Deadly Proposal (Hardy Brothers Security Book 4) (7 page)

Finn and Grady let themselves into James’ apartment before the sun rose. They’d gone to the market, buying everything they could think of to keep Mandy fed and comfortable during her convalescence.

When James stumbled out into the main room of the apartment a few minutes later, his brothers froze in guilty resignation.

“Sorry,” Finn said, keeping his voice low. “We were trying to be quiet.”

James rubbed his eyes. “I was awake.”

“Why? It’s early.”

James shrugged. “I just was. What is all of that?”

“Everything the blonde wonder could possibly want over the next few days,” Grady said proudly. “We got tons of food. I got Oreos and M&Ms – her favorite junk food. I got those dill pickle potato chips she likes, too.”

“Emma picked out a bunch of magazines and some of those puzzle books,” Finn added. “She’s got a Kindle, so books aren’t an issue. We got her a hundred-dollar gift card so she can buy as many as she wants.”

“That’s great,” James said. “Thanks.”

“We didn’t even get to the best part yet,” Grady said, his eyes twinkling. He pushed a blue plastic bag across the counter toward James.

James opened it, smiling when he saw what was inside. “The complete
Friday the 13
th
and
Halloween
collections on Blu-ray?”

“She already owns every shark movie ever made,” Grady said. “I know she loves these. I was going to get
A Nightmare on Elm Street
, too, but she said she only likes the first one in that series.”

“This is really great.”

Grady studied James when his brother was looking down at the movies. He looked exhausted. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“How is Mandy?”

“She’s sleeping.”

“That’s not what I mean,” Grady said. “How
is
she?”

“She’s struggling,” James said. “She’s in pain. She’s tired. She’s cranky. She wants to shower. She’s worried about not being able to shower because she thinks that’s going to turn me off. She’s just … a mess.”

“And that means you’re a mess,” Finn supplied.

“I’m not sleeping,” James admitted. “I keep having these nightmares.”

“I think that’s normal,” Finn said.

“Normally, I would be able to hold her,” James said. “That’s what I did after the fire to shake them. I can’t do that now. I can’t touch her.”

“It won’t be forever,” Grady said.

“It feels that way now,” James said. “We just have to get through it. It’s going to be fine.”

“Well, we have some other things to talk to you about,” Grady said. “That’s why we came so early.”

“About the bomb?”

“The sheriff’s department is agreeing to share information,” Finn said.

“Since when? They’ve never been interested in sharing information before,” James said.

“Since Judge MacIntosh exerted some force,” Grady explained. “I have no idea what he did, but whatever it was has the department jumping through hoops to work with us.”

“And?”

“And they’re getting me the specs on the bomb tomorrow,” Grady said. “I know a guy over in Oakland County who did munitions in the Army for a decade. I’m going to be working with him to see what we can find out.”

“Good,” James said.

“I’m hitting up the judge and Heidi tomorrow,” Finn said. “We’re going to go through some files and trying to put a risk assessment together. It’s not perfect, but we have to start somewhere.”

“That’s smart,” James said.

Grady and Finn exchanged a look.

“We think that it would be a good idea to keep the office closed this week,” Grady said. “You’re going to be busy here, and we’re going to be focused on this case elsewhere. Opening the office is just an added distraction we can’t deal with right now.”

James ran a hand through his hair wearily. “I don’t like it, but I don’t see a way around it.”

“We thought about having Ally here to answer calls,” Finn said. “We weren’t sure how you’d feel about that.”

“I trust her to answer calls,” James said. “I don’t trust her to stay away from Mandy.”

“That’s what I figured.”

“No, we’ll just keep the office closed,” James said.

“I’ll put a sign on the door and we’ll change the message on the voice mail,” Finn said. “I figured we would refer people who need help immediately to Morgan Security out in Ferndale.”

James nodded. “Yeah, they’re good.”

“You don’t have to worry about anything,” Grady said. “We’re on this. We’ll keep you updated. Just focus on Mandy.”

“That’s the plan.”

“You might want to try and get some sleep,” Finn said. “Mandy is going to figure out something is up. She might be distracted and blurry from the medication for a few days, but that won’t last.”

“I’m hoping the nightmares go away now that she’s home,” James said.

“And if they don’t?”

“I’ll figure it out.”

Grady and Finn exchanged dubious looks. They were both worried that the opposite was closer to the truth.

“I’M NOT
sure I understand,” James said. “The mobster is considered a hero?”

Mandy and James were lounging on the couch, James arranging pillows under her lower back to shift her into the most comfortable position he could manage. He was sitting at the opposite end of the couch giving her a foot rub while they watched
General Hospital
.

