Free Deadly Rivalry (Hardy Brothers Security Book 17) by Lily Harper Hart Page B

we were out of the house.”
    Mandy whipped around, her eyes widening. “He did all of this in a week?”
    “He wanted to make it a place you would be happy,” James replied.
    “But … why didn’t you tell me before?” Mandy asked. “You wanted me to come out here, but you never once hinted at changing things around like this. If you had told me … .”
    “That’s why I didn’t tell you,” James said. “You needed to come out here on your own. You didn’t need me to make you come out here. You didn’t need me to beg you to come out here. You needed to make that decision for yourself … and you just did.”
    “It’s beautiful,” Mandy said, tracing her fingers over the top of the bar. “I absolutely love it. Why is that wall empty, though?”
    James smiled at the blank wall in question. It was close to the front door and completely bare. “That’s so you can paint a Jaws mural when you’re ready.”
    Mandy pressed her lips together. “Grady thought of everything. Except … where is your pool table?”
    James extended his hand and waited for Mandy to take it. “We added on another little surprise,” he said, leading her toward the door next to the bar. “Instead of a storage room we really didn’t need, we turned this into the gaming room.” James flicked on the lights and showed Mandy the spot where the pool and game tables now lived. The special light she had made with the Hardy brothers’ silhouettes hung over the pool table, and while the room wasn’t big, it was homey. “This way everyone has room to hang out in when they visit the Orca, and then the roosters can come over here to crow while the hens hang out over there and cluck.”
    “I see you’ve thought of everything.”
    James squeezed her hand. “I have a sign coming for the Orca next week. It’s hand carved. I think you’re going to like it.”
    “You named it after Quint’s boat in the movie,” Mandy said. “You knew those were my favorite scenes.”
    “That’s not all, wife,” James said, dragging Mandy back into the main room. “Look what’s on that shelf over there.”
    Mandy shuffled over to study the ship replica sitting on the shelf James indicated and grinned. “It’s the Orca.”
    “It is,” James acknowledged. “We also have vintage photos and a very special something I had added after Grady told me what he was doing.”
    Mandy’s eyes sparkled. “What? I know you’re dying to show me.”
    James smirked. “Sit on the couch in the middle of the room.”
    Mandy obediently did as she was told while James flicked the lights off. When he joined her on the couch she was mildly tense and James didn’t blame her. She’d been through a lot in this room and the darkness left her uneasy.
    “Put your head on my shoulder,” James instructed.
    Mandy rested her head against his shoulder as he slipped his arm around hers.
    “Look at the ceiling,” James whispered.
    Mandy expectantly lifted her eyes.
    “Put your hand in my boxer shorts,” James said, taking Mandy by surprise.
    “What?”
    “I had to try, baby. It was too good of a chance to pass up.” James laughed as Mandy squirmed and then hit a button on the remote control he held and smiled as the room lit up.
    Mandy gasped when the room came to life, her eyes bouncing back and forth as the underwater scene floated lazily around the room. “It’s like we’re swimming with sharks,” Mandy said, exhaling heavily. “It’s … magical.”
    “You’re magical, my baby,” James said, rubbing his thumb over her cheek. “Do you like it?”
    “Of course I like it,” Mandy said, swiveling so she faced him. “How could you think I wouldn’t like it?”
    “I don’t know,” James answered. “I was worried. I almost had Grady tear it all down twice because I thought you might be angry I changed it without consulting you.”
    “James, I know I’ve been hard to deal with, but what you’ve done here is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for