“This is amazing,” Heidi said. “I heard that Humphrey was upstairs pitching a fit in the executive conference room. He wants the sheriff to arrest everyone, but since it’s public property he can’t do that.”
Mandy narrowed her eyes. “How did you hear that? You’ve been with me in the same session all morning and I didn’t hear that.”
“Yes, but when we have a ten-minute break you go to your office like a good girl and I go to the cafeteria to gossip,” Heidi replied. “I think we both know who had more fun.”
Sophie chuckled, enjoying the interplay. Heidi was always a ball of energy. “I hope Humphrey comes down,” she said. “If everything I’ve heard about him is true, he might not be able to stop himself.”
“If Macomb County had a king of tools, it would be him,” Mandy said. “I … .” The blonde broke off, narrowing her eyes as she studied the street behind Sophie. It took the reporter a moment to remember in what direction James had disappeared. “What is he doing?”
Sophie swiveled, smirking when she saw the bouquet of brightly colored blooms in James’ hand. The first time James really upset the woman who would one day become his wife he bought her a single blue rose, and since then he’d taken to buying them whenever he was in the doghouse. The bouquet James held this time was different.
“What are those?” Heidi asked, her eyes widening as James strode in their direction. “Are those roses?”
“I don’t know,” Mandy said, her eyes darting in different directions. “Why is he buying me flowers?”
“Because he wants you to know that he understands your pain,” Sophie said, grinning as James stopped in front of the three women. “Those are really interesting.” Sophie leaned closer and studied the roses. They were three different colors – purple, teal and blue – all meshed together in the same flower. “Those must be hybrids.”
“They’re called pinwheel roses,” James said, extending the flowers in Mandy’s direction. “They’re very special and rare … just like my wife.”
“Oh!” Heidi pressed her hand to the spot above her heart. “He’s the perfect man.”
Mandy bit her bottom lip as she accepted the roses, studying the distinctive flowers with shiny eyes. “You didn’t have to get me flowers. I’m not upset.”
“You kind of look upset right now,” Sophie pointed out. “You’re not going to cry, are you?”
“Oh, baby, please don’t cry,” James said, opening his arms as Mandy stepped between them and rested her head against his chest. “I’m sorry I made fun of you for being upset about what people are saying. I don’t think I saw it from your perspective.”
“I’m not upset,” Mandy said. “I’m not embarrassed either. I just … these are beautiful.”
“No, you’re beautiful, wife,” James said. “I love you.”
“I think every woman should have a chance to nab a Hardy brother,” Heidi gushed, her eyes sparkling. “They’re so romantic.”
“They’re not always romantic,” Sophie argued. “Last night Chuck Foley showed up at the house and caused a scene. Grady and I were exhausted before his arrival and then after fighting with our guest, Grady made me run to the bedroom. He was very considerate and said I could bring my pizza if I wanted, though.”
James barked out a laugh. “Oh, that sounds like my brother. He told me about Foley showing up, too. What a jackass.”
“That sounds like something you would do, too,” Mandy said, gazing at her roses. “These really are the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. They’re so … unique.”
“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” James said. “If I get this reaction for special roses, though, I’ll buy you a dozen every single day for the rest of our lives. That’s going to be a long time, so I hope you like roses.”
“I like you,” Mandy said, wrinkling her nose. “That’s good enough.”
“Be still my heart,” James said, planting a scorching kiss on his favorite blonde.
Heidi fanned herself as she watched the exchange. “Good grief. If I looked like those two I would never get dressed or leave the house.”
“Good idea,” James said, breaking the kiss. “Does this mean I’m out of the doghouse?”
“When were you in the doghouse?” Mandy challenged.
“I’ve been in it a lot this week,” James said. “I was thinking we could celebrate me being out of it tonight with another massage, even though my fingers ache, and that new shark movie I picked up the other day on Amazon.”
“You had me at massage,” Mandy said.
