James smiled at the mention of his nephew. He had no doubt Ally and Jake would have a multitude of beautiful kids to add to the family one day. “Something tells me you’ll get your wish,” he said. “I’m happy for you no matter what, though. You deserve to be happy.”
“So do you.” Ally impulsively hugged her brother again. “I love you, James. You married my best friend and made her happy. You always take care of her and me even when we’re pains. You’re my hero.”
James awkwardly patted Ally’s back. “You’re being mushy and it’s throwing me off. I’m not sure how much of this I can take.
Ally blew out a long-suffering sigh only the youngest of four children could muster. “Well, just so you don’t think I’ve gone completely soft, you should also know that it took months for Mandy to stop worrying about you leaving her.”
James frowned at the conversational transition. “What?”
“She mentioned it when we were talking about Vince leaving,” Ally explained. “I told her that I never worried about him leaving because I was young and dumb and she mentioned that she spent your first few months together terrified you would leave because your love burned so brightly she thought it would eventually run out of fuel.”
“I hate that,” James muttered. “How can she think something so ridiculous?”
“She doesn’t think it now,” Ally clarified. “She thought it back then. She said she’s not sure when she realized you weren’t leaving, but when she got to that point it was if the pain in her chest lessened. She felt happy and loved.”
“She is loved,” James said. “She’ll always be loved.”
“Then don’t give her a hard time for telling me about your fight with Vince,” Ally prodded. “She doesn’t deserve it. She just wanted to know if she was missing something.”
James stilled. “What did you tell her?”
“The truth,” Ally replied. “I told her you were a good brother and I treated you terribly.”
“So you didn’t tell her about the time I punched Vince and threatened his life?” James was ashamed to admit how juvenile he was at the time, but once he said the words it was almost a relief. “I was going to own up to it earlier but … I didn’t.”
“She won’t care,” Ally said. “Well, I mean she might care a little. She’ll be more worried about you than anything else. It will be okay, though. She won’t judge you.”
“She never does.” James rubbed the side of his cheek. “I guess I should find her.”
“And get your bracelet,” Ally said, her eyes twinkling. “She got a matching one for herself.”
“I know you think that bugs me, but it doesn’t,” James said. “If she wants me to wear a bracelet with a shark charm, I’ll gladly do it. That’s love.”
“And that’s why you’re a great husband,” Ally said, shaking her head. “Mandy hit the jackpot with you.”
“We hit the jackpot with each other,” James corrected. “For the record, I think Jake feels the same way about you.”
“Oh, it’s a mutual admiration society,” Ally said, giggling. “Go and find Mandy. Then I think everyone wants to meet up for lunch.”
“That sounds good,” James said, resting his hand on Ally’s shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “No matter what, Ally, I’ll always be your big brother. I’ll always love you. No fight could ever change that.”
Ally smiled. “Thank you … and right back at you.”
AFTER fruitlessly searching for Mandy for half an hour, James joined Ally and Jake at a picnic table close to the river and fidgeted on the bench for what felt like forever. Finally, Jake couldn’t take it a moment longer.
“Do you want me to go looking for her with you?”
James shook his head. “I texted her where we are. I just … why didn’t she text back?”
“It’s loud,” Ally replied. “She probably didn’t hear the phone.”
“She knows it makes me crazy when I can’t find her,” James muttered.
“And that’s exactly why she’s heading in this direction,” Ally said, grinning as she pointed toward the parking lot to their east. “It looks like she’s been shopping.”
“She could turn it into an Olympic event,” James said, relief washing over him when he caught sight of his wife’s familiar blond head. “She’s here.”
Jake smirked when he locked gazes with his boss and friend. “Were you really worried about her?”
“Have you forgotten how much trouble she finds?” James shot back.
“No,” Jake said. “You should’ve let me go with you to search for her instead of tying yourself up in knots.”
“I didn’t want you to have to leave Ally,” James said, standing as Mandy approached and grabbing the bag from her hand so there would be nothing between them when he hugged her. “Where were you?”
