Once they were all in the water, Eduardo’s son acting as a guard of sorts with a shark stick should things get out of hand, it didn’t take long for Eduardo’s chumming efforts to draw a huge predator. Mandy saw the shark sluicing through the water before anyone else, and her heart caught in her throat.
She dug her fingernails into James’ arm hard enough that he yelped, and when he slid a look in her direction he was certain he would never forget the wonderment etched on her face. She was simply beautiful, and her excitement was palpable.
“Holy crap,” Grady enthused, profound delight getting the better of him. “Can you believe that thing?”
“I’m suddenly feeling very small,” Jake said, treading water beside him as he turned to watch the huge monster skirt the edge of the cage. “My … wow.”
Mandy ducked her head under the water to track the shark and James had to suck in a calming breath to slow his heartbeat. She was fine, he reminded himself. No, she was better than fine. She was ecstatic.
When Mandy surfaced a few seconds later she wiped the water from her eyes and slipped her arms around James’ neck. She was giggling and gasping like crazy.
“It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen,” she gushed. “It’s … magical.”
James met her gaze. “You’re magical, my baby.”
“Thank you so much,” Mandy said, a tear slipping down her cheek. “I … thank you.”
“Oh, wife, I love you,” James said. “There’s no thanks required.”
“But there is,” Mandy argued. “You let go of your fear and came with me instead of trying to protect me. That deserves a big thank you.”
“Don’t thank me, baby,” James said. “Just … enjoy yourself. We both need this.”
“We do,” Mandy agreed. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want you to know how much I love you.”
“I love you right back,” James said. “Now, watch your shark. You’ve earned it.”
“We’ve earned it,” Mandy corrected, grabbing his hand. “Come underwater. The view is even better there.”
James smiled. “Where you go, I go.”
“Then let’s go.”
So they went … and in the simple act of holding hands underwater, James and Mandy managed to put a bit of the fear plaguing them aside. It was a good day for everyone.
14
Fourteen
James ignored the sign on the unisex bathroom door. It stressed that only one person at a time was supposed to be inside. He didn’t care. He had no intention of having sex with his wife in a public bathroom. He didn’t find the idea hot or kinky. He simply didn’t want to be away from her.
James and Mandy packed simple clothing to change into after their shark excursion. Mandy packed panties, a strapless bra and a tie-dyed dress that was long enough to cover her butt while remaining short enough to show off her tanned thighs. It was simple, her blond hair falling in waves past her shoulders and brushing against the spaghetti straps that held up the loose-fitting fabric. She opted to let her hair air dry instead of making a fuss, and even without makeup she was the most beautiful woman in the world. James was sure of that.
“I can’t believe you wore these,” James said, grabbing Mandy’s rounded rear end and giving it a squeeze, his eyes gleaming when he caught sight of her “Jawesome” shark underwear. They were part of a story he told – one Mandy’s wasn’t particularly thrilled with – when asked how he knew he was in love with her. The panties were basically shapeless, more like men’s briefs than anything else, and yet James was convinced they were the sexiest item of clothing she owned. “I thought these were lost or something.”
Mandy glanced down at the panties and shrugged. “They’re not in great shape,” she admitted. “I think they’re going to have to be retired after this. The shark is starting to wash away with each laundry cycle.”
“Don’t throw them away,” James said, nostalgia taking over. “Never throw these away.”
Mandy pursed her lips. “I’ll do my best.” She rolled up to the balls of her feet and smacked a loud kiss against his lips. “Thank you for today.”
James moved his hands from her butt to her waist and tugged her close, burying his face in the hollow of her neck as he kissed the sensitive spot behind her ear. “Baby, I’m the one who should be thanking you. I will never forget this afternoon as long as I live.”
“But you did it for me.”
“And you made it special for me.”
James graced Mandy with a sweet kiss before balling up their swimsuits and tossing them in the small canvas bag he carried to conceal their fresh clothes while on the boat earlier. He smiled as she made a face at her reflection in the mirror. “You look beautiful.”
