blue rose made special for Mandy’s bracelet,” James said.
“That’s different. Blue roses signify your relationship with Mandy. In general, she wouldn’t pick out flowers for her bracelet. She’d rather have sharks … and witch hats … and slasher movie dudes.”
James looked thoughtful. “Do you think they make a Jason Voorhees charm for a Pandora bracelet? Mandy would love that.”
“Mandy already has more loot than she needs,” Finn countered. “Focus on me.”
James sighed and moved to the display case so he could study the bead assortment. Finn was right. Mandy would hate all of them. Well … except for the little owl.
“Do you see something you like?” In addition to being the store manager, Ryan Carmichael was also Art’s son. He watched the Hardys work for thirty minutes straight, intrigued by what they were doing but eager to stay out of their way. He approached them cautiously now. “I’m not in your way here, am I?”
“You’re fine,” James said, smiling. The man was nervous. He didn’t know if it was because of his small frame or the excitement from a few days before. “I think Finn wants to get his girlfriend a Pandora bracelet and a few charms.”
“Sure,” Ryan said, opening the back of the case and pulling the beads out. “What do you like? Dad said to make sure you guys got a good deal.”
“That’s not really necessary,” James said.
“My dad said you would say that and to give you the deal anyway,” Ryan said. “Come on. It’s Christmas. Pick out a few things.”
“His wife already has so much stuff she’s not going to know what to do with it all,” Finn said. “I need to play catch-up. I need one of the bracelets and give me the daisy charm … the hearts with the pink gems … um … .”
“Doesn’t Emma like the Cinderella story?” James asked.
Finn nodded.
“Get her the Cinderella carriage right there, too.”
“That’s a good idea,” Finn said, exhaling heavily. “That’s one gift down.”
“How about a locket,” Grady suggested, pointing into the case a few feet down. Finn and James moved to his side. The locket in question was beautiful and looked like an antique. “I know you don’t want to get her something else with the baby in mind, but you could put a photo of you and one of the baby sonogram in here. She could replace it with a photo of a baby when it’s born.”
“That is really beautiful,” James said. “I kind of wish Mandy would wear something like that.”
“You wouldn’t change Mandy for anything,” Finn scoffed. “I’ll take the locket, too.”
Ryan nodded happily.
“Before you put that Pandora display away, I want that owl charm,” James instructed.
“You’re getting Mandy another gift?” Finn was flabbergasted.
“Hey! She’s my wife and I’ll spoil her if I want to.”
“Oh, those are words every woman wants to hear,” Ava purred, stepping into the store.
James cringed when he saw her. He knew she was in town, but he hoped the only time he would have to see her was at the Christmas party – when he could hide behind booze and his blonde.
“Hello, Ava,” James said, hoping his tone didn’t reflect the irritation he was feeling.
“Hello, James.” Ava practically purred as she sidled up to him. “I’m so glad I have a chance to see you again. Art told me he invited all of you to our Christmas party.” Her predatory eyes roamed each man in turn. “You all are definitely going to … liven … things up.”
James took a step back to increase the distance between Ava and himself. “Ava, this is Finn, Grady, and Jake. We all work together.”
“Are you all Hardys, too?” Ava asked, her gaze landing on Grady and making him shift uncomfortably. “You have some very impressive genes in your family.”
“I’m not a Hardy,” Jake said.
“He’s just living with one,” Finn teased.
Ava looked disappointed. “Oh, are you two gay?”
“No,” Jake sputtered.
“He’s dating our
“That’s different. Blue roses signify your relationship with Mandy. In general, she wouldn’t pick out flowers for her bracelet. She’d rather have sharks … and witch hats … and slasher movie dudes.”
James looked thoughtful. “Do you think they make a Jason Voorhees charm for a Pandora bracelet? Mandy would love that.”
“Mandy already has more loot than she needs,” Finn countered. “Focus on me.”
James sighed and moved to the display case so he could study the bead assortment. Finn was right. Mandy would hate all of them. Well … except for the little owl.
“Do you see something you like?” In addition to being the store manager, Ryan Carmichael was also Art’s son. He watched the Hardys work for thirty minutes straight, intrigued by what they were doing but eager to stay out of their way. He approached them cautiously now. “I’m not in your way here, am I?”
“You’re fine,” James said, smiling. The man was nervous. He didn’t know if it was because of his small frame or the excitement from a few days before. “I think Finn wants to get his girlfriend a Pandora bracelet and a few charms.”
“Sure,” Ryan said, opening the back of the case and pulling the beads out. “What do you like? Dad said to make sure you guys got a good deal.”
“That’s not really necessary,” James said.
“My dad said you would say that and to give you the deal anyway,” Ryan said. “Come on. It’s Christmas. Pick out a few things.”
“His wife already has so much stuff she’s not going to know what to do with it all,” Finn said. “I need to play catch-up. I need one of the bracelets and give me the daisy charm … the hearts with the pink gems … um … .”
“Doesn’t Emma like the Cinderella story?” James asked.
Finn nodded.
“Get her the Cinderella carriage right there, too.”
“That’s a good idea,” Finn said, exhaling heavily. “That’s one gift down.”
“How about a locket,” Grady suggested, pointing into the case a few feet down. Finn and James moved to his side. The locket in question was beautiful and looked like an antique. “I know you don’t want to get her something else with the baby in mind, but you could put a photo of you and one of the baby sonogram in here. She could replace it with a photo of a baby when it’s born.”
“That is really beautiful,” James said. “I kind of wish Mandy would wear something like that.”
“You wouldn’t change Mandy for anything,” Finn scoffed. “I’ll take the locket, too.”
Ryan nodded happily.
“Before you put that Pandora display away, I want that owl charm,” James instructed.
“You’re getting Mandy another gift?” Finn was flabbergasted.
“Hey! She’s my wife and I’ll spoil her if I want to.”
“Oh, those are words every woman wants to hear,” Ava purred, stepping into the store.
James cringed when he saw her. He knew she was in town, but he hoped the only time he would have to see her was at the Christmas party – when he could hide behind booze and his blonde.
“Hello, Ava,” James said, hoping his tone didn’t reflect the irritation he was feeling.
“Hello, James.” Ava practically purred as she sidled up to him. “I’m so glad I have a chance to see you again. Art told me he invited all of you to our Christmas party.” Her predatory eyes roamed each man in turn. “You all are definitely going to … liven … things up.”
James took a step back to increase the distance between Ava and himself. “Ava, this is Finn, Grady, and Jake. We all work together.”
“Are you all Hardys, too?” Ava asked, her gaze landing on Grady and making him shift uncomfortably. “You have some very impressive genes in your family.”
“I’m not a Hardy,” Jake said.
“He’s just living with one,” Finn teased.
Ava looked disappointed. “Oh, are you two gay?”
“No,” Jake sputtered.
“He’s dating our
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