Finn was confused. “To what?”
“Davenport.”
“Why?”
“She got married,” James said. “Two and a half years ago, she secured a divorce from Lance Pritchard. One day after that divorce was finalized, she married Nathan Davenport.”
Finn stilled. “Why does that name sound familiar?”
“Because he’s up on charges in Nevada for racketeering,” James replied. “He’s the guy who is in the news because he’s a suspect in three different homicides.”
“He’s the guy who supposedly buried a bunch of bodies in the desert,” Finn said, realization dawning. “They couldn’t get him on murder, so they’re trying get him on money laundering and racketeering.”
“That would be him.”
“He’s a big-time player,” Finn said. “He has money. He has connections. Why would his wife come back to Michigan now?”
“That’s a very good question,” Jake said.
“That’s the question we need answered,” Grady said.
“That’s the answer to the riddle,” James said.
“Shit,” Finn grumbled. “I cannot propose to Emma with this hanging over our heads.”
“You can’t let whatever Sheila is up to affect your lives,” Mandy countered.
“Mandy, Sheila is up to no good,” Finn said. “Emma is going to be crushed. She wants her mother to be … a mother. This woman is a derelict. She’s going to break Emma’s heart. Again.”
“We can’t save her from everything,” Mandy said. “Emma is strong. I don’t think she’s as oblivious to her mother’s machinations as you guys think she is.”
“She wants to believe in her,” Finn said.
“That doesn’t mean she does,” Mandy said. “Give Emma some credit. She knows what betrayal is. She may want to believe in her mother, but that doesn’t mean she does.”
“For now, we’re keeping this quiet,” James said. “We can’t do anything until we know more. So, for now, we pretend that Sheila is a great person.”
“I don’t like her,” Mandy grumbled.
“None of us do, baby,” James said. “We need her to think we trust her. We can’t figure out what she’s really up to until she shows her hand. She’s a Vegas woman now. She’s bluffing. We just need to call her bluff.”
“No,” Finn said. “We need to up the ante.”
Seventeen
“It’s small.”
Finn pursed his lips as he regarded Sheila. Since Emma was so excited about the prospect of moving – and painting – Finn had agreed to bring both of them to the apartment to look around. Sheila was doing her best to rain on Emma’s parade, even though Emma seemed oblivious, and Finn was forcing himself to bite his tongue.
“We’re enlarging it,” James said, taking the onus of the conversation off Finn while he looked over blueprints with the head of Rossi Construction. “That’s why the construction guys are here.”
“How are you going to enlarge it?”
“There’s a storage room behind that wall,” James replied, pointing. We’re going to knock down the wall and turn it into a bedroom for the baby.”
“Well … that seems efficient.”
James and Finn exchanged a look.
“It will be great,” Emma said. She’d missed the look between brothers because she was too busy studying a paint wheel.
“Where did you get that?” James asked.
“Mandy gave it to me.”
James scowled. “She just had one of those hanging around?”
“What is it?” Finn asked curiously.
“It’s color samples for paint,” Emma said, beaming. “Look, every color you can imagine is here.”
Finn smiled. “Have you found something you like?”
“Don’t get involved with that thing,” James warned. “It’s a trap.”
“How can paint be a trap?” Emma scoffed, batting her brown eyes in James’ direction.
“Oh, you’re cute,” James said. “My wife is cute, too, and that didn’t work on me when she did it – and I had the promise of sex after that particular paint interrogation.”
“Interrogation?” Emma asked, arching an eyebrow.
“Yeah, and Mandy pulled out the big guns and use enhanced techniques,” James deadpanned, causing Emma to giggle
“I don’t understand what the problem is,” Finn said. “It’s just paint.”
“Oh, go ahead and tell yourself that now,” James said. “When Ally gets involved, and they start showing you the exact same shade of blue, both pretending it’s a different color, and then ask you to choose between them? Don’t come crying to me, because I warned you.”
“I think you’re overreacting,” Finn said.
“Just wait,” James said. “And remember, I told you so.”
Mandy chose that moment to join the party. “Oh, hey, I wondered where everyone went.”
“We’re getting an estimate for the contractor,” James said, leaning down so he could give her a kiss. “Where have you been?”
Mandy held up her hand. “Picking up some furniture catalogs.”
James groaned. “No more furniture. We don’t need any more furniture.”
“Not for us,” Mandy said, poking him in the ribs. “Emma and Finn are going to need a few things.”
“You just can’t help yourself, can you?”
“From what?”
“Shopping,” James said, kissing the tip of her nose.
Mandy rolled her eyes. “You’re such a killjoy.”
James patted her rear affectionately. “I’ll fill you with … joy … later,” he said. “Don’t get too comfortable. We’re all going out to dinner when we’re done here.”
Mandy looked surprised. “All?”
“All,” James confirmed. “Sheila has been dying for a good steak. We’re going to take her to the chophouse over on Groesbeck.”
Mandy wrinkled her nose. “I don’t want steak.”