“I look a little crazy with my hair all over the place, but there’s not much I can do about it. I’m sure I’ll live.”
“You’ll definitely live,” James agreed, giving her another kiss before pushing open the door. Thankfully Grady was the one waiting outside instead of a stranger who would let his imagination run wild. “We’re going to check out a few stores and meet you back here in forty-five minutes. We’re early for dinner.”
“Knock yourself out,” Grady said. “I’m just happy you two didn’t grunt and moan in there while I was waiting outside. You would’ve given me nightmares.”
“And I’m just happy I can’t punch you in public without being arrested because otherwise you would have a bloody nose,” James shot back. “Don’t be a pain.”
James linked his fingers with Mandy’s as they moved through the kitschy shops and kiosks that spread over the island’s main beach park. He generally wasn’t a fan of shopping, but since this would probably be Mandy’s only chance to find a souvenir to mark the day, he had no intention of getting in her way.
“Look at these,” James said, pointing toward a sterling silver ring display. “They’re sharks, baby.”
“Ooh.” Mandy’s eyes sparkled as she leaned closer. “It’s like the shark is wrapping itself around your finger. I like this one.”
James smirked. It was a Great White. He should’ve known. “Try it on.”
The woman behind the counter watched and smiled as Mandy slipped the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. “Do you like it?”
Mandy nodded. “It’s beautiful. How much is it?”
“It doesn’t matter,” James interjected, reaching for his wallet. “We’ll take it.”
“It might be really expensive,” Mandy protested.
“I honestly don’t care,” James said. “That ring was obviously meant for you.”
“But … .”
“Shut up, Mandy,” James chided, handing a few bills to the woman before collecting the receipt. “That’s your ring now. I don’t want to hear another thing about it.”
“Thank you.”
“You can thank me later with nudity and a little dance.”
Mandy snorted as she walked with James. The couple held hands, but James didn’t miss the occasional glance she darted in the ring’s direction. She played with it, experimenting with how the sunlight hit the metal, and James knew she would cherish it forever.
After a few minutes of idle perusing, Mandy broke the silence first. “When do you think Grady is going to propose to Sophie?”
James lifted his eyebrows, surprised. “You don’t go for subtle sometimes, do you, wife?”
Mandy shrugged. “Sophie is going to melt down if it doesn’t happen soon. She’s kind of on the edge.”
“She’s the one who made Grady put on the brakes,” James reminded her. “She has to bear the burden of being patient now. This is her doing.”
“I get that, but it doesn’t seem entirely fair,” Mandy argued. “Sophie didn’t ask Grady to slow down forever. She just wanted a week or so to wrap her mind around all of those childhood items Grady found in the storage unit.
“She put all of that stuff out of her mind for a really long time and it was hard when the memories came back,” she conti
nued. “She’s over it now. She’s ready to get married. Her feelings are a little hurt that Jake proposed before Grady got his courage in gear.”
“How does that work?” James asked. “Shouldn’t she be jealous of Emma because Finn proposed way earlier than the rest of them?”
“No, because Finn and Emma moved forward quickly because of the baby,” Mandy answered. “Plus, well, Emma has the most to be insecure about out of everyone. No one would ever begrudge her the right to feel safe and loved.”
James expression softened as he regarded the woman who stole his heart with one smile. “You are unbelievably sweet when you want to be.”
“I’m going to be unbelievably naughty later,” Mandy said. “Come on. I want to look at those pottery things over there before dinner.”
“Your wish is my command.”
“Oh, husband, we’re going to play that game later,” Mandy said. “And when we play, we’re both getting our wishes fulfilled.”
“That sounds like the perfect night, my baby.”
