Deadly Ever After (Hardy Brothers Security Book 6) (5 page)

“This place is really shaping up,” Ally announced, glancing around the kitchen appreciatively. “Have you picked out furniture yet?”

It was Saturday, and since James was fed up with being cooped up in the apartment, Mandy had acquiesced and allowed a picnic at the new house. It was early June, and the pool had been uncovered the week before. Everyone was enjoying a barbecue and music outside, while Mandy and Ally did another walk through inside.

“We ordered it the other day,” Mandy replied.

“How did you manage that? Did you have to browbeat him?”

Mandy smiled at the memory. “Let’s just say I found another way to motivate him.”

Ally’s face wrinkled up in disgust. “Oh, you guys are so gross sometimes. You’re not going to be able to walk after your honeymoon.”

Mandy shrugged. She was fine with that. “I’m really happy with everything we picked out.”

“Did you get everything?”

“Not really,” Mandy said. “We got the big pieces. I figure, once we’re in here for a few weeks, the other stuff will fall into place. Decorations and art will be a whole other fight.”

“I actually have an idea about that,” Ally said, her eyes sparkling. “I stumbled on this great website the other day that is right up your alley.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, come outside,” she said. “My iPad is out there. I want to show you some stuff.”

Mandy followed Ally out onto the patio, stopping next to the grill long enough to give James a kiss and check on him. James accepted the kiss, but when she made a move for the bandage on his shoulder he grabbed her hand. “I’m fine.”

“I’m just checking,” Mandy said.

“I know,” James said. “Just FYI, the bandage is coming off so I can swim later.” He was already shirtless, his swim trunks riding low on his hips.

“Did the doctor say that was all right?”

“I said it was all right,” James said. “No arguments.”

Mandy opened her mouth.

“No arguments,” James repeated.

“Fine. If your shoulder gets infected and falls off, though, don’t you dare come crying to me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“I won’t be kissing it and making it better,” Mandy warned.

“Good,” James said, shooting her a saucy wink. “I have something else I want you to kiss later.”

“You two are sick,” Grady said, brushing past his brother and flicking Mandy’s ear. “It’s a good thing you’re taking a two-week honeymoon. We’re not going to be able to tolerate being around you during that time.”

“I’m really excited,” Mandy admitted. “I’d be even more excited if I knew where we were going.”

James kissed the tip of her nose. “Then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

“But … .”

“Go over there with the other hens and cluck with them,” James said, pointing to the lawn chairs where Ally was showing Sophie and Emma something on her iPad.

“Hens?”

“Cluck, cluck,” Grady teased.

Mandy shot Grady a look, but moved toward her friends.

Emma glanced up as she approached, her eyes sparkling. “Have you seen what Ally found?”

Mandy shook her head, now doubly curious. It was one thing for Ally to be excited – she was always excited. It was quite another for that excitement to be contagious. Emma was always much more contained than Ally.

“You’re going to love these,” Sophie said, shifting on her lounger so Mandy could settle next to her. “I don’t even like decorations and I think these are cool.”

Ally handed the iPad over to Mandy, watching smugly as her best friend realized what she was looking at.

“Are these what I think they are?”

“Yup.”

“Omigod!” Mandy was thrilled. She tapped on the screen to get a closer look. “Ally, I … these are amazing.”

“I know.”

The sound of happy chatter and squealing was enough to capture James’ attention. He handed the spatula to Grady, instructing him to watch the burgers on the grill, and then moved to the spot behind his fiancée so he could watch over her shoulder. “What are we looking at?”

“It’s a website I found,” Ally said. “It’s art prints – a lot of them from movies – and you can get them put on stretched canvases.”

James wrinkled his brow and took a closer look. “What movie is that from?”

“It’s not technically a movie,” Mandy said. “It’s from the
Lord of the Rings
books.”

“It looks like a high-end landscape,” James said. “Well, except for those little tiny people, and the wizard on the road in front of the hobbit holes. It is kind of cool.”

“I want these for my office,” Mandy admitted.

“Go for it.”

Mandy tapped on the screen again. “Look at this one.”

“It’s a castle,” James said.

“It’s Hogwarts.”

“Hogwarts?”

“Think about it,” Ally sneered.

“From Harry Potter?” James was nonplussed. “Where are you going to put that?”

“The hallway upstairs.”

James was already shaking his head.

“Come on,” Mandy pleaded. “It looks like an art print. It’s not like it’s a movie poster.”

