“I have no intention of taking you on the shark boat,” Jake said. “You’re going shopping at port.”
Ally brightened considerably. “I am? Yay!”
“You are,” Jake said. “I’m going to go with James and Mandy to see the sharks, though, as long as you don’t care. I might not get another chance.”
“No, go,” Ally said, waving him off. She was visibly more excited thanks to the knowledge that she didn’t have to see the sharks. “Are you guys going shopping with me or to see the sharks?” she asked Emma and Sophie.
“I’m going shopping,” Emma said. “Sharks terrify me.”
“I’m going shopping, too,” Sophie said. “I’m not afraid of sharks, but I’m not in love with them either. I would rather put my feet on dry land.”
“Well, I’m going to see the sharks,” Grady said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. There’s no way I’m missing this.”
“I’m with them,” Finn said, offering Emma a rueful smile. “I have to see the sharks.”
“So, it’s settled,” James said. “All of the women – except for my brave and beautiful wife – are going shopping. Everyone else is seeing the sharks. I figure we’ll pick a central meeting location once everyone is done and have dinner together. How does that sound?”
“It sounds like a plan,” Grady said.
“How does it sound to you?” James asked, focusing on Mandy. Under normal circumstances her pale countenance would worry him. This one time he found it adorable because she was so obviously frazzled.
“Um … yeah.” Mandy’s blue eyes were so wide James momentarily worried they would pop out of her head. “I’m afraid.” She blurted the words out so quickly James had to strain to hear her.
“Why are you afraid?” James asked, adopting a pragmatic tone.
“Because … what if I accidentally slip through the bars and get eaten?”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“What if the boat blows up and I’m left alone in the middle of the ocean and I get eaten?”
James pursed his lips to keep from laughing. “That’s not going to happen either.”
“What if I fall overboard and get eaten?” Mandy challenged. “Before you say ‘that’s not going to happen,’ I would like to remind you of New Orleans and how that exact scenario did happen – only with alligators.”
“Baby, I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” James said. “I’m also not going to let you miss out on this experience because you’re frightened. You’ll never forgive yourself. This is why I didn’t want to tell you until we were already on the boat. This is just like the shark tour on our honeymoon.”
Mandy balked. “I could get eaten!”
“I’m pretty sure I can make that happen when we’re alone together later,” James teased.
It took Mandy a moment to realize what he was referring to. “James!”
“Mandy!” James mocked his wife’s voice to perfection. “It’s going to be okay. You don’t have to go in the cage if you don’t want to. We can sit on the boat. The sharks come to the surface a lot in the area we’re going.”
“Really?” Mandy visibly relaxed. “I don’t have to go in the cage if I don’t want to?”
“I would actually be happier if you didn’t go in the cage, but I’m not going to stop you,” James said. “We’ll play it by ear when we get there. How does that sound?”
“Exciting.”
James’ face split into a wide grin. “Good. Now … eat your breakfast.”
“Okay.” Mandy lapsed into silence for a moment. “James?”
“Hmm.”
“We need to take photos.”
This time the excitement was evident in her voice and James couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve got it taken care of, baby. I hired a professional photographer to go with us. I figured you would want a lot of inspiration when you decide to shift the trip memories from your mind to a canvas when we get home.”
“Oh, cool.” Mandy dug into her hash browns, relieved. “Oh, and James?”
“What?”
“I really love you.”
James’ heart rolled at the admission. “I love you, too.”
“No, I really mean it.”
James frowned. “Are you insinuating I don’t mean it?”
“I’m insinuating that no woman has ever loved a man as much as I love you.” Mandy’s eyes were glassy with unshed tears, and for once James wasn’t upset to see them. He’d heard the words before. They’d merely come out of his mouth when talking to her.
“I feel the same way about you,” James said. “Now eat your breakfast. I’m not messing around. This is going to be a day you’ll never forget, baby. I want it to be perfect.”
“It already is.”
13
Thirteen
“Everyone get comfortable. We’ll be heading out to the shark circle in just a few minutes.”
Eduardo Dominguez was a tall man, his hair black and gleaming against the sun as his eyes twinkled. He was clearly enjoying himself as he focused on the Hardy party. He seemed amused by the fact that James bought out his entire boat for the excursion.
“Thank you for doing this,” James said, slipping his arm around Mandy’s shoulders as they settled. “My wife is very excited.”
Eduardo shifted his eyes to the pale blonde and smirked. “She looks terrified.”
“She’ll be fine,” James said. “Trust me.”
“If you say so,” Eduardo said, settling into the seat across from James and Mandy as his son navigated the boat out to sea. “I hear you’re on the King Theodore. I saw her come into port. She’s an impressive beast.”
“Yeah, it’s a big boat,” James said, smirking when he felt Mandy rest her head on his chest. She wanted the solace of his heartbeat as she stared at the water. They hadn’t even seen a shark yet and she was completely keyed up. He cupped the back of her head and rubbed soothing circles over her scalp as he remained focused on Eduardo. “Do you know much about the guy who owns her? Man, it feels weird to call a boat named after a man ‘her.’”
