Deadly Ever After (Hardy Brothers Security Book 6) Read Online Free

were quiet for a moment, James’ words niggling at the back of Mandy’s mind. “You didn’t tell me, why is your pride hurt?”
    “I should’ve realized what was happening,” James said, brushing Mandy’s flaxen hair down so he could rest his cheek against the top of her head. “I saw something up on the roof. It took me too long to realize what was happening. I shouldn’t have been caught off guard, and yet I was. When I realized what was happening, it was too late to warn anyone.”
    “And you decided to jump in the path of a bullet?”
    “No,” James said, shaking his head. “I have no idea why I was the one who was shot.”
    Mandy stiffened. “Do you think someone targeted you?”
    “I don’t know,” James said carefully. “We don’t know anything. Let’s not let our imaginations get away with us, shall we?”
    “That’s not what I was doing,” Mandy protested.
    “That’s exactly what you were doing,” James said. “I know you.”
    “You have no idea what I was thinking,” Mandy argued.
    “I know,” James said. “Just like right now I know you’re trying to figure out how you’re going to trick me into taking that medication.”
    Mandy made a face. “I was not.”
    “Yes, you were,” James said, smiling into her hair. “How about I make you a deal?”
    “What deal?”
    “If you sit here and let me hold you for a half hour, I’ll willingly take the medication and go to bed,” James offered.
    “Really?”
    “Really.”
    “And you’ll be quiet and rest all day tomorrow, too?”
    James sighed. “You’re negotiating?”
    “You started it.”
    “Fine,” James said. “If you sit here and let me hold you, I’ll take the medication and I’ll lie around and let you play nurse all day tomorrow.”
    “I’m not wearing a nurse’s outfit,” Mandy warned. “You’ve been shot. You can’t get too excited.”
    “That’s not what I was thinking,” James said.
    “It is totally what you were thinking,” Mandy said. “I know you just as well as you know me.”
    “Oh yeah? What am I thinking now?” James asked, his brown eyes weary and yet still flushed with mischief.
    “You’re wondering if you can convince me to have sex,” Mandy replied. “You’re considering playing up the gunshot wound, but you’re worried that will backfire and I won’t have sex with you until I’m convinced it’s completely healed. You can’t figure out what the best way to go is.”
    James scowled. “How did you know I was thinking that?”
    “Because I know you,” Mandy said. “And, well, I love you.”
    “I love you, too, baby. I love you more than anything.”
    Once the half hour was up, Mandy ushered James into the bedroom, watching as he stripped down to his boxer shorts and climbed under the sheets. The bandage on his arm was bright white against his skin, a stark reminder of how close she’d come to losing him.
    Mandy handed James his pills, watching as he downed them with a glass of water, and then tucking him in snuggly.
    “Satisfied?” James asked.
    Mandy sat on the edge of the bed, running her hand over James’ chest as she watched him. “How are you?”
    “I’m fine,” James said, placing his hand on top of hers as she traced a lazy pattern across his chest. “I already told you that.”
    “How are you really?”
    James growled in the back of his throat. “Are you going to hover?”
    “I’m going to make sure you’re taken care of,” Mandy said. “That’s my job.”
    “You’re only job is climbing in here next to me,” James said.
    Mandy smiled. “I need to go and make sure all the lights are off in the other room,” she said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
    “Hurry up,” James said. “These pills are already working. I’m not going to sleep well if you’re not next to me.”
    “Go to sleep,” Mandy said, leaning down and brushing a soft kiss against James’ lips. His hand tangled in her hair as he held her there for an extra smooch.
    “If