“You, too,” Barnes said. “If you don’t want to take Mandy home, I’d be more than willing to do it for you.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” Jake said, his tone cold. “I’ve got her.”
“It was just an innocent offer,” Barnes said, holding up his hand.
“Well, this isn’t an innocent answer,” Jake said. “Stay away from her.”
“Are you staking your claim?”
“Yes,” Jake said. “She’s my girlfriend’s best friend, and my best friend’s wife. Stay away from her.”
“Sorry.”
“Stay away from her,” Jake repeated, grabbing Mandy’s elbow and tugging her in his direction. “You’re not going to like what happens if you don’t.”
“Is that a threat?”
“You have no idea,” Jake said. “Come on, drunks. If either one of you pukes in my truck you’re going to be in big trouble.”
Nineteen
“She’s drunk,” Jake announced, his arm around Mandy’s waist as he propped her up in the doorway.
James’ heart flopped when he saw her, a new rush of regret washing over him. “I can see that.”
“I’m mad at you,” Mandy grumbled.
“I know you are.” James reached for her, internally sighing when she tried to slap his hand away. “Let me help you upstairs.”
“I’m perfectly lime … time … fine. My tongue won’t work.”
James fought the mad urge to laugh as she slurred her words. “Okay. I’m still going to help you upstairs.” He grabbed her arm gently. “Lean on me, baby.”
Jake handed her off wearily, sighing as he glanced over his shoulder and focused on Ally’s slumped figure in the passenger seat of his truck.
“Has she already passed out?” James asked.
“After puking in the parking lot.”
“I’m sorry,” James said. “This is all my fault.”
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Jake said. “Just so you know, you’re probably going to want to try and force her to throw up. They drank a lot, and while throwing up isn’t optimal now, she’s going to feel like death tomorrow if she doesn’t.”
“I don’t need to throw up,” Mandy said, rolling her eyes. “I … .” She covered her mouth. “I’m going to throw up.”
James moved her to the bathroom off the main hallway and flipped on the light, carefully lowering her to tile. “Throw up, baby. I’ll get a bottle of water and something for you to change into.”
“I’m fine. I can take care of myself. Maybe I’ll paint the toilet.” She rested her face against the porcelain bowl.
“We’ll talk about that later,” James said, brushing her hair out of her face. “Try not to puke on your hair.”
“You try not to puke on your hair, you … butthead.”
James exhaled heavily and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Okay. You need to throw up and then pass out. I’ll get you some aspirin, too.”
James left her in the bathroom and walked back into the living room, surprised to find Jake still standing there. “What?”
“Something happened when they were leaving,” Jake said. “I’m kind of reluctant to tell you because I think you’ve already had a rough night.”
“Tell me.”
“The professor was at the bar,” Jake said. “I didn’t know what he looked like, so I don’t know when he entered. When I went to collect them he was at their table. I don’t know what he said to them, and they claim they didn’t tell him where they were going or invite him, but he was there.”
“That can’t be a coincidence,” James said. “Did he … touch … either of them?”
“I think he’d just approached them,” Jake said. “My guess is that he was watching them, maybe waiting until they were really drunk. He tried to talk me into letting him take Mandy home.”
“I’m going to rip his head off,” James snarled.
“You’re not doing anything tonight,” Jake said. “Take care of her. I have my own drunken princess to deposit on the bathroom floor.”
“I really owe you,” James said. “You can have next week off with pay if you want.”
“Yeah, that seems a little excessive,” Jake said. “Right now, let’s focus on solving Ann’s murder and keeping Mandy safe. We’ll talk about a three-day weekend when everything is over with.”
“You’re a good friend,” James said, glancing back toward the bathroom when he heard Mandy regurgitate her misery into the toilet. “Good grief.”
“I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but they’re chatty when they’re drunk,” Jake said. “They won’t remember what they said anyway. Right before she passed out Ally was going over how Mandy should make you buy her a pony before she forgives you.”
“Ally is obsessed with that stupid pony,” James grumbled.
“I know. My uncle has a ranch. I’ve been considering taking her out there and actually letting her ride a horse. They have ponies, too.”
“We’ll make it happen,” James said, running his hand through his hair. “Thank you again.”
“Don’t mention it,” Jake said. “It wasn’t too long ago that you were going out of your way to help me.”
“That’s what family does.”
“Exactly.”
MANDY felt as if someone was beating on her head with drumsticks when she regained consciousness the next morning.
It didn’t take her long to figure out she was sleeping on the bathroom floor – the toilet pressing against her forehead serving as a dead giveaway – and when she wrenched her eyes open, she found James sleeping on the hallway floor a few feet away.
He hadn’t even bothered to get a pillow to make himself comfortable.
She was torn as she watched him sleep. She was still hurt and angry, but this was a man who slept on the floor with her whenever she was sick. This was a man who drove through a tornado to make sure she was safe. This was a man who … . “Ugh.”
James bolted to a sitting position, his eyes bleary. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I’m going to be sick again.” Mandy struggled to her knees and leaned over the toilet.
