Free Deadly Illusions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 3) by Lily Harper Hart Page B

uninvited ended up dead behind the courthouse. You just need to let me warn him that you’re not really here to hit on me. It shouldn’t be a big thing.”
    Anderson took a step back. “Your boyfriend is the one who shot up the courthouse?”
    Mandy waved off Anderson’s comment with fake bravado. “He is crazy jealous. I can talk him out of beating people up more than fifty-percent of the time, though, so I wouldn’t worry. The odds are in your favor.”
    Anderson forced a smile onto his pinched, rat-like face. “You know what? I forgot that I already have dinner plans. I’ll just let you two ladies go on your way.”
    Mandy kept the fake smile plastered on her face until Anderson disappeared around the corner. “What a dick.”
    Emma realized she had been holding her breath. She exhaled heavily. “Thank you.”
    “No problem. I hate guys like that.”
    “How did you even know I was still here?”
    “I came to get you for dinner,” Mandy said. “I wasn’t lying about that.”
    Emma knit her eyebrows together, confused. “Dinner?”
    “You do eat, right? I would hate for you to reinforce that models-starving-themselves thing.”
    “I eat,” Emma hedged. “I just don’t know if … .”
    “It’s not open for debate,” Mandy said. “The restaurant is just around the corner – and you’re coming with me.”
    Emma sighed. “Finn said people didn’t tell you no.”
    “You should listen to Finn,” Mandy said. “He’s smarter than he looks. Well, most of the time.”
    Emma gave in and followed Mandy, letting the amiable blonde carry the bulk of the conversation over the course of the one-block sojourn. When they arrived at Charlie’s Tavern, Mandy scanned the crowd. She grabbed Emma’s arm and dragged her through the crowded restaurant until she found the table she was looking for.
    Emma wasn’t surprised to see Finn was already seated.
    Mandy gave Emma a small push, directing her to the open seat next to Finn, before sliding into a chair next to James.
    “I was about to come looking for you,” James said, running a hand through his tangled hair. The hat had done him no favors – not that Mandy seemed to mind. In fact, the messy hair and wide grin gave him a more approachable countenance.
    “I just had to talk Emma’s boss into letting her go,” Mandy said.
    Emma waited for Mandy to expand, but the blonde grabbed a menu and focused on it instead.
    “I’m glad you could join us,” Finn said, gracing Emma with a small smile. “I wasn’t sure you would … .”
    “Mandy wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Emma replied.
    “She never does,” James said, slinging an arm over the back of his girlfriend’s chair and winking. “Why do you think I’m always so tired?”
    “I think that Gwen wanted to tire you out herself,” Emma said. “She told me that she thought all of you were attractive, but she was particularly interested in the one in the hat.”
    “Yeah, Mandy handled her in just the right way,” Finn said. “I don’t think she’ll be wanting to play with any of the Hardy boys any time soon.”
    Emma glanced down to the opposite end of the table, where a striking brunette was sitting with the one Hardy brother she hadn’t met yet.
    “Oh, crap,” Mandy said. “We’re being rude. That’s Grady and Sophie. They’re probably debating which one of them has prettier hair.”
    Grady stuck his tongue out, blowing a raspberry in Mandy’s direction. “I’ve already won that competition, my dear.”
    Sophie rolled her eyes. “In your dreams.”
    Emma felt herself relaxing, even though social situations often freaked her out. “You’re the reporter for the Daily Tribune, right? I’ve read a lot of your articles.”
    Sophie beamed. “Yeah, that’s me.”
    “And you didn’t grow up with them like Mandy, right?”
    “No, I just met them a few months ago,” Sophie said. “I’m still trying to decide if it was a good thing or a bad thing.”
    Grady reached over to