Free Deadly Proposal (Hardy Brothers Security Book 4) by Lily Harper Hart Page A

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.”

Nine
    James stared at his computer screen, not focusing on anything in particular as his mind drifted. He was worried about Mandy. She was better, but she was acting odd.
    James wasn’t acting much better. He knew that. He just didn’t know how to do