“I love her more than anything in this world, Heidi,” James said. “You’re not wrong.”
“Then why is she acting like this?”
“She’s on medication,” James said. “She’s in constant pain. I’ve been … distant. I was being distant because I thought I was protecting her. I may have been wrong to do it.”
Heidi looked dubious. “May have?”
“I was definitely wrong,” James said. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“You’re a man,” Heidi said, shrugging. “You always think you’re doing the right thing until you realize you’re doing the wrong thing.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
“What are you going to do now?”
“I think shaking her is out of the question,” James said, immediately regretting the joke. “I’m going to try and talk to her.”
“I don’t think she’s ready to listen.”
“Then I’ll camp out on her doorstep until she is ready,” James said. “She can’t stay in there forever. There’s no food.”
“I hope you fix this,” Heidi said. “You guys are my hope.”
“Your hope?”
“My hope that I’ll find what you have someday,” Heidi said. “You guys are the dream.”
“Well, I’m going to go and reclaim my dream,” James said. “I’ll have her call you when she’s feeling better.”
“Will you call me regardless?”
James nodded. “Yeah. Just give me some time. I don’t think this is going to be quick.”
“Good luck.”
James watched Heidi pull away from the building, squaring his shoulders as he marched to the apartment door. He raised his hand to knock and then thought better of it. He searched his key ring, finding the right one on his third try. He inserted it into the lock and pushed the door open.
She might not want to face him – but he wasn’t going to give her a choice.
The door opened four inches and then stopped. “Ugh.” She’d engaged the security chain. “Mandy?”
No one answered from inside. “Baby?”
Still nothing.
James sighed, sinking down to the hard cement and leaning against the door. “I want to talk to you.”
James leaned on his elbow and peered into the apartment. The angle of the door didn’t give him much of a view. “I know you’re in there. I guess I’m going to have to talk to you from right here.”
Silence.
“Everything you told Ally is wrong,” James said. “Every single thing is wrong.”
A woman approached the stairwell, heading up toward a higher floor. She paused a few feet above him, shooting him a dirty look. “No means no, buddy.”
James rolled his eyes. “Your neighbor thinks I’m stalking you. You’ve got to let me in so I can apologize.”
“Do you really think stalking her is going to win her back?” The woman had a set of keys clasped in her hand. “I’m going to call the police.”
James scowled. “I’m not stalking her. She’s my girlfriend.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re not stalking her.”
James jangled his own set of keys. “I have a key. Does a stalker have a key?”
“She’s got the security chain on,” the woman said. “She obviously doesn’t want you bothering her.”
“She’s just upset.”
“Stalker.”
“Busybody.”
“Mean stalker.”
“Annoying busybody.”
“I’m definitely calling the police,” the woman huffed, climbing the stairs.
James sighed. The last thing he needed was police intervention. “I’m going to shut and lock this door, Mandy. I’m not leaving, though. You can’t hide forever. I’ll be in my truck.”
When the door was locked, James trudged back toward the parking lot. He pulled up short when he saw Emma watching him curiously from a few feet away. She’d moved into the building after losing everything in a fire. James had almost forgotten that fact. “What’s going on?”
“Mandy has lost her mind and I’m trying to make up,” James said.
“Oh.”
“Her upstairs neighbor threatened to call the cops,” James explained. “I’m going to wait out here.”
“Do you want me to try?”
James shook his head. “I don’t think that will be much help right now. I’m hoping, after a full night’s sleep, that she reconsiders things.”
“How long are you going to wait?”
“As long as it takes.”
“Maybe you should go back to your apartment and give it some time,” Emma suggested. “I’m sure it will be okay in the morning.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“You’re going to just sit out here? It’s going to get cold.”
“I’ll sleep in the Explorer.”
Emma tilted her head to the side, glancing between Mandy’s apartment and James’ vehicle. “That seems a little extreme.”
“We haven’t spent a night apart in ten months.”
“You being in your car and her being in her bed is being apart.”
“I can’t change that,” James said. “I won’t leave her. I’ll never leave her.”
“I know you’ll never leave her,” Emma said. “That’s not what I was getting at.”
“It doesn’t matter. If she needs me, I’m going to be here.”
Emma smiled. “You can stay in my apartment if you want.”
“No. I need to be here, right outside. I’m not going to risk missing her.”
“I hope things work out.”
“They’ll work out,” James said. “Losing her isn’t an option for me.”
Eleven
If James thought sharing a bed with an injured Mandy was detrimental to his sleep pattern, trying to get a few hours of shuteye in his truck was a learning experience he never wanted to repeat. There was no way he could take another night of this. He had to be proactive.
An idea forming, James called Grady.
His brother arrived about a half hour later, his eyes still puffy from sleep. He didn’t look happy. “Seriously? How can this be happening again?”
James climbed out of the Explorer. “What do you know?”
“Ally has a big mouth,” Grady replied. “She called everyone.”
