Deadly Storm (23 page)
Authors: Lily Harper Hart
Mandy woke up on top of James the next morning. They were both naked, but not for the usual reasons.
After hours of questioning the previous evening, the cops took Marian into custody and booked her for the premeditated murders of Ann Nelson and Julie Nichols. Ben Barnes was also taken into custody as an accessory. The cops didn’t believe he was truly oblivious about Marian’s actions, although James wasn’t sure he wasn’t simply that stupid.
By the time Mandy and James got home, they were both exhausted. They stripped out of their clothes and climbed into bed, and because he knew nightmares of Mandy’s ordeal would haunt him, James tugged her on top of his chest and held her the whole night.
Now, with the morning sunlight filtering in, the new day beckoned.
“What time is it?” Mandy murmured.
“It’s after ten.”
Mandy moved to bolt upright, realizing she’d overslept and was late for work, but James held her flush against his chest.
“I texted Heidi three hours ago,” James said. “I told her you couldn’t come into work. She said she would tell Judge MacIntosh.”
“James,” Mandy scolded. “That’s so unprofessional.”
“Yeah? Well, you almost died last night … again. I figure you deserve a day off.”
“You should’ve woken me up and let me make the decision,” Mandy said, resting her head back against his chest. “That wasn’t fair.”
“I’m your husband,” James said. “Sometimes life isn’t fair. The morning after a crazy woman tries to kill you, I get to make the decisions. It’s in the husband handbook.”
“Is that next to that glands thing?” Mandy asked, going for levity even though the horrors of Marian’s delusions were still bothering her.
“I guess,” James said. “I know it’s horrible to say, but part of me feels sorry for her.”
“You and me both,” Mandy said. “Barnes twisted her mind. He told her crazy things and she believed them … all because she was desperate for someone to love her.”
“People want to be loved, baby,” James said, brushing his lips against her forehead. “They can’t help themselves. It’s human nature.”
“I guess it’s good you love me then, right?”
“More than anything.”
“Even though I stole your business and I force you to spout platitudes in public?” Now she was definitely teasing him.
“Even though,” James agreed, rubbing his hand over the back of her head. “Is there something you want to talk about this morning?”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw your face when Marian admitted what happened to Ann,” he said.
“Yeah, that was particularly terrible,” Mandy agreed.
“Do you want to yell at me? If I had listened to you that night, there’s a chance we could’ve saved her. You were right.”
“We can’t go back in time and change things,” Mandy said. “I’m not mad. I’m not … anything where that’s concerned. It’s horrible, and it’s something I’m never going to forget, but dwelling on it isn’t going to do either of us any good.”
James glanced down at her, his brown eyes meeting her serious blue ones. “Really? You don’t want to do a little dance and tell me you told me so?”
“No,” Mandy said. “You were right, too.”
“I was? About what?”
“I never should’ve taken that cooking class,” she said. “I’m terrible when it comes to cooking.”
“You’re gifted in bed, though, baby. That’s all that matters.”
Mandy pinched his flank. “That’s not funny.”
“It wasn’t meant to be funny,” James said, shifting lower on the bed as he pulled her up higher so they were eye level. “Are you going to finish the class?”
“No. I’ve decided that cooking isn’t my thing.”
“Painting can be your thing,” James said. “We’ll both enjoy that.”
“That’s only going to be one of my things,” Mandy said.
“What’s the other going to be?”
“Naked takeout ordering, of course.”
James grinned and tickled her ribs, kissing her softly as he snuggled her closer. “Well, wife, it’s the middle of the week and you have the day off,” he said. “What do you want to do? Do you want to paint something together again?”
Mandy shook her head. “That can wait until the weekend.”
“Okay, I … wow … what are you doing with your hand?”
“I’m trying to see if I can seduce you,” she said. “I heard that men can’t stop themselves from having sex with a woman if she wants it.”
“I heard that, too.” James groaned as he shifted. “What if my glands explode, though?”
“I’m willing to risk it.”
Mandy pressed her mouth to his, and James tightened his arms around her as he rolled them over.
Life was back to normal in the Hardy household, and happily ever after was an ongoing – if sometimes bumpy – reality. They were both up for completing the trip, though.
As long as they had each other, they could do anything.
Life in the Hardy family is never easy, even when a simple outing to a haunted Halloween attraction is involved.
Mandy Hardy loves all things supernatural and scary, so when James arranges for everyone to visit Hell House he thinks he’s doing his wife a favor. After being separated, Mandy is injected with a dangerous new drug called Twilight that leaves her on the brink of death.
James is beside himself, and even though he knows she’ll recover, he is bent on vengeance.
Sophie Lane also wants payback, and she’s willing to go undercover to get it – even if her live-in love fights the process.
The Hardy family is scattered and struggling, and when a new enemy makes itself known they all have to band together – or they’re going to die apart.
The streets of Detroit are running red with the blood of young women, all falling prey to the ravages of Twilight. The forces of good and evil are converging and the Hardy family is going to need all hands on deck if they hope to survive intact.
Deadly Dealings is available
here.
I’m a romantic at heart. A true romantic. I love the idea of a happy ending, so much so I have trouble writing a sad one. The world is sad enough. I like escaping in fiction. That’s just me. I like sarcasm and snark – but I’m not sure a sad ending is in me. If you’re looking for an edge like that, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. Just FYI.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Hardy Brothers Security
Deadly Christmas (Coming November 2015)
Deadly Desperadoes (Coming December 2015)
A Maddie Graves Mystery
An Ivy Morgan Mystery
A Harper Harlow Mystery
