Deadly Conflicts (Hardy Brothers Security Book 21) (2 page)

“I love you more.” James caressed her soft cheek with his thumb. “In fact, I love you most.”

Mandy smiled. “You love me most? I think that’s wrong. I think I love you most.”

“Oh, no. I love you most.”

“No, me.”

“Me.”

“I’m going to gag if this goes on one second longer.” Ally appeared in the archway between the kitchen and hallway. “Let’s go, Mandy. The mall waits for no woman.”

James frowned when he caught sight of his sister. “Do you knock?”

Ally ignored him. She was used to his bluster. “I promised Jake I would pick out a sexy genie costume so we need to go to that themed lingerie store.”

“Okay.” Mandy wasn’t bothered by the suggestion. “I’ve been eyeing a costume there myself.”

“Oh, yeah? What?” Ally was intrigued.

“Now that I’m only a few months away from leaving the courthouse I won’t be wearing James’ favorite skirts all of the time anymore,” Mandy explained, grabbing her purse from the counter. “They have a sexy librarian outfit that’s really cute.”

James smiled at the mental image as he watched his sister and the woman he loved more than anything head toward the door. “Hey, baby?”

Mandy glanced over her shoulder and locked gazes with James. “What?”

“I definitely love you most,” James said. “Have fun shopping. I promise to have a surprise for you when you get back here tonight if you’re good and avoid trouble.”

“You had me at surprise.”

James’ smile was soft. “You had me the first time you smiled, wife. Have a good day.”

“
D
id James give
you crap about skipping out on the painting?” Ally hopped onto the mall escalator right behind Mandy and fixed her friend with a quizzical smile. “You look all shiny today, by the way. It’s obvious you had sex.”

Two older women on the escalator heading in the opposite direction shot Ally a dirty look as they descended. Ally returned the ugly glare, causing Mandy to laugh as they disembarked on the second floor.

“Not really,” Mandy replied. “He kind of teased me about it, but I honestly don’t think they wanted us there. In their minds we would probably do nothing but get in the way.”

“You’re probably right,” Ally agreed, pointing to direct Mandy toward a store she wanted to visit. “Jake made a big deal about it because he likes messing with me. Then I made a big deal about him saying he was glad I was going shopping because I like messing with him. You know, typical Friday before a holiday weekend.”

Mandy laughed. “Yeah, I’m so glad that the courthouse is closed today,” she said. “A four-day weekend sounds perfect right about now.”

“I don’t see why you don’t just quit,” Ally said. “You have one foot out the door as it is.”

“I do,” Mandy agreed. “It’s just … I can’t leave before I’m ready.”

“You
are
ready.”

“I know. Maybe ‘ready’ wasn’t the right word. I guess it’s more that I can’t leave until it’s time.”

Ally rubbed her thumb over her chin as she regarded her best friend. “It is time, Mandy,” she said, adjusting her tone so it was softer. “You’ve been talking about leaving the courthouse for months now. James is desperate for it to happen. Why not give him what he wants?”

“Because … .” Mandy wasn’t sure how to answer.

“Because you’re kind of a martyr when you want to be,” Ally finished. “You can’t leave until September because that’s when you told the judge you were leaving and to go early – even though he wouldn’t care and your husband would be thrilled if you did it – isn’t in your nature.”

Mandy scowled. “You’re such a know-it-all.”

“And I’m right,” Ally crowed, theatrically hopping in front of her best friend. “Tell me I’m right.”

“You’re a pain in the butt is what you are,” Mandy grumbled.

“Admit I’m right.”

“Fine, you’re right,” Mandy conceded. “I want to leave the courthouse now, but I can’t because it will forever bug me not to finish the job I was hired for. I still haven’t trained a replacement. I can’t do that to the judge.”

“Even if he wouldn’t care?”

“Even if,” Mandy acknowledged. “It just … doesn’t seem fair. He took me on when I was fresh out of college even though he could’ve hired someone with experience. I owe him.”

Ally’s expression softened. “Mandy, Judge MacIntosh loves you,” she said. “He would understand if you wanted to call it quits early.”

“I wouldn’t understand.” Mandy’s stance was firm. “It’s only a few months. James and I have forever together. There’s no reason to rush it.”

“I guess,” Ally said. “The lingerie shop is this way.”

Mandy fell into step with the woman who had been her best friend for as long as she could remember, giggling as a memory overtook her. “Although, you know who did find out I was leaving and have something of a meltdown?”

“Heidi?”

Heidi was the courtroom stenographer who worked alongside Mandy. They were close friends.

“No.” Mandy shook her head. “She’s known for a few weeks. I asked her not to tell anyone, though. I don’t want word getting around until I’m ready.”

