Deadly Arrival (Hardy Brothers Security Book 16) by Lily Harper Hart Page A

Emma pressed Finn’s hand to her stomach so he could feel the baby kick. He spent hours each night talking to her bump and pressing his hands to the soft flutters so he could marvel at the reality of a baby being inside of Emma. “This is what I want to focus on. I know you guys are going to get my father. I know he’s not going to ruin this for us. I have faith.”
    “No one is ever going to ruin this for us,” Finn said, kissing Emma softly and then lowering his mouth to her stomach. “Isn’t that right, baby? We’re in this for the long haul. I can’t wait to hold you, buddy.”
    Emma smiled as she ran her fingers through Finn’s hair. “I can’t either. I just hope my father is in prison when he arrives. Before I wanted to deliver right away because I was desperate to hold him. Now I want him to stay in there until everything is safe.”
    “He’s going to be safe either way, Emma,” Finn said. “I promise. Now, since you’re in a good mood, how about we draw a hot bath and I will rub your stomach? Then we’ll have dinner, and after that I’ll rub your feet.”
    “You’re planning on doing a lot of rubbing,” Emma teased. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll get spoiled?”
    “You’re the least spoiled person I know, sweetie,” Finn replied. “I like taking care of you. After today, that sounds like the best thing in the world to me. I want to spend my night with my two favorite people and lock out the rest of the world.”
    “Let’s do that,” Emma said. “Can we order pizza, though? I have a craving.”
    “Absolutely,” Finn said. “In fact, why don’t you start the bath and I’ll order the pizza and tell Jake to get it and pay for it so we can lock everything down before dark. I think that will make everyone feel better.”
    “Yay!” Emma said, clapping her hands. “Make sure you get pineapple on the pizza.”
    Finn made a face. He hated pineapple. “Sure.”
    “Get wings, breadsticks, and a salad, too.”
    Finn smiled. Her appetite was a recent thing, and while he knew it wouldn’t last, he enjoyed her whims. “You’ve got it.”
    “Oh, and one more thing,” Emma said, winking. “If you hurry into the bath, I might be convinced to rub something of yours so you won’t feel left out. Just because we can’t have sex, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself.”
    “You are the love of my life,” Finn said.
    “Right back at you.”

Eleven
    “Hey, my baby, what are you doing?”
    James forced one eye open so he could watch Mandy climb out of bed the next morning. Her hair was a mess, robust making up after their fight the previous night taking a toll, but she was still adorable as she shuffled toward the bathroom.
    “I thought you were still asleep,” Mandy grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest and pushing her breasts up in a manner that had James considering picking a fight just so they could make up again.
    “Is that why you’re sneaking into the bathroom?” James asked, propping his head up with one arm as he studied her. “You’re not going to work. If you think you are … .”
    “Don’t tell me what I’m doing,” Mandy snapped. “I am going to work. I heard you on the phone with Peter last night. You’ve made sure I won’t even be in my office alone. We both know I’m going to work. That’s why you and Peter talked last night.”
    James opened his mouth to argue and then snapped it shut. She was right. There was no sense trying to bully her.
    “Peter didn’t kill that guy who was in the courtroom yesterday, did he?” Mandy asked, taking James by surprise.
    “I don’t think so, baby.”
    “Make sure he didn’t,” Mandy pressed. “I can’t live with the idea of killing someone.”
    “You wouldn’t technically be the one killing him,” James pointed out. “Peter would have someone else do it.”
    “You know what I mean,” Mandy said, her voice low. “I … had nightmares.”
    James stilled. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
    “I