Deadly Dealings (Hardy Brothers Security Book 13) Read Online Free PDF

arms.” James was serious. “I will keep you safe. I … failed … in the haunted house. I won’t let that happen again.”
    “You didn’t fail,” Mandy argued.
    “And I won’t from here on out,” James said, his eyes distant. “I will not let anyone touch you no matter what.”
    Grady and Mandy exchanged worried looks before Grady turned his attention to the deputies. “We’ll keep in touch. I promise.”
    “We’ll do the same.”
    Once the deputies left, Grady clapped his hands to yank James out of his dark reverie and Mandy from the pit of worry she was living in as she fretted about her husband. “I think it’s time we got Mandy home,” he said. “We need to do some shopping and get everything our favorite blonde needs to be comfortable.”
    “I only need James,” Mandy said quietly, causing James to tighten his arms around her waist.
    “You’ll have me forever, my baby, just like I’ll always have you.”
    Grady didn’t give voice to his concerns, but he was officially worried. Mandy would put up with James hovering for a few days and then she would balk. When that happened, Grady was terrified James and Mandy were going to have a throwdown of epic proportions. “Let’s get her home first,” he said. “You two can spout as many sonnets as you want to each other once we’re out of here.”
    “I can’t wait,” Mandy said. “I want to go home.”
    “I’ll have you there very soon, baby,” James said. “I’m going to take care of you. No one is going to get past me again.”

Four
    “I’m fully capable of walking from the truck to the house,” Mandy grumbled as James slipped an arm under her legs and hoisted out of his Ford Explorer.
    “You’re my princess,” James replied, refusing to argue with his increasingly annoyed wife. “I shall carry you into our house and proceed to dote on you for as long as I feel like it.”
    “How long do you think that will be?”
    “Until I don’t have a heart attack every time I picture you falling into my arms.”
    “That’s a pretty manipulative thing you’re doing,” Mandy said, resting her head against James’ shoulder as they trudged toward the house. “You know I can’t say no to you when you’re struggling like this.”
    “I know,” James said. “I’m using it to my advantage and I’m not even ashamed about it.”
    James balanced Mandy against his hip as he opened the front door, situating her in his arms and kicking the door shut behind him as they moved through the house. He was tired. No, to be fair, he was exhausted. He was also relieved. The day before he’d almost lost his wife. He could tell by the obstinate tilt of her head that she was going to be a problem when it came to rest. He’d rather fight with her about that than worry about the alternative, though.
    “Okay, baby, we have a serious discussion in front of us,” James said. “Do you want to hunker down in the living room or the reading nook upstairs?”
    Mandy made a face. “I want you to put me down so I can get something to drink,” she said. “I’m dying of thirst.”
    “The living room it is,” James said, not missing a beat. He lowered Mandy to the couch, being careful to situate her comfortably, and then leaned forward and pressed a long kiss to her forehead. “I love you.”
    Mandy sighed. “I love you, too. I … .”
    “Baby, I need you to let me hover today,” James said, cutting her off. “I need you to let me do this.”
    Mandy pressed her eyes shut, tugging on her patience as she tried to collect herself. “Okay.”
    “What do you want to drink?” James asked, tilting her chin up and rubbing his thumb over it. She was paler than he liked. He knew her stomach was upset. He’d seen her grimace as if she was going to throw up twice during the ride home. He would’ve preferred getting food in her, but he also didn’t want her miserable and puking. He could only do what he could do at the present moment.
    “How about some green