“Will Davenport?” Eduardo made a throat-clearing sound. “He’s not exactly well liked in certain circles. As for the boat, well, all ships are female. That’s just one of those unsaid rule things you get used to on the see. You’ll get used to it.”
“What circles?” Grady asked, legitimately curious. He cast a sidelong look at Mandy before sitting next to her. He crowded close enough to lend her some of his warmth without making her uncomfortable. “We’ve had a few discussions with him and he seems nice enough. He could be putting on a show for us, though.”
“I don’t think Mr. Davenport is a bad man,” Eduardo said, his eyes latching onto James’ hand as he comforted his wife. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” James answered. “She’s obsessed with sharks and I surprised her with the trip before breakfast. She’s just wrapping her head around things. Trust me. When we get there, she’s going to be so excited I’m going to have to tie her to me to make sure she doesn’t fall in.”
“She looks as if she’s going to be sick,” Eduardo pointed out.
“She’s not going to be sick,” James said. “She’s just … twisting her stomach in knots. She did the same thing during a shark tour on our honeymoon. I promise she’ll be okay.”
“I’m not worried for my benefit,” Eduardo said. “I’m worried for you. You spent a lot of money on this trip. I don’t want you to be disappointed.”
“I could never be disappointed when giving her sharks.”
“You’re an odd man,” Eduardo said, shaking his head and leaning back in his chair. “What were we talking about again?”
“You were talking about Will Davenport,” Mandy prodded, taking everyone by surprise when she spoke. “You said you didn’t think he was a bad man, but you clearly don’t like him.”
“I guess you’ve been listening after all, huh?” Eduardo was amused by Mandy’s fortitude. “Yes, Mr.
Davenport isn’t my favorite person. That doesn’t mean I dislike him. It merely means I dislike his business practices.”
“Can you be more specific?” James asked.
“Can you tell me why you’re interested?” Eduardo shot back.
James saw no reason to lie or be evasive. “Because a young woman has gone missing from the ship during our trip,” he replied honestly. “She was a singer in the main dining room. We found a spot of blood on the deck hours before we realized she was missing. We wanted to write it off as an accident … or fluke … but now it’s feeling more and more like foul play.”
“Well, I don’t know what to say to that,” Eduardo admitted after a beat, his accent thickening slightly. His English was almost flawless thanks to long conversations with tourists over the years, but his accent flowed in and out depending on his mood. “I’ve never heard of Will Davenport being dangerous in that way. I’ve heard about him being a shark when it comes to business, but no one has ever mentioned him being anything other than pleasant and engaging in person.”
“Yeah, we’re not saying we think he’s a killer,” James said. “We’re just saying that he seems … oddly detached from the possibility of murder. I don’t know how else to explain it.”
“That’s probably because he doesn’t care about the girl or her murder, if that’s what happened,” Eduardo said. “I told you Will Davenport was unlikable. That is definitely true, but not for personal reasons. His business decisions are numerous and each one gets more dastardly than the next.”
“How do you mean?” Mandy asked, perking up. “Has he been screwing natives out of property rights?”
James snorted at the question. “You watch way too much television, wife.”
“You might not want to laugh at her,” Eduardo interjected. “That’s exactly what he did, which makes her look wise and you look … less than her.” His eyes twinkled as he winked at Mandy. “Perhaps I misjudged you. I’m starting to think you might be a genius.”
“She’s a total genius,” James said, not missing a beat. “Are you serious about the land sales, though?”
“I am,” Eduardo conferred. “This is a small island but waterfront property is at a premium because some of the town leaders are determined to make this a tourist destination.”
“I’ve never heard of San Lopez before,” James admitted. “I had to look it up when I saw it on the itinerary. One of the first things I found when Googling was your shark tour. I knew it was right up my wife’s alley.”
“We are far behind on certain matters, like technology, but we are close enough to other areas to learn and adapt,” Eduardo supplied. “Mr. Davenport has been buying up native land from families who held the property deeds for more than two centuries. Now, I’m not going to say he’s ripping people off, but I’m pretty sure he’s paying far below the market value.”
“What does he want the property for?” Mandy asked.
“He wants to build restaurants and hotels,” Eduardo replied. “He’s convinced that he can corner a huge market thanks to his cruise liner and this island.”
“What do you think?” James asked.
“I think I’m watching him very closely.”
It was something of an evasive answer, but James didn’t want to push their host until after Mandy saw her sharks so he decided to let it go. “How far away are we?”
“About thirty minutes,” Eduardo said, his expression kind when he shifted to Mandy. “You’re about to see something you will never forget. I hope you enjoy it, because your husband certainly went out of his way to make sure he catered to your every whim. He even hired a photographer from the town. He’s beneath the deck.”
“I heard,” Mandy said, smiling. “My husband always goes out of my way to take care of me. I’m not surprised he did this.”
“You’re a lucky woman.”
“I know.”
“She’s not lucky,” James said, shaking his head. “I’m lucky. And, truth be told, I’m just as excited to see the sharks as she is.”
“Then enjoy the ride,” Eduardo said. “We’ll be there before you know it.”
Mandy’s smile was wide and heartfelt. “I can’t wait.”
