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

his heart catching in his throat when he saw the words. They were tiny given the size of the charm, but he could still read them. “To ongoing adventures,” he read aloud. “I love you. Mandy.”
    “I … .” Mandy didn’t get a chance to finish her statement because James covered her mouth with his and offered her a warm kiss instead. When they parted, Mandy was breathless and bewildered and James was fired up.
    “We’re leaving as soon as we can humanly get out of here after the fireworks,” James said. “Be ready and waiting by the truck so I don’t have to look for you.”
    “Oh, how cute,” Grady intoned. “Mandy revved James up with a shark for a change. You know how they say couples start to resemble each other the more time they spend together? You guys are identical cousins.”
    James slapped Grady’s knee with enough force to make his brother groan. “Leave my baby alone,” he ordered, extending his wrist in front of Mandy. “Put it on me, wife.”
    Mandy did as instructed, leaning her head against his chest and relishing the way he wrapped himself around her once she was finished. “You don’t have to wear it,” she repeated one more time.
    “Oh, baby, I’m wearing it,” James said, kissing her temple. “They say everyone has a spirit animal. I think you and I share one. It’s a shark.”
    Mandy giggled. “Really?”
    James nodded. “Thank you for my gift.”
    Mandy pressed her eyes shut and let him hold her, enjoying the slight sway to his body as he rocked her. When she finally opened her eyes again, she was back to her usual happy self. “Where are Finn and Emma?”
    “They texted at the last minute and said they weren’t coming,” Sophie replied.
    “Why?” Ally was affronted. “I thought I was going to get to hold the baby.”
    Sophie shrugged. “Jeff is still recovering from his gunshot wound, Finn seems fine, but Emma is convinced his gunshot wound could fester or something, and she said she’s worried the baby won’t like the noise of the fireworks so they begged off this year.”
    Finn Hardy, the youngest Hardy brother, was still recovering from a gunshot wound to his lower back. He was fine – despite Emma’s protests to the contrary – but everyone knew he wouldn’t go against her in this scenario. As for Emma’s brother Jeff, his wound was much more serious. James hired a nurse to help, though, and he was making a fast recovery.
    “I hate to say it because I’m sad they’ll miss the fireworks, but that’s probably for the best,” Mandy said.
    “Speak for yourself,” Ally grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. “I want to hold the baby.”
    “Oh, geez,” Grady intoned. “You need to give her a baby, Jake. She’s going to find a way to wish a baby into existence if you’re not careful. Of course, you have to marry her before that happens because if she shows up pregnant before then we’ll all have to kill you. So … you might want to get on that.”
    Grady meant the statement as a joke, but it fell flat. Jake’s cheeks turned crimson as Ally became infatuated with her feet. James shook his head, annoyed, and Mandy scorched Grady with a dark look. Only Sophie had the grace to call her boyfriend on his bad attitude.
    “Way to go, gigolo.”
    Grady frowned. “I was kidding.”
    “It wasn’t funny,” Sophie said. “Besides, you’re the one with a ring and you haven’t proposed yet, so I don’t know who you think you’re making fun of.”
    Grady’s mouth dropped open as Sophie locked gazes with him. In truth, Grady had been ready to propose for months. Sophie was the one telling him it wasn’t the right time. She thought she would “feel” it when it happened. Grady wasn’t worried as long as she eventually said yes. Unlike Ally, Sophie didn’t feel her biological clock ticking away. They had plenty of time.
    “Hey!” Grady was dumbfounded. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
    “I can’t believe this entire conversation