Mandy balked at her husband’s serious tone, surprised. “I was shopping.”
“I’m sorry.” James held up his hands. “I just got worried when I couldn’t find you. You should’ve texted me back.”
“I didn’t get your text until a few minutes ago,” Mandy said, her expression unreadable as she studied her husband. “I couldn’t hear it in the crowd.”
“I told you,” Ally said, smug.
“Thank you for that,” James muttered, wrapping his hand around Mandy’s thin wrist. “I’m sorry, wife. I just got a little frazzled.”
“It’s okay,” Mandy said. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I’ll pay better attention next time.”
James flashed a warm smile. “That sounds good,” he said. “How about some lunch? I think we could all use some fuel and I know how you love hot dogs and elephant ears.”
“That sounds good.” Mandy rolled up to the balls of her feet and kissed James’ cheek. “I love you … and I would love to share a hot dog with you.”
James couldn’t hide his smile at her playful demeanor.
“Oh, and they say romance is dead,” Jake teased. “That was just too cute for words.”
James shrugged. “It’s been a mushy sort of a day.”
“It happens to the best of us,” Jake said. “Let’s get man food to balance it out.”
James’ face split into a wide grin. “Sold!”
7
Seven
“I bought you something.”
Mandy sat between James’ legs, the sun setting close to the shoreline, and snuggled closer to his chest.
“I heard,” James said, smirking at Ally. “Lay it on me.” He extended his wrist, pulling back slightly when he saw Mandy’s frown. “What?”
“How did you hear?”
“I … um … .”
“Way to go, big mouth,” Ally intoned, making a face. “It’s a wonder you’ve been able to hold on to her at all given how clueless you are sometimes.”
Grady Hardy, his girlfriend Sophie Lane tucked in at his side, barked out a laugh. “Oh, the joys of living with women. You never know what’s going to set them off. They’re all sweetness and light one second and then they turn on you the next.”
“Don’t add to this insanity,” James warned, extending a finger in his brother’s direction before turning his contemplative eyes back to his wife. “Baby, I’m not sure what you want me to say and do here.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Mandy replied, tucking a small baggie back amongst her bigger loot. The bags were located at the edge of the blanket they set up close to the shoreline to enjoy the fireworks. “How long after the fireworks are finished do you think we’ll have to stay?”
She was changing the subject, which greatly bothered James. “Let me have the bracelet.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Mandy said, shooting Ally a dark look. “It doesn’t matter.”
“I want it,” James pressed.
Mandy ignored him and focused on Sophie. “What about you? Are you working tonight, or can you just enjoy the fireworks?”
Sophie’s expression was unreadable as she glanced b
etween James and Mandy. “I’m off for the night unless there’s some big scuffle,” she replied. “There’s an intern handling the fireworks story. He should be fine unless there’s a murder or shooting.”
“Let’s hope there’s not one of those,” Grady said, brushing Sophie’s long hair away from her face. “I want to cuddle with my woman.”
Sophie made a sour face. “I hate it when you call me that.”
“No, you don’t,” Grady argued. “You love it when I call you that. It makes you feel all tingly … and girly.”
Sophie opened her mouth to argue and then snapped it shut.
“You’re a piece of work sometimes, man,” Jake said, his hands busy as they dug into Ally’s back and kneaded out the kinks. “You’re not happy unless you’re ticking everyone off. It’s kind of like a game to you, isn’t it?”
Grady shrugged. “I like to win even if it’s not a game.”
“You suck sometimes,” Ally said, pinching his elbow.
“Ow!” Grady jerked his arm away from his sister. “What is your deal? Sugar, my sister is abusing me. I need you to fight for my honor.”
Sophie rolled her eyes. “I’m not fighting Ally.”
“That’s because you know I can take you,” Ally said, grinning.
“No, it’s because Grady has to stand up for himself when it comes to his family,” Sophie countered. “I’m not getting involved.”
