Deadly Adventure (Hardy Brothers Security Book 19) (10 page)

“I don’t,” Mandy lied, shaking her head. “I’m glad you guys have time to catch up.”

“Yeah, you don’t seem glad about anything right now,” Jesse said. “I’m sorry if I’ve been monopolizing his time. I’ll stop doing that.”

“Jesse, I don’t want you and James to stop spending time together,” Mandy said. “It’s good for him. He has fun with you. I’m not angry. I promise.”

“Really?” Jesse cocked a dubious eyebrow.

“Really.”

“That’s great,” Jesse said, clapping Mandy on the shoulder so hard she briefly listed to the side. “Hey, James! Your old lady likes it that we’re spending time together and she says we can go to the bar. I told you I would talk her into it. You said I couldn’t do it, but I did.”

“Wait … what?” Mandy wrinkled her forehead, confused.

“Are you sure, baby?” James asked, appearing in the doorframe with a dubious look on his face. “I thought we would spend some time alone tonight.”

Dislike for Jesse’s machinations warred with her attempts at releasing the reins and letting James have a good time in Mandy’s brain. She didn’t want to be the person holding James back.

“I’m sure,” Mandy said finally, hoping her smile was believable. “Have fun.”

“Come on,” Jesse said, grabbing James’ arm and dragging the reluctant man out of the kitchen. “They’ve got the baseball game at the bar around the corner. We can walk. All of the women can stay here and do … whatever it is women do.”

“Baby, I don’t have to go,” James said. “We should spend some time together.”

Mandy made up her mind on the spot. “We can spend time together tomorrow,” she said. “Go with your brothers and friends. It’s a nice summer night. You should have fun.”

“But … .”

“Go,” Mandy ordered, her voice firm. “I’m perfectly fine with the other hens. I insist.”

J
ames groaned
as he rolled to his side the next morning, clutching his forehead as pain and consciousness washed over him at the same time. The morning light filtered in through the bedroom blinds, and it took James a moment to get his bearings.

“Baby, can you shut the curtains?”

Mandy didn’t respond, and when James shifted to see if she was still asleep he found her side of the bed empty.

“Crap,” James muttered, reaching for the nightstand and snagging a bottle of water. He downed half of it before forcing himself to a sitting position.

The previous evening was a blur. He remembered agreeing to finish a pitcher of beer with Jesse … and then another. He had no memory of returning home, though, and he definitely had no memory of climbing into bed with his wife.

She was going to kill him. There was no other way of looking at it. Instead of making things better and smoothing over Mandy’s hurt feelings and frayed nerves, James realized beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’d made things worse. She’d even snuck out of bed before he could apologize. Of course, he couldn’t blame her. He knew she was upset when he left and he went anyway. Then, when everyone else departed the bar, James remained behind because he didn’t want to abandon Jesse.

That would come back to bite him. He was sure of it.

James blew out a sigh and headed for the bathroom. No matter what he would make sure to fix things with Mandy. It was Friday so she would probably get home early from work. He would secure reservations at the restaurant and pick her up at the courthouse, perhaps cajoling Grady into transporting her car back to the house so Mandy would have no choice but to ride with him. It was a dirty trick, but James had a feeling he would need to play it.

He would fix things, he promised himself. Just as soon as his raging hangover went away.

M
ANDY
left
the courthouse at lunch, thanking the judge profusely for securing her the spot at the exhibit before locking her office and exiting. Because he had a light schedule, Judge MacIntosh pushed all of the cases so they would be heard before lunch, thus allowing Mandy to leave work early and prepare for her first showing.

As excited as she was to show off pieces of her work, Mandy was also extremely unhappy. When James didn’t return her call after an hour the previous night, she took to pacing. An hour after that she called again, but he didn’t pick up. After another hour of fruitless fretting, Mandy considered going to the bar and causing a scene. Instead she grabbed a pair of pajamas and headed for the room next to her studio. She expected James to wake her up when he returned home, maybe even pick a fight.

He never came looking for her.

Mandy wasn’t sure what hurt more, the fact that he didn’t want to spend time with her any longer or the fact that they hadn’t touched one another – not in a tender or even emotionally simple way – in three days. They’d shared one hug in the kitchen the previous day. That was all. She felt as if her heart was being shredded, but she forced the pain out of her mind. Tonight she had her very first art showing. She refused to let James’ lack of interest in their marriage – and especially her – ruin that.

