Deadly Reunion (Hardy Brothers Security Book 20) by Lily Harper Hart
Authors: Lily Harper Hart
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mattress mambo,” Grady offered.
“I’m definitely beating you,” James groused.
“Boys.” Peter shook his head. “I’m so glad I didn’t adopt boys.”
10
Ten
“ E verything is set in the den,” Mandy announced shortly before lunch, strolling into the kitchen and gracing the assembled men with a bright smile. “You may now bow down to my greatness.”
“I’ll bow later, baby,” James said, his eyes trained on his laptop screen. “If you play your cards right I’ll do it in the shower.”
It was a titillating offer, but Mandy was still annoyed by the lack of reaction from the men in her life. “Fine.” She blew out a dramatic sigh. “What have you found?”
James ripped his eyes away from his screen and grabbed Mandy’s hand so he could pull her close. He recognized the cold tone of her voice. “I’m always wowed by your greatness. Finn and Emma are going to be thankful that you arranged this. Frankly, I don’t know why we didn’t think of it sooner.”
“Yes, it’s a great idea,” Grady agreed. “Now you’re going to have an injured Finn, a hovering Emma, and a wailing infant under your roof. You’re a genius.”
“Shut up,” Mandy said, cuffing the back of Grady’s head. “They’re going to be sleeping in the den. We won’t even hear Avery when he cries, although I can’t help but wonder if we should move him up in the guest room so Emma and Finn can get a good night’s sleep.”
“Yeah, good luck tearing Emma away from Avery,” Grady said. “I talked to Jake and he said that she grabbed the baby out of Ally’s arms when they arrived at the hospital this morning and Ally almost had a meltdown. I guess James isn’t the only one who freaks out at the drop of a hat.”
Mandy bit the inside of her lip to keep from laughing. Even though James and Ally fought like cats and dogs, she’d often thought they had a lot of the same traits. Finn was known as the calm one in the Hardy family – and he generally held that distinction by himself. “I don’t know who you think you’re fooling,” Mandy said. “You’re just like Ally and James.”
“Hey,” James said, offended. “I am nothing like the Candy Crush king here.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Grady said. “That’s a hard game. It takes skill.”
“Multiple children make me tired,” Peter said, rolling his neck until it cracked. “I much prefer having bodyguards to sons.”
“Oh, puh-leez,” Grady intoned. “You love us and you know it.”
“Sadly, that’s very true,” Peter said, shaking his head. “I still would’ve dropped you in the middle of the woods and driven away without a backward glance if I had to raise you. I don’t know how your poor parents did it.”
“Neither do they,” James said, grinning. “What did you put in the den for Avery to sleep in, baby? We don’t have a crib and the one at the apartment is big and bulky.”
“We have a playpen,” Mandy reminded him. “Avery is fine sleeping in that for a few nights.”
“My guess is Emma is going to put him on the floor with her and Finn,” Grady said. “I hear tell she wouldn’t even hand the baby over long enough for Ally to say goodbye once you called with the change of plans. Our sister is deeply miffed, by the way. Jake is going to have to binge watch Gilmore Girls or something with her to get her to perk up.”
“He’d better propose soon or she’s just going to get knocked up no matter what,” James said. “She needs a baby.”
“What about you?” Peter asked, genuinely curious. “Do you need a baby?”
“I have a baby,” James said, smiling at Mandy.
“Sophie told me you two decided against children,” Peter said. “I think it’s bold and wonderful that you two know each other well enough to admit you don’t want children. Many women are shamed into thinking those feelings are wrong. I wondered if perhaps you changed your minds after Avery arrived, but I see that’s not the
“I’m definitely beating you,” James groused.
“Boys.” Peter shook his head. “I’m so glad I didn’t adopt boys.”
10
Ten
“ E verything is set in the den,” Mandy announced shortly before lunch, strolling into the kitchen and gracing the assembled men with a bright smile. “You may now bow down to my greatness.”
“I’ll bow later, baby,” James said, his eyes trained on his laptop screen. “If you play your cards right I’ll do it in the shower.”
It was a titillating offer, but Mandy was still annoyed by the lack of reaction from the men in her life. “Fine.” She blew out a dramatic sigh. “What have you found?”
James ripped his eyes away from his screen and grabbed Mandy’s hand so he could pull her close. He recognized the cold tone of her voice. “I’m always wowed by your greatness. Finn and Emma are going to be thankful that you arranged this. Frankly, I don’t know why we didn’t think of it sooner.”
“Yes, it’s a great idea,” Grady agreed. “Now you’re going to have an injured Finn, a hovering Emma, and a wailing infant under your roof. You’re a genius.”
“Shut up,” Mandy said, cuffing the back of Grady’s head. “They’re going to be sleeping in the den. We won’t even hear Avery when he cries, although I can’t help but wonder if we should move him up in the guest room so Emma and Finn can get a good night’s sleep.”
“Yeah, good luck tearing Emma away from Avery,” Grady said. “I talked to Jake and he said that she grabbed the baby out of Ally’s arms when they arrived at the hospital this morning and Ally almost had a meltdown. I guess James isn’t the only one who freaks out at the drop of a hat.”
Mandy bit the inside of her lip to keep from laughing. Even though James and Ally fought like cats and dogs, she’d often thought they had a lot of the same traits. Finn was known as the calm one in the Hardy family – and he generally held that distinction by himself. “I don’t know who you think you’re fooling,” Mandy said. “You’re just like Ally and James.”
“Hey,” James said, offended. “I am nothing like the Candy Crush king here.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Grady said. “That’s a hard game. It takes skill.”
“Multiple children make me tired,” Peter said, rolling his neck until it cracked. “I much prefer having bodyguards to sons.”
“Oh, puh-leez,” Grady intoned. “You love us and you know it.”
“Sadly, that’s very true,” Peter said, shaking his head. “I still would’ve dropped you in the middle of the woods and driven away without a backward glance if I had to raise you. I don’t know how your poor parents did it.”
“Neither do they,” James said, grinning. “What did you put in the den for Avery to sleep in, baby? We don’t have a crib and the one at the apartment is big and bulky.”
“We have a playpen,” Mandy reminded him. “Avery is fine sleeping in that for a few nights.”
“My guess is Emma is going to put him on the floor with her and Finn,” Grady said. “I hear tell she wouldn’t even hand the baby over long enough for Ally to say goodbye once you called with the change of plans. Our sister is deeply miffed, by the way. Jake is going to have to binge watch Gilmore Girls or something with her to get her to perk up.”
“He’d better propose soon or she’s just going to get knocked up no matter what,” James said. “She needs a baby.”
“What about you?” Peter asked, genuinely curious. “Do you need a baby?”
“I have a baby,” James said, smiling at Mandy.
“Sophie told me you two decided against children,” Peter said. “I think it’s bold and wonderful that you two know each other well enough to admit you don’t want children. Many women are shamed into thinking those feelings are wrong. I wondered if perhaps you changed your minds after Avery arrived, but I see that’s not the
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