“HOW WAS your day?” Ally was so laden down with purchases when she reunited with the group Jake was convinced he was going to throw his back out carrying them back to the boat. Emma and Sophie were much more reserved, carrying one bag each, but Ally didn’t seem to mind the odd looks from her fiancé and brothers. Instead, she was obsessed with hearing about Mandy’s trip of a lifetime. “Was it as cool as you always thought it would be?”
“It was better,” Mandy admitted, snuggling closer to James in the rounded booth. The group opted for a restaurant that specialized in prime rib and seafood so they could make everyone happy. They even had vegetarian options for Emma. “You should’ve seen it, Ally. They were right there on the other side of the bars.”
“Did they try to bite you?”
“No. They kept circling us, though,” Mandy replied. “It was kind of like they were curious.”
“Oh, they were definitely curious,” Grady said. “They were curious if we were edible or not.”
“They were not,” Mandy said, snorting. “They were … magical. They looked like creatures from a long forgotten world. It was like being in the presence of dinosaurs.”
James’ eyes twinkled at how corny she sounded. “Technically, they are kind of like dinosaurs, baby,” he pointed out. “Sharks were around at the same time dinosaurs walked the planet.”
“Oh, so you were paying attention during Shark Week,” Mandy intoned. She was positively giddy. “I’m so proud.”
“I always pay attention during Shark Week,” James said. “That’s like your version of Christmas. I get lucky every single night … several times.”
“You get lucky whenever you want,” Mandy protested. “Don’t make it sound like I withhold affection from you. People will think I’m a terrible wife.”
“We can’t have that,” James mocked, wrapping his arm around her neck and tugging her closer. “You’re the best wife in the world. You deserve a crown. I think I’m going to have one made up of sharks so we can play a new game. You can be the Mother of Sharks or something.”
Grady snorted as he rolled his head back. “You’re a sick man, James. I can’t believe you actually said that out loud. It would be one thing if you thought it to yourself, but to spread it around like that … so gross.”
“Oh, stuff it,” James said, kissing Mandy’s cheek before releasing her. He was feeling extremely lovey-dovey where his wife was concerned and the second they were done with dinner he had every intention of dragging her back to the boat for a vigorous evening of … shark watching. “I didn’t hear you complaining when you got to climb in a shark cage today thanks to how gross I am.”
“Yes, well, that benefited me,” Grady said. “You being filthy in a restaurant does absolutely nothing for me.”
“Good to know.”
The family lapsed into comfortable camaraderie, a few people making a big show of drooling over Ally’s shopping items even though the shark watching was of more interest to almost everybody. They were so caught up in their little world they didn’t notice a familiar figure entering the restaurant until he was right in front of them at the bar.
“Isn’t that Jon Peterson?” Emma asked, leaning against Finn as he rubbed the back of her neck. He was clearly feeling amorous, too. “I almost didn’t recognize him in that shirt.”
Grady followed her gaze, scowling when he caught sight of the man. “I don’t like him.”
“You’re just jealous,” Sophie countered. “You would like him fine if he wasn’t so handsome.”
“He’s not handsome,” Grady countered. “I’m handsome. Heck, I’m the handsomest man in all the land. I don’t like him because he obviously has a thing for you.”
“I beg to differ on the ‘handsomest man in all the land’ crap, but how do you know he has a thing for Sophie?” James asked. “He’s been hanging around all of them. He could have a crush on Mandy or Ally, for all we know.”
“Will Davenport has a crush on Mandy and Ally,” Grady countered. “Don’t bother denying it. I saw your face the day we hit the ship and he wouldn’t stop staring at Mandy’s legs.”
“I told you I wasn’t imagining that,” James said, puffing his chest out as Mandy rolled her eyes. “I was right and you’re going to owe me something special tonight.”
“She lets you touch her when she’s naked,” Ally said dryly. “How much more special do you want?”
James ignored her. “Davenport is definitely more interested in Mandy and Ally than anyone else,” he said. “I’m curious how you’ve come to the conclusion that Peterson is interested in Sophie, though.”