“Everyone?”
“Everyone,” Grady confirmed. “She’s upset.”
“I slept in my truck and Mandy is pouting inside,” James said. “Ally doesn’t have anything to be upset about.”
Grady tried again. “Okay, Ally is worried.”
“I’m worried,” James said. “Why do you think I called you?”
“I think you just missed me.”
“Are you trying to be cute?”
“Hey, you’re the one that called me at the ass crack of dawn to come and babysit your apparently deranged girlfriend,” Grady reminded him. “I had a beautiful, naked woman in bed with me – a woman who has been chasing this case as hard as we have, by the way – and I still came to help. Don’t give me shit.”
“I’m sorry,” James said. “I don’t want her here alone.”
“So you want me to sit outside and just watch the apartment?”
“She’ll probably let you inside,” James said. “If she does, try to keep her calm. Oh, and make sure that you change the bandage on her back. You might not like it, but it’s overdue.”
Grady waved him off. “I’ll change her bandage, man. That stuff doesn’t bother me.”
“Well, it bothers her.”
“I think it bothers her because it’s you,” Grady said. “She’s not sleeping with me.”
“She’s not sleeping with me either right now.”
“Yeah, Ally said that was part of the problem.”
“I’m going to kick Ally’s ass the next time I see her,” James said. “She’d better get a running start.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I
have a few quick errands to run,” James said. “I won’t be long. I’ll text you when I’m back. We’ll figure things out from there.”
Grady reached over, gripping James’ shoulder tightly. “I’ll take care of her.”
“I know.”
“She’s just upset.”
“I upset her. Again. I keep doing that.”
“That’s love, man. It’s going to be okay.”
“I know,” James said. “I just need to get a few things. I’ll bring breakfast back when I come. She doesn’t have any food in there.”
“I’m on it.”
GRADY was nervous when he knocked on the door. This wasn’t the first time he’d been in this situation. After James’ morning-after jilting, Grady had been the one left to pick up the pieces. It hadn’t gone well.
This time, it seemed James had been acting out of love – not neglect or self-preservation. He just hoped Mandy wasn’t going to blame him for James’ actions.
Grady heard noise on the other side of the door, the slight shuffling of feet on the carpet catching his ear. He stood back, making it clear he was alone in case she was peering out of the peephole.
“What do you want?”
“I came to see you,” Grady said. “You don’t have to worry. I’m alone.”
“Where is James?”
“He had a few errands to run.”
“What if I think you’re lying?”
“Go to your bedroom and look out the window. His vehicle is gone. It’s just me.”
Grady waited. A few minutes later, he heard the security chain sliding on the other side of the door. After another moment, Mandy’s face appeared in the gap. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Good. I’m not here to babysit.”
“Why are you here then?”
“I’m here to change your bandage.”
Mandy pursed her lips. “I can change it.”
“That’s not what James said,” Grady said. “Just let me come in and handle it, and then I’ll be on my way. It’s not a big deal.”
“Fine.”
Grady followed Mandy into the apartment, watching as she engaged the deadbolt and then secured the chain again for added assurance. She really didn’t want to talk to James.
Grady took the opportunity to look Mandy over. He’d never seen her look worse – and he’d been a witness to the Clearasil nights with Ally back in the day. “You look rough, kid.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve been crying.”
“I have a cold.”
“Okay,” Grady said. “I can pick you up some medicine if you need it.”
“I don’t need medicine,” Mandy said, scowling. “I’ve had my fill of freaking medicine.”
“I bet.”
Mandy shifted, placing her hands on her hips as she faced off with the middle Hardy brother. “How does Sophie put up with you?”
“She’s an angel.”
Mandy’s locked frame softened. “She is an angel.”
“Are you going to let me look at your back?”
“I don’t have a lot of choice,” Mandy said. “It’s really itchy.”
“That means it’s healing,” Grady said. “I know it’s uncomfortable, but in another couple of days you’re going to be so much better.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so. How about we go into the dining room? I can sit on the floor and you can sit on one of the chairs.”
“Okay. I’m warning you now that it’s gross, though.”
“I’ve seen gross.”
“It’s really gross,” Mandy said. “It drove your brother away.”
Grady sighed. “You are so much work. You drive me crazy.”
Mandy rolled her eyes. “The medicine is on the dining room table.”
“Great. I can’t wait.”
Mandy settled on the chair at the end of the table, shifting her body so Grady could have easy access to the wound. Grady knelt on the floor, taking the proffered salve and Q-tips from her. “I need to clean it first.”
“There are medicated wipes in that package.”
“Yep. Got it. Let’s get this started.”
Grady lifted the back of Mandy’s T-shirt, finding the white gauze in the center of her back. “Hold still.”
“I’ve been through this before,” Mandy said.
“I haven’t,” Grady replied. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“It doesn’t really hurt now,” Mandy said. “It’s an itchy nightmare.”