Mandy hopped in her car on the third floor of the parking garage, her mind busy with preparation plans. She had to return to the house and pack her paintings. She also had to shower and get ready. She was hoping James would be at work for the duration, because she couldn’t bear dealing with him when she was supposed to be happy and put together for the viewing audience. She didn’t expect to sell anything, but it would be a good experience all the same. She was merely happy to be invited.

Mandy checked her rearview mirror before pulling out of the parking spot. She was familiar with the garage and absentmindedly navigated toward the circular ramp. She was so lost in thought she didn’t notice the other vehicle barreling toward her until it was almost too late.

The flash of blue paint finally caught her attention and Mandy swerved at the last moment. She missed the full-on crash, but the other car hit the front panel of her vehicle and knocked her sideways, rocking her small Ford Focus into the brick wall.

Mandy braced herself for a moment, worried the force would be enough to flip the car over the edge and plunge it to the ground below. Her heart hopped as the airbag exploded, the chemicals burning her left forearm as the horn wailed an incessant lament that matched Mandy’s complaining heart.

What the hell just happened?

G
RADY
hurried
through the door on the third floor of the parking garage, scanning the assembled police officers and first responders before exhaling heavily when he caught sight of Mandy at the far end of the structure.

He jogged over, slowing his pace as he approached and the officer taking Mandy’s statement glanced up. “What happened?”

“I was in a car accident,” Mandy replied, offering Grady a rueful smile. “Thank you for coming – and so quickly. I didn’t know who else to call. They’re going to tow the car to a garage, but it’s obviously totaled.”

“I can see that,” Grady muttered, marveling that Mandy was walking and talking given the caved-in driver’s side door.

“Is this your husband?” the police officer asked.

“I’m her brother-in-law,” Grady replied. “What happened? Where is the other car?”

“We’re pulling video from the feed, but two witnesses reported a blue car with no license plate parked at the end of the traffic lane,” the officer responded. “Once Mrs. Hardy pulled out of her spot and headed for the ramp the other car accelerated and purposely rammed her. It then continued down the ramp while she was disoriented and disappeared in the neighborhood across Gratiot.”

Grady’s eyebrows flew up his forehead. “What?”

“I don’t know what happened,” Mandy said. “My mind was on the exhibit. I didn’t see the car until it was directly on top of me. I swerved and the collision was so hard I thought my car was going to go over the lip in the spot over there where it’s lowest.

“I didn’t, though,” she continued. “The car rocked and then the airbag exploded. I didn’t really see anything.”

Grady ran his hand down the back of Mandy’s head, confused. He had no problem running to her rescue, but he was dumbfounded by James’ absence. “Is James on his way?”

Mandy swallowed her upper lip with her lower and shook her head.

“Why not?” Grady asked. “He’s going to want to know about this. In fact, he’s going to freak about this. Are you hurt, by the way?”

Mandy lifted her bandaged hand and shrugged. “The airbag burned me, but it’s not too bad.”

“I suggested she go to the hospital, but she refused,” the officer said. “She’s going to be sore tomorrow. She braced for the impact because she saw it coming, and tense muscles generally hurt more the next day.”

“I’ll take her to the hospital,” Grady said. “Do you have any leads on the driver?”

“We’re checking video feeds, but the car windows were tinted and there was no license plate,” the officer said. “Right now we have absolutely nothing. Well, nothing but a lucky woman.” The officer offered Mandy a wink as she graced him with a wan smile.

“Yeah, she’s lucky,” Grady said, shifting his arm over Mandy’s shoulders. “Come on, kid. I’ll take you home. James is going to want to take you to the hospital himself. I still don’t understand why he’s not here.”

“He’s not here because I didn’t call him,” Mandy said, falling into step next to Grady as they headed toward his truck. “I called you instead.”

Grady stilled. “I’m sorry, but … what?” He had to have heard her wrong.

“I didn’t call him,” Mandy replied, unruffled. “He’s probably still sleeping off his hangover.”

Stunned disbelief washed over Grady. “I need you to start from the beginning, Mandy,” he said. “I’m so confused I think I might’ve wandered into an alternate universe. Are you and James fighting?”

“We’re not fighting,” Mandy answered. “I’m just not talking to him.”

“Well, great,” Grady enthused, opening the passenger door of his truck and helping Mandy inside. “Come on. I’ll buy you lunch and you can tell me what’s going on. I have a feeling you’re going to need my help before everything is said and done.”

“
O
KAY
,
out with it, kid,” Grady instructed a half hour later, sipping his soda as Mandy pushed her lifeless salad around her plate at a Mount Clemens diner. “What’s going on?”

