James smirked. “See, now this is the kind of fight I like to have,” he said. “You pretend to be mad about something, you pout for a little bit, and then we get to make up for hours. You’re a genius, baby.”
Mandy wrinkled her nose. “What makes you think I’m pretending to be angry?”
“Because you can’t possibly be mad because I’m mildly curious to see if the wax figure is anatomically correct,” James replied. “That would be a silly thing to be mad about.”
Mandy shifted, uncomfortable. She hated it when he made sense. “Fine. I’m not mad. Check your dream woman out. I’m going over to the sports section to see if I can find my dream man.”
James cocked his head to the side. “And who would that be?”
“Rafael Nadal.”
“The tennis player?”
“Yes.”
“Knock yourself out,” James said. “We’ll meet you over there in a second.”
“Great.”
Grady winked at Sophie as she started to move away with Mandy. “You’re not upset, right?”
“Of course I’m not upset,” Sophie said. “I’m just going to take my normal boobs and go with Mandy. Don’t worry, though, I’m going to be the only one touching them for the foreseeable future.”
James and Grady watched the women in their lives flounce off, and then they burst into laughter at the same time. “I like how fiery they are,” James said.
“I didn’t really want to see if she was anatomically correct,” Grady said. “I just wanted to get Sophie fired up. I know she hates the Kardashians.”
“Who are you lying to?” James asked. “I know very well you want to see if she’s anatomically correct. We’ve already come this far. We might as well look.”
Grady cast a quick glance around to see if anyone was watching, and then he tugged the dress out. “Huh. You know what? I prefer the real thing.”
James grinned. “Me, too. Let’s go find the girls so we can beg them to see their boobs.”
“You’re a sick man.”
“SO, did you find someone better than me while I was gone?” Grady asked, swooping in and giving Sophie a quick kiss before she could push him away.
“I haven’t decided yet,” Sophie said. “I have a lot of options, though. Look. I could have my pick of the whole New England Patriots football team. Do you think they’re really packing like that, or are they wearing cups?”
Grady scowled. “I get it. I’m a terrible man. You can spank me later.”
“I’m not mad at you,” Sophie said. “It’s a natural curiosity. You want to see something better than what you already have.”
“Nothing is better than you, sugar,” Grady said. “I was just screwing around.”
“It’s fine,” Sophie said. “I’m not offended. I know I’ll never look like that.”
Grady sighed, exasperated. “You’re the most beautiful woman in the world. I wouldn’t want you to look like that. I’m really sorry if I made you feel bad. I … I’m sorry.”
Sophie fought to keep her face drawn, but she lost the battle. “Mandy was right. You just totally fell for that.”
Grady stilled. “What?”
“She said if I picked a small fight with you it would be worth my while because you would be agreeable to making up later,” Sophie said. “I didn’t believe her at first. I do now.”
Grady made a face. “You were playing me?”
“Of course I was,” Sophie said. “I know very well you love me. I would like to believe, even if someone famous and beautiful was naked in the same room with you, I would still be your top choice.”
“You’re my only choice,” Grady said. “That being said, I’m going to be the one spanking you tonight for making me feel bad.”
“That sounds fun,” Sophie said, pressing her lips to his lightly.
“Oh, you two are so cute,” James said, joining them. “I see you made up.”
“Your wife told her to play me so we could fight and then have make-up sex,” Grady said. “How do you feel about that?”
“I enjoy it when my wife picks a minor fight,” James said. “It puts her in a mood. I like it. Speaking of my wife, where is she? I need to start making inroads if I’m going to get what I want tonight.”
“Oh, right, like she’s ever turned you down,” Grady said.
“I still like to play the game,” James said. “Where is she?”
Sophie glanced over her shoulder, her brow wrinkling. “I … she was just here. She couldn’t find that tennis player she wanted to see.”
“Where did she go?”
“I don’t know.”
James’ stomach flipped. “She wouldn’t just wander off. She knows that would drive me crazy.”
“She probably didn’t mean to,” Sophie said. “She has to be around here somewhere.”
“I’m going to kill her,” James said. “I swear. I’m going to … hug the crap out of her, and then I’m going to kill her. I’m going to be gray by the time I hit forty. You know that, right? It’s because of her. She scares the crap out of me.”
“Let’s not freak out,” Grady said. “We’ll split up and look for her. I’ll take Sophie with me.”
“Um, aren’t you guys missing the easiest course of action?” Sophie asked, raising her hand to still them.
“And what is that?” James asked.
“She has her phone. Why don’t you just call her?”
“Oh,” James said, reaching into his pocket. “Well, I would have eventually thought of that.”
Sophie rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you would have.”
MANDY didn’t realize she was turned around until she found herself in the dungeon area a few minutes later. She hadn’t meant to wander away. She’d been looking at the displays, and before she knew it, she was isolated.
Still, all the horror stuff was in the dungeon. It wouldn’t hurt to take a peek. James would know where to find her.
“Well, look who it is.”
