Authors: Lily Harper Hart
“So, Mandy, I hear you’re taking a cooking class.”
James shot Grady a disgusted look from across the patio as he prepared the steaks for the grill. For his part, Grady had the grace to look abashed. He hadn’t asked the question, but it was his girlfriend who was calling attention to the one thing James wanted to be ignored.
Mandy smiled evenly at Sophie Lane, seemingly unbothered. “I am. I registered today.”
“Why are you taking a cooking class?” Ally asked, moving around Jake’s chair and planting herself on his lap. He kissed her cheek softly and snuggled her close, earning a pronounced eye roll from James. “I could teach you how to cook.”
“You can’t cook,” Grady scoffed.
“I can so cook,” Ally said. “I cook for Jake all the time. Tell them.”
“My angel is a master chef,” Jake replied, smiling indulgently. “She can cook anything she wants.”
“You’re just saying that because you two are all lovey-dovey since you moved in together,” Grady said. “That’s how it always is when you first start cohabitating. The bloom will fall off the rose before long. Trust me.”
Sophie scowled at Grady. “Excuse me?”
“For everyone but us, sugar,” Grady said, winking. “Our bloom is always … in bloom.”
“Nice save,” Finn said, grinning as he rubbed Emma’s back. She was sitting on the lounge chair in front of him, and even though she was barely showing, she was convinced her ankles were fat. Anyone who passed by had to look at them.
“Ally actually can cook,” Jake said. “Pasta is her specialty, but she made these little chicken things with roasted potatoes the other night and it was amazing.”
“They were Cornish hens,” Ally corrected, tucking her flyaway brown hair behind her ear. “I found the recipe on the Internet.” She turned to Mandy. “You know you don’t need to take a class, right? Just find a recipe you like and follow the instructions. They’re idiot proof.”
“Leave her alone,” James instructed. “If she wants to take a cooking class, she can take a cooking class.”
Grady flipped his thumbs up to encourage James, who was still angry, if his furrowed brow was to be believed. “I need to go help James grill,” Grady said, rubbing Sophie’s knee briefly and then getting up.
“What are you helping him with?” Sophie asked.
“Did you get the crawfish?” Grady asked hopefully. If he could cook something, James might thaw by the end of dinner.
“I did,” James said. “They’re in the refrigerator. Why don’t you get them ready?”
“That’s just what I was going to suggest.”
“I can help,” Mandy offered, shifting her attention to James.
“I’ve got it,” he said. “Grady wants to do the crawfish. I’m pretty sure he’s going to demand to do them.”
“I am,” Grady said, resigned. “I can’t wait to do the crawfish.”
Ally leaned over so she could whisper. “What’s going on?”
“I think James is mad because he was complaining about me taking the cooking class this afternoon and then he warned Grady not to bring it up,” Mandy replied, nonplussed. “Grady is in trouble for telling Sophie.”
“I didn’t realize it was a secret,” Sophie said. “I wouldn’t have brought it up if I knew it was a sore subject.”
“It’s not a sore subject,” Mandy said. “James is just … being James.”
“He doesn’t want you to be away from him,” Ally said. “You know he doesn’t care about takeout, right? He’d be perfectly happy with you, rampant nudity, and pizza for the rest of his life.”
“I care,” Mandy said, tamping down her irritation. “I care. I should be able to cook for my husband.”
Ally scrunched up her face. “Why? Your husband wants you to love him. I don’t remember hearing anything about cooking in the vows you exchanged.”
“Just … leave it alone,” Mandy said, getting to her feet.
“Where are you going?” Ally asked, confused.
“I need a drink,” Mandy said, refusing to meet her friend’s gaze and moving toward the house. “Come on, Grady. I’ll help you with the crawfish.”
Grady followed her wordlessly. James was still watching his wife’s back when the door shut. He was officially worried.
“DO
you want to tell me what’s going on?” Grady asked, opening the seafood package and dumping the crawfish into a colander so he could wash them. “You seem … quiet.”
Mandy avoided his probing gaze. “I’m fine.”
“I’ve known you for most of your life, kid,” Grady said. “I can tell when something is bothering you.”
“Why are you doing that?”
Grady balked. “I was just trying to find out what was wrong with you.”
“Not that,” Mandy said. “That.” She pointed toward the sink. “Why are you washing them off?”
“Because it’s seafood and that’s what you should do with seafood … and fruit … and vegetables, for that matter,” Grady said, arching an eyebrow. “Seriously, what’s going on?”
“That’s what is going on,” Mandy said. “I didn’t even know that you should wash seafood. James deserves one stinking meal that doesn’t come from a delivery boy.”
“James doesn’t care about takeout, Mandy,” Grady said, frustration bubbling. “He honestly doesn’t. You might be deluding yourself that he does, but he simply doesn’t care. I think you’re tying yourself up into knots for nothing.”
“Who said I’m tying myself into knots?”
“I … no one,” Grady said, forcing himself to remain calm even though he wanted to shake her. “You tend to get these
ideas
, though. You convince yourself of things that just aren’t true.”
“I do not.”
“How about when you convinced yourself that James was going to break up with you after the explosion?”
“That was an accident.”
“He had a ring hidden in his sock drawer and was trying to find the perfect time to propose and you thought he wanted to dump you,” Grady said.
“Fine. I overreacted. That’s not what I’m doing here, though. I want to be able to cook a meal for my husband. Is that too much to ask?”
“No,” Grady said. “I just … you’re doing this for yourself, right? You don’t need to prove yourself to James. He loves you the way you are.”
“Of course I’m doing it for myself,” Mandy said. “This is something I want to do. Get a grip. It’s a cooking class. I’m not joining the Army.”
Grady held up his hands. “Okay. I’m sorry. Do you want to help me wrap these guys up in tinfoil and put some butter on them?”
