Deadly Adventure (Hardy Brothers Security Book 19) Read online

  “I knew you would come.”

  “I’ll always come for you, baby,” James said, kissing her. “It’s you and me forever. Never forget that.”

  24

  Twenty-Four

  “Hey, husband,” Mandy said later that night, moving to join James on the back patio. He had a beer in his hand and a faraway look in his eyes. “Do you want to be alone?”

  “Never,” James said, shifting his eyes to Mandy and setting his beer bottle on the table. “Come sit with me, baby.”

  Mandy settled on his lap, relishing the warmth of his body as he wrapped himself around her. “Do you want to talk or is this a quiet moment?”

  James chuckled. “We can talk,” he said. “Are you okay? Jesse didn’t hurt you, did he?”

  “He never touched me.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Can I ask you something?” Mandy’s blue eyes were bright as the setting sun glanced off of them.

  “Not if it’s going to be one of those deep and meaningful questions you ask … like if I had to do it all over again would I ravish you when I was still in high school,” James replied, tickling her ribs. “The answer to that is still no. I was too old for you back then. There’s no way you can turn that scenario sexy.”

  “Not that,” Mandy said, making a face. “I saw you at the police station after you left the interrogation room with Jesse. Did he explain things in a way you can understand, or will this always bother you?”

  “He explained things,” James replied. “It’s not in a way I can ever understand, though. He doesn’t grasp that I love you. He doesn’t accept it. He’s … lost.”

  “Do you think he was always that way, or do you think something happened to change him?”

  “You’re a curious little thing, aren’t you?”

  Mandy mutely waited.

  “I don’t know, baby,” James said finally. “I want to believe the man I knew all those years ago was real. That’s what I choose to believe. The man who we ran into that night at the pub is not the same man. They don’t even resemble one another.”

  “And what about Becky and Danny? What’s going to happen to them?”

  “They were knee deep in all of this so they’re looking at hard time,” James answered. “Grady retrieved the book and turned over the financial information to the police. It’s their problem now. My understanding is that Interpol will be taking over most of that investigation.”

  “What about Jesse? Will he face trial here or over there?”

  “Probably both,” James answered. “He’ll face charges here first, including attempted murder. You’re going to have to testify.”

  “I know.”

  “Are you okay with that?”

  “I’m okay as long as you’re okay.”

  James sighed as he leaned over to kiss his wife’s cheek. “I’m okay as long as I have you,” he whispered.

  Mandy cuddled closer, burrowing her face in the hollow of his neck as she enjoyed the sounds of the oncoming night. “I’m sorry this happened to you.”

  “It happened to you, too.”

  “Yes, but Jesse wasn’t my friend,” Mandy pointed out. “He didn’t betray me. He worked against me and tried to ruin our marriage, but the betrayal was to you.”

  “I think Jesse was living in a world of his own creation,” James explained. “He didn’t know love so he couldn’t fathom my feelings for you. He thought it would be easy to implode our marriage. He never realized that some things are forever.”

  “Like us?”

  “Definitely like us.” James tightened his grip around Mandy’s waist. “What did the judge say? Is he angry?”

  “He’s fine,” Mandy replied. “He says it’s the most excitement he’s seen in years and he’s going to put it to good use with his wife tonight. I was … mortified.”

  James burst out laughing, his chest shaking. “He sounds like me.”

  “He does,” Mandy agreed. “There’s only one you, though, and for that I thank my lucky stars every night.”

  “Right back at you, baby,” James said, kissing her cheek again, this time letting his lips linger. “Do you want to give me pity sex?”

  “Wow. Nice shift there.”

  “I try.”

  “I’m not going to give you pity sex,” Mandy countered. “I am going to be the shark this evening, though, because I have a feeling you’re tired and you’ll be easy pickings.”

  “I love the way your mind works.”

  “Grady called while I was inside, by the way,” Mandy said. “He finished my car paperwork and it will be here in the morning. I don’t have to work tomorrow, though, because the courtroom is still a crime scene.”

  James’ eyes brightened. “Does that mean we can spend the day together?”

  “We’re going to spend forever together,” Mandy clarified. “We can start with a naked day tomorrow, though. We’re going to have to order in food. We have nothing.”

  “I married you for your looks, not your cooking abilities.”

  “Very cute.”

  “I know,” James said, shifting Mandy slightly so she was facing him. “You’re okay, right?”

  “I’m okay.”

  “We’re okay, right?”

  “We’re great,” Mandy replied. “I’ve never felt closer to you. It’s sad to admit, but the fight and anguish brought us closer. It always does.”

  “I would prefer getting close to you without death and destruction.”

  “Then never eat my cooking.”

  James laughed as he pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. “I truly do love you, wife,” he said. “You buy ugly cars, you paint beautiful memories, and you fill my heart with joy. You’re my absolute favorite thing in this world.”

  “Right back at you.”

  James pulled his head back slightly. “I don’t buy ugly cars, wife.”

  “You fill my heart with joy, though,” Mandy said. “I don’t suppose you want to fill me with something else, do you?”

  “Start running, wife,” James said, pushing her up on her feet and pointing her toward the hot tub. “You’d better be naked by the time we hit the water.”

  “Finally something I want to do.”

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  Acknowledgments

  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.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

  Books by Lily Harper Hart

  Hardy Brothers Security

  Deadly Intentions

  Deadly Intuition

  Deadly Illusions

  Deadly Proposal

  Deadly Prospects

  Deadly Ever After

  Deadly Honeymoon

  Deadly Questions

  Deadly Addition

  Deadly Vacation

  Deadly Secrets

  Deadly
Storm

  Deadly Dealings

  Deadly Christmas

  Deadly Desperados

  Deadly Arrival

  Deadly Rivalry

  Deadly Memories

  A Maddie Graves Mystery

  Grave Homecoming

  Grave Insight

  Grave Delight

  Grave Misgivings

  Grave Concerns

  Grave Discovery

  Grave Decisions

  An Ivy Morgan Mystery

  Wicked Days

  Wicked Dreams

  Wicked Times

  Wicked Places

  A Harper Harlow Mystery

  Ghostly Interests

  Ghostly Issues

  Ghostly Deceits