Read Online Deadly Rivalry (Hardy Brothers Security Book 17) by Lily Harper Hart - Free Book Online

would happen. I don’t see why you have to be so manic about it.” He sat so Emma was positioned between his legs and he could massage her back. “You’re starting to freak me out because you’re obsessed with being his favorite.”
    James sat behind Mandy and rubbed idle circles on her neck as he studied his nephew. The kid was cute … sort of. James was convinced babies were weird to look at until they had their first birthday. He would never admit that to Emma, though. He valued his own life too much.
    He gazed at Mandy’s profile as she watched the baby, and as if by magic Avery focused on her and refused to look at Ally no matter how much she cajoled him.
    “Look at him,” Finn said, mesmerized. “He’s obsessed with Mandy.”
    “That’s because she’s the only person who won’t hold him,” Emma grumbled.
    James shot her a warning look, shaking his head as he tugged on his limited patience. Mandy had been looking forward to the festival all week. If Emma ruined it, he was going to yell at a new mother and become the family villain. He just knew it.
    “I’ll hold him when he can hold his head up on his own,” Mandy said, addressing the elephant in the room for the first time. “I’m not ready.”
    “It’s okay,” Finn said softly. “We understand.”
    “You already held him,” Emma prodded. “You were the first one to hold him.”
    “That was before I had blood on my hands.” The statement was simple and harsh, and they cast a pall over the group. Mandy directed her gaze out to the river as she steadied herself.
    James’ heart almost broke at the words. She’d spent an hour in the hotel shower the night Pritchard died, convinced she could see blood on her hands even after she’d almost scrubbed them raw. He knew her reticence about holding the baby stemmed from that, but he was surprised she finally admitted.
    “I don’t understand,” Ally said. “I … .”
    James grabbed Mandy around the waist and hauled her to a standing position, darting a dark look in Ally’s direction before turning Mandy so she was facing him. “What do you want to do first? Do you want me to win you a stuffed animal?”
    Mandy laughed, the sound easing the tension on the blankets. “Let’s go to the art fair first.”
    “The art fair it is,” James said, linking his fingers with Mandy’s as he waved at the rest of his family. “We’ll be around.”
    “Have fun,” Grady said.
    James led Mandy over the hill and toward the festival, casting the occasional look in her direction to see if she wanted to talk about what she’d said. That looked to be the last thing on her mind, so he indulged his gut and let it go, directing her toward the art fair instead.
    “You know, one of our first dates was at an art fair,” James said. “I have fond memories of that day.”
    “If I remember correctly, you tried to convince me to skip it and stay in bed with you all day,” Mandy teased, her eyes twinkling. “That was the first of many days that happened.”
    “I’m a creature of habit, baby,” James said, happily following Mandy as she stopped at a table featuring hand-blown glass items. “I’m kind of like a dog. As long as you feed me, rub me, and let me hump your leg, I’m perfectly happy.”
    The girl behind the table widened her eyes and giggled. “Oh, wow.”
    “He doesn’t think before he speaks,” Mandy explained, although the fond expression she shot her husband melted his heart. “He’s cute despite that tiny flaw.”
    “He’s smoking hot,” the girl enthused.
    James grinned, arching a challenging eyebrow as he practically dared Mandy to argue with the girl. “Did you hear that? I’m hot, wife. You should bow down and worship me.”
    “I will in the hot tub later tonight,” Mandy replied, lifting a beautiful gourd to study it. “These are neat. Do you work at that place on Main Street?”
    “I do,” the girl said. “We have some other stuff you might be interested in. Do you like