Deadly Secrets (Hardy Brothers Security Book 11) (2 page)

“I feel fat.”

“You don’t look fat.”

“I feel it.”

Mandy and Ally exchanged a look. “Okay, well, we’re going to leave you now,” Ally said. “Try not to look so miserable.”

“Yeah, show some pity on the kids,” Mandy teased. “They came here to get a photo with their dream … hey … isn’t that Jake?”

Ally lifted her head, interested. When she saw who Mandy was pointing at she initially smiled, and then followed it up with a frown when she caught sight of the attractive woman laughing and talking with him.

Ally had no idea who she was. She just knew the woman was smiling, and she was beautiful. Her long, auburn hair was hanging off the back of her shoulders, and she was tall enough to be a model. Jake looked friendly, like he always did, but his head was turned in so he could listen as the woman talked.

“I’m sure it’s just someone asking for information,” Mandy said, unsure. “I … .”

“He’s not doing anything,” Ally said.

“He’s not,” Mandy agreed.

“I’m sure you have nothing to worry about,” Emma said, nervous. “He … oh, is she touching him?”

“That did it,” Ally said, pushing through the crowd and heading in Jake’s direction. “I’m going to rip all of that gorgeous hair out of her head.”

Mandy and Emma exchanged a look.

“Uh-oh,” Emma said.

“I’d better follow her,” Mandy said. “It’s going to go over better if we both get arrested instead of just her.”

As if sensing Ally’s presence from across the room, Jake Harrison lifted his eyes and focused on his girlfriend as she headed his way. Her long, dark hair, a mass of flyaway waves, was streaming behind her, and the dark eyes he lost himself in every night as they fell asleep were bright.

She was beautiful.

“I can’t believe how lame this convention is.” The woman standing next to Jake hadn’t stopped talking since she sidled up to him. He’d known Cara Campbell for years, and she’d been a complainer all of that time. He was used to it, so he was tuning the majority of what she said out.

“It’s not bad,” Jake said. “It’s kind of fun to do something different.”

“You’ve always had an odd sense of fun,” Cara said.

He had, Jake internally agreed. The woman who was responsible for all the happiness – and fun – in his life now was almost upon him. “I just know what I like,” Jake said. He smiled at Ally when she stopped in front of him. “Hello, angel.”

Ally lifted her eyebrows. “I … .” Now that she was near Jake, she had no idea what to say. She didn’t want to make a scene. Well, she mostly didn’t want to make a scene.

“We just saw you while we were talking to Emma,” Mandy said, moving into the spot next to Ally smoothly. “Ally was excited to see you.”

Jake cocked an eyebrow. “You were?”

“Of course,” Ally said.

“You saw me this morning,” Jake reminded her.

“I know,” Ally said, unsure. “I just haven’t seen you at a comic book convention before.”

Jake made a face. “Okay.” He had no idea what was going on with Ally, but she seemed flustered. “What have you two been doing? I see Mandy has already been shopping.”

“We took a photo with Emma because she’s dressed up like a hot smurf,” Ally said. “We haven’t been shopping yet. James bought those for him and Mandy.”

“I’m almost afraid to ask,” Jake said. “What did he buy? Is it something weird and kinky? If it is, I don’t want to know.”

“He bought adult Underoos so he and Mandy can play Justice League later tonight,” Ally said.

“That’s weird and kinky,” Jake said. “I didn’t need to know it.”

“I didn’t mention the whip he wants her to get,” Ally said.

“And we’re done with this conversation,” Jake said, shooting an uncomfortable look in Cara’s direction. For her part, she was looking Ally up and down in a manner that worried him. “Oh, I’m sorry for being rude. Ally, Mandy, this is Cara Campbell. We’re old … friends.”

Ally narrowed her eyes. “Friends?”

“We know each other from our military days,” Jake said evasively. “We did some security work together while I was in the Army.”

“And we also dated,” Cara said, smiling in a sickly sweet manner. “We worked together and played together.”

Jake frowned.
What was going on here?
If he didn’t know better, he would think Cara was baiting Ally. That wasn’t going to go over well. “I … .”