“I’m wounded,” Grady groused, playing to his audience.
“You’ll live,” Sophie said. “Besides, if you can’t take your sister, I’m not sure this relationship can continue. She weighs fifty pounds less than you.”
“Sixty,” Ally corrected, earning a dark look from Grady. “That big head of his adds more weight that you would expect.”
Even as their family members enjoyed themselves a few feet away, James and Mandy remained quiet. For his part, James was bothered Mandy refused to give him the bracelet. He was also irritated with himself because he let it slip that he knew about it. For her part, Mandy was embarrassed. In hindsight she thought the bracelet was a stupid idea and the reason Ally told James about it was so he wouldn’t inadvertently hurt her feelings.
“Baby, I want my bracelet,” James said, resting his hand on Mandy’s hip to hold her in place should she try and bolt. “I’ve been looking forward to it all afternoon.”
“You don’t have to say that,” Mandy said. “I know Ally only told you because she knew you would hate it. Don’t worry about it.”
“That’s not true,” Ally protested, her eyes flashing. “We were talking about something else and the bracelet just came up.”
“Oh, yeah?” Mandy wasn’t convinced. “What were you talking about?”
“I gave him a hug and apologized for the way I treated him during the Vince fiasco,” Ally replied, not missing a beat. “I told him he was lucky to have you and that he turned into the best husband I could’ve ever wanted for you.”
“Oh.” Mandy’s cheeks colored. “I … .”
“I also told him you were buying a bracelet and he’d better pretend to like it even if he didn’t,” Ally added, earning a dark look from James. “What? I’m not going to lie to her. I wasn’t sure how you would feel about the bracelet.
“The good news is that he didn’t care in the slightest, Mandy,” she continued. “He’s fine with the bracelet.”
“I want it,” James said. “Give it to me.”
Mandy sighed as she leaned forward and retrieved the small baggie. “I don’t know why I bought it. You don’t wear jewelry so … .”
“I wear jewelry,” James countered. “I wear the watch you got me for Christmas. I’ll wear whatever is in this bag. I also wear this.” He gestured toward his wedding band. “That’s the most important piece of jewelry I own.”
“But you don’t want this,” Mandy said. “It was a mistake. You don’t have to wear it.”
“I’m wearing it,” James said, kissing her cheek. “Just … stop being a pain. I hate it when you get like this.”
“Like what?” Mandy glanced over her shoulder so she could study James’ face as he opened the bag.
“Insecure,” James replied. “You have nothing to be insecure about. It bugs me.”
“Maybe you bug me,” Mandy said. “Have you ever considered that?”
“Only every morning when I try to watch you shaving your legs and you have a fit,” James replied, grinning as Mandy scowled. “I have no idea what mystery you think you’re keeping, but I know you’re in there shaving your legs.”
“I don’t know why you want to see it,” Mandy said.
“It turns me on,” James said. “Sue me. I can’t explain it.”
“That is a turn-on,” Grady agreed. “It’s like a magical mystery unfolding. You guys go in there looking like mortal women and you come out looking like magical fairies. Your skin is so soft and smooth … and you smell like cucumber delights.”
James wrinkled his nose as he regarded his brother. “That’s creepy, man. Cucumbers?”
“That was a Sophie-centric statement. You just spent twenty minutes earlier this week waxing poetic about how Mandy bought a new pineapple body spray, though, so you have no room to talk,” Grady argued. “You said it made you horny.”
Mandy pressed her lips together and widened her eyes as she struggled to keep from laughing at James’ annoyed expression.
“He’s exaggerating, baby,” James said. “He’s making it up.”
“So you would be okay if I threw that body spray away?”
“Don’t even think about it,” James replied. “You smell like a freaking day at the beach when you wear that stuff. It gives me ideas.”
“That’s what I said!” Grady pointed excitedly. “I was right. Admit it.”
