Deadly Ever After (Hardy Brothers Security Book 6) (12 page)

James’ eyebrows knit together in confusion. “What?”

“Oh, don’t even,” Mandy warned. “I looked the other way while you flirted with that clerk so you could see the video. You promised.”

James pinched her rear playfully. “I have no problem massaging you. I happen to like it. Besides, the clerk wasn’t interested in me.”

“She wasn’t?”

James glanced across the room. “Nope. She was interested in Jake.”

Jake scowled, moving his head swiftly as Ally reared around to fix him with a hard look.

“She asked if he was tied down,” James continued. “I told her he was still up for grabs.”

“Thanks, man,” Jake growled.

“What did you tell her?” Ally asked, focusing on Jake.

“I told her that I already had an angel,” he said, lacing his fingers through hers. “She was very understanding.”

James snorted, meeting Mandy’s conflicted gaze as she sidled up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He knew what she was thinking. She was worried. She was worried about the story he had told, and the man out there stalking their present because of deeds long since forgotten in the past. He kissed her softly, rubbing his thumb over her cheekbone. “It’s going to be okay, baby,” he murmured. “I promise.”

Mandy nodded, resting her head against his chest. “I know.”

“I won’t let anyone hurt you,” James said.

“I’m more worried about you than me,” Mandy admitted.

“Why is that?”

“He’s scared of us now,” Mandy said. “We told him Ally had rabies. I don’t think he’ll be coming after us again. Hey, maybe you should tell him you have Ebola? Then he won’t want to come near you.”

James barked out a laugh. “God, I love you.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

James glanced up from the magazine he was flipping through, finding Mandy’s blue eyes on him as she stood in the doorway between the bedroom and living room. He dropped the magazine on the nightstand. “Not really. You clearly do, though.”

“We don’t have to,” Mandy said, shedding her plush shark robe on the floor and climbing into the bed next to him. She was wearing his favorite panties, the cotton ones that had the word “Jawesome” spread across her rounded rear, and one of those knit tank tops that clung to her in such a manner that absolutely nothing was left to the imagination.

James reached over, tugging the thin strap of her tank top so he could get a peek inside. “Good.”

Mandy reached up, brushing his hair off his forehead. “You really do need a haircut.”

“I know,” James said, rolling over and resting his chin on her chest. “I’ll get one. I promise. Ally has threatened to do it herself if I don’t.”

Mandy smirked, her hand travelling down to his injured shoulder. He had stopped wearing the gauze two days before, and the wound was healing nicely. In two weeks, it would be nothing but a thin, white scar, and a huge bag of emotional turmoil. Mandy ran her thumb over it thoughtfully.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that you’ve had some hard times,” Mandy said. “I never really let myself think about what you went through when you were overseas. I guess I didn’t want to.”

“I guess we’re going to talk about it,” James said, sighing.

“We don’t have to.”

James’ shoulders shook with silent laughter. “If it’s one thing I know about you, you’re not going to just let it go. So, if I want to get you out of that tank top – you know that thing drives me crazy, by the way, so I know that was your plan – we’re going to have to talk about it.”

“If you don’t want to, I understand,” Mandy said. “I can take the tank top off right now. It’s not a big deal.”

James stilled her hands as she reached for the strap. He’d never be able to concentrate if she was naked. “What do you want to know?”

“What aren’t you telling me?”

James furrowed his brow. “I don’t understand.”

“There’s something else,” Mandy said softly. “You told us most of the story, but there’s something you’re holding back.”

“I’m not holding anything back,” James said. “I promise you that. It’s more … I feel guilty.”

“You couldn’t save him, baby,” Mandy said.

“I know that,” James said. “It was either one dead body or four. That’s not what I feel guilty about.”

Mandy waited, running her hands over James’ strong shoulders.

“It’s the other part,” James said. “The part where I haven’t thought about them in years. That doesn’t seem right to me. I mean, we were in a tiny room, practically on top of each other. Jeff’s head was in Tony’s lap when he died. I was holding his hand. How do I forget something like that?”

“You didn’t forget,” Mandy countered. “You put it behind you. It’s not like you could fix it. What good does feeling guilty do?”

“I know,” James said. “The guilt is still there. Jeff was a good guy. He was funny. He was always quick with a joke, and he was a great basketball player. Someone told me he got a scholarship to Notre Dame because he was so good, but he deferred because he wanted to serve his country.”

“It’s sad,” Mandy said. “He sounds like an amazing guy. I still don’t understand how this Tony guy blames you. Maybe at first, when the loss was still fresh and he was feeling irrational, but now? I mean, how long has it been?”

“About six years,” James said, his eyes thoughtful.

“I know you feel bad for Tony,” Mandy said. “We’re fairly sure he’s trying to kill us, though, so I need you not to feel too bad for him.”

James raised his head. “Meaning?”

“Don’t be so off your game that you make yourself an easy mark,” Mandy said. “If you die on me, I’ll throw myself off a bridge to follow you.”

James rolled his eyes.

“I’m not joking,” Mandy warned. “If I don’t have you, I don’t want to live.”

“Don’t ever say anything like that again,” James said.

“Then don’t die.”

“I promise not to die,” James said, leaning forward. “Now, strip.”

“I thought you were going to do that for me,” Mandy said, yawning as she stretched out on the bed. “I’m awfully tired.”

James grabbed the strap of the tank top with his teeth. “I can guarantee you won’t be tired for very long.”

“HOW
are we the ones who have to go on the road trip again?”

Grady glanced over at Sophie. She was sitting in the passenger seat of his truck, her head resting against the window, her hands busily moving across her cellphone screen. “I volunteered us.”

“Why?”