“Oh, I’m going to have you, wife.” James grabbed Mandy around the waist and dipped her low as he kissed her, causing Heidi to blush and giggle while Sophie shook her head.
“Well, isn’t this a … family friendly … picture.”
Sophie froze when she heard Humphrey’s voice, snapping her head in his direction as James straightened and narrowed his eyes.
“I think it’s a family-friendly picture,” Heidi said. “They’re married. They’re family.”
“Yes, I love it when married people fornicate in public,” Humphrey said.
“That was hardly fornicating,” James said, resting his hand on Mandy’s hip. “You’re the prosecutor, right? Humdinger?”
Sophie knew James maimed Humphrey’s name on purpose and she had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing.
“Humphrey,” the prosecutor corrected. “And you’re James Hardy. You’ve got quite the reputation around this area these days.”
“Yes, I’ve heard,” James said, his voice unnaturally pleasant. “I’ve also heard you’ve been trying to damage to my wife’s reputation. If you don’t stop, we’re going to see what kind of damage I can do to your reputation.”
“James.” Mandy’s voice was low and full of warning.
Humphrey squared his shoulders. “Was that a threat, Mr. Hardy?”
“No, just a promise,” James replied. “I don’t appreciate the way you’ve been talking to or about my wife. She doesn’t deserve crap from the likes of you, and if it doesn’t stop, then I’m going to make it my job to dig through every moment of your past.
“I have to think, if the rumors about you hitting on every single woman in the courthouse are true, that you’ve got quite a few skeletons in your closet,” he continued. “I have no need to harm you physically. I’ll just collect all of that information and give it to whoever runs against you in the general election and let him use it against you.”
Humphrey stilled, his chalky complexion flushing with color. “I think we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot.”
“We have,” James agreed. “Don’t threaten my wife. Don’t talk about her. Don’t even look at her. Don’t call her out at press conferences. Don’t look at her legs when she’s walking down the hallway. Don’t spread gossip either. If you do, I’m going to start spreading gossip, and I can guarantee what I dig up is bound to be worse than my wife being in love with her husband.”
Sophie was impressed. James’ words were dark and dangerous, and yet he delivered them with a smile as he kept his arm around Mandy. He meant business, but he also wasn’t trying to cause a scene.
“Mr. Hardy, if you think I have time for idle gossip, we’ve obviously gotten our wires crossed,” Humphrey hedged.
“Just the other day you tried to spread gossip about Mandy to me,” Sophie pointed out, internally smirking as Humphrey cleared his throat and shifted from one foot to the other. “I believe you were digging for information about James potentially having an affair and Mandy being a murderer.”
James growled. The sound couldn’t possibly be mistaken for anything else. “I will never cheat on my wife,” he said, lowering his voice. “She’s all I’ll ever want. As for the other, perhaps you would like to be locked in a room with a woman giving birth and a crazy rapist bent on killing you and see what you would do. Personally – and this would be the one and only instance where I would say anything of the sort – I would root for
the murderer to get you in that scenario.”
“I see,” Humphrey said, tugging his suit jacket down and glancing around. “I believe we’ve reached an impasse. Ms. Lane here has managed to twist your opinion of me, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“No, there’s not,” James agreed, leaning closer. “Don’t forget what I said. If you go after my wife, I’m going after you. Don’t forget it … and keep your distance from my wife. You’re not going to like what happens if you don’t.”
17
Seventeen
“I thought we were having dinner.”
James, his mouth fused to Mandy’s as they cavorted in the upstairs library nook later that evening, shot a dark look in Grady’s direction as he separated from his wife. “Do you knock?”
Grady made an exaggerated face and knocked on the wall. “Are you happy?”
“No. Get out.”
Grady ignored James’ order and moved to the other side of Mandy to sit. “Did I get my nights wrong or something? I thought for sure you said we were having a family barbecue tonight.”