“Well, that’s better than pain.”
“I guess.”
Grady carefully removed the gauze, sucking in a breath when he got his first glimpse of the wound. “Holy shit!”
“It’s gross, I know.”
“I didn’t realize it was so … big.”
“That sounds like a line from a porno,” Mandy chided.
“I can’t talk about pornography with my girlfriend’s best friend,” Grady said. “That’s not allowed.”
Mandy laughed, the sound relaxing Grady. Part of her – the real her – was still in there. This angry beast was just a façade. She was hurt and lashing out. He understood the reaction.
“I’m going to clean it now,” Grady said. “Try to hold still.”
Mandy rested her head against the metal back of the chair. She didn’t flinch as he wiped the area clean.
“Did that hurt?”
“No,” Mandy said. “I told you, it doesn’t really hurt anymore.”
“What does hurt, kid?”
“What?”
“What’s got you so upset?”
“Your brother hates me,” Mandy blurted out.
“No, he doesn’t. He loves you.”
“He thinks I’m a burden.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Grady said. “He wants to take care of you. What else have you got?”
“He won’t touch me.”
“You’re hurt,” Grady said. “He doesn’t want to add to that.”
“I miss him.”
“Then why didn’t you let him in last night?”
“I can’t be his guilt girlfriend.”
Grady sighed, dipping one of the Q-tips into the cooling salve. “You know, the night you were hurt, he was a madman. He was going to beat every doctor in that place until they took him to you. He was a total mess.”
Mandy was silent.
“The doctor told us that they were worried because you hadn’t woken up yet,” Grady continued. “They needed someone to talk to you. It’s no surprise they chose the man raving like a maniac because he loves you so much.”
Mandy didn’t respond.
“He’s not sleeping,” Grady said. “You know that, right? Did he tell you why he’s not sleeping?”
Mandy’s voice was small. “No. Did he tell you?”
“He’s having nightmares,” Grady said, dabbing the wound with the Q-tip. “He didn’t say what they are about, but I know.”
“So, what are they?”
“He sees the explosion over and over in his head. He sees you flying through the air. You know, Sophie said he couldn’t stand right after – so he crawled to you. I wasn’t there, but I’ve seen him crawl to you one other time.”
“After the fire,” Mandy supplied.
“He was lost that night, too,” Grady said. “My brother can’t lose you. You’re his life.”
“He won’t touch me.”
“He will,” Grady said. “You have to give him time. You were the one hurt in the explosion, but he was the one that saw you get hurt. In a way, his trauma is greater than yours.”
“How do you figure?”
“If you had died, what do you think would have happened?” Grady asked.
“I have no idea.”
“He would have died, too.”
“James would never kill himself.”
“Maybe not,” Grady conceded. “There are different ways to die, though. He wouldn’t have been able to move on from that. He neve
r would have moved on from loving you. There’s no one else for him. You’re it, kid.”
“I think I’ve been deluding myself,” Mandy said. “I wanted him to love me so much that I convinced myself that he really did love me.”
“He does love you. How does that feel?”
“Numb.”
“That’s how it’s supposed to feel, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, I need to put a new bandage on it.”
“What if he only thinks he loves me?” Mandy asked, her uncertainty sounding pitiful to Grady’s ears.
“What do you mean?”
“What if he just doesn’t want to hurt me?”
“Mandy, James wouldn’t hurt you for anything in this world. That’s not a lie. It’s a fact. He still loves you. Not wanting to hurt someone and love are not mutually exclusive.”
“I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“I thought … I thought we were good,” Mandy said. “I thought we were going to find happily ever after.”
Grady taped the final side of the gauze and then got to his feet. “I’m going to tape some saran wrap over this so you can take a shower and not mess it up.”
When he returned from the kitchen a few moments later, Mandy hadn’t moved.
“Mandy, you and James have already found happily ever after,” Grady said, kneeling again. “You just don’t realize it yet. Life throws you curveballs. You guys have had a swing and a miss. You’re still in the middle of your happily ever after. I think you guys just need some sleep to figure that out.”
Grady stood again.
“Go and take your shower,” he said. “I’ll be watching television while you’re in there.”
“You don’t have to stay,” Mandy said, biting the inside of her cheek.
“You’re my family,” Grady said. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
JAMES let himself in Mandy’s apartment, sighing with relief when the door swung open without restraint. Grady’s text told him it was safe. He couldn’t believe it until he saw it with his own eyes.
He found Grady sitting on the couch watching Sports Center.
“Where is she?”
“She’s in the shower,” Grady said. “She’s been in there for a long time. I think she’s been thinking about stuff.”
“What did she say?”
“Girl stuff,” Grady said, getting to his feet. “You have your work cut out for you. The good news is, I think I softened her up. More than anything, she wants to believe you love her.”
Deadly Proposal (Hardy Brothers Security Book 4) Page 8