Mandy shook her head. “I don’t like butter. It’s greasy.”
Grady ran his tongue over his teeth, fighting the urge to tell her that butter was probably going to be an ingredient in cooking class. This whole endeavor had “disaster” written all over it.
JAMES
glanced down, surprised when Mandy’s arms snaked around his waist and she rested her head against his back. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“I just wanted to hug you,” Mandy said.
James rubbed his fingers over her hands. “Did you and Grady fight?”
“No. He thinks I’m stupid for taking the class, but we didn’t fight.”
That’s not how it sounded to James. “Mandy, you don’t need his approval.”
“I didn’t say I did.”
James grabbed Mandy’s hand and dragged her around so she was in front of him. He kept one arm around her waist as he used the other to turn the steaks. “See, you’re already cooking.”
Mandy rolled her eyes. “You’re so funny.”
“I’ll do my comedy routine later.”
“You’d better be naked when you do it.”
James grinned. “Deal.”
“Yeah, that’s just what everyone wants to hear when they’re naked,” Grady said, appearing at James’ side with the wrapped crawfish. “Laughter.”
“Shut up,” James warned. He glanced at the crawfish. “What should I do with these?”
“Shove them on the far side of the grill and turn them over every few minutes. They’re going to be delicious.”
“Grady is such a cute little chef,” Ally teased.
“Don’t make me throw you in the pool,” Grady threatened, extending his finger in Ally’s direction. “You’re not going to think it’s so funny if you have to go through dinner soaking wet.”
“Jake wouldn’t let you throw me in the pool, would you?”
Jake took a swig of his beer, buying time so he could consider the question. “I’m not sure I want to get in the middle of a family squabble, angel.”
Grady snorted. “He’s scared because he knows I’ll thump him.” He flexed his bicep for emphasis.
“Oh, please, I could take you,” Ally said.
“Do you want to place a wager on that?”
“Bring it on.”
Sophie stepped between brother and sister. “No. Not today. There’s a chance we’re all going to get wet if we’re not careful.”
“What do you mean?” Emma asked. “I’m too fat to be wet.”
“You’re not fat,” Finn said.
“If I want to be fat, I’ll be fat,” Emma snapped.
“Hurricane Hormone is hitting land,” Finn quipped.
“I would stop saying things like that if I were you,” Ally said, gesturing toward Emma’s murderous face. “I don’t think she likes it.”
“I can never tell which way the wind blows these days,” Finn said, unruffled. “I just roll with it.”
“Speaking of rolling, it looks like a storm is rolling in,” Jake said, trying to distract everyone.
“We’re supposed to have storms every day this week,” Sophie said. “I was looking at the forecast, and there’s more than a fifty percent chance of severe storms every afternoon for the next seven days.”
“I heard there might be some tornados, too,” Mandy chimed in.
James kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry. If it becomes necessary we can take cover in our bed until all the storms have passed.”
Mandy brightened at the suggestion. “Fun.”
“Definitely fun,” James agreed.
“I don’t like storms,” Emma said, her shoulders stiffening. “Are we really supposed to get bad storms?”
“It’s okay, sweetie,” Finn said, rubbing her back. “The security building is safe. Nothing bad can happen.”
“What happens if there’s a tornado? Where do we take cover?”
“In the storeroom on the main floor,” Finn said.
“Isn’t that locked most of the time?” Emma’s eyes widened.
“We’ll give you a key,” Grady said. “Relax. That storeroom is like a fortress.”
“Tell that to the baby growing inside of me.”
Grady leaned closer and directed his voice toward Emma’s stomach. “That storeroom is like a fortress.”
Everyone burst into laughter, including Emma.
“I think we should move this party inside,” Jake said, straightening as he studied the storm clouds. “It’s getting closer.”
As if on cue, a rumble of thunder rolled over the patio.
“Okay, everyone pack up,” James instructed. “I should be able to finish this stuff before the rain hits.”
Everyone scattered and started collecting supplies, and by the time the first fat raindrop hit the patio James was closing the sliding glass doors behind him. “Do I have excellent timing or what?”
“You’re the perfect man,” Mandy agreed, rolling onto her toes so she could give him a soft kiss. “I’ll reward you later.”
James grinned, relieved she appeared more relaxed. “I’ll reward you with an hour-long massage if you go and get the steak sauce out of the refrigerator.”
“Sold,” Mandy said, smiling brightly.
There’s my baby
, James thought. He smiled as he watched her move toward the kitchen, momentarily lost in thought. Once he regained his senses, he carried the meat platter into the dining room. “Mandy is getting the steak sauce,” he said. “Do we have everything?”
“I think so,” Grady said, scanning the table. “I … where are the napkins?”
“I’ll get them.” James jumped as thunder boomed close enough to shake the house. “Crap. That’s really heating up.”
“We’re safe here, right?” Emma asked, timid.
“We’re safe,” James said. “This house has been here since the 1960s and it’s still standing.”
“I know but … .”
“But nothing,” Finn said. “You’re fine. I won’t let anything happen to you or little … Daisy.”
“Daisy?” James asked, arching an eyebrow.
“We’re trying out different names,” Finn said.
“Well, I don’t like that one,” Emma said. “Everyone will picture Daisy Duke, and she’ll be expected to wear short shorts.”
“Got it,” Finn said, widening his eyes behind Emma’s back to comic effect.
“I’ll get the napkins,” James said. “That should be everything.”
It only took James a few minutes to collect the napkins, and he was almost on his way back to the dining room when the bottle of steak sauce on the counter caught his attention. He picked it up and glanced at it, shifting his gaze around the room.
Where is Mandy?
James figured she was probably in the bathroom until he saw a hint of movement on the patio out of the corner of his eye.