“I’m not sure that’s possible, baby,” James said, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to ease the kinks. “You threw up the whole bar last night.”
“I guess that’s why I feel like this.”
“I don’t think it’s the only reason,” James said, reaching over and massaging her back. “Stay here. I have water and aspirin in the living room.”
James returned a few minutes later and tipped four aspirin into the palm of her hand before handing her the bottle of water wordlessly. After downing the aspirin, Mandy returned her head to the toilet. “I guess I deserve this for drinking so much.”
“No one deserves this, baby,” James said, sitting down next to her. “What hurts more, your stomach or head?”
“I think it’s a tie.”
“Are you going to throw up again?”
“I think it was a false alarm.”
“Do you want to try and move to the couch in the living room?”
“Aren’t you going to lecture me about going to my cooking class last night?” Mandy asked, her bloodshot eyes searching his face.
“Nope. I’m not going to yell at you ever again.”
Despite the pounding in her head, Mandy couldn’t hold back her laughter. “We both know that’s not true.”
“Probably,” James agreed, pushing himself to his feet. He grabbed a washcloth from the cupboard and dampened it under the faucet. He then leaned over and gathered Mandy into his arms and carried her into the living room.
He sat down on the couch and situated her next to him, lowering her head to his lap and pressing the cold cloth to the back of her neck. “Try to sleep for another few hours, baby. You’ll feel like a real person again next time you wake up.”
“I think that person is going to wish she was dead, too,” Mandy said, closing her eyes.
“I
won’t let you die on me,” James said, keeping the washcloth on the back of her neck as he lightly rubbed her temple. “Go to sleep, my baby. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
THE SECOND time Mandy awoke the pounding in her head was gone. Her stomach was still iffy, but she also didn’t feel like she’d been reincarnated as a wet rag. She shifted her head on James’ lap. He hadn’t moved since she fell asleep, and his head was lolling back on the couch as he snored lightly.
She rolled the other way, and when she did, her gaze fell on her painting. It was leaning against the wall – someplace she never expected it. He’d gone out to her studio last night. He’d found the painting. He’d brought it back because he was going to tell her it was good as a way to make her feel better. She just knew it.
“How are you feeling?” James asked, lifting his head and removing the half-dried washcloth from her neck. “Can you sit up?”
Mandy let him help her to a sitting position, her eyes never leaving the painting. “What is that doing here?”
“I’m going to hang it,” James said.
“You don’t have to do that. I know it’s … bad.”
“Shut your mouth,” James said. “That is … the best thing I’ve ever seen – well, other than you.”
“You don’t have to lie to me.”
“I’m not lying to you,” James said. “You know, I went out there last night because I was feeling like a righteous ass. I poured myself a whiskey and went upstairs, and I was staring at those other canvases and wondering what I was missing.
“I couldn’t figure out why you never finished anything,” he continued. “Then I saw the closet was open, and for some reason I looked inside. That’s when I realized you had finished something. You finished something glorious and then proceeded to shove it in a closet and hide it. I want to know why.”
“It sucks.”
“Don’t make me gag you,” James warned. “You could die if I gag you and you throw up again. I love that painting almost as much as I love you. Why did you hide it?”
Mandy remained quiet.
“Is it because you thought I wouldn’t like it and lie to you and tell you I did?”
“Yes.”
“Come here.” James slipped his arm under Mandy’s waist and moved her to his lap, forcing her face to his so he could look into her eyes. “I understand that you’re nervous about this. I do. It’s a big deal. That is amazing, though. You’re amazing. I am not lying to you.”
Tears filled Mandy’s eyes and James slapped her hand away when she reached up to wipe them away. He ran his thumb under her eye and kissed her forehead.
“I love you more than anything, but I am not lying when I say that what you made is beautiful,” he said. “I don’t want you to hide stuff like this from me. I’m so sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it. I swear I didn’t. I was just so frustrated … and I was scared … and I didn’t want you away from me.
“I handled it the worst possible way, like I always do,” he said. “I lashed out, and that is a fault of mine that I can’t explain. I would never purposely hurt you, not for anything in this world. I need you to believe me, though. I always knew you were talented, but that … baby, that blew me away.”
Mandy dissolved into tears, and James tightened his arms around her as he began to rock her on the couch.
“I need you to forgive me, wife,” James said. “I need you to give me another chance with all of this. I promise I’ll do better.”
“Fine.”
“Fine?” James arched an eyebrow and pulled away so he could study her face. “Fine?”
“I’m too tired to be mad at you,” Mandy said, rubbing the side of her face.
“I guess I’ll take it for now,” James said. “You’re my whole heart, baby, and I’m going to make this better.”
“I forgive you,” Mandy said. “I shouldn’t have pushed you about the class. I suck as a cook, by the way. By the time Ally showed up she had to toss everything I made. I turned white beans green. I have no idea how I did it.”
James chuckled hoarsely. “I’d still eat it.”
