Deadly Storm

by Lily Harper Hart

  Mandy rolled her eyes. “You’re so funny.”

  “I’ll do my comedy routine later.”

  “You’d better be naked when you do it.”

  James grinned. “Deal.”

  “Yeah, that’s just what everyone wants to hear when they’re naked,” Grady said, appearing at James’ side with the wrapped crawfish. “Laughter.”

  “Shut up,” James warned. He glanced at the crawfish. “What should I do with these?”

  “Shove them on the far side of the grill and turn them over every few minutes. They’re going to be delicious.”

  “Grady is such a cute little chef,” Ally teased.

  “Don’t make me throw you in the pool,” Grady threatened, extending his finger in Ally’s direction. “You’re not going to think it’s so funny if you have to go through dinner soaking wet.”

  “Jake wouldn’t let you throw me in the pool, would you?”

  Jake took a swig of his beer, buying time so he could consider the question. “I’m not sure I want to get in the middle of a family squabble, angel.”

  Grady snorted. “He’s scared because he knows I’ll thump him.” He flexed his bicep for emphasis.

  “Oh, please, I could take you,” Ally said.

  “Do you want to place a wager on that?”

  “Bring it on.”

  Sophie stepped between brother and sister. “No. Not today. There’s a chance we’re all going to get wet if we’re not careful.”

  “What do you mean?” Emma asked. “I’m too fat to be wet.”

  “You’re not fat,” Finn said.

  “If I want to be fat, I’ll be fat,” Emma snapped.

  “Hurricane Hormone is hitting land,” Finn quipped.

  “I would stop saying things like that if I were you,” Ally said, gesturing toward Emma’s murderous face. “I don’t think she likes it.”

  “I can never tell which way the wind blows these days,” Finn said, unruffled. “I just roll with it.”

  “Speaking of rolling, it looks like a storm is rolling in,” Jake said, trying to distract everyone.

  “We’re supposed to have storms every day this week,” Sophie said. “I was looking at the forecast, and there’s more than a fifty percent chance of severe storms every afternoon for the next seven days.”

  “I heard there might be some tornados, too,” Mandy chimed in.

  James kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry. If it becomes necessary we can take cover in our bed until all the storms have passed.”

  Mandy brightened at the suggestion. “Fun.”

  “Definitely fun,” James agreed.

  “I don’t like storms,” Emma said, her shoulders stiffening. “Are we really supposed to get bad storms?”

  “It’s okay, sweetie,” Finn said, rubbing her back. “The security building is safe. Nothing bad can happen.”

  “What happens if there’s a tornado? Where do we take cover?”

  “In the storeroom on the main floor,” Finn said.

  “Isn’t that locked most of the time?” Emma’s eyes widened.

  “We’ll give you a key,” Grady said. “Relax. That storeroom is like a fortress.”

  “Tell that to the baby growing inside of me.”

  Grady leaned closer and directed his voice toward Emma’s stomach. “That storeroom is like a fortress.”

  Everyone burst into laughter, including Emma.

  “I think we should move this party inside,” Jake said, straightening as he studied the storm clouds. “It’s getting closer.”

  As if on cue, a rumble of thunder rolled over the patio.

  “Okay, everyone pack up,” James instructed. “I should be able to finish this stuff before the rain hits.”

  Everyone scattered and started collecting supplies, and by the time the first fat raindrop hit the patio James was closing the sliding glass doors behind him. “Do I have excellent timing or what?”

  “You’re the perfect man,” Mandy agreed, rolling onto her toes so she could give him a soft kiss. “I’ll reward you later.”

  James grinned, relieved she appeared more relaxed. “I’ll reward you with an hour-long massage if you go and get the steak sauce out of the refrigerator.”

  “Sold,” Mandy said, smiling brightly.

  There’s my baby, James thought. He smiled as he watched her move toward the kitchen, momentarily lost in thought. Once he regained his senses, he carried the meat platter into the dining room. “Mandy is getting the steak sauce,” he said. “Do we have everything?”