“And there’s my baby,” James said, kissing her cheek as she lifted her head. “I hope this day lives up to your expectations.”
“Oh, you’ve already surpassed my expectations,” Mandy said. “Everything from here on out is a bonus. I love you.”
“Oh, I love you more than anything, baby,” James said, pressing his lips to hers and lowering his voice to a gentle whisper. “Enjoy your day.”
“OKAY, WE’RE here.”
Eduardo was all smiles as his son killed the boat’s engine and the small skiff floated toward a small rock formation about a hundred feet away.
“Where are the sharks?” Mandy asked, hopping to her feet and jerking her head in every direction so she could see the telltale fins.
“They will come when we chum,” Eduardo replied. “We need to drift closer to that spot over there. That’s where we lower the cage.”
“And tell me about the cage again,” James prodded. “How safe is it?”
“Very safe.”
James pursed his lips and glanced at Mandy. “I think we’ve decided to stay on the boat instead of getting in the cage, but we’re still massively excited to see the sharks.”
“Are you sure?” Eduardo didn’t look convinced. “It is perfectly safe. I promise.”
“What would it be like?” Mandy asked. “I mean … do we go all the way underwater? I’m not certified for diving.”
“No, the cage is partially submerged and about three feet of it is above water,” Eduardo explained. “So you can tread water and see the sharks from above and below. We will give you a mask and snorkel if you like.”
“And they come close?” Mandy’s expression was unreadable and James couldn’t stop his heart from rolling when he realized she was going to change her mind about the cage.
“They come very close,” Eduardo confirmed.
“Baby, I’m not sure we should do the cage,” James hedged. “Something might happen. Isn’t seeing them from the boat just as good?”
Mandy opened her mouth to argue but the worry in his eyes caused her to change course. “I don’t need to get in the cage. It’s okay.”
James was relieved. “Thank you.”
“Now wait just a minute,” Grady said, refusing to hold his tongue for another second. “You cannot dangle that cage in front of her and then take it away, James. That’s not fair.”
“I’m not taking it away,” James argued. “You heard her. She doesn’t want to get in the cage.”
“No, I heard you guilt her into staying out of the cage,” Grady said. “She’ll do anything to make you feel safe because she’s worried about how you’ve been clinging to her since she was kidnapped. Don’t ruin this for her.”
“He’s not ruining it for me,” Mandy said hurriedly. “I’m happy to see the sharks from the boat.”
“This is something she’ll never forget,” Grady said, ignoring Mandy’s words. “James, you planned this for her because you knew she would love it. Don’t let fear get the better of you now.”
James balked. “I’m afraid she’s going to get hurt,” he admitted. “She’s a trouble magnet. Everything that could possibly go wrong when she’s in a room always manages to happen.”
“And that’s a total bummer,” Grady said. “She’s also a survivor. She’s never died yet. Look at that thing.” Grady pointed toward the cage. “It’s big and sturdy. We’re all going to be in there with her. Do you really want her to have to watch Finn, Jake, and I in her cage?”
“I was kind of thinking that you would stay out, too,” James answered.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” Grady said. Instead of keeping his focus on his brother, he turned to Mandy and grabbed her hand. “You can’t spare his feelings on this one. This is your surprise, kid. You need to tel
l him the truth.”
Mandy bit her lip as she slid her eyes in James’ direction. “I … .”
James read the hesitation and heartbreak in her expression before she could finish the statement. “We’re going in the cage, baby,” he said, making up his mind on the spot. “You need to promise me that you’re going to stay in between all of us, though. Don’t find a way to wander out in the ocean with Great White sharks hanging around.”
Mandy looked so relieved she almost crushed James’ heart. “Thank you.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank you so much.”
“No, thank you, baby,” James murmured. “You’ve made my life so much better since you came into it. Let’s do this, huh?”
Mandy nodded. “You’re going to get photos, right?”
James chuckled. “I’m going to get hundreds of them.”
“Then bring on the sharks.”
“LET ME go first,” James said, glancing at the floating cage in the water and squeezing Mandy’s hand before releasing it. The jump between the boat and cage was short, but he wasn’t taking any chances. “Once I get in, I want Jake to follow. Then you can join us, baby.”
“Why do I have to follow Jake?” Mandy asked, furrowing her brow. “This is my surprise.”
“Because I want to make sure it’s safe.”
Mandy couldn’t take much more of James’ mother hen impression. “That’s a very nice sentiment.” She patted his cheek before taking him by surprise and plunging into the middle of the cage before he could stop her. She surfaced with her blond bangs plastered to her forehead and a huge smile on her face. “Come on!”
“You’re in big trouble,” James snapped, glancing around to see if he saw a shark before following her into the cage. He stroked twice to get to her, pulling her coiled body close as he shook his head. “That was not the plan.”
“I don’t care,” Mandy said. “I need to see.”
“I know.” James kissed her before turning to his brothers and Jake. “Well, come on. They’re not going to throw the chum in until we’re all in here. My wife is demanding sharks.”
“We’re coming,” Grady said, making a big splash as he landed next to James. “I’m demanding to see sharks, too.”
Deadly Waves (Hardy Brothers Security Book 23) Page 11