“You don’t have to eat steak,” James replied. “They have chicken and pasta, too.”
“I love steak,” Sheila said.
Mandy ignored her. “How about a place with seafood?”
“I love steak,” Sheila repeated.
“They have crab legs on special tonight,” James said. “I already checked.”
Mandy perked up. “Good boy. I shall be willing to partake of your joy because of this knowledge.”
James smirked. “You were going to partake of my joy regardless. Now, be quiet and do something to entertain yourself while Finn and I deal with the contractor.”
“Ah, man work,” Mandy said, tapping her heels together and saluting. “I shall take to the couch to cluck with the other hens.”
James couldn’t resist the sass. He grabbed her by the front of her shirt and dragged her over to him. “If you keep that up, you’re not getting dinner at all.” He graced her with a smoldering kiss.
“If you two do it in front of me, I’m going to be scarred for life,” Finn warned.
“Then turn around,” James said, not moving his lips from Mandy’s mouth. He took the opportunity to pull her close enough to whisper in her ear. “If you keep Sheila away from us for twenty minutes, I promise to massage you for an hour.”
Mandy glanced over at Sheila dubiously. “I might need more return on my investment.”
James loved it when she negotiated. “I’ll do it in the hot tub, and you can put your iPad on a chair and put Jaws on.”
“I’m your woman,” Mandy said.
“Yes, you are,” James said, giving her one more kiss.
Mandy joined Emma on the couch. “Ooh, paint. What do you like?”
“I like this for the bedroom,” Emma said, pointing at a dark panel.
“I like that color, but I think it’s too dark for the bedroom,” Mandy said. “It’s too small for such a bold color.”
Finn moved closer to James. “Let’s finish with the blueprints. I think Sheila is going to gnaw Emma�
��s arm off if we don’t get her a steak.”
James held up a finger to still his brother.
“The room isn’t that small,” Emma protested.
“There’s only one window.”
“So?”
“You’ll think you’re in a cave,” Mandy said, peering closer at the paint wheel. “I think that one is better.”
“I don’t like that one,” Emma said.
“It’s just one shade off from the one you picked,” Mandy said. “It’s just lighter, and richer.”
“It is not,” Emma said. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mandy countered.
“Finn, which color is better?” Emma looked to Finn with expectant eyes.
“They both look fine to me,” Finn said. “They look the same.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding me?”
Finn looked to James for help. “What do I do?”
“Take Emma’s side no matter what,” James whispered. “Oh, and I told you so.”
“OKAY, I think that’s it,” James said, glancing down at the final sketch for the expansion to make sure he hadn’t missed anything. “Are you happy with it?”
Finn nodded. “The baby is going to have a nice space,” he said. “That’s all I care about. I’ll fax this over to Rossi tomorrow morning.”
“When are you going to find out what it is?” James asked. “The construction on the room is going to be done in about a month, but we need to know what color to paint it.”
Finn shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
“Well, we can just have it primed until we know,” James said. “If it comes down to it, we can paint the baby’s room ourselves. It won’t be that hard.”
“That sounds good,” Finn said. “Hopefully Emma will pick out the color for the baby’s room on her own.”
Both men turned in unison to focus on Emma and Mandy, who were still sitting on the couch arguing.
“It’s too dark,” Mandy said.
“Did I try to paint your house?”
“You sided with Ally on that whole olive-bathroom debacle,” Mandy pointed out.
“I just said it was a nice color.”
“It was a terrible color.”
“This is horrible,” Finn said. “They’re fighting.”
“They’re not fighting,” James said. “Paint just makes them all … territorial and weird.”
“Yes, apparently you think it makes us deaf, too,” Emma said, shooting Finn an irritated look.
Finn took an involuntary step back. “I think the hormones are swinging.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Emma said, her face crumbling.
“Yup, definitely swinging,” Finn groaned.
“Don’t say stuff like that to her,” Mandy said, rubbing Emma’s back. “It upsets her.”
“I thought you two were fighting?” Finn was incredulous.
“We weren’t fighting,” Mandy shot back. “We were discussing paint. Grow up.” Mandy got to her feet. “Make her feel better.”
“Why me?”
“Because you upset her,” Mandy said, moving to James. “Are you guys done being all manly?”
“We were just about to take our shirts off,” James replied. “We might need a few more minutes.”
“Well, if you’re going to do that, we’re going to need a few more hours – and opposite rooms,” Mandy said.
James couldn’t stop the smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. “I love you so much it hurts sometimes.”
Mandy’s previously teasing face softened. “Right back at you.”
“Come here and kiss me, wife.”
Mandy acquiesced. After a few moments, the couple separated. “Let’s get dinner,” Mandy said. “I’m starving, and I believe I have a special date in my future.”
“Where’s Sheila?” Finn asked.
James glanced around the apartment. “Yeah, where is Sheila?” He gave Mandy a pointed look.
Mandy furrowed her brow. “I … crap … I’ll find her. You still owe me.”
