Falling for the Brother

Wait. Did that mean that Mason had slept with her the other night? After the time they’d spent in the bar together? And talked on the phone as he was driving home, too?

“No.” There was no accusation in her voice, either Just sadness. “He admitted the truth to me. Said he figured I’d found out and that was why I really divorced him. The night before Bruce had told me about being unfaithful that last time—and that really was with a perp—Gwen and I had gone out for a beer. Miriam was with Brianna and it was my first night out since giving birth. It was supposed to have been with Bruce but then he’d had to work. He said he assumed she’d told me that night. About the bachelor party.”

“Why on earth would she do something like that?”

“She didn’t. But he thought she had because we’d been female cops together and she felt guilty. At least that was what he said.”

Mason didn’t seem to have much of a reaction. Just sat there looking interested in her conversation.

“Did Gwen ever contact you?” he asked.

“No. Not about that. The first I’d heard of Gwen’s…involvement was when you told me.”

“But you believe he only slept with her once?”

“What would be the point of lying about it now? Why would he bother? We’re divorced.” She thought over her conversation with Bruce. “I didn’t even ask. He was just telling me why he thought she’d told me.”

“Do you care? Whether he’s been sleeping with her since?”

“Has he?”

He shrugged. “I have no idea.” He watched her, as though waiting.

Did she care? How was that pertinent to Miriam or the paternity question?

“I care that he slept with her the night of his bachelor party.” Which didn’t answer his question.

He didn’t push.

But she had to. “So…what about her being at your place the other night.” What business was it of hers? Even if she had feelings for him, they weren’t anything she could act on.

His eventual nod shut down a good deal of the emotion that had been swarming inside her.

He’d been with Gwen this week, and he hadn’t so much as mentioned it—knowing he’d just told her that her ex-husband had been unfaithful to her with the woman.

And yet…why shouldn’t Mason be with her? It wasn’t like Harper had any kind of intimate relationship with him. Or ever would.

He had no responsibility for the feelings she had toward him. Feelings she hadn’t even shared with him. She’d barely admitted them to herself.

“She showed up drunk and angry, came at me for going after Bruce, and then puked in my bathroom, after which I drove her home.”

Oh. Emotion surged again. A load of it. The kind that made you think of flowers blooming, their scent filling the air, and soft petals scattered over naked skin…

Thankfully her brain kicked into gear. “Did Bruce tell her you were going after her? As part of the investigation?”

“She claims not. I met with her Thursday morning. She was sober, but no less judgmental. She wouldn’t tell me how she’d found out. For all I know O’Brien said something to her, thinking she’d roll on Bruce if there was any truth to the claims about Miriam. She told me she hadn’t spoken with Bruce since before that happened. I couldn’t find any proof that she had.”

“I’m sure he’s been at the bar, where all the Albina cops hang out.”

“I wasn’t going to go in there asking around. We’re trying to keep the investigation from touching Bruce’s career.”

“Thank God, now that we know he didn’t do it.”

Mason didn’t respond. But he watched her with an expression that looked like he wanted to tell her more. Leaving her crazy with the need to know.

And sane enough to move past both.

“Did you ask him about her?” Harper asked.

“No. I asked him what I needed to with regard to Gram. How Gwen found out isn’t relevant to that.”

“Unless Bruce was trying to insert himself into the investigation through Gwen.”

“Why would he do that if he’s innocent? And,” he added, “how did Bruce know Gwen had been at my house?”