  “I think so,” Grady said, scanning the table. “I … where are the napkins?”

  “I’ll get them.” James jumped as thunder boomed close enough to shake the house. “Crap. That’s really heating up.”

  “We’re safe here, right?” Emma asked, timid.

  “We’re safe,” James said. “This house has been here since the 1960s and it’s still standing.”

  “I know but … .”

  “But nothing,” Finn said. “You’re fine. I won’t let anything happen to you or little … Daisy.”

  “Daisy?” James asked, arching an eyebrow.

  “We’re trying out different names,” Finn said.

  “Well, I don’t like that one,” Emma said. “Everyone will picture Daisy Duke, and she’ll be expected to wear short shorts.”

  “Got it,” Finn said, widening his eyes behind Emma’s back to comic effect.

  “I’ll get the napkins,” James said. “That should be everything.”

  It only took James a few minutes to collect the napkins, and he was almost on his way back to the dining room when the bottle of steak sauce on the counter caught his attention. He picked it up and glanced at it, shifting his gaze around the room. Where is Mandy? James figured she was probably in the bathroom until he saw a hint of movement on the patio out of the corner of his eye.

  He jerked his head, realizing the movement wasn’t from the storm – or just the storm – but it was from Mandy. She was standing on the patio table and struggling with the umbrella, which he’d forgotten to take down before coming inside. The wind was whipping around her wildly, and she was having trouble maintaining an upright position.

  The rain was coming down in a torrent, and Mandy was so wet her hair was stuck to her face. Still, she refused to abandon her task.

  James slammed the napkins down on the counter and raced to the glass door, pushing it open and stepping outside. He was instantly doused. “What the hell are you doing?”

  A bolt of lightning illuminated the sky, followed almost immediately by a horrendous clap of thunder.

  “I … the wind will lift the table,” Mandy said, wiping the rain from her face. “It could go through the doors.”

  “Then you tell me,” James said, reaching up and hitting the button so the umbrella collapsed. “You tell me, Mandy. You don’t risk yourself.”

  “I can survive a little rain,” Mandy protested angrily. “I … oomph.”

  One of the lawn chairs flew up, hitting her on the shoulder and causing her to topple to the side. James moved quickly, catching her and cradling her against his chest. He carried her into the house, pulling the door shut behind them and then lowering her to the floor. He immediately started checking her over. “Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

  “I’m fine,” Mandy said, embarrassed. “I … .”

  James pushed Mandy’s sopping hair out of her face and forced her gaze to him. “I don’t care about losing the glass doors. I don’t care if that umbrella flies off and we never see it again. I care about you. Don’t do that again.”

  “I didn’t mean … .”

  “I know,” James said. “Mandy, I can survive a lot in this world. I cannot survive losing you.”

  “I’m sorry.” Mandy’s lower lip quivered, causing James to tug her into his arms.

  “I love you more than anything in this world,” James murmured, kissing the top of her head. “Don’t you ever risk yourself for
something that can be replaced.”

  “The umbrella was just so expensive,” Mandy said.

  “Money is nothing,” James said, kissing her forehead. “You’re everything. Don’t do it again. You scared the life out of me when you fell.”

  Mandy rested her head against his chest, sighing heavily. “Okay.”

  “So … where are the napkins and steak sauce?” Grady asked, appearing in the hallway.

  If looks could kill, the one James scorched Grady with would have dropped him in his tracks.

  Four

  “How was your weekend?”

  Mandy lifted her eyes from the file she was perusing Monday morning and smiled at the court stenographer, Heidi. The boisterous woman seemed excited, so Mandy decided to indulge her. “Pretty boring. How was your weekend?”

  “I’m so glad you asked,” Heidi said. She was practically fluttering she was so excited. “Clint asked me to move in with him.”

  Mandy smiled, Heidi’s enthusiasm proving too infectious to ignore. “That’s great.”