“Because someone had to drive to Ohio and check out this guy’s house,” Grady said.

“He’s not at his home, though,” Sophie pointed out. “He’s in Michigan. That’s how he keeps shooting at people – and accosting them in front of bridal shops.”

“We don’t know for sure that he’s the one who did the shooting,” Grady cautioned.

Sophie’s face contorted with exaggerated outrage. “What?”

“Okay, the odds of it being someone else are pretty slim,” Grady conceded. “We still have to be sure.”

“And that’s why we’re driving to Ohio?”

“Yes.”

Sophie’s phone dinged and she glanced down at the screen.

“Who is it?” Grady asked.

“Peter,” she said. “He says he will see what information he can find.”

“Great.”

“He’s doing us a favor,” Sophie reminded him.

“I know.”

“He doesn’t have to help us at all.”

“I know.”

“You need to be nice to him.”

“I’m perfectly pleasant to him,” Grady said through gritted teeth.

“Pleasant is not nice.”

“It could be worse.”

Sophie made a face. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Like what?”

“What are we going to do in Ohio?”

“I told you, we’re going to Tony’s house so we can look around,” Grady replied.

“Are we going to break in?”

“Are you opposed to that?”

“No,” Sophie said. “I think it sounds fun. Are we going to kick in the door?”

Grady smirked. “I thought we would do something a little less obvious,” he said.

“Like what?”

“You’re asking a lot of questions today,” Grady mused.

“That’s my job.”

“Speaking of, did your boss give you crap about taking the next few days off?”

“I’ve got enough sick days banked to take the rest of the year off,” Sophie said. “He’s fine with it. He was curious, but he didn’t pry too much. I told him it could turn into a big story, so he encouraged me to go.”

“You lied to him?”

“Hey, this could turn into a big story if there’s an arrest,” Sophie said. “It’s not a lie.”

“Ah.”

“It’s not a lie,” Sophie repeated.

“Fine, it’s not a lie.”

Sophie blew a disgusted raspberry, causing Grady to laugh.

“What else are we going to do?” Sophie asked. “I’m assuming we’ll question the neighbors.”

“We might as well,” Grady said. “I reserved a hotel room.”

Sophie’s eyes widened. “We’re staying the night?”

“Why? Are you going to turn into a pumpkin at midnight?”

“No,” Sophie said, shifting in her seat. “It’s just that … .”

Grady waited.

“I’ve never stayed at a hotel in another state before,” she said. “Actually, I’ve never stayed at a hotel in any state.”

Grady, his eyes initially on the rearview mirror, shifted his attention to his girlfriend. “Are you kidding?”

Sophie’s face colored. “No.”

“How is that possible?”

“I’ve never had the opportunity,” Sophie said.

Grady’s mouth tipped up into a lazy grin. “You’re excited.”

“I am not,” Sophie said.

“You’re excited,” Grady said, pleasure rippling through his chest. It wasn’t very often that he caught her off guard, and the idea of romancing her in a way that no one else ever had made him practically giddy.

“Fine,” Sophie said. “I’m excited. Are you happy?”

“Not yet,” Grady said. “I will be later tonight, though.”

“And why is that?” Sophie’s arms were crossed over her chest, her face pointed out the side window.

“Because I reserved a room with a hot tub,” Grady said.

Sophie’s mouth dropped open, her eyes sparkling. She was no longer interested in playing it cool. “Really?”

“Really,” Grady said.

Sophie caught herself before squealing. “Well, that sounds nice.”

“Oh, sugar, it’s going to be nice,” Grady promised. “Now that I know this is a big deal for you, it’s going to be very nice.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Sophie countered. “It’s … it’s just a night.”

“Oh, baby doll, it’s going to be the best night of your life when I’m done,” Grady said. “Where do you want to eat?”

“How should I know,” Sophie said. “We don’t even know what restaurants are there. Whatever we stumble across is fine.”

“Nah,” Grady said, shaking his head. “I have a better idea.”

“Are you going to tell me what it is?”

“Nope.”

“Why?”

“Because then it wouldn’t be a surprise,” Grady said.

“Surprises are highly overrated,” Sophie said, pouting.

“This one won’t be,” Grady promised, his mind working overtime for ideas. Somehow, the thought of room service and a hot tub had turned this from an annoying task to an exciting adventure.

“Oh, just tell me,” Sophie pleaded.

“No.”

“Please?”

“No.”

Sophie bit her bottom lip. “I’ll take my top off while you’re driving if you tell me.”

Grady considered the option, almost giving in before his resolve strengthened. “No.”

Sophie faced the window, her mind busy. Finally, another idea sprang to the forefront. She unfastened her seatbelt and slid over further in the seat, her hand creeping over the console and running across the front of Grady’s jeans.

“What are you doing?” Grady asked, shifting as her hand rubbed against him.

“Who says I’m doing anything?”

“Um, that tent growing in my pants.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m not telling you,” Grady said.

“I didn’t say a thing.”

“I’m not … oh … stop that right now.”

“Do you really want me to stop?”

Grady sighed. “No.”

“So, do you want to tell me about the surprise?” Sophie pressed.

“No.”

Sophie tightened her hand. “Are you sure?”

Grady groaned, but held strong. “I’m sure.”

Sophie unzipped his pants and reached inside, finding him quivering in anticipation. “Are you absolutely sure? Hey, what are you doing?”

“We’re stopping at this rest stop,” Grady said. “We’re going to finish what you started. I’m not going to tell you the surprise, and you’re still going to have the best night of your life.”

Sophie sighed. “Fine.”

“Oh, sugar, it’s going to be better than fine,” Grady said. “Take your pants off.”

“You’re so romantic.”