“Well, we’re playing together now,” Ally said.

“And we’re working together again,” Cara replied, not missing a beat. “I guess we both get to play this time.”

Mandy put a hand on Ally’s arm to still her, worry clouding her sea-blue eyes. “Are you running security at the convention, too?”

Cara plastered a fake smile on her face and turned to Mandy. “I am,” she said. “I’m watching over the cast from
Vampire Garden
.”

“Oh, that sounds fun,” Mandy said, not meaning it.

“Oh, do you watch the show? If you want to meet any of them, I’m sure I could arrange it.” Cara was trying to be friendly, but her tone was grating.

“I hate that show,” Mandy said. “It’s stupid.”

“Isn’t everything here stupid?” Cara asked, wrinkling her nose disdainfully.

“No,” Mandy said.

Jake sensed things starting to slip out of his control. “How is Emma holding up?”

“Who is Emma?” Cara asked, slipping her fingers onto Jake’s forearm to make sure his attention was planted squarely on her.

Mandy could hear Ally’s teeth grinding together from a foot away.

“She’s Finn’s fiancée,” Jake said.

“And Finn is the Hardy brother with the short hair?” Cara asked.

Jake nodded.

“Why would she be here?” Cara asked.

“She’s a model,” Jake explained. “She gets hired for these things all the time.”

“She’s a model? That’s just … a huge waste of time.”

Ally didn’t like Cara’s dismissive attitude. “She works really hard.”

“Standing there and taking photographs with horny teenage boys?” Cara replied. “How hard can that be?”

“Now, wait just a second,” Mandy said.

“I think Cara was making a joke,” Jake interrupted. “It was a bad joke.”

“You can’t think being a model is a good way to spend your time,” Cara challenged.

“I think Emma has been through more than any one person should have to go through,” Jake replied, serious. “She had to support herself, and she’s managed to do it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what she does, and I’m impressed with how she’s managed to take care of herself given her past.”

“Oh, what, she was runner-up for prom queen instead of actual queen?”

“It’s none of your business,” Jake said. “Emma’s past is her own. You don’t need to be … you.”

Cara rolled her eyes. “You were always such a killjoy. I was just having a little fun.”

“No one else thinks it’s fun,” Jake said. He turned his attention back to Mandy and Ally. “I apologize for Cara’s … attitude. She’s always had a problem with other women.”

“I don’t have a problem with them,” Cara said. “I just don’t like to engage with them.” She smiled at Mandy and Ally again. “We don’t have a lot in common.”

“I can see why,” Ally grumbled.

Jake reached out and snagged her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. “What are you two going to do next? You should enjoy the passes James got for you.”

“James is the oldest one, right?” Cara asked.

“Yes.”

“He’s the hottest one.”

Mandy made a face. “He’s also married.”

“I noticed the ring on his finger.”

Jake’s clenched his jaw. “He’s married to Mandy.”

Cara didn’t look impressed. “Why?”

“Okay,” Jake said, pushing away from the wall and grabbing Ally and Mandy’s elbows. “Let’s go … look at something.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” Cara asked. “I don’t think your employer will be happy to know that you’re babysitting.”

James picked that moment to reappear. He’d been monitoring the situation for a few moments, and the hard set of Mandy’s shoulders told him things were about to go south. “Actually, I’m fine with Jake spending time with Ally,” he said, pulling Mandy toward him. “Things are under control, and there’s no reason he can’t spend some time with his girlfriend. I’m going to spend a little time with my wife right now, as a matter of fact.”

“You are?” Mandy was confused.

“I thought we’d go whip shopping,” James said. “You can tie me up with it later.”

“How many times do I have to tell you that Wonder Woman has a magic lasso, not a whip?”

“I just keep picturing a whip.” James tugged on Mandy, pulling her into his arms so he could give her a soothing hug and a small kiss on the forehead. “Come on. We can get something to drink and spend a few minutes together before I have to go back to work.”

Mandy opened her mouth to argue, but James silenced her with a small shake of his head. “Come on. Please?”