  In addition to being Heidi’s boyfriend of the past few months, Clint was also one of the courthouse security guards. He’d initially boasted a crush on Mandy, but when he finally realized he didn’t have a shot, he gave in and opened himself to the prospect of love from someone else.

  He and Heidi had been inseparable for months.

  “I’m so excited,” Heidi said, jumping up and down.

  “Is he moving to your place or are you moving to his place?”

  “He’s moving into my house,” Heidi said. “His place is so … bachelor.” She wrinkled her nose. “I promised to get rid of all the flowered wallpaper.”

  “This is very exciting,” Mandy said. “We should get together and celebrate when we can.”

  “What are you doing tonight?”

  Mandy stilled. “I … um … tonight?”

  “I want to celebrate,” Heidi said, her face bordering on pathetic as she flashed her best “puppy dog” look in Mandy’s direction. “We can go on a double date. Clint loves hanging out with James.”

  Unfortunately for Clint, James didn’t feel the same way. While he was less suspicious of the man now that he wasn’t shadowing Mandy at every turn, James still didn’t want to hang out with him. Thankfully, Mandy had another excuse at the ready.

  “I can’t go tonight,” Mandy said. “I’m taking a cooking class, and tonight is the first one.”

  Heidi made a face, running a hand through her bouncy hair as she regarded her friend. “You’re taking a cooking class? Why?”

  Mandy shrugged. “Why not?”

  “Because you’re pretty,” Heidi replied, not missing a beat. “Pretty girls don’t have to cook.”

  “Thank you for the compliment, but that’s not true,” Mandy said.

  “What’s not true?” Judge MacIntosh, his eyes sparkling, walked into Mandy’s office. He was not only a kind and fair boss, but he was also a rampant gossip. He preferred hearing about all the courthouse hijinks from Mandy and Heidi than listening to his bench cohorts discuss politics and recent court decisions. He was a good judge, but he was a better gossiper.

  “Mandy is taking a cooking class,” Heidi said, rolling her eyes. “I told her that pretty girls don’t have to do that, but she doesn’t believe me.”

  MacIntosh grinned. “I see. I think that’s an … interesting viewpoint,” he said. “May I ask why you’re taking a cooking class?”

  Mandy shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “Don’t you think a wife is supposed to cook for her husband?”

  “The only thing my wife has ever cooked for me is half of a grapefruit every morning,” MacIntosh said.

  “You don’t cook grapefruit. Even I know that.”

  “You do in my house,” MacIntosh said. “Is Mr. Hardy requesting home-cooked meals?”

  “No,” Mandy said. “He says he’s fine with takeout every night. In fact, he seems annoyed that I’m taking the class.”

  “So, why are you taking it? Have you always wanted to learn how to cook?”

  Had she? Mandy wanted to believe that deep down she was a culinary goddess in the making. She wasn’t sure that was true, though. “It’s not like I want to be all fancy or anything,” she said, opting to ignore the question. “I just want to learn some basics.”

  “If I looked like you and my husband looked like James I would quit my job and live in bed,” Heidi said, smiling as Judge MacIntosh shifted uncomfortably. “I certainly wouldn’t be learning how to cook.”

  “Well, I’m not you,” Mandy said. “I’m really looking forward to the class. I think it’s going to be fun.”

  “I think you need to look up ‘fun’ on the Internet and readjust your thinking,” Heidi said. “A cooking class sounds boring.”

  Judge MacIntosh chuckled and patted Heidi’s shoulder. “You never cease to amuse me,” he said. “I think Mandy is entitled to her own choices, though. If she wants to take a cooking class, she should certainly be able to without everyone making fun of her.”

  “I wasn’t making fun of her,” Heidi countered. “I was … okay, I was making fun of her a little. I just don’t get it. She and James are sex on legs. Cooking should be the last thing on either of their minds.”

  MacIntosh chuckled. “And, on that note … I will see you two in the courtroom in fifteen minutes. It’s a full docket, ladies. You should probably prepare yourselves.”

