The sound of the bell jangling over the office’s front door caught Mandy’s attention. “Uh-oh.”
Jake was fixated on a file in his hand when he moved into the room. “So, I think I might have something.” He paused when he caught sight of Louis and Rose. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize you had clients.”
“Jake, this is my mother and father,” James said. “Meet Louis and Rose Hardy.”
Jake stiffened as he regarded the two people in front of him. “Oh, hi.”
“Hi.” Rose greeted him warmly, looking him up and down.
Jake recovered his faculties quickly and extended his hand. “I’m sorry. It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Hardy.”
“Call me Rose,” she said, shaking his hand and smiling.
Jake shifted and offered his hand to Louis, who shook it, but not in the same warm manner his wife did. “Mr. Hardy.”
“Oh, call him Louis,” Rose said.
“Mr. Hardy is fine,” Louis said, his tone gruff.
“Mr. Hardy,” Jake said. “It’s really nice to meet you both.”
“Well, we’re happy to meet you,” Rose said. “We’ve seen pictures, of course.”
“You’ve seen pictures? Ally sent you pictures?”
Rose shook her head. “Mandy did.”
Jake shifted his gaze to the lone blonde in the room. James didn’t bother hiding his broad grin.
“Get used to it,” James said. “They’re codependent that way.”
“They’re not codependent,” Rose said.
“You’re right,” James conceded. “They’re gossipy.”
“I am not gossipy,” Mandy said.
“You’re totally gossipy, baby,” James said, kissing the side of her head. “I love you anyway.”
“Oh, so cute,” Rose said, pinching James’ cheek again.
“So, Jake, what are your intentions toward my daughter?” Louis’ question took everyone by surprise, casting a pall over the room.
“Wow, it’s fun out here in left field,” James said, trying to rescue his friend. “Why don’t you start with something a little simpler, Dad?”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, why don’t you ask him what his favorite baseball team is or something.”
Louis ignored his son, keeping his gaze on Jake.
Jake worked his jaw as he shifted uncomfortably. “I care about her a great deal.”
“See, that’s sweet,” Rose said, patting Jake on the arm. “My, you work out, don’t you? You’re very firm.” Rose turned to Mandy. “Have you felt his arms?”
“No,” Mandy said.
“Come and feel.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“Come over here and feel his arms,” Rose ordered.
Mandy exchanged a look with James but then did as her future motherin-law requested. “He’s very firm.”
“Right?”
“Okay,” James said, stepping forward and retrieving Mandy. “Stop feeling up Jake.”
“He’s fine with it,” Rose said. “Aren’t you, dear?”
Jake looked like a deer caught in headlights. “Sure.”
“Well, I’m not fine with it,” James said. “Watching my girl feel up another man doesn’t exactly fill me with love.”
“Oh, get over yourself,” Rose chided. “Mandy is clearly in love with you.”
“She’d better be,” James said. “I wouldn’t have bought her a house if I thought there was a chance she wasn’t.”
“Ooh, the house,” Rose said, clapping her hands. “When do we get to see it?”
“When do you want to see it?”
“As soon as possible.”
“I’m sure we can arrange a tour,” James said. “We have a bunch of furniture being delivered this week. We’re going to be in and out.”
“When are you moving in?”
“Not until we come back from the honeymoon.”
“You never said, where are you going on your honeymoon?” Rose asked.
Mandy turned to James expectantly, waiting.
“It’s a secret,” James said.
“You can tell your mother.”
“No, I can’t,” James said. “I want it to stay a secret. If I tell you, Mandy will know in five minutes flat.”
“That’s a horrible thing to say about your mother.”
“Well, it’s true.”
“I would never tell Mandy,” Rose sniffed. “I respect the fact that you want to surprise her.”
“I don’t,” Mandy grumbled.
“I know you wouldn’t tell Mandy,” James replied. “I also know that you couldn’t help yourself from telling Ally, and that’s as good as telling Mandy.”
“I’m insulted,” Rose said, glancing at her husband. “Did you just hear what your son said about me?”
Louis was stilling eyeing Jake. “You don’t talk much.”
Jake shrugged. “Your daughter talks enough for both of us.”
Louis couldn’t hide the small grin playing at the corner of his lips. “She does at that. She gets that from her mother.”
“Then you’re a lucky man,” Jake said honestly.
“Okay, you seem like a decent guy,” Louis said, finally relaxing. “I’m still watching you.”
“Of course you are,” Jake said. “You need to make sure I’m good enough for Ally. I get it.”
“Well, as long as you understand … .”
“Ally deserves the best in this world,” Jake said. “I understand.”
Rose sniffed, her eyes filling with tears. “Oh, you’re just so … cute.” She grabbed Jake’s cheek between her fingers and shook it. “So cute.”
Seventeen
“Ooh, what a fun afternoon,” Rose enthused, smiling down at the woman buffing the bottom of her feet. “I’ve never had a pedicure before.”
“You have no idea what you’ve been missing,” Ally said, relaxing back in her own chair.
“How about you, Emma? Have you ever had a pedicure?”
