Deadly Rivalry (Hardy Brothers Security Book 17) Read Online Free PDF Page A

I love you and only you. She was hurt when I mentioned I never loved her, but that’s a hard dose of reality she probably needed. I think we ran into each other by accident tonight and we won’t see her again.”
    Mandy pressed her lips together.
    “Baby, I love you so much it swallows me whole sometimes,” James said. “You don’t ever have to worry about me wanting to be with someone else. It’s not possible.”
    Mandy nodded. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
    “You didn’t really yell – well, maybe a little – but I’m not sorry,” James said. “You needed to get it out of your system. It wouldn’t hurt if you yelled a little more these days. You’ve been quiet for weeks.”
    “I haven’t been quiet,” Mandy clarified. “I’ve been … thinking. I have a lot to think about.”
    “I know you do,” James said. “I want to do that thinking with you if you’ll let me. You know you can talk about what happened if you need to do it, right?”
    “I don’t want to talk about it. I want to forget it.”
    “Baby, you’re never going to forget it,” James said. “You will move on, but not if you bottle all of this up inside of you.”
    “I’m okay,” Mandy said. “I just … I’m not ready to go out into the guesthouse yet. I guess you caught me on that one.”
    James smirked. He couldn’t help himself. “I guess I did.” He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. “I love you, wife.”
    Mandy rested her forehead against James’ and sighed. “I love you.”
    “Do you want to finish our night in the hot tub or just get naked here?” James flashed Mandy an incorrigible smile, causing her to giggle.
    “Here.”
    “Good answer, baby,” James said, pulling his boxer shorts down and revealing his ready erection as he stood. “I’ve got a present for you.”
    This time Mandy’s laugh was deep and heartfelt. “That’s good. I’ve got a present for you, too.”
    “You are the best gift I’ve ever gotten,” James said. “Now, I want my gift naked. I want to start naked Sunday early. We have to work up an appetite so I can stuff an omelet down you tomorrow morning.”
    “Okay,” Mandy said, leaning back so she could unhook her garters. “I hope you’re up to the task.”
    James grabbed Mandy’s hand. “Take off the underwear and bra but leave the garters and stockings as they are.”
    Mandy rolled her eyes. The garters always got him going. “You know, when I quit my job I’m going to spend all day painting in nothing but my garters so you’ll be tempted to come home early every night.”
    Mandy planned on leaving her job at the courthouse in September so she could pursue her dream of being an artist full time. It was still four months away, but it was a promise that loomed large.
    “Oh, baby, when that happens I’m going to work from home three days a week.”
    Mandy snickered. “How will you get work done?”
    “Screw work, baby,” James said, grabbing her by the waist and tossing her toward the middle of the mattress. “We’ll live on love.”
    “I think I can handle that.”

4
    Four
    M onday morning’s arrival meant Mandy and James had to return to work. After an entire day without clothing – coupled with endless urges – they were both satiated and happy. In fact, while Mandy wasn’t completely back to her normal self, she was so much better James spent half the previous evening trying to figure out a way to get her to call in sick to work so they could repeat the experience Monday. He knew she wouldn’t, but it was a tantalizing thought.
    “Hurry home from work tonight, baby,” James instructed, glancing over from his spot next to his Explorer so he could watch Mandy climb into her Focus. “I’ll pick up dinner so we can strip down the second we get inside.”
    “I can barely walk as it is,” Mandy shot back, although the smile playing at the corner of her mouth was so cute James couldn’t stop himself from striding over and planting a