  Heidi waited until he was gone before unleashing her final argument. “I’ll bet if you strip naked and boil a pot of water James would consider that cooking and reward you appropriately.”

  Mandy had no doubt about that.

  “DID you and Mandy make up after we left?” Grady asked, slipping into the chair across from James’ desk and fixing his brother with a quizzical look.

  “We weren’t fighting,” James said, rolling his eyes.

  “You looked pissed off.”

  “I wasn’t pissed off,” James countered. “I was … scared. She could have been seriously hurt.”

  “No offense, man, but on the list of trouble Mandy’s found over the past year and a half, getting hit by a lawn chair during a storm is pretty minimal,” Grady said.

  James ignored him.

  “She’s been stalked, blown up, kidnapped, thrown into alligator-infested waters, and shot at,” Grady continued, obliviously ticking the items off on his fingers. “The storm doesn’t rate.”

  “One thing doesn’t get top billing over another,” James said. “I don’t want her hurt.”

  “She wasn’t hurt.”

  “She could’ve been.”

  “But she wasn’t.”

  “She could’ve been.”

  “She wasn’t.”

  “I’m going to beat you,” James snapped, scorching Grady with a harsh look. “She’s my wife. I don’t want her in danger. We didn’t fight. We’re fine.”

  “Of course you’re fine,” Grady scoffed. “I just figured you guys had one of your patented ragers and then made up with some kinky sex.”

  James rubbed the heel of his hand against his forehead, frustrated. “None of that happened.”

  “You didn’t make up?”

  “We were never fighting,” James said. “She scared me. That’s it.”

  “I think it’s more than that.”

  James growled, the sound loud enough to pique Jake and Finn’s interest as they walked into the room.

  “Is James being a bear today?” Finn asked.

  “He’s mad about something,” Grady said. “I thought he was still upset because he and Mandy didn’t make up last night – but he says that’s not the case.”

  “You guys didn’t make up?” Finn furrowed his brow. “You guys always make up.”

  “I’m not going to keep repeating myself,” James said. “We were not fighting. I was scared she was going to hurt herself. We never yelled. We never raised our voices.”

  “That’s not like you,” Finn said.

 
James turned his attention to Jake. “What’s new with you?”

  “I want to know why you and Mandy are acting weird,” Jake said, shooting James a cheeky grin.

  “My sister has been a horrible influence on you,” James said.

  “I’m fine with that.” Jake was nonplussed. “Seriously, though, what’s going on? I’m not the most observant guy and even I noticed there was something off between the two of you yesterday.”

  James sighed and leaned back in his chair, tugging on his hair wearily as he tried to decide how much to tell his brothers and friend. “What exactly did you notice?”

  “I noticed that Mandy was sensitive about the cooking class and you kept watching her like she was going to explode,” Jake said. “I thought you were fighting at first, but then I realized you were more worried than anything else.”

  “I am worried,” James admitted, dropping his head into his hands. “I think I’m losing my wife.”

  Finn widened his eyes, Jake opened his mouth to say something and then snapped it shut, and Grady burst into hysterical gales of laughter. None of their reactions were what James was expecting.

  “I don’t think it’s funny,” James snapped.

  “I think you worrying about losing Mandy is funny,” Grady said. “She loves you as much as you love her. Why would you possibly think you’re losing her?”

  “I think it’s the cooking class,” Finn offered when James didn’t immediately respond. “That’s the only thing that’s changed.”

  “I don’t think Mandy wanting to take a cooking class means that she’s going to leave you,” Jake said helpfully. “I think it just means she wants to cook.”

  “No, that’s not what it means,” James said. “She doesn’t want to cook. She doesn’t like to cook. She makes faces when she has to touch raw meat – and don’t even get me started on how she is if she gets butter on her fingers.”

  “I can vouch for that,” Grady muttered.

  “She doesn’t want to cook,” James repeated.

  “So why is she taking the class?” Finn pressed.

  “I think she’s … searching for something,” James said.

  “Butter?” Grady asked dryly.