“We are,” James said, digging into the bag of chocolates on the couch between him and Mandy. “It’s not for an hour, though.”
“Oh.” Grady seemed distracted as he glanced at the television. “What shark movie is this?”
“Shark Night,” Mandy replied, her eyes remaining on James as he studied the piece of candy in his hand. “Well?”
“Well what?” Grady asked.
“She’s talking to me,” James said, showing Mandy the wrapper. “Lay it on me, wife.”
Mandy giggled as she leaned over and kissed him, wriggling as James held her close with one hand and opened the piece of candy with the other. He popped it in his mouth and then returned to kissing the ecstatic blonde, earning a groan from Grady.
“Are you two in heat or something?” Grady was beyond annoyed. “You have company.”
“Company knocks,” James replied, balling up the wrapper and tossing it on the coffee table before lifting the bag so Mandy could pick a piece. “Why are you here so early? The steaks are marinating and everything else will be a breeze. Go someplace else for an hour.”
“If I leave you two are going to get horizontal and we’ll miss out on dinner entirely,” Grady said, unruffled. He narrowed his eyes when Mandy showed her wrapper to James and his brother took the piece of candy and added it to a pile on top of the table. “What’s the deal with the candy?”
“Mandy bought it for Valentine’s Day and forgot she had it,” James replied, digging in the bag. “She just found it and we’re playing a game.”
“With candy? You two are sick.”
“The candy has … suggestions … on each wrapper,” James replied. “Some of them we have time to do now. Some are for later. The pile on the table is for later because we can’t do them in front of guests.”
“What?” Grady didn’t know what to think so he reached forward and grabbed one of the pieces from the table and read the wrapper. “Okay, now you two are really sick. Who makes candy telling you to do these sort of things?”
“Someone with a filthy mind,” James replied. “This one says ‘be mine.’ I’m already yours wife. I guess you’re going to have to kiss me to prove it.”
James unwrapped the candy and plopped it in Mandy’s mouth before scorching her with a hot kiss.
“So some of them are sweet and nice and others have filthy suggestions?” Grady asked, still confused. “What are you going to do with the ones on the table?”
“Wait until everyone leaves tonight and do each and every one,” Mandy replied, giggling as James tilted the candy bag in her direction.
“Okay, that’s enough of that,” Grady said, reaching over to snag the bag and jerking it away from his brother and sister-in-law. “I’m going to get the hose if you two don’t stop this.”
“Whatever,” James said, slinging his arm around Mandy’s shoulders and tugging her so she was nestled against him. “You’re ruining our foreplay. You still haven’t told me why you’re here so early.”
“Sophie is still at work writing up her story about the demonstration,” Grady replied. “I was bored at home.”
“Oh, does poor Grady miss his Sophie?” Mandy teased, earning a tickle from James as he chuckled.
“I will pour water on you two if you don’t knock it off,” Grady threatened.
“This is our house, Grady,” James argued. “You came in without knocking. You can’t dictate behavioral terms to us.”
“Fine. I’ll go.”
Mandy and James exchanged a look as Grady pushed himself to a standing position, both watching as he took one step forward and then retreated back to the couch and sank to the cushions.
“I don’t think he’s leaving,” James said dryly.
Mandy elbowed him and shook her head before turning her serious eyes on Grady. “Is this about you wanting to ask Sophie to marry you?”
Grady’s mouth dropped open as he swiveled. He locked gazes with James. “How could you tell her? You know she has a huge mouth. God, she’s going to tell Sophie and ruin everything before I have a chance to do it the right way.”
“I didn’t tell her anything,” James shot back, glancing at Mandy. “Who told you? Finn doesn’t know because Grady didn’t want to bother him. Jake wouldn’t tell unless Ally tickled it out of him, and then if he did tell he would confess straight away. Who told you?”
“I guessed,” Mandy replied, rolling her eyes. “Just for the record, though, I don’t appreciate you keeping secrets from me.”
