Deadly Arrival
Hardy Brothers Security
Book Sixteen
Lily Harper Hart
Text copyright © 2015 Lily Harper Hart
Table of Contents
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Up Next
Author’s Note
Books by Lily Harper Hart
One
“Hey, baby, how long to do I have to cede my house for this afternoon?”
James Hardy moved up behind his wife Mandy Avery-Hardy and pushed her blond hair away so he could kiss the back of her ear as she studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She looked perfect, and yet her gaze was critical. He hated that about her. She always found something wrong, even when there was absolutely nothing to find. He often lost himself in the planes of her face – and it was always a happy expedition.
Mandy arched an eyebrow and met his reflection’s curious stare. “At least three hours.”
James scowled. “Baby, this sounds like a really crappy way to burn a weekend day,” he complained. “It’s warm enough now that we could spend the entire afternoon naked in the hot tub. That’s what I want to do. I don’t want to spend the next three hours exiled to the guesthouse so you and the other hens can cluck over baby stuff.”
Mandy made a face that was too cute to be taken seriously, even though James was sure that’s how she meant it. “I don’t like it when you refer to us as hens … and it’s barely March. It’s still cold out.”
“Cluck, cluck, wife.” James refused to back down. “Can’t you fake being sick or something?”
“We’re the ones hosting the baby shower,” Mandy reminded him, her irritation growing. “It’s a baby shower for your first niece or nephew. You would think that would make you happy.”
James shrugged. “You make me happy. Baby clothes and finger sandwiches make me cranky.”
“I guess it’s good we’re not having a baby then,” Mandy teased, turning so she could face her husband. They’d been together almost two years, although they’d been married for less than half that time, and their communication was often still a work in progress. “It’s not going to kill you to hang out in the guesthouse with your brothers and Jake.”
“It might kill me,” James countered. “I’m addicted to you. If I go too long without your presence I could possibly die.”
Mandy wanted to take a firm hand with him, but he was too adorable to even feign anger with. “I promise to get into the hot tub with you later,” she offered. “We’ll have plenty of leftovers, so we won’t have to cook. We can take two bottles of wine out there and play shark.”
James’ mouth tipped up at the corners. He loved playing shark with his wife. It turned her on, which was the whole point of the game. “I want this to be the only shower we host,” he said, opting to negotiate. “The next one has to be held at someone else’s house.”
“This could be the only one for the foreseeable future,” Mandy pointed out. “I think Emma and Finn are going to be happy with one for at least a little while, and no one else is planning for babies.”
“Don’t kid yourself,” James chided. “Ally has babies on the brain. She’s going to find a way to trick Jake into proposing to her, and before you know it we’re going to be knee deep in ankle biters.”
“I think it’s really good that we decided not to have kids,” Mandy said, laughing at her husband’s antics. Deep down she knew he would love his new niece or nephew without reservation or question. When his youngest brother Finn found out his girlfriend – now fiancée – was pregnant, he initially freaked out. Now he was excited. Truth be told, all of the Hardy siblings were excited. As Emma’s waistline grew, so did the anticipation. That didn’t mean James didn’t want his own way.
“Why don’t you come out to the guesthouse and entertain me?” James suggested. “Let a few hens into the house, act like a proper hostess, and then escape so they can take over the party. Then you and I can sneak up to the second floor of the guesthouse and … do what we usually do on weekends.”
Mandy smirked. “You want to have naked Saturday when our house is full of people? That sounds dangerous.”
“I like to live on the edge, baby.”
Mandy rolled up to the balls of her feet and pressed a kiss to James’ cheek. She loved him more than she ever thought possible. There was no way she was backing out of hosting Emma’s baby shower just because James felt neglected, though. “You’ll live,” she said, patting his cheek when she was done. “If you’re a very good boy, I promise to play as many games with you as possible once everyone is gone.”
“Fine,” James said, resting his forehead against Mandy’s as he pulled her close. He loved how her body fit against his, like they were designed to be pressed together at all times. “I love you, wife.”
“I love you, too,” Mandy said, squeezing his waist. “You need to keep your brothers and Jake out in the guesthouse, though. Men are annoying at baby showers.”
James rolled his eyes as he separated from his wife. “Why would any man ever want to sit in on a baby shower?”
“You have no idea what you’re missing.”
James studied Mandy for a moment, conflicted. He knew every mannerism … every smile … and there was something off. “You don’t want to go to this shower either, do you?”
“Of course I do.”
James crossed his arms over his chest. “Admit it.”
Mandy glanced around, as if making sure no one was eavesdropping. “I would rather walk around a fire pit naked during a windstorm,” she conceded. “The idea of baby games is annoying. This is Emma’s day, though. We’re not going to ruin it.”
“I love that you’re not a pod person,” James said, yanking Mandy back for another hug. “Because I know you’re going to be more miserable than me, I promise to rub your back for an hour in the hot tub.”
“That sounds nice.” Mandy pressed her head to the spot above James’ heart so she could listen and center herself. “You have no idea how lucky you are to be a man.”