“If that’s the case, why are you telling people and upsetting them?”

“No. This person overheard us talking,” Mandy explained. “He was eavesdropping.”

“Oh, let me guess,” Ally said, rolling her eyes. “It was that security guard who is in love with you, right?”

Mandy frowned. “He’s not in love with me.”

“Yes, he is.”

“No, he’s dating Heidi,” Mandy said, her temper getting the better of her. “Don’t say things like that. I want Heidi to be happy.”

“I’m sorry,” Ally said, holding her hands up. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I know you like Heidi. I like her, too. I just think that dude she’s dating is weird.”

Mandy made a face. “Have you even met him?”

“What does that have to do with anything? James met him and doesn’t like him. That’s good enough for me.”

Mandy planted her hands on her hips. “You can’t dislike someone just to dislike them. That’s not fair. Heidi loves Clint. They’re living together.”

“I think he still has a thing for you.”

“Ugh. You’re such a pain,” Mandy muttered, shaking her head as she headed into the lingerie shop. “Now I wish I would’ve left you to paint with your brother and Jake. If this is what I get for rescuing you, I’m not doing it again.”

Now it was Ally’s turn to make a face. “There’s no reason to be snippy,” she said. “Now that we’ve argued I can legitimately explain to Jake that you were having emotional upheaval and today wasn’t really just about skipping out of work to go shopping.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“I do my best,” Ally said. “Come on. Let’s shop for naughty stuff. I promised Jake a genie costume, and if I’m going to get my wish tonight, he has to get his first.”

“And people say James and I are sick,” Mandy muttered, shaking her head. “You put me to shame.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Ally argued. “Come on. The day is wasting away. It’s time to shop.”

“
W
HAT ARE
you doing
?” James found Jake staring at a magazine in the kitchen about an hour after they started painting. The man disappeared upstairs to gather a few rags from the garage but didn’t return. “Are you taking work ethic cues from my sister or something?”

Jake’s grin was rueful as he hurriedly closed the magazine. “Sorry. I got distracted.”

James couldn’t be sure, but he was almost positive Jake was trying to hide something from him. The man seemed nervous about his unexpected appearance and he was trying to shove the magazine out of the way so James couldn’t see it. He was being subtle, but James was a professional.

“What’s this?” James swiftly grabbed the magazine and jerked it away from Jake. “Are you looking at porn? I’m going to be grossed out if you are. You’re dating my sister, after all. I have to stand up for her honor. Wait, this isn’t porn.”

“Porn?” Jake made a disgusted face as he snatched the magazine from his boss’s clutches. He liked and admired James a great deal. The man still knew how to get under his skin when he felt like it, though. “Why would I need porn when I have your sister?”

“There are two ways I could go with that statement and I don’t like either one,” James replied. “I saw you were trying to hide that from me and naturally assumed you were doing something you didn’t want me to see.”

Jake’s eyes flashed. “I was.”

“I see that.” James shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortable. “Do you want to talk about what I saw there?”

“Not really,” Jake replied. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really.”

“Good.”

The two men eyed each other for a moment. James was the first to break the uncomfortable silence.

“Are you going to propose to Ally?”

Jake blew out a frustrated sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew getting the ring catalog out was a bad idea. He had to be careful when Ally was around, though. He didn’t want to ruin the eventual surprise. He hadn’t considered the dangers associated with letting her brothers in on his plan. “I … yes.”

Instead of laughing, James smiled. The expression lit up his already handsome face as he clapped Jake on the shoulder. “I’m glad.”

“You are?”

“You’re already my brother in my heart, Jake,” James said. “Now you will be by marriage. Plus, it’s going to make all the filthy things you do with my sister less gross in my head if you marry her.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “How does that work?”

James shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said, opting for honesty. “I just want you to be my brother.”

Jake wanted to be irritated because of the other man’s snooping, but his words were so warm he couldn’t muster the energy. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Jake licked his lips a moment and then flipped open the catalog. “What do you think of this ring?”

James glanced at the huge bauble in question and shrugged. He wasn’t good at judging jewelry, which was only one of the reasons he was glad he had a sister. “It looks like a big ring.”

“I know that,” Jake said. “Do you think Ally will like it?”

“I don’t know,” James answered. “The thing is … rings are important to women. They pick one out when they’re teenagers and then they dream about it for the rest of their lives. I don’t know what Ally’s dream is.”

James’ answer didn’t seem to placate Jake. “How did you know what Mandy’s dream was? How did you get her the right ring?”

James shrugged. “Ally knew what Mandy’s dream was and she took me shopping.”

