Deadly Questions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 8) by Lily Harper Hart Page B

finally ready to say the words he’d needed to utter for months.
    Sophie’s body jerking beneath him broke the spell, the convulsions of her warm core sending him over an unseen edge with her. Grady cried out, the orgasm taking him completely by surprise. He’d been so caught up in what he wanted to say, he’d lost track of the moment.
    He collapsed on top of her, resting his head on her heaving chest.
    “Hmm,” Sophie murmured, running her fingers through Grady’s hair. “That was amazing.”
    “You’re always amazing, sugar,” Grady said, pressing a kiss to the side of her breast. “You’re my amazing miracle.” And you always will be, he added silently.

Twelve
    “Hey, new guy, do you want to grab some lunch with us?”
    Jake glanced up at the four guys standing next to the warehouse door. He’d started his new “job” today, and he’d mostly kept his nose to the grindstone – loading and unloading extremely heavy boxes – in an effort not to draw attention to himself. He was surprised by the offer. Turning it down wasn’t an option. He had to ingratiate himself with these guys.
    “Sure.”
    The men – they’d introduced themselves as Joey, Ben, and Wayne – took Jake to a nearby diner, one that boasted about having the “best burgers” in all of Detroit. One look at the establishment told Jake that was probably a lie, but he wasn’t going to turn up his nose at a meal. He’d forgotten how hungry an honest day’s work could leave you.
    “So, where do you live?” Wayne asked.
    Jake was prepared for the question. “I’m staying at the Remington down on Woodward.”
    “Is that one of those weekly places?”
    “Yeah,” Jake said. “I can’t afford a regular place now. I’m just trying to save up some money. The wife cleaned me out in the divorce.”
    Jake and James had come up with a believable backstory for Jake to tell people – and despite the necessity of it, he felt guilty.
    “Women are bitches,” Joey said around a mouthful of food. “They’re only good for fucking – and most of them aren’t even good for that.”
    Wayne and Ben exchanged hearty laughs at the joke. “It’s too bad they can talk,” Ben agreed. “Life would be so much better if they couldn’t talk.”
    Jake raised an eyebrow, nodding like he agreed while his stomach turned.
    “So, where is your wife now?”
    “Ohio,” Jake said. “She moved there with her new boyfriend.”
    “Kids?”
    Jake shook his head. He drew the line at manufacturing a fake family. “Nope. Thankfully.”
    “Yeah, there’s nothing worse than child support,” Ben said. “I’m paying on two of the little beasts. I’m convinced my ex got pregnant just to trap me.”
    Jake fought the urge to explain about condoms, instead stuffing his hamburger into his mouth. He’d been right. The hamburgers were pretty far from being good, let alone the best. He wasn’t even sure they were made from real beef.
    “So, what about you?” Jake asked Joey. “Any kids? A wife?”
    “No and no,” Joey said. “Women are only good for twenty minutes, and then they’re completely useless after that.”
    Jake arched an eyebrow in Wayne’s direction.
    “No glove, no love for me,” Wayne said. “The last thing I want is kids.”
    “Me, too,” Jake said. “I was relieved we never had any.”
    “So, do you have a new girlfriend yet?” Ben asked.
    “Nope. I’m staying away from women for a good, long while.”
    “That’s wise,” Ben said. “They’re nothing but trouble.”
    “Word,” Jake said, internally rolling his eyes at his own cheesiness. “So, what do you guys do for fun around here?”
    “There’s not much to do,” Wayne said. “If you’re adventurous, it only costs ten bucks to get a hand job from one of those corner wenches. They’re pretty good at what they do.”
    Jake swallowed hard. “Like I said, I’m staying away from women for a while.”
    “Yeah, but you need to get your rocks off somehow,” Wayne