“He’s not really considered a hero,” Mandy countered. “He’s just the lead.”

“But he’s a mobster,” James said. “How do all these women keep falling for him if he’s a mobster?”

“I think it’s the dimples.”

“Ah.”

“Plus, I don’t think he’s a very good mobster,” Mandy added. “He doesn’t appear to run drugs or stolen merchandise. They keep talking about shipments – but I have no idea what’s in the shipments.”

“And that’s his kid?”

“Yeah, Dante.”

“And he’s a cop?”

“Yeah.”

“He’s a cop with a mobster for a father?”

“Yep.”

“And he’s married to the daughter of a rapist?”

“Yep.”

“This makes absolutely no sense.”

“It’s a soap opera. It’s not supposed to make sense.”

“Why doesn’t the chief of police just arrest the mobsters?” James asked. He was really getting into the soap. To be more accurate, he was getting into tearing the soap apart.

“They make her act stupid so the mobsters don’t go to prison,” Mandy explained.

“But she’s your favorite character?”

“Her and her daughter, Robin, yes.”

“And Robin unfroze a bunch of super villains and is now being held hostage while her husband sleeps with the brunette with the big … smile.”

Mandy laughed. “Yes. The brunette with the big
smile
has pretty much slept with everyone in town.”

James kept his eyes glued on the television as he shifted to Mandy’s other foot. “I think I would be a good mobster.”

“You just want to sleep with all the women he’s slept with,” Mandy countered.

“I’m fine with my lone woman,” James teased. “I just want to own a restaurant and a coffee business. I think that sounds fun.”

“You would.”

Once the closing credits of the soap started to roll, James shifted out from under Mandy’s feet. “Do you want something to eat?”

“I’m not really hungry.”

“You didn’t eat much last night either.”

“The medication upsets my stomach,” Mandy said.

“And your back hurts too much to throw up,” James finished. “I get it.”

“Hopefully it will be better in a couple of days.”

“Yeah, because you can’t afford to lose any weight,” James said. “You barely weigh anything now.”

“That’s not what you said when you were carrying me up the stairs yesterday.”

“That wasn’t because you were too heavy,” James said. “That was because it was just an awkward position.”

“We’ve had sex in that position,” Mandy reminded him.

“Not when you couldn’t move your back,” James replied. “Although, I’m not ruling out that position in the future.”

Mandy snorted. “Honey, you won’t rule out any position.”

“This is true.”

“You know, just because I can’t eat, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t,” Mandy said, looking him up and down. “You look tired.”

“We both look tired,” James said. “It’s been a tiresome couple of days. I’ll be fine.”

Mandy bit her lower lip, her mind clearly busy as she regarded the man leaning against the kitchen counter with conflicted blue eyes.

“What?” James asked.

“I’m worried about you” Mandy admitted.

“You’re worried about me? I’m not the one who was injured,” James said. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not sleeping. I know you’re not.”

James sighed. He was wondering when this would come up. “I’m just hyper-vigilant right now,” James said. “It will pass.”

“I’m worried it won’t,” Mandy said.

“Well, don’t,” James said, refusing to meet her gaze. “I’m fine.”

“Okay.”

“I know that tone,” James said. “You’re just pretending to let this go until you can think of another approach.”

“If you say so.”

James moved around the couch, kneeling so he could be at eye level with his blonde. “I really am fine.”

Mandy reached over, running a hand down the side of his handsome face. “I hope so.”

“It’s going to be a rough week,” James said. “The doctor warned us. I figure, if we can get through this week, we can get through anything.”

“What about a zombie apocalypse?”

James smiled despite himself. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. “Even a zombie apocalypse. I could be Daryl.”

“I’m Daryl,” Mandy argued. “You can be … Beth.”

James clutched at his heart in mock disbelief. “You think I’m Beth? She’s a blonde woman who sings in the middle of danger.”

“Yes, but if I’m Daryl you have to be Beth,” Mandy explained. “If you’re not, then sleeping together is going to be awkward when the zombie hordes strike.”

James nodded. “I see. I guess I’m Beth then, because I can’t imagine sleeping with anyone else – zombie apocalypse or no zombie apocalypse. I guess I’m going to need some hair dye and a really skimpy tank top.”

“I can’t wait to see that.”

The next week was rough for both of them.

James still wasn’t sleeping, and Mandy was desperately trying to pretend she hadn’t noticed.

Things got slightly better on her third day home when she was finally cleared to take a shower. Since she couldn’t lift her arms over her head without her back screaming in protest, James had climbed in with her.

Seeing her completely naked had been a shock for him. The bruises on her back were so dark they were almost purple. At the edges, where the healing was starting in earnest, a yellowish tint was beginning to creep in.

