“I’m going to take that as a ‘yes.’ ”
Finally, she spotted Tariq as he emerged from the aquarium and started toward the parking garage. He stopped when he spotted Harper, his mouth tightening. Then he approached and greeted the dog slowly, holding out his hand to be sniffed before reaching up to scratch his ears.
“Hello there, pup,” Tariq said in a soft voice. “Well, would you take a look at that? Not magical at all, it seems.”
“Oh yes, he is,” said Harper, thumping the dog on his big barrel chest. “He’s worked his magic on me, anyway. Right, big guy?”
The dog wagged his tail and leaned into her.
“I take it he’s found a home,” said Tariq. “What’s his name?”
“Pearl.”
“Isn’t he a boy?”
“He’s cool with it. It’s sort of a nonbinary situation. His full name’s Professor Pearl.”
“ ‘Professor,’ huh? What’s his research specialty?”
“He hasn’t told me yet. But he looks very dignified, doesn’t he?”
“I’d say more goofy than dignified,” said Tariq, caressing the dog’s anvil-size head. “But he is indeed a handsome boy.”
“He is, indeed. Listen, Tariq.” Harper cleared her throat. “I owe you an apology. A sincere one. It’s just…I know it doesn’t excuse what I said to you, but I’ve never…I mean, it’s hard for me to believe in people. Clearly, I have some serious trust issues. I think part of me thought, ‘He can’t possibly want me for me; he must have an ulterior motive.’ ”
After a pause, Tariq gave a barely-there nod. “Just so you know, that text from Penny? It was in reference to a work thing. She was my alibi for skipping a staff meeting the other day. She has a habit of texting in the middle of the night, unfortunately.”
“I should have known you well enough to know it was something like that. Do you think…do you think we could start again? This time without the murder accusation?”
She paused, waiting for him to respond.
“Keep going,” he said.
“I’d love to catch up on everything, and to continue apologizing for being a Grade A jackass. Tomorrow I’m driving to Salinas to help Sigrid in her poison garden, but afterward I’m free as a bird if you’d like to get together?”
“You’re making poison now?”
She smiled. “No, but after all these years studying poisons and witchcraft, I thought I should get some hands-on experience with botanicals. Sigrid also offered to do a reading for me, and help clear my aura. Apparently it’s on the muddy side.”
“There’s a lot of that going around.”
“She’s becoming a friend, I think. I’ve decided I need more friends.”
He nodded and fixed her with a long look.
“Well, it just so happens that I’m all in favor of do-overs and fresh starts. Especially where cute, confounding history professors are concerned.”
Harper smiled. “How about dinner? I’m not going to offer to cook, because I already owe you enough apologies. But I excel at ordering takeout.”
“It’s a date.”
“Also, Halloween is coming up on Saturday. I thought maybe you’d like to hand out candy with us at Ellen’s house? Jonathan has promised to bring several bottles from his wine cellar. We could make an evening of it, then go to karaoke after, all hyped up on Halloween candy.”
“You’re up for karaoke night now?”
“Thought I’d give it a go,” she said. “And you’ll never guess who’s dying to join us there: Naomi.”
“The Nemesis?”