“You’re lucky I enjoy paying,” James said. “We’re going to lock this place up. If you don’t have Sheila in hand – and you’re not both waiting by the front door in exactly two minutes – you’re going to be massaging me in the hot tub tonight.”
Mandy’s mouth dropped open, but she scampered toward the stairs. “You can’t go back on a negotiation.”
“You didn’t hold up your end of the negotiation,” James called after her.
“What negotiation?” Emma asked.
James had lost track of Emma and Finn’s fight while playing with his wife. He was relieved to find them cuddling on the couch. “Nothing,” James said. “It’s just for a game we’re playing later.”
Emma looked intrigued. “What game?”
“Shark.”
“How do you play that?”
James pursed his lips. “Well … .”
“Think about it, sweetheart,” Finn said, stifling a laugh.
“Is it like Hungry Hippos?” Emma wasn’t catching on.
“It’s exactly like Hungry Hippos,” James said, striding toward the door. “Let’s get out of here. I need to feed my hippo – so I can feed my hippo again later.”
Finn and Emma followed James to the door, pausing when he stilled in the archway.
“Don’t ever tell her I called her a hippo,” he said.
“Your secret is safe with us,” Finn replied, grinning.
Once they got downstairs, James found Mandy and Sheila standing by the front door as instructed. Sheila was busy yammering on about something – and Mandy was making an effort to look interested – but there was an odd look on his wife’s beautiful face.
“We’ll meet you there,” James said, holding the door open so Finn, Emma and Sheila could file out ahead of them. “I just want to make sure I didn’t forget anything in the office.”
Finn sent him a look. “We can wait.”
“We won’t be long,” James said. “We’ll be two minutes behind you. Go ahead and order appetizers.”
“We’re still getting steak, right?” Sheila pressed.
“Yes,” James said, his voice tight. “You’re getting steak, Sheila. You can have two of them if you want.”
“And you’re paying, right?”
“Yes.”
James watched them leave, finally focusing on Mandy once they were safely in Finn’s vehicle. “What happened?”
Mandy raised an eyebrow. “How do you know something happened?”
“Because I know every expression your face makes,” James said. “I prefer the dirty ones, but I know the worried ones, too. Spill.”
“She was in your office,” Mandy said, moving to the room in question. “She was on your computer.”
James stepped behind his desk and focused on his laptop. “Did you see what she was trying to do?”
“I surprised her,” Mandy replied. “She jumped. She closed out of whatever she was looking at. I’m sure of that.”
“What did she say she was doing?”
“Looking for a menu for the restaurant online,” Mandy said.
“She does love her steak,” James mused.
“Can she get into any of your private stuff on that?”
James shook his head. “It’s all password protected,” he said. “I’m still curious what she was looking for.”
“Is there any way to find out?”
“I’ll call Maverick and have him come down here tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry,” Mandy said, her eyes wide. “This is all my fault.”
“It’s not your fault,” James said. “We know she’s up to something. I should have been more careful.”
“You told me to watch her,” Mandy said. “I couldn’t even do that right. I would make a terrible spy.”
James moved back around the desk and drew her in for a hug. “I’d still want to go on a mission with you
.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I’m really sorry. I think you’re the one getting the massage tonight.”
The piteous look on her face was comical. “I’m still going to rub you, baby,” James said.
“What about the movie?”
“You still get the movie.”
“How come you’re rewarding me for bad behavior?” Mandy asked.
“Because shark movies and massages make you horny,” James said. “That’s my reward.”
Mandy smiled. “I love you.”
“You’d better,” James said. “No one else would put up with having such a terrible spy for a wife.”
Eighteen
“When is Maverick supposed to get here?” Grady asked, stretching his long legs out in front of him as he relaxed on the couch in James’ office.
“An hour ago,” James said, rubbing his forehead.
“Why did you wait so long to call him?”
“He doesn’t accept calls before noon,” James said. “He says if we wake him up, then we’re out of luck. He needs his beauty rest.”
“It’s almost four,” Grady pointed out.
“Oh, I know,” James said. “I haven’t been able to use my computer all day. Maverick said if I touched it, he would break my fingers.”
“He weighs a hundred and twenty pounds soaking wet.”
“He’s a mean little thing,” James said.
“I think it’s cute that he sleeps until noon,” Grady said. “He’s like a really petulant teenager.”
“He’s only twenty,” James said. “He’s not too far gone from being a teenager.”
“And yet he’s smarter than all of us combined,” Jake said, walking into the office and tossing an apple in Grady’s direction.
“What’s this for?” Grady asked, catching the apple in mid-air.
“Ally told me to give it to you.”
“Why?”
Jake shrugged. “I have no idea. She said you need more fruit in your diet. She saw it on some talk show or something.”
“So, now you’re her little errand boy?” Grady teased.
“I believe she refers to him as her love muffin,” Finn interjected, glancing up from the catalog he was perusing. “Who knew there was so much furniture, by the way?”
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