“I had never had one that I didn’t give myself until I met these guys,” Emma admitted. “Now, going back and doing it for myself seems like such a disappointment.”
“I can see that,” Rose said.
“What color do you think I should paint my toenails?” Mandy asked, holding up two bottles of polish so she could compare them.
“Are you wearing open-toed shoes?” Emma asked.
Mandy nodded. “Yes. They’re high white sandals with a chunky heel. I was worried if I had a narrow one, like Ally wanted, I would trip. I figure they won’t stay on for long after the ceremony anyway, though, so I need cute toes.”
“I still like the other shoes,” Ally said.
“Ally,” Rose warned. “You can pick whatever shoes you want for your own wedding. This is Mandy’s wedding.”
“Mandy hasn’t let me pick out anything,” Ally complained.
“What did you want to pick out?”
“I had the perfect dress for her, but she didn’t like it,” Ally replied.
“Maybe she wanted to pick her own dress,” Rose suggested.
“Her dress is beautiful,” Emma said. “It fits her. It’s very simple, but it’s classy. She picked a beautiful color. She’s so blonde that a white dress could wash her out.”
“You’re dress isn’t white?” Rose looked disappointed.
“It’s white,” Mandy said. “It’s more of a blush white, though.”
Rose looked to her daughter for confirmation. “It’s white, right? People might get the wrong idea if it’s not.”
“And what idea is that?” Ally asked, her tone light and teasing.
“That … well … you know?”
“No, I have no idea.”
Rose lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “That they’ve already consummated their relationship.”
“They have already consummated their relationship,” Ally said.
“I know that, and you know that, but there’s
no reason anyone else needs to know that,” Rose said.
“Anyone who has ever been in the same room with them knows that they’ve consummated their relationship,” Ally countered. “They’ve consummated their relationship in every corner of that apartment, and I have a feeling they’ve consummated it in half the rooms of the new house already, too.”
“Ally,” Mandy scolded her. “You’re upsetting your mother.”
“I’m upsetting you,” Ally said. “And, don’t deny it. I know you and James did it in the guesthouse after the barbecue last week.”
Mandy turned her attention back to the nail polish. “I like the purple.”
“You should do the blue,” Ally said.
“You don’t think blue is too … out there for a wedding?”
“James ordered a special blue-rose centerpiece,” Ally said. “The polish will match the roses. It will be a nice touch.” Ally clapped her hand over mouth, realizing what she’d done too late. “Crap. Now I know why he never tells me anything.”
Mandy smiled. “I’ll keep your secret.” She placed the purple polish back on the shelf. “Blue it is.”
“Why blue roses?” Rose asked. “What’s wrong with red roses?”
“Mandy doesn’t like red,” Ally said, holding two bottles up so she could see them better in the light. “I think I’m going with orange. It will match my bridesmaid’s dress.”
“I forgot you don’t like red,” Rose said. “Why is that again?”
“I just don’t,” Mandy said. “I can’t explain it.”
“Your bridesmaid’s dress is orange?” Rose turned to Ally.
“It’s pastel orange. It’s pretty,” Ally said. “Mandy let me pick it out. It looks great with my coloring and my hair.”
Rose looked Emma up and down. “I’m not sure orange will look good on Emma.”
“My dress is yellow,” Emma said.
“Different colored bridesmaids’ gowns?” Rose was biting her tongue to keep from saying something disparaging. Mandy didn’t take it personally. She figured her mother was going to be a lot more brutal.
“It’s going to look fine,” Ally said. “We’ve already all stood together in our dresses. We look like a rainbow.”
“What color is Sophie’s dress?”
“Blue.”
Rose straightened in her chair. “Well, it’s your choice, dear. I’m sure you know what you’re doing.”
Mandy and Ally exchanged amused glances. “It will be fine, Mom,” Ally said. “Just think how handsome James is going to look in his tux.”
“Not if he doesn’t get a haircut,” Rose said. “What is up with his hair anyway?”
“We’ve been busy,” Mandy said carefully. “He has an appointment later this week.”
“He’d better,” Rose said. “The photos are going to look terrible if he doesn’t tame that mess.”
“I kind of like it,” Mandy said. “It makes him look all rough, like he’s a lumberjack or something.”
“Yes, he does like boasting about his wood,” Ally teased.
“What wood?” Rose asked.
“Um, no wood,” Ally said. “It was a … you know what, Mom? Just pretend I didn’t say that.”
Emma snickered, causing Rose to shift her attention to the smiling brunette.
“So, Emma, tell me about yourself,” Rose said.
Emma’s smile faltered. “What do you want to know?”
Mandy knew what was worrying her. Emma’s father was a notorious child molester, and her brother was in prison for armed robbery. Her past was the one thing she wasn’t open to talking about.
“Tell me about modeling,” Rose said. “That must be fun.”
Emma made a face. “Not really. It pays the bills, though. I’m working my way through school.”
“Oh, what are you going for?” Rose’s face brightened.
“I want to become a teacher.”
“That’s a great ambition,” Rose said. “You will make a great teacher.”
Emma smiled. “Do you really think so?” She wasn’t used to parental approval.