James sighed. She was too excited for him to say no. “It is pretty neat looking,” he conceded. “We can’t use these in every room of the house, though.”

“You haven’t seen the whole website,” Mandy said. “Look at this for the saloon in the guesthouse.” Mandy tapped on the screen again.

Despite himself, James couldn’t fight the smile spreading across his face. “Is that what I think it is?”

“If you mean John Wayne movies expressed as art, then yes.”

James loved old westerns. “Let me see that.” He took the tablet from her and started clicking on offerings. “Oh, cool.”

“Add what you want to the shopping cart,” Mandy instructed. “Don’t buy anything yet. I’m not done.”

James narrowed his eyes and clicked on the little icon at the top of the screen. There were already ten items selected for purchase. “We’re going to go broke on this website.”

Mandy faltered. “I’ll pay for them.”

James rubbed her back. “I was just kidding.” The change in her demeanor gave him pause. “Hey, where are all the condiments we bought?”

“Oh, I left them in your Explorer,” Mandy said, jumping to her feet. “I’ll be right back.”

James watched her go, turning to Ally the moment she disappeared inside the house. “I don’t have a lot of time, so you’re going to give me some quick answers.”

Ally was puzzled. “About what?”

“She says she wants a small wedding,” James said. “I’m worried that she doesn’t want to spend a lot of money. Does she want a big wedding? I want her to have what she really wants.”

Ally smiled, love for her brother bubbling up. The fact that he was so concerned about making things perfect for her best friend on their big day filled her with adoration. “I asked her the same thing,” Ally said. “It was right before you got shot, in fact. She doesn’t want a big wedding. In fact, she’s really worried that her mom is going to take over and ruin everything for her. She knows what she wants, and it doesn’t happen to coincide with the big extravaganza her mother wants.”

James sighed, relieved. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“I just … I just need to make sure that everything is perfect for her,” James said.

“She’s more excited about decorating the house,” Ally replied truthfully. “She doesn’t care about the wedding. I mean, she wants to be married to you, but the wedding is just a detail. She wants happily ever after. She doesn’t care about the kickoff party.”

James smirked. “You have such a way with words.”

Jake moved behind Ally, dropping a kiss on top of her head as he rubbed her shoulders. “She has had a lot of practice because her mouth is always moving.”

James was getting used to seeing his employee fawning over his sister, but he still wasn’t completely comfortable with their overt flirting. “Don’t get fresh with my sister in front of me.”

“How is rubbing her shoulders getting fresh?” Jake was confused.

“Because, whenever James gives Mandy a massage, it leads to sex,” Ally supplied.

“Ally,” James growled.

“Well, it’s true,” Ally said.

“I promise we won’t have sex at your house,” Jake said, miming a cross on his chest and holding three fingers up in a mock salute.

“Hey, I didn’t promise that,” Ally said.

Sophie and Emma giggled, enjoying the show.

“What’s going on over there?” Grady asked from his spot beside the grill. “It sounds like I’m missing the fun.”

“James is worried that Jake and Ally are going to have sex here before he gets a chance to,” Sophie teased.

“I am not,” James protested.

“Whatever,” Ally said, rolling her eyes and jumping to her feet. “Are we going to eat soon? I’m starving.”

TWO HOURS
later, James had made the rounds and locked up the house. Everyone else had left, flirty intentions evident on their faces, suggestive whispers wafting through the wind. James had encouraged Grady and Finn with winks, and he’d ignored the situation with Jake and Ally. He was still getting used to their relationship – and he was doing it with baby steps.

James scanned the patio, making sure nothing had been left behind that might attract scavengers. When he was sure everything was clean, he made his way to the guesthouse. He found Mandy standing in the space they’d earmarked for her studio. He stood in the doorway, happy just watching her walk around the room.

The first time they’d had dinner together, Mandy had admitted a long-held secret: She wanted to be an artist someday. Because she was who she was, she insisted on being pragmatic about it. Even though they could afford it, she refused to leave her day job. Instead of arguing the point, James had decided to pick his battles. He figured he’d revisit the idea of her quitting her job at the county courthouse so she could pursue her artistic endeavors fulltime again in a few months. Now definitely wasn’t the time.

“What are you thinking?”

Mandy jumped at the sound of his voice, so lost in her reverie that she hadn’t heard him approach. “I was just … daydreaming.”

James nodded, moving behind her and slipping his arms around her waist. “Was I part of those daydreams?”

“You’re always part of my daydreams,” Mandy said, rubbing his joined hands at her midsection.

