Deadly Memories (Hardy Brothers Security Book 18) (13 page)

“
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.”

“
T
HESE
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?”

“They had pink, purple, and white ones that would be perfect for a certain annoying sister I know,” James replied, winking at Ally as he grabbed a pair of tongs from the container on the counter. “Baby, I’m thrilled you love those flowers, but you don’t have to stare at them forever. When they die – and they will die – I’ll buy you more.”

“I don’t want you to buy them all of the time,” Mandy said, gingerly touching one of the delicate petals. “They should be for special occasions … or when you really screw up.”

“Duly noted,” James said, dropping a kiss on Mandy’s cheek as he moved toward the sliding glass doors. “I’m putting the steaks on, hens. Feel free to cluck in my absence.”

“I’ll help,” Jake said.

“Don’t forget to find out exactly where he got these,” Ally called to Jake’s back. “I want some.”

“You’ll get them,” Jake said, shaking his head as he moved outside.

“They look even better now than before,” Sophie said, joining Ally and Mandy at the table. “I’ve never seen anything like them.”

Grady glanced at Sophie. “Would you like flowers like that?”

“I wasn’t fishing for flowers,” Sophie countered. “They’re just … lovely.”

“No offense, sugar, but you don’t strike me as the flowers type,” Grady pointed out. “You’re happiest when I bring home wine.”

“I just said I wasn’t fishing for flowers,” Sophie shot back, shaking her head as she moved toward the refrigerator. “Chill out.”

Grady was unconvinced, and when he glanced at Mandy she sent him a look that told him he should probably make a trip with Jake to the florist the following day. “Hey, James, wait up.”

Once it was just the three women they couldn’t help themselves from dissolving into giggles.

“I know it’s mean, but these really are the neatest flowers I’ve ever seen,” Ally said. “Jake bought me crazy daisies this summer and I thought nothing could beat them. I was wrong.”

“I think you’re going to have your own bouquet tomorrow,” Sophie said.

“So are you,” Mandy said, laughing as Sophie blushed. “How did things go at the demonstration? I lost track of everything that happened after James thumped his chest at Humphrey and I had to go inside for the afternoon session.”

“It was good,” Sophie answered. “It drew a lot of attention. They’re going to do it again tomorrow.”

Mandy’s eyebrows shot up. “Seriously? That’s bold. That’s going to drive Humphrey insane. He probably thinks because he survived the day that it will be over.”

“Yes, well, it’s only begun,” Sophie said. “Kevin Jackson is fired up now. He was unsure of himself before, but once he saw the outpouring, he realized he had a lot of help on his side. The women from Mothers Against Drunk Driving offered to help, and a variety of other justice organizations are sending out a call to their followers tomorrow, too. I think we could see twice as many people.”

“I still don’t understand how all of this happened,” Ally said. “I mean, the kid who survived was clearly driving. He was strapped in the driver’s seat, for crying out loud. How can they argue he wasn’t guilty?”

“It’s all political wrangling,” Sophie explained. “Chuck Foley probably has dirt on Humphrey. He might have dirt on Morgan, too. Morgan’s tenure hasn’t been easy and he’s been trying to claw his way out of trouble ever since John Madison went off the rails.”

“Well, this isn’t going to help,” Mandy said.

“No, it’s not,” Sophie agreed. “I think Morgan is going to buckle, and I think he’s going to do it soon. The way he acted at the press conference the other day made me think he got bullied into what happened. He’ll have no choice but to do an about face.”

“Well, I can’t wait to see that,” Ally said. “That Humphrey guy sounds like a douche. I hope he gets drummed out of office. I can’t believe the things he said to Mandy.”

“Yeah, well, James handled that,” Sophie said.

“What did James handle?” James asked, stepping back into the room.

“We were talking about Humphrey,” Mandy supplied.

“That guy.” James shook his head. “I will beat him to a pulp if it comes to it. I don’t care if I go to jail.”

“I care if you go to jail,” Mandy snapped. “Don’t even think about it. After I almost went to jail for something I didn’t do, I will not sit by and let you go to jail for something that can be avoided. I don’t want to spend time away from you. It’s over. Let it go.”

James regarded Mandy for a moment. “I won’t be separated from you,” he said finally. “I was just talking big. I meant what I said today. If I go after him, it will be legal.”

“Thank you.”

James moved behind Mandy and leaned over so he could rest his chin on her shoulder. “I won’t be separated from you. I promise it won’t happen.”

Mandy softened. “I know. Just … don’t.”

“Actually, do. Not punch him I mean, but the other. I want him to run a background check on Humphrey,” Sophie said, taking everyone by surprise. “He seemed worried about that. He has something to hide.”