“Of course,” Rose said. “You’re warm and giving, and patient. I could see how patient you were with Finn last night.”
“Finn is easy,” Emma said. “He’s so sweet. I’ve never met anyone so sweet. He never gets angry, and he always listens when I have something to say. I’ve never known anyone like him. He’s the patient one.”
“Finn is definitely the most patient of all my children,” Rose agreed. “The other three tend to fly off the handle at the littlest things.”
Emma smirked. “I hadn’t noticed.”
“I do not fly off the handle,” Ally countered. “I am very even-tempered.”
Rose reached over and patted her daughter’s thigh. “Of course you are.”
“I am.”
“You are,” Rose agreed, pointing to the rack behind Ally. “Will you please hand me that mauve bottle? That’s the color I want.”
“I am even-tempered,” Ally said.
“That’s what I said.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“You know, dear, I don’t know why people say you’re high maintenance,” Rose said, studying her cuticles. “You’re the most easygoing person I know.”
“I am,” Ally said, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m every man’s dream.”
“You’re Jake’s dream, dear. You should be happy with that.”
“WHAT do you think they’re doing?” Louis asked, studying the cards in his hand.
While the women were out getting fluffed and painted, the men had decided to hold a low-key card game in the apartment. The four of them were sitting around the dining room table, drinking beer and relaxing.
“They’re gossiping and getting their nails painted,” Finn said. “That’s what women do.”
“Your mother doesn’t do that.”
“She does now,” Finn said. “Now that they’ve taken her, she’ll want to go all the time. Emma had never been for a spa day before I met her, and now she loves them.”
“Emma is a good girl,” Louis said. “She’s sweet. I like her.”
“I like her, too,” Finn said, beaming.
“I can tell.”
James rolled his eyes. “We all love Emma,” he said. “She’s the only one who never causes any trouble.”
“My Ally doesn’t cause trouble,” Louis argued.
Jake, James, and Finn snorted in unison.
“She doesn’t,” Louis said, glowering. “She’s an angel.”
“Huh, that’s what Jake calls her,” Finn said.
Louis frowned. “What?”
“Angel. He calls her angel.”
Jake’s face flushed. “It’s just a nickname.”
“What does she call you?”
“Um … Jake.”
“Oh, that’s not true. She calls him sweetie,” Finn teased.
“Or honey bear,” James said, smirking.
Louis was intrigued by the conversation. “What do you call Emma?”
Finn considered the question. “I don’t know. I mostly just call her sweetie, or sweetheart.”
Louis turned to James. “What do you call Mandy?”
“Baby,” Finn and Jake answered at the same time.
James scowled. “I call her other things.”
“Sometimes you call her blondie,” Finn conceded. “Your go-to term of endearment is baby, though.”
“What does Grady call Sophie?”
“Sugar.” Everyone answered at the same time again.
“What do you call Mom?” Finn asked.
“I don’t call her anything,” Louis said, turning back to his cards. “I need two.”
Finn dealt the cards to his father. “You must have a nickname for her, even if you don’t use it every day.”
“He does,” James said. “I’ve heard him call her something before.”
“What?” Finn was intrigued.
“Rosie-Posey,
” James said, grinning widely.
“Oh, yeah,” Finn said. “You’re right.”
“Play your cards,” Louis grumbled.
The men finished the hand, Finn claiming the pot, and then they took a break. James got to his feet and moved to the refrigerator. “Anyone need anything?”
“I could use another,” Finn said.
“Me, too,” Jake added.
“Dad?”
“I just want to know what’s going on,” Louis said, sipping from his beer.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not stupid, boys,” Louis said. “You’re all on edge. I can tell something is going on. I think you should just tell me.”
James paused behind the counter. “Why do you think something is going on?”
“Because I raised you,” Louis said. “Well, I didn’t raise Jake, but he’s edgy, too.”
James walked back to the table, handing Jake and Finn their beers and fixing his father with a curious look. “We just have a case.”
“Is that why you didn’t want to let the women go to the spa alone and had Jake follow them there to make sure they were safe?”
James ran his tongue over his teeth. “You noticed that, huh?”
“I wasn’t born yesterday.”
James sighed, sinking back down in his chair. “We have a bit of a situation.”
“Isn’t that par for the course with you guys these days?”
James rubbed the heel of his hand across his forehead. “I don’t think Mom should know.”
“Well, why don’t you tell me what’s going on, and I’ll decide about that,” Louis said. “Your mother can handle a lot more than you seem to think.”
James launched into his tale. When he was done, Louis was flabbergasted.
“Well, that was quite the story.”
“It’s been a busy two weeks,” James said.
“And you’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. I was barely hit.”
“And you’re sure Mandy is okay?”
“She wasn’t hit at all, although the fact that she was saved by a tube of lipstick still gives me nightmares.”
Louis glanced at Finn. “What do you think?”
“I think we know who we’re looking for,” Finn said. “We still have time to catch this guy. I think the wedding will be saved.”
“The wedding is happening regardless,” James said. “Mandy is going to have her day. I don’t care if I have to hire security, she’s getting her day.”
Deadly Ever After (Hardy Brothers Security Book 6) Page 13