“Do I have a starring role? Or am I a supporting player?” James teased.

“Your name is before the title.”

James kissed her temple. “Do we have a twin-billing?”

Mandy shifted in his arms, turning so she could face him. “Someone is feeling playful.”

“I’m always feeling playful,” James said, pulling her lithe body against his. “I might be feeling a little adventurous this evening, though.”

“And why is that?”

“Well, it occurs to me that we haven’t had a chance to christen the new house yet,” James admitted.

“I thought that’s what we were going to do after the honeymoon? The honeymoon you won’t tell me anything about, mind you.”

James ignored the pointed jab. “What if I have a compromise?”

“And what would that compromise be?”

“Well, I was thinking we could christen the guesthouse tonight, and leave the main house for after the honeymoon.”

Mandy arched an eyebrow. “You want to do it here?”

James unsnapped Mandy’s shorts and slipped his hand inside, smiling as she shifted at his insistent touch. “I want to do it here.”

“You want to do it now?”

James rubbed the sensitive nerve bundle at the center of her being, causing her to moan. “I want to do it now.”

“Where?”

James covered her mouth with his, dragging her to the floor. “Right here.”

“You’ll get rug burn,” Mandy said, giggling as she watched him strip his shirt off.

“I’ll survive.”

“I’ll get rug burn on my ass,” she teased.

“You’ll survive.”

Mandy’s fingertips rubbed across the top of James’ fresh bandage on his shoulder. “I should be on top.”

James shook his head. “You’ve been on top for the past week.”

“But … .”

James kissed her again. “No buts.” He slipped his hand beneath her rear and squeezed. “Well, maybe one … butt.”

Mandy met James’ earnest expression with a soft smile. “I love you, James.”

“You’re my whole heart, baby,” James said, lowering himself on top of her. “Now, no more talk. We have a guesthouse to christen. If you play your cards right, we can christen the bar downstairs later on tonight.”

“Huh, look at that, I think I have a full house.” Mandy’s eyes were sparkling.

“I fold,” James said, crushing her lips with a full kiss. “You win.”

By the time Monday morning rolled around, Mandy was reluctant to leave James alone. The look on his face when she’d voiced her concerns was enough to tell her that she was being overbearing. So, despite her misgivings, she’d given him a quick kiss goodbye, promised not to wear underwear to work to give him something to fantasize about, and then made her way to the courthouse.

It took her almost an hour to catch up on her correspondence. Since she’d taken two days off the previous week, she was behind. Her boss, Judge MacIntosh, appeared in her doorway about a half hour before she was expected to arrive in his courtroom.

“Hello.”

Mandy jumped at the sound of his voice. “Hi,” she said, catching her breath. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

The judge chuckled as he stepped into her office. “I didn’t mean to alarm you. I’m guessing, after your eventful week, you’re a little edgy.”

“I’m … James says I’m being a mother hen.”

“And how is Mr. Hardy?”

“He’s sick of me,” Mandy admitted. “He thinks I’m hovering.”

“Well, when the person you love gets shot, I think hovering is in order,” MacIntosh said. “How is his recovery?”

“He’s fine,” Mandy replied. “I mean, he was shot, but the wound isn’t too bad.”

“It’s still scary to think about.”

“I didn’t handle it very well,” Mandy admitted.

“No one expects you to, my dear,” MacIntosh said. “When you love someone, all reason goes right out the window.”

“James hasn’t been handling things all that well either.”

“Well, perhaps you should remind Mr. Hardy about his breakdown when you were injured,” MacIntosh suggested. “As I remember, he didn’t exactly handle that situation like a professional. You’re both allowed to worry.”

“He handled that situation better than I did,” Mandy said, her mind traveling back to another meltdown.

“You were on heavy medication,” the judge said. “You had every reason to be confused and upset.”

Mandy smiled, affection for the judge welling in her heart. “I think you always just like being on my side.”

“That’s a distinct possibility.”

“Thank you,” Mandy said.

“Thank you,” the judge said. “Oh, by the way, I got my invitation to the wedding. My wife already sent the RVSP back. We’re both very excited.”

“It’s not going to be a big deal,” Mandy cautioned. “I … I just wanted something small. Just close friends and family.”

“Well then, I’m gratified to have made the cut,” MacIntosh said, smiling warmly. “If you ask me, the smaller and more intimate a wedding, the more heartfelt it is.”

“It’s not that,” Mandy said. “I just don’t want a big hoopla. My mom does, and we’re still kind of fighting about it. I just want the people I love most in the world to be there. It’s a private moment – or at least it should be. I don’t know.”