“I only kept this secret because Grady is right about you having a huge mouth,” James said. “For the record, I love your huge mouth. You can’t tell Sophie, though.”
“I’ve known for a month and had suspicions for another month before that,” Mandy said. “I haven’t said a thing. Pull your head out of your behind.”
“Oh, don’t pick a fight, wife,” James chided. “We were having a great day before Grady ruined it. I don’t want to get on your bad side. Remember those beautiful flowers I bought you? I’ll buy you another bouquet tomorrow if you promise not to turn this into a thing.”
“I’m not turning it into a thing,” Mandy sniffed. “I don’t need another bouquet either. You already bought me the prettiest one in existence.”
James’ expression softened. “I love you. You have to understand that you have a tendency to gossip, though. How come you haven’t told Sophie?”
“Because the day you proposed to me was one of the best days of my life,” Mandy replied, not missing a beat. “The reason it was so great was because I wasn’t expecting it and you spoke from the heart. I have no intention of taking that away from Sophie. Do you think I’m a monster?”
“We’ll play that game in the hot tub later,” James whispered, squeezing her rear end before shifting his attention to Grady. “Mandy won’t say anything. She’s kept her mouth shut so far. She may be gossipy, but she loves Sophie. I believe her when she says she doesn’t want to ruin anything for her.”
“I believe her, too,” Grady muttered, leaning back so he could stare at the ceiling. “I’ve planned so many nights I’ve lost count. Each time I chicken out. I don’t know what to do.”
“You shouldn’t do anything right now,” Mandy cautioned, earning surprised looks from James and Grady.
“Why not?” James asked. “I thought for sure you would be pushing him to propose right away.”
“That’s not what Sophie needs right now,” Mandy said. “You guys just had that blowup about you going behind her back and having me unseal that file. If you propose now, she’s going to think it’s because you’re desperate for her to forgive you.”
“She says she has forgiven me,” Grady hedged. “Do you think she hasn’t?”
“I do think she’s forgiven you,” Mandy replied. “I don’t think she was ever really angry at you. She was probably a little peeved because you’re a buttinski, but she loves you and
she expects that from you.
“She kept her secret because she’s somehow embarrassed by it,” she continued. “She expected me to question her the other day and I told her I didn’t need details, but I was always around to listen should she want to talk.
“You can’t do it just yet, Grady,” Mandy said, her eyes sympathetic when they locked with his. “What she needs right now is a little time to feel safe and realize that she has no reason to be embarrassed.”
“She has no reason to be embarrassed,” Grady said. “That’s nonsense.”
“It’s nonsense to you,” Mandy stressed. “I was upset about what people were saying about me at the courthouse and James thought it was nonsense. It wasn’t nonsense to me, and this isn’t nonsense to Sophie.”
“Do you think she’s right?” Grady asked his brother.
“I think she’s always right,” James said, kissing the tip of Mandy’s nose.
“What do you really think?” Grady asked dryly. “She’s going to have sex with you no matter what tonight. You bought her flowers and you two have been eating sexy candy for an hour. Your night is safe.”
“I still think she’s right,” James said. “I know you love her, Grady, but give Sophie some time. There’s no reason to rush anything. You’ve got forever.”
“I know,” Grady said, restlessly tugging his hand through his hair. “I just want to start our forever now.”
“THESE are the prettiest roses I’ve ever seen,” Ally Hardy gushed, sitting next to Mandy at the kitchen table so she could admire James’ purchase. “Jake, how come you never buy me flowers like this?”
Jake Harrison shifted his accusatory eyes to James as he helped his friend and boss retrieve the steaks from the refrigerator. “Thanks, man.”
“You’re welcome,” James said, grinning. “I’m the best man in the world. The rest of you are officially out of the running.”
“You suck,” Jake muttered. “Just for curiosity’s sake, did they have different colors but just as cool?”
Deadly Memories (Hardy Brothers Security Book 18) Page 13