The gash on her back was angry and red. It was itchy, which was a good sign, but Mandy was constantly fighting the urge to scratch. And, when she lost the fight, she spent the next twenty minutes fighting the urge to cry because her back was throbbing.

Mandy’s chest was covered in small abrasions, most of which she ignored. The shower had been tense. Mandy was embarrassed by how she looked, and invariably hurt because James wasn’t
reacting
like he normally did when they showered together. He was so focused on not hurting her, he missed the obvious signs of distress on her face.

Once the shower was finished, though, Mandy’s mood brightened. They spent the rest of the afternoon watching
Friday the 13
th
movies – with James positioning himself in a nearby chair, instead of next to her on the couch. It was subtle, but Mandy noticed.

The next few days reflected more of the same. James was walking Mandy back on the pain medication now, like Dr. Fitzgerald had instructed, and her nights were starting to become uncomfortable. She fell asleep without a problem, but she woke up aching several hours later. She tried not to wake James, who was situated as far across the bed as he could manage as he tossed and turned.

Neither of them was sleeping, and neither of them was acknowledging it to the other. The silence filling the apartment was so loud it was almost deafening.

On the seventh day, Mandy was at her limit. In the early morning hours, she shifted all the way across the bed until she was pressed into James’ side. She was still in pain, but it was manageable now. She wanted to reclaim her life – and she knew exactly where she was going to start. They both needed a little relief. Things would be better then. At least she hoped they would be better. She didn’t know what else to do.

She rested her head on his shoulder, pressing her lips into the curved ridge of his ear. His ears were sensitive. She knew he was awake, but he pretended otherwise. Mandy slipped her tongue into James’ ear, not missing the shiver that ran down his body.

She moved her hand – the one not in the cast – down his bare chest, tweaking one of his nipples before shifting it lower. She paused at the lip of his boxer shorts, running her index figure over his sculpted abs before slipping it beneath the satin fabric.

James’ hand shot out, grabbing her wrist to stop her hand from moving lower. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, no,” Mandy teased. “It’s been so long you’ve forgotten.”

James brought Mandy’s hand up to his mouth and kissed the tips of her fingers. “You’re being bad.”

“I’ve never heard you complain before.”

“I’m not complaining,” James hedged. “I just think it’s a bad idea.”

Mandy stilled, her heart clenching. “Why?”

“You’re not ready yet,” James said. “It won’t be much longer.”

“I’m ready,” Mandy said.

“No, you’re not.”

Mandy scrunched up her face. “I think you’re the one who isn’t ready.”

James pressed another kiss to her fingertips and then shifted, pulling away from her and climbing out of bed. “I have some stuff to do down in the office today. If you need me, just call me on your phone.”

Mandy couldn’t stem the flow of tears as she watched him walk out of the bedroom without a backwards glance.

BY TEN
, Mandy had worked herself up into a frenzy. James had showered and then secluded himself in his downstairs office, not bothering to climb the stairs to check on her even once throughout the morning.

Something was wrong. Something had gone terribly wrong.

Mandy just didn’t know what that something was.

When she heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs, she hobbled over to the couch and picked up a magazine so she could pretend James’ rejection of her this morning was the furthest thing from her mind.

When the door opened, she glanced up, forcing her face to remain neutral. The face that appeared over the threshold didn’t belong to James, although she did have the same chocolate eyes.

“Hey.”

“Hi, Ally,” Mandy said. “I see you finally managed to get past the gatekeeper.”

“It was actually easier than I thought it would be,” Ally said, closing the door and dropping her purse on the circular kitchen table before joining Mandy on the couch. “I thought I was going to have to bribe him – or threaten him – to get up here. He sent me right up, though.”

For some reason, Ally’s admission filled Mandy with dread.

“What’s he doing?” Mandy asked.

“He’s just working on his laptop,” Ally replied, clearly oblivious to Mandy’s mood. “It must be a relief not to have him hovering for a change.”

A relief? More like a disaster.
“Yeah, it’s great.”

Ally shifted forward, fixing her brown eyes on Mandy. “What’s wrong?”

Mandy thought about lying, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She needed someone to talk to, and Ally had been her best friend since they’d discovered boys in middle school.

“He’s going to break up with me,” Mandy announced.

Ally’s eyebrows shot up to the middle of her forehead. “What?”

“He is,” Mandy said, a tear slipping down her cheek. “He’s already distancing himself. He’s just staying now because he thinks I can’t take care of myself.”

“What makes you say that?”

Mandy unloaded a week’s worth of misery on Ally, finishing with this morning’s episode. By the time she finished, she was crying freely.