“You’re a schmuck,” James said. “I’ll admit that.” He pulled the simple woven bracelet out of the bag and studied it, smiling when he saw the silver shark adornment at the center. It matched the one on her wrist, only it was bigger. “This is nice, baby. Thank you.”
Mandy was still uncertain. “I had the charm engraved.”
“You did?” James flipped the bracelet over, his heart catching in his throat when he saw the words. They were tiny given the size of the charm, but he could still read them. “To ongoing adventures,” he read aloud. “I love you. Mandy.”
“I … .” Mandy didn’t get a chance to finish her statement because James covered her mouth with his and offered her a warm kiss instead. When they parted, Mandy was breathless and bewildered and James was fired up.
“We’re leaving as soon as we can humanly get out of here after the fireworks,” James said. “Be ready and waiting by the truck so I don’t have to look for you.”
“Oh, how cute,” Grady intoned. “Mandy revved James up with a shark for a change. You know how they say couples start to resemble each other the more time they spend together? You guys are identical cousins.”
James slapped Grady’s knee with enough force to make his brother groan. “Leave my baby alone,” he ordered, extending his wrist in front of Mandy. “Put it on me, wife.”
Mandy did as instructed, leaning her head against his chest and relishing the way he wrapped himself around her once she was finished. “You don’t have to wear it,” she repeated one more time.
“Oh, baby, I’m wearing it,” James said, kissing her temple. “They say everyone has a spirit animal. I think you and I share one. It’s a shark.”
Mandy giggled. “Really?”
James nodded. “Thank you for my gift.”
Mandy pressed her eyes shut and let him hold her, enjoying the slight sway to his body as he rocked her. When she finally opened her eyes again, she was back to her usual happy self. “Where are Finn and Emma?”
“They texted at the last minute and said they weren’t coming,” Sophie replied.
“Why?” Ally was affronted. “I thought I was going to get to hold the baby.”
Sophie shrugged. “Jeff is
still recovering from his gunshot wound, Finn seems fine, but Emma is convinced his gunshot wound could fester or something, and she said she’s worried the baby won’t like the noise of the fireworks so they begged off this year.”
Finn Hardy, the youngest Hardy brother, was still recovering from a gunshot wound to his lower back. He was fine – despite Emma’s protests to the contrary – but everyone knew he wouldn’t go against her in this scenario. As for Emma’s brother Jeff, his wound was much more serious. James hired a nurse to help, though, and he was making a fast recovery.
“I hate to say it because I’m sad they’ll miss the fireworks, but that’s probably for the best,” Mandy said.
“Speak for yourself,” Ally grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. “I want to hold the baby.”
“Oh, geez,” Grady intoned. “You need to give her a baby, Jake. She’s going to find a way to wish a baby into existence if you’re not careful. Of course, you have to marry her before that happens because if she shows up pregnant before then we’ll all have to kill you. So … you might want to get on that.”
Grady meant the statement as a joke, but it fell flat. Jake’s cheeks turned crimson as Ally became infatuated with her feet. James shook his head, annoyed, and Mandy scorched Grady with a dark look. Only Sophie had the grace to call her boyfriend on his bad attitude.
“Way to go, gigolo.”
Grady frowned. “I was kidding.”
“It wasn’t funny,” Sophie said. “Besides, you’re the one with a ring and you haven’t proposed yet, so I don’t know who you think you’re making fun of.”
Grady’s mouth dropped open as Sophie locked gazes with him. In truth, Grady had been ready to propose for months. Sophie was the one telling him it wasn’t the right time. She thought she would “feel” it when it happened. Grady wasn’t worried as long as she eventually said yes. Unlike Ally, Sophie didn’t feel her biological clock ticking away. They had plenty of time.
“Hey!” Grady was dumbfounded. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
“I can’t believe this entire conversation is still going on,” Jake lamented. “It’s not even dark yet. That would help the situation.”
Deadly Conflicts (Hardy Brothers Security Book 21) Page 6