Free Deadly Conflicts (Hardy Brothers Security Book 21) by Lily Harper Hart

wouldn’t inadvertently hurt her feelings.
    “Baby, I want my bracelet,” James said, resting his hand on Mandy’s hip to hold her in place should she try and bolt. “I’ve been looking forward to it all afternoon.”
    “You don’t have to say that,” Mandy said. “I know Ally only told you because she knew you would hate it. Don’t worry about it.”
    “That’s not true,” Ally protested, her eyes flashing. “We were talking about something else and the bracelet just came up.”
    “Oh, yeah?” Mandy wasn’t convinced. “What were you talking about?”
    “I gave him a hug and apologized for the way I treated him during the Vince fiasco,” Ally replied, not missing a beat. “I told him he was lucky to have you and that he turned into the best husband I could’ve ever wanted for you.”
    “Oh.” Mandy’s cheeks colored. “I … .”
    “I also told him you were buying a bracelet and he’d better pretend to like it even if he didn’t,” Ally added, earning a dark look from James. “What? I’m not going to lie to her. I wasn’t sure how you would feel about the bracelet.
    “The good news is that he didn’t care in the slightest, Mandy,” she continued. “He’s fine with the bracelet.”
    “I want it,” James said. “Give it to me.”
    Mandy sighed as she leaned forward and retrieved the small baggie. “I don’t know why I bought it. You don’t wear jewelry so … .”
    “I wear jewelry,” James countered. “I wear the watch you got me for Christmas. I’ll wear whatever is in this bag. I also wear this.” He gestured toward his wedding band. “That’s the most important piece of jewelry I own.”
    “But you don’t want this,” Mandy said. “It was a mistake. You don’t have to wear it.”
    “I’m wearing it,” James said, kissing her cheek. “Just … stop being a pain. I hate it when you get like this.”
    “Like what?” Mandy glanced over her shoulder so she could study James’ face as he opened the bag.
    “Insecure,” James replied. “You have nothing to be insecure about. It bugs me.”
    “Maybe you bug me,” Mandy said. “Have you ever considered that?”
    “Only every morning when I try to watch you shaving your legs and you have a fit,” James replied, grinning as Mandy scowled. “I have no idea what mystery you think you’re keeping, but I know you’re in there shaving your legs.”
    “I don’t know why you want to see it,” Mandy said.
    “It turns me on,” James said. “Sue me. I can’t explain it.”
    “That is a turn-on,” Grady agreed. “It’s like a magical mystery unfolding. You guys go in there looking like mortal women and you come out looking like magical fairies. Your skin is so soft and smooth … and you smell like cucumber delights.”
    James wrinkled his nose as he regarded his brother. “That’s creepy, man. Cucumbers?”
    “That was a Sophie-centric statement. You just spent twenty minutes earlier this week waxing poetic about how Mandy bought a new pineapple body spray, though, so you have no room to talk,” Grady argued. “You said it made you horny.”
    Mandy pressed her lips together and widened her eyes as she struggled to keep from laughing at James’ annoyed expression.
    “He’s exaggerating, baby,” James said. “He’s making it up.”
    “So you would be okay if I threw that body spray away?”
    “Don’t even think about it,” James replied. “You smell like a freaking day at the beach when you wear that stuff. It gives me ideas.”
    “That’s what I said!” Grady pointed excitedly. “I was right. Admit it.”
    “You’re a schmuck,” James said. “I’ll admit that.” He pulled the simple woven bracelet out of the bag and studied it, smiling when he saw the silver shark adornment at the center. It matched the one on her wrist, only it was bigger. “This is nice, baby. Thank you.”
    Mandy was still uncertain. “I had the charm engraved.”
    “You did?” James flipped the bracelet over,