“I think it’s your wedding,” the judge said. “If you want a small wedding, you should have a small wedding.”

“My mom disagrees.”

“Have you tried talking to her?”

“Yes,” Mandy said. “I’m an only child, though. This is her only shot. James’ parents are fine with a small wedding. They know their daughter is going to have a huge wedding. She loves being the center of attention. My mom is having … issues.”

“And you feel guilty,” MacIntosh supplied.

“I feel … conflicted.”

“When it comes down to it, this is still
your
wedding,” MacIntosh said. “You should get what you want. Your mother is just going to have to understand.”

“I happen to agree with her mother.”

Mandy glanced up as Heidi, one of her close courthouse friends, breezed into the office.

“Thank God you’re back,” Heidi announced. “I was bored out of my mind without you.”

Judge MacIntosh chuckled. “Heidi was at loose ends last week. I don’t think I’m quite the fountain of gossip you are.”

“Oh, you had good gossip,” Heidi said. “It’s just not the same. Mandy has funny stories to tell about the Hardy brothers – and that just gets my motor running.”

Judge MacIntosh frowned. “I was under the impression that all the Hardys were spoken for these days.”

“That doesn’t stop me from dreaming,” Heidi said.

“Ah.”

Mandy smiled. Heidi’s enthusiasm was often contagious. Unfortunately, she was also tragically cursed when it came to finding someone of her own to love. Mandy promised herself that as soon as she returned from her honeymoon, hooking Heidi up with an appropriate man was on the top of her to-do list.

“What are you going to do for gossip when I’m on my honeymoon?” Mandy asked.

Heidi frowned. “You can’t go on a honeymoon.”

“Oh, I’m going on a honeymoon,” Mandy said. “I’m more excited about the honeymoon than I am about the wedding.”

“Has James told you where you’re going yet?”

“Nope. He refuses. It’s like a game to him.”

“Go through his stuff,” Heidi suggested. “He must have hints hidden somewhere.”

“That doesn’t sound like a good idea,” MacIntosh mused. “That’s an invasion of privacy.”

“It is,” Mandy agreed. “Besides, I already did. James caught me. He thinks it’s funny.”

MacIntosh chuckled. “I think the more manic you get about it, the funnier he’s going to think it is.”

“He’s sick like that,” Mandy said, nodding as an idea suddenly occurred to her. “Maybe you could ask him?”

The face Judge MacIntosh made was almost comical. “Excuse me?”

“He can’t say no to you,” Mandy said. “You’re a judge. He has to tell you. It’s the law.”

“Mandy, I don’t … .”

Mandy was already dialing.

“What’s up, baby?” James asked, answering the phone with what sounded like a smile. “If you’re calling to check up on me already, I’m going to hang up.”

“I’m not,” Mandy said. “I know you’re fine.”

“Are you still going commando?”

“Yes.”

“Are you calling for a reason?”

“Yes,” Mandy said. “Judge MacIntosh wants to talk to you.”

There was a pause on the other end of the phone. “He does?”

“Yes. Hold on a second.” Mandy handed the phone over to the judge, who looked like he wanted to be doing anything but the task at hand. He was resigned, though.

“Mr. Hardy?”

Mandy couldn’t hear James’ end of the conversation, but she was mildly excited to hear Judge MacIntosh’s.

“Yes, it’s good to talk to you, too,” the judge said. “I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better … no, she hasn’t been obsessing … no, she’s not asking me to find out how you are.”

Mandy was getting impatient.

“The reason I’m calling is … well … I don’t suppose you can tell me where you’re going on your honeymoon, can you?” Judge MacIntosh’s face was flushed. “I understand that. Yes. Yes. No. I don’t think she’s losing her mind. Well … I don’t think she’s being unreasonable.”

The judge was silent for a few moments, listening. When he spoke again, Mandy didn’t like his tone. “No, I agree.” He handed the phone back to her. “He wants to talk to you.”

Mandy scowled. “How mad did he sound?”

MacIntosh couldn’t hide his smirk. “I think you’ll be okay.”

Mandy sighed, holding the phone back up to her ear. “What?”

“Well, that was a new low,” James said.

“You can’t say no to a judge,” Mandy said. “You have to tell him the truth.”

“Only if you’re under oath,” James said. “And I’m not.”

“Why won’t you just tell me?”

“Because then it wouldn’t be a surprise,” James said. “Shouldn’t you be working?”

“I am working.”