Mandy shifted when she heard the voice, meeting Shane’s interested gaze as she turned. “Shane.” She glanced at his friends dismissively. “Frick and Frack.”
“Philip and Kent,” Philip corrected.
“I like Frick and Frack better,” Mandy said, moving slightly to her left so she could increase the distance between herself and the three men. “It’s more colorful, and you guys seem to lack color.”
“Is that an insult?” Kent asked.
“You can decide that for yourself.”
“So, where are your friends?” Shane asked. “Where’s the hot one?”
“She’s back at the hotel with her fiancé,” Mandy said. “There was some bold talk of bubble baths and sex. Sorry to disappoint you.”
Shane made a face. “I don’t think you’re sorry to disappoint me. I think you like it.”
“Oh, am I that transparent?”
“What is your deal?” Kent asked. “Why are you so … aggressive?”
“I guess I just have issues.”
“Is that why you’re walking around a wax museum alone?”
“I’m not alone,” Mandy said. “My husband is here with me.”
“I think you’re making up this husband,” Kent said. “I think someone would have to be crazy to marry you.”
“I’ll be sure to tell him you think that.”
“You can look around the museum with us if you want,” Shane said. “Then we can walk you back to your hotel. A woman shouldn’t be wandering around after dark by herself.”
“Oh, that’s so chivalrous,” Mandy said. “Like I said, though, I’m not alone. In fact, I should probably find my husband.”
She took a step toward the door, casting one last rueful glance at the horror tableau. Maybe, if she was lucky, James would bring her back down to take a look again. For now, though, she didn’t feel comfortable being alone in an isolated corner with three men who could very well be stalkers.
“Oh, now, don’t be so hasty,” Kent sa
id, matching Mandy’s pace and cutting her off from the door. “We’re all friends here. There’s no reason for you to get all upset.”
“I’m not upset,” Mandy said. “I’m just ready to find my husband.”
“Well, maybe he doesn’t want to find you,” Kent suggested. “Given your attitude, I think he’s probably hiding from you.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” James said, stepping into the room. His gaze bounced between the four faces, finally landing on the one he was looking for. “Your phone is off.”
“I … it’s back in the hotel room.”
“That’s a great place for it,” he said.
“I’m sorry.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” James said. “For now, why don’t you introduce me to your friends?”
Eighteen
James was relieved when he caught sight of Mandy. Although, something about the way she was holding herself set his teeth on edge.
“This is Shane,” Mandy said, widening her eyes. “These are his friends Philip and Kent.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” James said. “How do you know my wife?”
“We’ve met a few times,” Shane said, swallowing hard. James was outnumbered, but he was still an imposing figure. “We were just talking to her, man.”
“I see,” James said. “This is a strange configuration for talking to someone. It’s more like you guys are spread out to cut her off if she tries to leave.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Philip protested.
“Come over here to me, baby,” James instructed, gesturing toward her.
Mandy made a move, and Kent adjusted his stance to cut her off again. James extended a finger. “If you touch my wife, I’m going to beat you to within an inch of your life.”
Kent blanched. “I … .”
“Come here, baby,” James said.
Mandy carefully slipped around Kent, giving him as wide a berth as possible, and stepped in front of James. He cupped the back of her head, tilting her face up so he could study her for a moment. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Mandy said. “We were just … talking.”
James gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “Did they touch you?”
Mandy shook her head.
“Then they get to live,” James said, returning his attention to the three younger men. “So, do you want to tell me why you’re harassing my wife?”
“We weren’t harassing her,” Shane said. “We were just trying to talk to her.”
“Are these the guys who were staring at Emma over breakfast the other day?” James asked.
“Yes.”
“We’ve run into your wife a few times,” Philip said. “It was just a coincidence.”
James arched an eyebrow. “A few times?”
“They were in the voodoo shop the day we bought all the sex stuff,” Mandy said. “Shane was watching Emma. I told him that she was already taken.”
“Is that all?” James was working hard to keep his temper in check. There was no way he was going to explode when they had an audience.
“They … um … showed up the night Emma’s purse was stolen,” Mandy added. “They talked to us while you guys were chasing them.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I honestly forgot,” Mandy said. “It didn’t seem like a big deal. They were just three guys flirting.”
“We’re going to talk about this later,” James said.
“Great,” Mandy grumbled. “I can’t wait.”
Kent snickered. “I’ll bet she’s a pain to deal with,” he said. “You probably wish you’d never married her. With a mouth like that, you have to be rethinking your decision every day.”
James ignored the dig. “Do you guys want to tell me why you’ve been following the women in my life around?”
“We haven’t been following them,” Shane said. “We’re staying at a hotel on the main drag. We’re going to tourist destinations. It’s just a coincidence.”
“We’ve had a lot of coincidences lately,” James said. “You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t believe you. The problem is, as attractive as the women in my life are, I have this sneaking suspicion you’re after something else.”
“And what would that be?”
“I don’t know,” James said. “I’m trying to figure it out myself. Why don’t you just tell me?”