“I know I’m the luckiest man in the world because I have you,” James countered, rubbing her back. “Since you’re going through mental torture this afternoon, I think the first hot tub game we should play is the love nozzle game.”
Mandy pressed her lips together to keep from laughing, finally giving in because the man of her dreams was too charming and playful to be denied. “Keep the roosters out of the henhouse today,” she instructed. “If Grady gets a full head of steam he’s going to be a bear, and I don’t want Emma’s day ruined.
“This is a big deal for her,” she continued. “She grew up with a child molester as a father and never thought she would know happiness. She’s about to get everything she ever wanted. This party is for her. Do not let your brother ruin it.”
James loved his wife’s giving spirit, so he had no problem giving in to her demands. “I’ll keep Grady under control,” he said. “At five o’clock, though, you need to be the only hen in the house so I can … cluck … you.”
Mandy arched an eyebrow. “That didn’t come out as sexy a
s you hoped it would, did it?”
James’ smile was rueful. “It came out kind of gross actually.”
Mandy grinned. “I’ll cluck your socks off later,” she said. “Just be good for the next few hours.”
“Oh, baby, when I get my hands on you again no one is going to be wearing anything … especially socks.”
“Promises, promises.”
“THIS is from Jake and me,” Ally Hardy said, beaming as she handed her future sister-in-law another bag. Mandy lost count after the tenth gift. She was starting to think James was right about his sister having babies on the brain.
“How many gifts did you buy?” Sophie Lane asked, leaning back on the couch and fixing Ally with a dubious look. The comely reporter appeared happy to watch the festivities with a glass of wine in her hand rather than getting giddy with Ally and Emma. “I think you bought out the entire baby store.”
Ally made a face. “This is my first niece,” she said. “I want her to have the best life has to offer.”
“You want the baby to look at you as the favorite aunt,” Mandy corrected. She and Ally were best friends from childhood and they needled each other whenever possible. “Besides, you don’t know if it’s a girl.”
“Oh, I’m definitely going to be the favorite aunt,” Ally said, pushing her long dark hair away from her face. “You’re not even in the running.”
“I have a pool,” Mandy pointed out.
“Maybe I’ll put a pool in,” Ally countered.
“Your back yard is too small.”
“Maybe I’ll buy another house!” Ally’s voice ratcheted up a notch.
“Fine, you can be the favorite aunt,” Mandy said, giving in. “You’re going to be better at the job than me as it is. Still, you don’t know the baby is a girl.”
“It’s a girl,” Ally said, her tone dark. “I want a girl.”
Mandy shifted her attention to Emma Pritchard, watching as the woman reclined in the most comfortable chair the house had to offer. As a former model, seeing Emma’s swollen stomach still took some getting used to. Emma herself struggled with the added weight and self-esteem problems associated with it. To Mandy’s keen eye, the auburn-haired siren had never looked more beautiful. Of course, it was easier to see beauty in others than yourself. Mandy knew that from firsthand experience.
“Emma, didn’t you tell me you had a feeling it was a boy?” Mandy pressed, enjoying the way Ally’s face twisted at the prompting.
“I do think it’s a boy, Ally,” Emma said, biting her lower lip.
“You don’t know that, though,” Ally said. “I really want a girl. You’ll see why when you open that box.”
Emma shook her head but opened the gift, smiling when she saw what was inside. She held up the tiny pink onesie, the words “Daddy’s little princess” emblazoned across the front. “It’s so cute.”
“Yes, Finn is going to love putting his son in that,” Mandy deadpanned, earning a kick from Ally. “Ouch!”
“You need to shut your mouth,” Ally instructed. “You’re ruining my fun.”
“Fine,” Mandy said, holding up her hands.
“How come Rose isn’t here?” Sophie asked, glancing around. Emma didn’t have any friends, so the only people at her shower were the ones she met through her association with Finn. Mandy also cajoled her co-worker Heidi into coming to make the party more festive, but Emma’s future motherin-law was conspicuously absent.
“They wanted to come down, but since Louis is retiring in one month he couldn’t get the time off without inconveniencing someone else,” Mandy explained about her in-laws. “They figured it was more important to be here after the birth. They’re very excited to see their first grandchild. They want Emma to promise to hold the baby inside as long as possible.”
Ally snorted. “I’ve got twenty bucks that says they move down here after the baby is born.”
Emma’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“They’re not going to be able to stay away,” Ally said. “Besides, once Dad retires there’s nothing keeping them up north. They want to be closer to us – which is going to put a real downer on all of our naked Saturdays, by the way – so I think they’re going to move down here by the end of the summer. Just you wait and see.”
“I love your parents,” Mandy countered. “I think it would be great if they were down here.”
“It’s not going to be so funny when they drop in unannounced when you and James are doing something filthy in the hot tub and they catch you,” Ally argued. “Those Jaws games are going to look pretty sick to my parents.”
Mandy scowled. “That game is perfectly innocent.”
