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

wasn’t going to wake you up and admit to being worried about a mobster killing another mobster because he didn’t watch me properly,” Mandy replied. “I’m not joking, James. I can’t take it.”
    “Mandy, don’t worry about that,” James chided. “Peter understands what happened. It was a flaw in our design. We didn’t think Pritchard would go to those lengths. It’s been fixed. You’re going to be safe. I promise.”
    “I kept picturing him being killed because I was a dumbass.”
    James opened his arms and gestured for Mandy to return to bed. “Come here, wife,” he said, tugging her to him and pulling the covers over their naked bodies so he could warm her. He was bothered by the idea she’d struggled during the night and he was unaware. “I promise Peter didn’t kill that guy. He was unhappy, but he understands what happened. We’ve plugged that hole.”
    “As much as I want Pritchard dead – and seeing how bloodthirsty Sophie was the other day was a real eye-opener – the thought of someone dying because of me is too much.”
    James smoothed Mandy’s hair down and kissed her forehead. “The thought of you dying is too much for me,” he said. “I’m going to bring you lunch at the courthouse today if I can. If I can’t, you have to promise to sit in your office and talk to Peter’s guy whether you like it or not. I won’t be able to focus if I don’t know you’re safe.”
    “I promise.”
    “I’m also driving you to work and picking you up,” James said, realizing his mistake and correcting it almost immediately. “If that’s okay with you, I mean.”
    Mandy giggled. “You’re trying really hard not to be bossy, and I appreciate it,” she said. “I’m really sorry about yesterday. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
    “Baby, you’re okay,” James said. “What happened yesterday was mostly my fault. Although, just for the record, arguing with Pritchard was absolutely stupid.”
    “Oh, man, are we going to fight again?”
    “No,” James replied, tickling her ribs. He wanted to eradicate her bad mood. “We are going to make up, though.”
    “I’m going to be late for work.”
    “We’ll do it in the shower and multitask,” James suggested. “I’m sending you to work with a smile on your face if it kills me.”
    “Okay,” Mandy said. “You’d better be prepared to work fast, though. I don’t have time to dilly-dally.”
    “I’ll show you dilly-dallying,” James muttered, laughing as she squealed and hopped out of bed. He chased her to the bathroom. “Turn the water on and prepare to be amazed.”
    “You always amaze me.”
    “You, too, baby,” James said, his expression softening. “We don’t have time to boost egos, though. You’re going to have to tell me how amazing I am during the drive. Now it’s time for magic.”
    “Come and get me.”
     
    “MY water broke,” Emma announced, walking into James’ office in the middle of their morning meeting. “The baby is coming.”
    It was as if a vacuum sucked all of the oxygen out of the room. Four faces paled in unison, and then absolute pandemonium broke out.
    “Where is the hospital bag?” Finn asked, hopping to his feet. “Go upstairs and get it, Emma.”
    “She can’t go upstairs,” Jake argued. “She’s in labor. You go upstairs.”
    “Oh, right.” Finn didn’t move.
    “Should we call an ambulance?” James asked, pushing himself to a standing position. “I … should we boil water?”
    “Do you want to scald the baby?” Grady screeched. “Are we serving the baby for lunch with a side of tomato soup?”
    “That’s what you see on television,” James charged.
    “We’re not on television!”
    “Emma should sit down,” Jake said. “Or, wait. Maybe Emma should get on the floor and relax. What’s the best position for delivering a baby?”
    “Slaves used to squat in fields and then return to picking cotton,” Grady pointed out.
    “Well, that sounds healthy,” Jake drawled.