“It doesn’t sound like it.”

“I … I hate you.”

“I love you, too,” James said, disconnecting.

“WHY
is it that the day always seems to be longer when you’ve had a long weekend?” Mandy complained. She and Heidi were making their way through the main-floor lobby and toward the front door of the courthouse building.

“I would think being back to work would be a relief,” Heidi said, sending a flirty wink in the direction of a local defense lawyer as they passed. “It’s not like you were having sexy time with James. He was shot.”

Mandy’s face colored. “It’s not a serious injury.”

Heidi barked out a laugh. “You had sex with a guy who had just been shot?”

Heidi’s voice carried under the best of circumstances – which these were not. Mandy scowled. “Maybe you should speak up, I’m not sure that the guy shining shoes over there in the corner heard you.”

Heidi looked apologetic. “Sorry.”

Mandy tried to ignore the curious stares of the two men standing by the glass-vestibule doors. She had no doubt they’d heard Heidi’s exclamation. Her reputation was bound to take a hit now.

Once they were on the front steps of the courthouse, Mandy turned on Heidi. “I will never get over that,” she hissed. “People heard you.”

“I’m sorry,” Heidi said, rummaging through her purse.

“That doesn’t make it better.”

“I said I was sorry,” Heidi said, her voice whiny. “What more do you want? Oh, crap.”

Mandy watched as a tube of Heidi’s lipstick tipped over the edge of her purse and landed on the pavement. The look of chagrin on Heidi’s face made Mandy feel guilty, so she bent over to pick up the lipstick. At the same moment she did, the potted plant on the wall above her head exploded, sending pottery shards in a million different directions.

“What the … ?”

“Get down!”

Mandy had no idea who was yelling, but instinct took over. She grabbed Heidi’s arm and yanked her down on the ground next to her, taking cover behind the brick wall that surrounded the first-floor walkway.

“What’s going on?” Heidi’s eyes were brimming with fear – and tears.

“I don’t know,” Mandy gasped. “I think I was just shot at.”

JAMES
couldn’t control his racing heartbeat as he jumped from his Explorer and ran up the steps to the courthouse. He’d parked illegally, leaving his vehicle in a loading zone. He didn’t care if they ticketed him. He had to see Mandy – and he had to see her now.

He scanned the lobby when he stepped inside, his gaze immediately landing on a group of people milling about near the elevators. James strode toward them purposely, the assembled masses parting when they saw the look on his face.

Mandy was in the center, sitting in a chair and rubbing Heidi’s back as the court stenographer breathed in and out of a brown paper bag. Mandy saw James seconds after he caught sight of her. She jumped out of the chair and launched herself at him. James caught her in mid-air, pulling her tight against his chest.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know,” Mandy said. “It all happened so fast.”

“Someone was shooting from the roof of the building across the street.”

James turned, recognizing the security guard who was speaking immediately. “Clint.”

“Mr. Hardy.”

James kept Mandy pressed to him. “Were there any witnesses?”

Clint shrugged. “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask the police.”

James nodded. He’d figured as much. He pushed Mandy’s haphazard hair away from her face. “How close were you?”

“I … not that close.”

She was lying. James knew it. “How close were you?”

Mandy was silent, unsure.

“Mandy?”

“If she hadn’t bent down to pick up Heidi’s lipstick, she would have been shot in the head,” Clint supplied.

James’ heart rolled painfully as Mandy shot Clint a dark look.

“God,” he breathed, pulling Mandy so close she was having trouble breathing. “I can’t … I just … dammit!”

“She’s not having the best luck,” Clint agreed.

Judge MacIntosh appeared at James’ side. “How are they?”

“Lucky,” James said, his tone grim.

“I’m okay,” Mandy protested. “Heidi is still hyperventilating.”

“You’re not okay,” James argued. “Someone tried to kill you.”

“Someone tried to kill us,” Mandy corrected.

James stilled. He’d already figured that out himself. “I know.”

“What are we going to do?”

“I don’t suppose putting you in a metal bubble is an option, is it?”

Mandy shook her head. “Be serious.”

He didn’t tell her that he was being serious. He glanced at MacIntosh. “What do you think?”

“I think one of you has an enemy,” he said.

“It’s got to be me,” James said. “I was the one targeted first. When that didn’t work, they went after her.”

“Any ideas?” MacIntosh asked.

“I don’t have a clue,” James said. “I just … .” He glanced down at Mandy’s concerned face, reaching up to smooth the worry lines between her eyebrows. “It’s going to be okay.”