“What about Finn and Emma?” Jake asked, referring to the youngest Hardy brother and his fiancée. “How did he get the right ring?”

“Mandy took him shopping.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Jake muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “I want to get Ally the ring she’s been dreaming about forever. I don’t want to screw this up.”

“Take Mandy shopping with you,” James suggested. “She’ll know exactly what ring Ally wants.”

“I can’t take Mandy,” Jake protested. “She’ll tell Ally what I’m planning.”

James shook his head. “No, she won’t.”

“You’re always going on and on about how she has a big mouth,” Jake countered.

“She has a huge mouth,” James said. “She won’t spill the beans on this, though. She loves Ally too much to ruin her big day.”

Jake didn’t look convinced. “Are you sure?”

“I am sure that my wife cannot keep a little secret from Ally,” James replied. “She can, however, keep a big one because she knows this will be the happiest day of Ally’s life up until now.”

“I don’t know … . I need to think about it.”

James held up his hands. “It’s up to you,” he said. “I won’t tell her. Take a few days to think about it. I promise she can keep this a secret, though.”

Jake nodded as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Thanks. I just need a few days to think things over. We should get back downstairs before Grady goes nuts and paints the windows.”

James chuckled at the thought of his bored middle brother going overboard a floor below. It only took him a few moments to sober. “When are you going to propose?”

Jake groaned. “You’re like a woman. I swear. I don’t know yet. I have to get the ring first … and ask your father for permission to marry Ally … and plan the perfect date … it’s a lot.”

“See, you call me a woman, but only a woman would be worrying about stuff like that,” James said. “I think you’re a woman.”

“This day really bites,” Jake muttered. “Just … bites the big one.”

“Welcome to the family,” James shot back, chuckling as he evaded Jake’s punch. “Oh, this is going to be so great. I’ve always wanted another brother to pick on. My life is complete.”

“You’re such a tool.”

“
W
ELL
,
I’m officially broke,” Ally announced, her hands busy as she tried to organize three large bags as she left the lingerie store with Mandy. “We only went to one store, too. How did that happen?”

“We’re nothing if not consummate shoppers,” Mandy said, her own arms sagging under the weight of her purchases. “I say we take this out to the car and get lunch in the food court before hitting any more stores.”

“That sounds good to me,” Ally said. “I … oomph.” The brunette was so caught up in focusing on Mandy she didn’t notice the man in front of her until she was barreling into him.

Mandy reached for Ally’s arm to still her, but it was already too late. “Look out, Ally!”

“I am so sorry,” Ally sputtered, struggling to maintain her balance as she bounced off the man’s firm chest. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

The man chuckled as he bent over to collect the bag Ally dropped, his eyes widening when he saw the assortment of flavored oils she bought while inside the racy boutique. He hurriedly stuffed the assorted goodies back in the bag and wordlessly handed it to Ally. “I …um … it’s okay.”

“No, I wasn’t watching where I was going,” Ally said, taking the bag from the man. “I was talking to my friend and I wasn’t paying attention. I am so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” the man repeated. “I … Ally?”

Ally stilled, frowning as she finally took a moment to really study the man. Recognition took longer than it should’ve, but when Ally finally put two and two together she was flabbergasted. “Vince? Vince Dawkins?”

“One and the same,” Vince replied, shaking his head. “Holy crap.” He opened his arms and engulfed Ally in a huge hug, flashing Mandy a warm smile as she watched the scene with unveiled curiosity. “How long has it been?”

“Oh, wow, I don’t know,” Ally said, pulling her head back so she could meet Vince’s green eyes. “I think it’s been at least five years.”

“That sounds about right,” Vince said, bobbing his head. “Wow.”

“I’m sorry. This is my friend Mandy,” Ally said, pointing at the blonde. “We were just here shopping for the afternoon.”

“I saw,” Vince said, snickering as he gestured toward the bag. “Do you guys have big plans for the night or something?”

It took Ally a moment to realize what he was insinuating, and when she did she was less than pleased. “Don’t be gross,” she said. “Mandy is my childhood best friend. We grew up in Barker Creek together. She’s also married to my brother.”

“Oh,” Vince said, knitting his eyebrows together. “I thought maybe you switched teams … or were straddling the line. I was hoping for straddling the line.”

“What a guy thing to say,” Mandy intoned, realizing too late she’d said the sentence out loud instead of in her head. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I love guys … and the things they say.”

“You’re a babbler when you’re nervous,” Ally said, giggling. “For the record, though, I haven’t switched teams,” she said. “I’m still playing for the same team. Although if I was going to switch teams … .” She cast a thoughtful look in Mandy’s direction.