“Oh, Mandy,” Ally said, shifting closer to her on the couch and wrapping an arm around her friend’s shaking shoulders. “Are you sure you’re not just reading more into this than you should be? You’re an emotional mess – and no one blames you, least of all me. I think you’re jumping to conclusions.”

“He can’t even look at me,” Mandy said.

“That’s probably because you look like hell,” Ally said. “No offense, but try brushing your hair, girlfriend.”

“Oh, God.”

“I was just joking,” Ally said, running her hand down Mandy’s snarled hair. “You look fine. Great even.”

“He thinks I’m ugly now,” Mandy sniffed. “Look at me. I’m just this awful pajama creature he’s been forced to take care of against his will.”

“That is not true,” Ally protested. “He wants to take care of you.”

“No,” Mandy countered. “He feels guilty. I think he was going to break up with me before the explosion. That’s why he didn’t want to go to the party. I’ve been thinking about it, and it makes sense.”

“Didn’t he show up at the party and apologize?”

“Only because he felt guilty,” Mandy said. “He’s been planning this for months, I think. He’s just too nice to tell me the truth.”

“I think you’re completely blowing this out of proportion,” Ally said. “My brother loves you. I’m not sure about a lot in this life, but I am sure of that.”

“He doesn’t touch me,” Mandy said. “He stays as far away from me as he can. He tries to pretend like everything is okay, flirting from afar when I force the issue, but he’s done. I know he’s done.”

Mandy was practically wailing now, the noise causing Ally to shift uncomfortably. The perky brunette was not used to being the stable one in their friendship. “Have you tried talking to him?”

“He won’t talk to me,” Mandy said. “I’m a burden to him. It’s like he can’t bear even being around me.”

Ally didn’t know what to say.

“He’s not sleeping,” Mandy said. “He sleeps as far away from me as he can possibly manage. He’s so far away he could fall off the bed if he sneezes. He’s trying to figure out a way to let me down easy. I know he is.”

“Honey … .”

“I catch him looking at me when he thinks I’m not looking,” Mandy continued. “He pities me. He’s mad at himself for what happened. That’s the only reason he’s here right now. In another week, when I can take care of myself, he’s going to let me down easy and then walk away.”

“I don’t think that’s right,” Ally said.

“It is right,” Mandy said. “I’m the one here. I know what I’m seeing. I’m too much work. He wants his old life back. That’s what that whole fight-night thing was about. That’s why he doesn’t want to look at houses with me. He tried a relationship and he got bored with it. Now he’s forced to pretend it’s not over until I’m better.”

Ally rubbed the heel of her hand against her forehead. “You’re a little manic, sweetie. I think you need to relax.”

“How can I relax? He’s going to leave me. Heck, he’s already gone. He just hasn’t told me yet,” Mandy argued.

“Yeah,” Ally said, getting up from the couch. “How about a nice, long bath? I think that’s exactly what you need.”

“I don’t need a bath.”

“Well, you’re taking one,” Ally said.

“You don’t believe me,” Mandy said, her voice bitter. “Or maybe you already know he’s going to break up with me and you’re taking his side because he’s your brother. Of course you’re going to take his side. He’s family.”

Ally let loose with an exasperated sigh. “You’re my family, too. If I actually believed for a second that anything you were telling me was true, I would definitely be on your side.”

“You’re just placating me now.”

“No,” Ally said. “Now I’m drawing you a bath. Once you’ve soaked in it for at least a half hour, we’re going to talk again. I just want you to relax and think about things again. Just … think, okay? Just do this one thing for me.”

Mandy squared her shoulders, yanking her gaze from Ally’s concerned face. “Fine. Whatever.”

“Okay,” Ally said, pushing Mandy into the bathroom. “Just draw a bath and try to relax. Do it for me.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to go and talk to James,” Ally said.

“No,” Mandy said, grabbing Ally’s arm desperately. “He’ll just think I’m pathetic.”

Ally pried Mandy’s fingers from her forearm. “I’m not going to talk to him about you,” Ally said. “They want me to answer phones next week. I’m going to talk to him about that. I promise.”

Mandy didn’t believe her. “Fine.”

“Take a bath,” Ally said, shuffling toward the front door of the apartment. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Just take a bath and relax. This is all going to be okay. I promise.”

Mandy watched Ally leave the apartment, waiting until she heard the woman’s footsteps on the stairs leading down to her brother’s office before she sprang into action.

Instead of going into the bathroom and doing as Ally asked, Mandy instead headed into the bedroom and retrieved her cell-phone from the nightstand. She punched in a number and held the phone up to her ear. When the individual on the other end answered, Mandy fought to keep her voice even.

“Can you pick me up? I need a ride.”