so she moved into the kitchen. “I was having a glass of wine. Would you like something to drink?”
“I’ll take a beer, thank you.”
She grabbed a beer and handed it to him as she passed by on her way to the living room. She plopped onto the sofa again and watched as he walked past the chair and sat on the sofa. Not too close so that she felt crowded but not far away. She rubbed her forehead with her fingers, massaging the tension. He seemed to be waiting now, so she stepped into the breach.
“I shouldn’t have made that phone call, Sean. I was angry, and that’s never the right time to try to talk to someone.”
“I disagree, babe. If you’re feeling it, I want to know.”
She gave her head a quick shake. “My parents never argued in front of me or my brother. I’m sure they disagreed, but I was never around people who fought. They always told me to wait until the heat of anger had passed before trying to deal with something.”
He leaned forward and set his beer on the coffee table. “Harper, I’m not going to argue with how your parents raised you, but I can tell you that I was raised in a loud family that could argue without being vicious and you always knew you were loved. So, like I said, I don’t want you to hide things. If you’re upset, let me know. If something has happened to upset you, I want to know that too.”
His words were not what she expected, and she held his gaze, uncertain what to say next.
“Sweetheart, I’m very sorry that John called you and took his frustrations out on you because that’s exactly what he did. Your name was not mentioned. There was no reason for him to assume that you had anything to do with my interview with him today.”
“But Sean, this is John. Geeky, goofy John. Why is he a suspect?”
“I never called him a suspect. That was from him.”
She snapped her mouth shut, the new information sinking in, but Sean was not finished.
“You know that in an investigation we have to look at everything. We run down a lot of rabbit holes just looking to get that one clue. And just because we know someone or we think they aren’t guilty is no reason for us to ignore looking at the evidence.” He leaned forward and held her gaze, adding, “Just like when you get a claim for a fire and it turns out someone in the family set it. You hate it. It’s hard. But you’ve got to look at the evidence.”
She dropped her chin and sighed. Guilt weighed heavily knowing he was right. Lifting her head, she held his gaze. “I owe you an apology, Sean. I should never have taken this out on you. I admit that it was upsetting to get John’s phone call today, but you’re right. You have to look at everything.”
Before she knew what was happening, her wine glass was out of her hand and on the coffee table, and she was gently lifted and pulled across his lap. With his arms banded around her, he kissed her lightly.
She pulled back, pressing her palms against his chest to give a slight separation. “Sean, it’s important that I know you accept my apology. I’m sorry I got angry before thinking it through or talking it over with you.”
“Apology is already accepted, babe.”
Her lips curved, remembering something he once told her. I was taught that a heartfelt apology should always be accepted. If not, then it reflects on me, not the other person. He smiled in return and she was sure he had the same memory.
Sliding her hands from his chest to around his neck, she pulled him close. Then she discovered something she had always read about. Makeup sex was wonderful.
The Celtic Cock Pub was hopping as Harper pushed her way through the crowd. For the past week, she and Sean had rarely gone out, preferring to spend their time alone together. They spent most nights at her place because of Smokey, but Daniel had always come through by checking on her cat when they spent the night at Sean’s house.
There had been no other big meals with all of his family, but she had managed to have coffee with Sharon and Tara one morning and lunch with Erin. Caitlyn was a schoolteacher and her days were full, but Harper had promised Sean’s youngest sister that they