“Yes, I particularly love it when James starts humming the theme song from that movie now,” Ally said. “I know that means he’s horny. You never want to know that about your own brother.”
“What about a gift?” Sophie asked, trying to direct the conversation back to safer waters. “Did they send a gift?”
“They did,” Emma said, her eyes sparkling. “In fact, the big gift from everyone was delivered yesterday. I’m surprised you had more gifts today after what you all already got me.”
“What did they get you?” Heidi asked. She was enjoying the shower even though she didn’t know Emma and Sophie particularly well. She just liked being included. She was Mandy’s closest friend at the county courthouse where they both worked, and she was fascinated by the inner workings of the Hardy family.
“They got us a beautiful crib, changing table, playpen, dresser … I mean they got us everything,” Emma said, her eyes misting briefly.
“Don’t cry,” Mandy chided, shaking her head. Now she understood how James felt whenever she got emotionally overwhelmed. Emma’s hormones were wreaking havoc on her body. Mandy knew she couldn’t control it. Watching the mother-to-be sob wasn’t on Mandy’s to-do list for the day, though. “We wanted you to have all of those things. James even picked out most of it himself.”
“That’s so sweet,” Emma said, dabbing at her eye.
“It’s not sweet,” Ally argued. “He’s a control freak. He just wanted to be bossy.”
Mandy pinched Ally’s side for good measure. “Don’t talk about my husband that way.”
“He was my brother before he was your husband,” Ally said, rubbing her side. Her eyes twinkled and Mandy knew her comments were more about dragging Emma back to a happier place than getting a dig in at James, but she was still frustrated.
“Did you get two playpens?” Mandy asked, turning back to Emma. “I know they wanted one for downstairs so they could take the baby down there with them and allow you to get some sleep.”
“They did,” Emma acknowledged. “I don’t know if I’m going to want the baby away from me, though.”
“You will,” Ally said. “You’re going to be exhausted. There will be no safer place for that baby than a room where four tough guys work. You’re going to need sleep.”
Emma and Finn took over James’ and Mandy’s former apartment on top of Hardy Brothers Security, the security business James owned in Southeastern Michigan. The baby would literally be safe from everything but a natural disaster in that building. That was part of the draw of the apartment while Finn saved up for a house.
“I guess,” Emma said. “I’m really anxious now, though. I know it’s going to hurt and everything, but I want to hold him.”
“Her,” Ally corrected.
Emma shot her a dark look. “It’s a him. I can feel it.”
“We’re just going to have to agree to disagree,” Ally sniffed.
Mandy and Sophie exchanged amused glances.
“I’ve got twenty bucks that says Finn’s son is going to be wearing a ‘Daddy’s little princess’ onesie before this is all said and done,” Mandy teased.
“I’m right there with you on that,” Sophie said, causing the room to erupt in giggles.
Mandy smiled. She couldn’t help herself. A baby shower wasn’t her first choice of activities, but E
mma’s happiness was worth every ounce of effort. They were a family … and that family was about to get bigger any day now.
Two
“What do you think they’re doing over there?” Finn asked, resting his cheek against the front window of the guesthouse behind his brother’s main house. “Do you think Emma is okay? Maybe I should go and check on her.”
Grady, the middle Hardy brother, rolled his eyes as he drank his beer. James flicked Grady’s ear and shook his head, a quiet warning passing between them, and moved to Finn’s side. He understood worrying about the woman you loved. He didn’t understand Finn’s incessant need to spy on the house.
“She’s fine,” James said. “Stop hovering over here. Come and sit at the table. We want to play poker.”
“What if she goes into labor?”
“Then I’m sure Ally will boil water, deliver the baby, and then steal it before you even know what’s going on,” Jake Harrison teased. In addition to dating the youngest Hardy sibling, Ally, he also worked at Hardy Brothers Security with the other men in the room. “She’s been shopping for that kid nonstop. If you have a boy, prepare yourself for a lot of pink clothes for him. She’s convinced you’re having a girl.”
“Does Emma still think it’s a boy?” Grady asked, pushing his shoulder-length brown hair over his shoulder.
Finn nodded, forcing his gaze back inside the room. “Someone would come and get us if Emma went into labor, right?”
James made a dumbfounded face. “Well, no, I don’t think they would,” he drawled. “I think they would panic and die a hundred feet away from us. Of course they would get us. Stop freaking out.”
“I can’t help it,” Finn admitted, rubbing his sweaty palms over the front of his blue jeans. “I know I’m driving Emma crazy … and I really don’t want to work her up because the doctor told us to keep her blood pressure down … but I can’t help constantly watching her.”
“Do you think she’s going to explode?” Grady asked dryly. “Her stomach is so huge I’m worried it’s going to burst every time I get near her.”
“Nice,” James spat.
“What? You’ve seen her. It looks like she’s smuggling a watermelon under her sweater,” Grady protested.
Deadly Arrival (Hardy Brothers Security Book 16) Page 1