“It’s true,” Mandy said, reaching for her glass of water. She’d soaked up so much sun over the day she begged off from alcohol for the dinner hour and instead opted to rehydrate the old fashioned way. “I noticed it last night, too. To be fair, I noticed it the first time we met as well. I convinced myself I must have been imagining it that night, though.”
“Why do you think that is?” James asked, legitimately curious.
“Because she’s smoking hot,” Grady shot back, annoyed. “I like how you think Mandy is hotter than everyone else combined and seem surprised when anyone but her gets attention.”
“That is not what I meant,” James said, tugging on his waning patience to keep from exploding. The last thing he needed was a big scene. “I simply meant that it was obvious why Davenport was more interested in Ally and Mandy. They’re the friendliest.
“I love Emma and Sophie, but Emma is naturally shy and Sophie doesn’t like conversing with strangers unless she feels she can get information out of them,” he continued. “She’s naturally standoffish. That’s on purpose because she likes to watch people before interacting with them. She prefers having the upper hand.”
“That is true,” Sophie said.
“Of course people find Sophie attractive,” James said. “I’m not blind or an idiot. She’s not welcoming to strangers, though, so she doesn’t have nearly as many problems with annoying fans as Mandy and Ally do.”
“Ally is worse than me,” Mandy offered. “People love her no matter where she goes.”
“It’s my boobs,” Ally said, grabbing her ample bosom and giving it a good squeeze. “They’re like magical balloons that hypnotize people.”
The women snorted as the men grimaced.
“Angel, I love you more than life itself, but I would appreciate it if you didn’t call attention to your balloons when we’re around other men,” Jake said.
“I don’t call attention to them,” Ally countered. “That’s the magical part. They do it themselves.”
“Ah.”
James smirked as he risked a glance at Grady. He had no idea why his brother was so agitated, but if he had to guess, it revolved around the proposal. It weighed heavily on him. The cruise would only last a few days longer and James knew his brother was determined to pop the question before they docked in Florida and the moment was lost … again.
>
“I’m sorry,” Grady said, licking his lips as he met James’ steady gaze. “That was uncalled for.”
“It’s okay,” James said, waving off the apology. “We all got a lot of sun today. I think everyone is just tired.”
“I don’t like that guy,” Mandy said, her gaze still trained on Peterson. “I got a lecherous vibe off him on the deck last night. He made me … uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable like he was going to touch your … shark tooth?” Grady asked, snickering when Mandy scorched him with a murderous glare. “What? That was totally funny.”
“It was not funny,” James countered. “What did you mean by that, though, baby?”
“I don’t know,” Mandy replied. “He just made me feel queasy. I can’t explain it.”
The group went back to staring at the bar where Peterson sat, everyone’s mind going in a different direction until another familiar figure joined him on the adjacent stool. The new visitor’s presence was enough to cause the four men to exchange wary glances.
“What do you think of that?” Jake asked, working overtime not to appear obvious as he watched Jon Peterson and Will Davenport enthusiastically converse. “I mean, I know they work together and everything, but I’ve never seen them talking like that before.”
“Whatever they’re saying, it looks intense,” Sophie pointed out. “They’re gesturing like crazy.”
“That’s a fact,” James said, shaking his head. “I don’t know what to think. On one hand, there’s nothing suspicious about having a drink with an employee. On the other, for some reason I cannot quite explain, the two of these guys being close and secretive gives me a really bad feeling.”
“Join the club,” Grady intoned.
“When we get back to the boat, I’m going to message Maverick,” James said. “I want background checks on those two, too. I want very extensive background checks, in fact. Something here isn’t adding up.”
“It couldn’t hurt,” Jake said.
“Definitely,” Grady intoned, slipping his arm around Sophie’s shoulders. “Let’s figure out if they’re up to something.”
15
Fifteen
Deadly Waves (Hardy Brothers Security Book 23) Page 12