“We’re not after anything,” Shane said. “We’re just on vacation.”
“Then you won’t have a reason to be within a hundred feet of my wife ever again,” James said. “That goes for Emma and Sophie, too. They’ve told you they’re not interested. I’m repeating it in case you’re hard of hearing.
“If you see my wife, walk the other way,” he said. “If you see any of us, walk the other way.”
“You can’t boss us around,” Kent said. “You’re not in charge of anything. And, in case you haven’t noticed, there are three of us and one of you.”
“Are you threatening me?” James asked, nonplussed.
“Are you threatening us?”
“I’m warning you,” James said. “I don’t pretend to know everything in this world, but I do know if you go near my wife again, you’ll wish you’d never laid eyes on her.”
“I already wish that,” Kent said. “She’s a horrible and mean witch.”
“Is something going on here?” Grady asked, appearing in the doorframe and studying the scene with inscrutable eyes. “I see you found your blonde.”
“I found her,” James said. “It wasn’t hard to figure out where she went.”
“Why didn’t she answer her phone?”
“She left it at the hotel.”
“Oh, well, I can’t wait to see you two hash that one out,” Grady said. “Who are these guys?”
“Oh, good grief,” Sophie said, pushing into the room behind him. “You guys? Again? Do you have a death wish?”
“You know them?” Grady asked.
“Later,” James said. “We’re just finishing up a discussion right now. Isn’t that right, boys?”
“I believe you were warning us away from your wife,” Kent said.
“And then you were warning me that there were more of you than me,” James said. “It seems the odds have evened up a little bit. I’m going to repeat what I told you before, though, just in case it hasn’t sunk in.
“If you even look at my wife again, if you look at Sophie or Emma, I’m going to hurt you,” he said. “These women are off limits. If you’re looking for some action, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for something else, we don’t have it. Move on.”
“What else would we be looking for?” Shane asked, narrowing his eyes.
“I honestly don’t know,” James said. “That won’t stop me from doing whatever is necessary to keep my wife safe. You should be very aware of that simple fact.”
“I think this was all just a misunderstanding that escalated,” Philip said, holding his hands up. “We didn’t mean any harm.”
“Then you should go,” Grady said, moving away from the door and giving the three men a clear shot to the exit.
The men fell into line and filed out of the room. When Kent was about to move past him, Grady leaned forward. “We’re going to be your worst nightmare if you don’t take my brother’s advice,” he said. “Stay away from our women.”
Once it was just the four of them, Sophie arched an eyebrow. “Your women?”
“You’re a woman and you’re mine,” Grady said. “You’re my woman. Get used to it. It’s never going to change.”
Sophie shot him a rueful smile. “You’re cute when you’re proprietary.”
“I’m cute all of the time.”
Mandy took the opportunity to glance up at James. “Are you going to yell at me?”
“Nope.”
“Do you want to yell at me?”
“Nope.”
“Are you just trying to hold yourself back because I was almost eaten by alligators last night?�
�
James rolled his eyes. “Yes.”
“I love you.”
James didn’t respond. Instead, he pushed Mandy in front of him. “Let’s get out of this place. I’m tired, and I’ve had just about enough of this stupid town. I can’t wait to get home at this point.”
“I’ll bet you really do wish you hadn’t married me sometimes,” Mandy said. “He was right, wasn’t he?”
“The only thing I wish is that I could marry you every day for the rest of my life,” James said. “That was the best day I’ve ever had.”
Mandy waited.
“I also wish I could gag you and tie you to my side on a daily basis,” he added. “I could never regret marrying you.”
“Are you sure?”
“I love you, baby. You are a huge pain in the ass, though.”
“WELL, that was a fun trip,” Mandy said, ducking into the bathroom before James had the chance to unload. “I’m going to take a bath.”
“No, you’re not,” James said. “We’re going to have a talk first.”
“I thought you said you weren’t going to yell.”
“Talking is not yelling.”
“It is the way we do it,” Mandy muttered. She shuffled out of the bathroom and threw herself into a chair dramatically. “Okay, let me have it.”
“I need you to keep your cell phone with you at all times,” James said. “It’s not going to do you any good if you’re out without it.”
“I was with you,” Mandy said. “I didn’t think I needed it.”
“Just keep it with you for the rest of our time here, okay?”
“Okay.” Mandy waited for a moment. When James didn’t continue, she was flummoxed. “I … is that all?”
“That’s all.”
“You’re not going to yell at me for getting separated from you in the museum?”
“That was my fault,” James said. “I was playing around, and I should have put that aside given what was going on. You can’t be blamed for that.”
“You’re really not going to yell?” Mandy still wasn’t convinced.
“I have no inclination to yell at you,” James said. “You’re safe. You’re here. You haven’t been eaten by alligators. You haven’t been threatened at gunpoint. Today was a good day. Can we leave it at that?”
“No.”
James lifted his eyebrows, surprised. “What?”
Deadly Vacation (Hardy Brothers Security Book 10) Page 12