“There’s nothing going on,” Mandy replied, refusing to meet Grady’s even gaze. “I’m just not dealing with your brother right now. He’d rather hang out with his buddy Jesse and I don’t want my night ruined.”

“I heard about your big night and I’m really looking forward to it,” Grady said. “I’m proud of you. I can’t believe James didn’t mention it. I’m sure he’s proud of you, too, though. Is that where he is? Is he picking up something for tonight?”

The momentary hurt that flashed across Mandy’s face was enough to cause Grady’s heart to constrict.

“James doesn’t know about the gallery event,” Mandy replied primly. “I’m not telling him, and I’m ordering you not to do it either. That’s why I called you to pick me up. I don’t want him ruining everything tonight.”

“Oh, Mandy,” Grady whined, tipping his head to the side. “How could you not tell him? This is the biggest thing to happen to you since … well … you got your dream man.”

“Yes, and what a dream he is,” Mandy deadpanned.

“Okay, I get that you’re upset, but I’m definitely behind on all of the family gossip,” Grady said. “What happened last night? I assumed James left the bar right after we did. Sophie said you were going to call him and ask him to come home.”

“I did call him. He didn’t come home.”

Mandy’s succinct nature irked Grady. “Kid, I know you’re upset and the accident has you rattled, but I need more information than that,” he said. “Tell me what’s going on. I can’t save your big night if you don’t tell me what I need to fix.”

“Okay, Grady,” Mandy said, her eyes flashing. “Let’s see. The first night Jesse showed up and wanted to go to the bar I was fine with it. James promised me a big dinner, but I thought those two hanging out was a good idea. James wasn’t comfortable leaving me alone in London and Jesse seemed to want to talk to him when I wasn’t around.

“He had a hangover the next morning and I thought it was funny,” she continued. “That afternoon Judge MacIntosh came into my office and told met that he knew I was leaving in September and to stop worrying about telling him. I was relieved like you wouldn’t believe. Then he told me his good friend had an opening at the best gallery in the area and wanted to know if I wanted to display some of my work.

“I was terrified and excited at the same time,” she said. “I raced home to tell my husband and found him with Jesse in the guesthouse. He then informed me that the dinner he promised me wasn’t going to happen and he was having a pool night with you guys.

“Now, I wasn’t happy about that,” Mandy said, making a face that both exasperated Grady and tugged at his heart. “I thought we would still have time to talk about it when he came to bed, though, so I let it go. The problem is … he never came to bed. He slept on the couch with Jesse.”

“Oh, Mandy,” Grady said, sympathy washing over him. “You should’ve pulled him aside. This is something he would want to hear.”

“I thought I would get a chance to tell him last night,” Mandy said, her eyes filling with tears. “Instead he went to the bar with Jesse. I have no idea when he came back. I slept in the guesthouse. He never came looking for me.”

“Don’t cry,” Grady instructed, wiping a falling tear from her cheek. “Please don’t do that. I don’t like it.”

“Well, I’m sorry,” Mandy said, jerking her face back. “I’m tired. My heart hurts. I think my back is really going to hurt tomorrow. My husband hasn’t held me in three nights. Does that sound whiny? It feels whiny. It hurts, though.

“Now I have what’s supposed to be one of the biggest nights of my life ahead of me and my arm is burned, my car is totaled, and my husband doesn’t want to touch me,” Mandy said, pushing herself to a standing position. “I’m just … done caring what Hardy men want right now. Can you understand that?”

“I can,” Grady said. “I’ll talk to him.”

“Don’t bother,” Mandy said. “He’s not invited to the art show this evening. I don’t want to see him. The day is already ruined. I just want one hour of peace tonight. I don’t want to explain myself. I don’t want him suddenly showing up and caring. I don’t want to see him.”

Grady knew she didn’t mean it. “Where are you going? I need to take you home.”

“I’m calling Ally. I want to be with her right now.”

“Mandy, I’ll fix this,” Grady said. “I promise.”

“I don’t want you to fix it, Grady,” Mandy shot back. “You can’t fix it. It’s already ruined.”

“We still need to talk about the accident,” Grady argued. “That sounds deliberate. You could be in danger.”

“Maybe it was James,” Mandy suggested, grabbing her purse. “Maybe he decided life with Jesse is more fun and tossing me off the ramp was the easiest way to get what he wants.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Probably not,” Mandy confirmed. “I’m tired, though. I literally don’t have the energy to worry about James or his feelings right now. I’m just … done.”