“How long are you going to give me everything I want?”
“Forever,” James said. “I heard you want a pony, by the way.”
“Ally wants a pony.”
“I figured.” James blew out a relieved sighed and rubbed his hand lightly over Mandy’s back. “Do you think you can eat?”
“No.”
“Do you want to go back to sleep?”
“I need to take a shower. I feel really gross.”
“Okay,” James said, helping her stand up. “Maybe you’ll feel better after you get cleaned up.”
“Maybe,” Mandy conceded, shuffling toward the stairs. “Do you want to take a shower with me?”
James cracked his neck, narrowing his eyes as he regarded her. “What are you suggesting?”
“Just a shower right now,” Mandy said. “If you want something more … energetic … you’re going to risk me throwing up on you. Sure, it will only be water at this point, but it will still be quite the turn off.”
“Nothing about you is a turnoff,” James said, getting to his feet and moving in behind her. “You need to do something for me, though.”
“I can’t get on my knees in the shower and do that right now either,” Mandy said. “I’m too sore.”
“Not that,” James said, flicking her ear. “I was talking about brushing your teeth.”
“What?”
“I desperately need to kiss you,” James said. “I can’t do it until you brush your teeth, though. I don’t like chocolate martinis even before they’ve been thrown up.”
Mandy made a face. “How did you know we drank chocolate martinis?”
“Because I watched you throw all six of them up last night,” James said.
“You’re a good husband.”
“You’re the best wife, baby,” James said. “Now, come on. I wasn’t joking when I said I needed to kiss you.”
“Then what are we going to do?”
“Love each other,” James replied. “That’s the only thing I want today.”
Twenty
“How are you feeling, angel?” Jake asked, sitting on the couch and handing Ally a bottle of water.
“Like I should be mad at you for letting me drink so much last night.”
Jake arched an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“You know I can’t handle my liquor,” Ally grumbled, opening the bottle of water and guzzling it.
Jake reached over and wiped a small dollop of drool from the corner of her mouth. “It’s hard to believe I love you.”
“You still do, right?”
“Forever,” Jake said, kissing her forehead. “Do you want to try and eat something?”
“Do you want to watch me throw up again?”
“Not particularly,” Jake replied, nonplussed. “I do think you need to get some fuel in you, though. Your hands are shaking.”
“Maybe in an hour or so,” Ally said, leaning over so she could rest her head on his shoulder.
Jake shifted, wrapping his arm around her and reclining with her at his side. “You know, I was hoping we could have a picnic today. Your antics last night stole one of the last weekends we’ll have to enjoy our special spot at the lake until next spring.”
Ally made a face. “Are you trying to guilt me?”
“Not especially,” Jake said. “I just want to be able to hold this over your head for the next six months.”
“We can go on a picnic tomorrow,” Ally offered. “I’ll strip the second we get there and we can do the whole afternoon naked.”
“It’s supposed to storm again tomorrow, angel.”
“I hate the storms this week,” Ally said. “It’s like they’re out to get me.”
“Yes, it’s all about you.”
“You’re in a bad mood.”
“I’m sorry,” Jake said. “My mind is just a little busy after last night.”
“I’m sorry we got so out of hand,” Ally said. “I honestly didn’t think it would take us that long. Mandy had a lot on her mind.”
“I don’t really care about that … well, I do, but I’m just worried about Mandy and James,” Jake said. “Do you think they’ll be okay?”
“They’ll be fine,” Ally said. “I’m sure they’ve already made up.”
“You were passed out by the time I dropped her off last night,” Jake said. “She was still mad at him then.”
“She’s not mad. She’s hurt. James told her he didn’t think she could paint.”
“Maybe she can’t,” Jake said. “Would that really be so bad?”
“She can, though,” Ally said. “You should see the painting she did. She took that photo that James loves from their wedding, the one he has on his desk at the office, and she turned it into a painting. It’s beautiful. I want her to do one of us for me.”
“If it’s so good, why doesn’t James like it?”
“She hasn’t shown it to him,” Ally said. “She leaves the half-finished canvases out where he can see them and then hides the one she finished because she’s insecure.”
“How do you know about it if she hid it?”
“I’m a snoop.”
Jake grinned and rubbed the back of her head. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Ally said. “I’m still sorry about what I put you through last night.”
“It wasn’t so bad until my iPad died,” Jake said. “I even got caught up on some work. The good news is that your brother is going to give me a three-day weekend so we can go away together once this Ann situation is settled.”
“Because you babysat us last night?”
“Yup.”
“Who knew you were going to be doing such dark and dangerous stuff when you joined my brother’s security team,” Ally teased.
“It was the worst job ever.”
Ally pinched his midriff. “You should be thrilled to spend time with me – even if I am falling down drunk.”
“Have I been complaining?”
“Kind of.”
“I’m sorry,” Jake said, making a face. “You guys just got really lucky.”
“Why? Did someone buy our drinks and try to romance us?”
Jake faltered. “No. Wait … what is the last thing you remember about last night?”
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