stood up straight, looking rather offended himself. "What are you doing here? I swear, you are a rather difficult tail to shake!"

I was surprised Garrett had recognized him from the fountain in London. Garrett had gotten rather close, but Kael had kept to the shadows covertly enough. I punched Garrett's shoulder lightly. "I'm the one who's gotten some answers. He owns the place, Gar." Garrett's mouth dropped open, fueling my enthusiasm. "Yes! And that's not all I've learned..."

"I'm just taking care of it in her father's absence." Kael interrupted.

I turned to him and frowned. "Are you serious? You're..." Kael cut me off.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" Before I could answer he took my arm and started to walk me over toward one of the side doors.

"Hands off there!" Garrett started after us.

I wrenched my arm out of Kael's hold and held up my index finger, growing impatient. "One second, Garrett. It's fine." We had to settle Kael's secrecy complex, although I could tell Garrett didn't like it. He glared at us both as Kael led me through a side door into what appeared to be some sort of exquisite men's lounge. Bookshelves lined the walls, with a few animal heads mounted between. Low, squatted leather chairs dotted the room with several card tables in the corner. Kael shut the door softly then turned his ominous stare to me.

"What?" I finally shouted at him. "Garrett's my only friend over here. You cannot expect me to leave him in the dark. No offense, but I've known him a lot longer than I've known you. Either I tell him everything, or we both leave. He has to be with us." I crossed my arms and leaned on my back foot in a strong, determined pose, awaiting his reaction.

Kael considered my speech before responding. "You really trust him?"

"Of course," I replied.

He continued, "Because, to be honest, it seems to me that he's rather distracted and not that concerned for your welfare."

Mentally, I chided myself for letting Kael see my angry outburst at our greeting. "We're always like that." I gestured toward the foyer. "And it's just him, to be honest. He's stubborn and does whatever he likes. He's obsessed with planning, and he can't help but follow his stupid ideas. But he loves me and would never intentionally hurt me."

Kael leaned against one of the leather chairs. "You think he loves you?"

"I know he does." If I was asking him to be an open book, I should be the same. While Garrett knew better than to kiss me, his actions would corroborate my honest claims. "He's proposed to me," I whispered, "three times."

Kael's mouth twitched into something of a half smile, a half smirk. I considered slapping him too, but thought better of it. "Three times? That's seems a bit, I don't know, excessive?"

"I don't care what it seems like to you. It's honestly none of your business." I folded my arms on my chest. "I'm never getting married, and I'm definitely not in love with him even if he is a dear friend." He raised an eyebrow but remained silent. "But my point is, a guy who didn't really care wouldn't be so persistent, would he? Now, I've made my case. Are Garrett and I staying or leaving?" I met his gaze, every inch of me flushed with determination.

"Harper. I've never been in this situation before."

"What?" I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

He rubbed the side of his stubbled face. "Where you have all the information, and I have so many questions."

This man was so hard to read. His statement made no sense. Yet, he looked completely serious.

"Do you think you're being funny?"

He smiled finally and stood up straight. Apparently, being in his own place made him a little too comfortable for my liking. He went on, "Of course you can stay. One condition, though." I glared at him, dreading what that could be. "Can we please not call the bobbies until after we get this figured out? While I do have fantastic security, it would be very inconvenient. Garrett just seems the good citizen type." It had never occurred to me to call the police on Kael. When I was looking for an exit strategy earlier, that would have been more than sufficient.

Now, however, fantastic security sounded much more appealing. "Agreed. I have a condition as well though."

"Oh? You have a condition if you're to stay at my house?"

"I thought it wasn't yours," I retorted without hesitation. He smiled again, but I moved on. I wished he would stop teasing me. I wasn't sure what had brought this on. Perhaps the three proposals story hadn't been a good secret to share. "You have to tell me everything. No more secrets."

"If you ask me, I'll tell you the truth. Good enough?"

This sounded like an evasive answer, but in truth, I was grateful for what I was given. "Agreed." He offered a hand and I shook it, wondering how many other nefarious deals had taken place in this room.

When I opened the door, Garrett was right there, obviously trying to listen. "Did you hear everything?" I asked, rather hoping he hadn't.

"No, of course not. Solid English wood. I assume she set you straight?" He looked at Kael defiantly as he came out behind me.

Kael looked down at me and gave a curt nod. "She did."

*****

The manor holds answers to Harper's questions, but will Kael tell her the truth as promised? Please vote and comment if you enjoyed this installment! Thanks wattpadders :)

*****