When Grady parked in front of her house, Sophie wasn’t sure what would happen. She wanted him to come inside with her. If he was going to make his escape, now was the time.
“Are you coming in?”
Grady’s smile was wry. “Do you not want me to?”
Sophie considered Mandy’s words. “I want you to come inside. If you’re just going to leave in the morning and not come back, though, it would probably be better if you just left now.”
Grady swallowed hard. “Do you think I want to leave?”
“I’m not sure,” Sophie admitted, averting her gaze from Grady’s probing eyes. “You told me you weren’t a relationship kind of guy. I don’t expect you to stay. You made your feelings clear.”
“What feelings are we talking about here?”
“You said you don’t want a relationship,” Sophie said. “I don’t expect you to … stay when you don’t want to.”
Grady sighed. “We’re going to have to come to an agreement here.”
“What kind of agreement?”
“If you’re going to be my girlfriend, you’re going to have to stop asking me if I’m going to stay or go.”
Sophie’s heart fluttered. “Girlfriend?”
Grady smiled, the expression slow and seductive. “Do you not want to be my girlfriend?”
“Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?”
“Yes.”
“I want to be your girlfriend.”
“That’s good. I would hate to have to become a stalker.”
Sophie giggled. “You’d become a stalker?”
“Sugar, I can’t imagine being without you. That means I won’t let you walk away from me. So, if you try, yeah, I’ll become a stalker.”
Sophie leaned over and pressed her lips to Grady’s mouth. “Stalk me, handsome.”
Grady chased her into the house, worries about commitment long gone. He needed his reporter, and he didn’t care how much teasing he took because of it. She’d stolen his heart.
He didn’t want it back.
Up Next
Finn Hardy has watched his brothers find love – and felt left behind. He’s not sure he’s ready to settle down – but he’d at least like the option.
Emma Pritchard has a tortured past. Her father is a notorious child molester, her brother a convicted felon. She only has herself to rely on now. That’s why she doesn’t need – or want – anyone to protect her.
While running a security job at the local boat show, Finn is taken with the comely Emma, who is working as a boat model. When a man tries to attack her with a vial of acid, the police naturally assume it has something to do with her family.
Finn is torn. Emma doesn’t seem to want his help – even though she clearly needs it. As circumstances become more dire, and the attacks on Emma become more dangerous, Finn finds himself in the crosshairs of a fire-happy happy madman.
Emma doesn’t know what to do. She’s drawn to Finn, but she’s promised never to trust anyone again. With her life in constant jeopardy, though, she has no choice but to accept Hardy Brothers Security’s protection – and all the love the extended family has to offer.
Finn has no intention of letting Emma get hurt – but it’s his heart that’s really in danger.
For her part, Emma is keeping a secret – one she’s sure that Finn can’t handle. When it comes to light, will Finn be able to accept the true magnitude of Emma’s past – and the horrific legacy of her family?
And will all that even matter when death closes in?
Deadly Illusions hits shelves on December 2, 2014. Pre-order it here now, so you don’t miss out on the next Hardy Brothers Security installment.
Coming Soon
The Hardy brothers and their love stories aren’t over. Track their progress through upcoming books – and maybe find out a little more about the Hardy family, too.
Deadly Illusions: Finn Hardy wants what his brothers have. He’s almost sure of it. The problem is, he doesn’t know where to find it. When local model Emma Pritchard crosses his path, he thinks he might have found what he’s been searching for. He just has to keep her safe long enough to find out. There’s a stalker out there, and he’s set his sights on Emma. Finn has to find a way to protect the woman who very well might be his future – even if the stalker decides Finn is the greatest obstacle to his ultimate goal.
Deadly Proposal: James and Mandy have settled into a routine, but it’s not necessarily a happy one. Mandy is still looking for a house, but James seems reticent to help her with the endeavor. There’s something on his mind – but he’s keeping his cards close to his vest. When a new threat stirs up old memories, though, James goes into protection mode – which pushes Mandy over the edge. Can he keep her safe long enough to make all of their dreams come true?
Deadly Prospects: Ally Hardy has watched all three of her brothers find happiness, and now she wants some of her own. When Hardy Brothers Security employs Jake Harrison to help with their expanding business, none of the Hardy boys think he’s a good match for their baby sister. Ally has other ideas, whether Jake is agreeable to them or not. When Ally finds herself in boatload of trouble, it’s not her brothers she turns to. Jake can’t fight Ally’s pull and, at a certain point, he’s not sure he even wants to try. Will this duo survive to find out if they can overcome the disappointment of three brothers and forge their own path?
Deadly Ever After: Someone is getting married – although I’m not telling whom. The road to happily ever after is going to be littered with hurdles – and maybe a few bodies. Will a beloved couple get to say “I do”? Or will the enemy finally be too much for the Hardy family to overcome?
Deadly Honeymoon: After more drama – and a romantic wedding – one of your favorite couples is going on a honeymoon. After frolicking in the sun – and getting frisky in the surf – they discover a dead body. The mystery surrounding that death follows them home – and haunts the entire family in the days following. Can everyone survive the mayhem that manages to jump from an island to home?
Author’s Note
I’m a romantic at heart. A true romantic. I love the idea of a happy ending, so much so I have trouble writing a sad one. The world is sad enough. I like escaping in fiction. That’s just me. I like sarcasm and snark – but I’m not sure a sad ending is in me. If you’re looking for an edge like that, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. Just FYI.
When approaching the Hardy Brothers Security series, I decided to do it differently than a normal series romantic suspense series. I started out with James and Mandy – and I’ll continue on to the other Hardy family members – but I plan on continuing everyone’s stories in each progressive book.
What does that mean? It means you’ll see progression with James and Mandy in Grady’s story. You’ll find progression with James, Mandy, Grady and Sophie in Finn’s story – and so on. Everyone is going to get a shot at love – and story fulfillment.
I love these characters and I want them to live on. Each book will not be strictly about one couple’s story. I want everyone to grow together.
If you’re interested in upcoming releases, follow me on Facebook and Twitter. I do not spam. I don’t believe it and, as a reader, I find it annoying. Only new release information and special sales promotions will be posted.
This book is available for lending. Please do so. I want people to fall in love with the Hardys – and all their friends.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
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sp; Books by Lily Harper Hart
Hardy Brothers Security
Deadly Intentions
Deadly Intuition
Deadly Illusions
Deadly Proposal (Coming January 2015)
Deadly Prospects (Coming February 2015)
Deadly Ever After (Coming March 2015)
Deadly Honeymoon (Coming April 2015)
Deadly Intuition (Hardy Brothers Security Book 2) Page 21