Mandy reluctantly let him lead her away.

“I’ll meet you over there in a few minutes,” Ally said.

Jake slipped his arm around Ally’s waist, trying to bolster her, before turning back to Cara. “If you’ll excuse us, I want to spend a little time with my angel.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Cara said, waving him off. “We’ll have plenty of time to catch up later. We have the whole weekend.”

Jake pressed his eyes shut briefly. “Great. Come on, Ally.”

Ally was furious by the time Jake isolated her behind a
Dungeons & Dragons
booth. “She is … .”

“Just trying to get under your skin,” Jake said, pushing Ally’s hair away from her face. “You’re making it really easy for her to do.”

“I don’t like her,” Ally said, crossing her arms over her chest. “She’s obviously interested in you. Well, of course, you two have that whole past together. You got to work and play together.”

Jake rubbed his forehead, weary. “We dated for like two weeks,” he said. “It wasn’t even really dating. It was more like … .”

Ally narrowed her eyes. “Sex?”

Jake wasn’t sure how to best answer the question, so he went with the truth. “Yes.”

“Well, great.”

“I’m not sure what you’re worried about here,” Jake said. “Are you worried I’m going to take up with a woman I spent two weeks with years ago?”

“I don’t know,” Ally sniffed. “She’s really pretty.”

Jake couldn’t help but smile. “You’re prettier, angel,” he said, leaning forward so he could brush his lips against the sensitive ridge of her ear.

“You think I’m prettier than her?” Ally wasn’t convinced. “Are you blind?”

“I think you’re the prettiest woman in the world,” Jake said, refusing to take the bait. “You have nothing to worry about, Ally. I don’t want anyone but you.”

Ally bit her lip, unconvinced. She and Jake had been together for more than six months now, but they were still only dating. Neither one of them had taken the next step in the relationship, the one where they said the big “L-word” and made things official. That hadn’t bothered Ally … until now. “I … .”

“Ally, I’m not going to let you make this a thing,” Jake said. “I had no idea Cara was even going to be here. When I saw her I took the opportunity to catch up. It’s not a big deal.”

Ally couldn’t help but wonder if she was being irrational. “How long has it been since you saw her?”

Jake cocked his head to the side, considering. “About five years.”

“And you haven’t, I don’t know, kept in touch on Facebook or anything?”

Jake smiled. “I’m not on Facebook. You know that. You keep sending me invitations and trying to get me to sign up.”

“I just want you to see all the cute photos I’m posting.”

“James shows them to me,” Jake said. “Right before he threatens to beat me to death.”

Ally pressed her lips together. “I think they’re sweet.”

“I don’t care what you post,” Jake said. “Well, that’s not entirely true. If anything shows me naked, you’re going to be in some serious trouble, missy.”

“I … I didn’t mean to get all territorial over there,” Ally said. “She’s just so … dismissive.”

“Why do you think I’m dating you and not her?” Jake asked, causing Ally’s heart to warm with pleasure. “Besides, I like it when you get territorial.” He pulled Ally into his arms and smoothed her hair as he rested his chin against the side of her head. “I don’t need a reminder of where I belong, though. This is the happiest place on Earth.”

Ally pulled back slightly, confused. “Detcon is the happiest place on Earth?”

Jake grinned. “No. Here … with your arms around me and your face pressed tight … that’s the happiest place on Earth.”

“Oh.”

“Oh,” Jake said, nodding. He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss. “You’re such a girl sometimes.”

“I should hope so,” Ally said. “If I was a boy that would mean you were fishing in the wrong pond.”

“There’s only one pond, angel,” Jake said. “There’s only one fish in it, too.”

Ally sighed and rested her head back against his chest. “Okay.”

Jake rocked her slightly, loving the way her body melded against his. He kept one eye on the convention as he held her, and when his gaze fell on Cara, he couldn’t help but frown. She was staring at the two of them, and the look on her face was troubling. She was looking at Ally like she was the enemy, and Jake as if he was the prize.

That couldn’t be good.