Read Online Deadly Adventure (Hardy Brothers Security Book 19) by Lily Harper Hart - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lily Harper Hart
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it a rest, Ally,” James said, brushing past his sister and grabbing Mandy around the waist so he could lift her out of Ally’s orbit. “We weren’t expecting you guys until later. We’re still muddled from the plane ride. That’s a long trip.”
Ally narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “What did you get me?”
“Nothing,” James said, smirking as Grady flicked the tip of Ally’s nose for good measure. The Hardy brothers were experts at annoying the lone female sibling in the family. “We were so caught up with each other we didn’t have time to even think about you.”
James didn’t miss the expression on Jake’s face as the man pressed his lips together to keep from laughing. Jake knew darned well that Mandy would never return to town without a gift for Ally. Still, since Jake was the one who often had to put up with Ally’s moods, he enjoyed watching her brothers mess with her.
“You … suck,” Ally muttered.
“James … .” Mandy shot him a dark look. “I bought you several gifts, Ally. They’re in the suitcases, though, and if you want them you’re going to have to wait until we have time to unpack.”
Ally brightened considerably. “I’ll unpack for you. That would save you guys time and let you rest after your long trip.”
Mandy stilled. She hated domestic tasks like dishes … and laundry … and vacuuming … and especially unpacking. “On one condition,” she cautioned. “Every gift you find in there you have to bring to me so I can dole them out. I got gifts for everyone.”
“Yay!” Ally hopped up and down. “I’ll do it while dinner is cooking.” She turned to Jake with an expectant look. “You need to carry the suitcases upstairs for me.”
Jake didn’t appear thrilled at the prospect. “Why me? I don’t care about your gifts, angel.”
“Do you want to have sex tonight?’
James groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ally!” He wasn’t unaware of his sister’s sexual relationship with Jake – and he considered the man one of his best friends – but he hated hearing about it.
“Let me grab those suitcases,” Jake said, making his decision on the spot and maneuvering around James. “You’re unpacking them yourself, though. I’m afraid of finding something … weird.”
“Like what?” Ally asked, genuinely curious.
“I don’t know,” Jake replied. “They might have weird shark porn or something for all I know. I can’t see that. I’ll be traumatized for life.”
James slung an arm around Mandy’s shoulders as they watched the couple chat during their trek up the stairs. “I’m surprised you let her do that, wife,” he said. “You know she’s going to go through everyone’s gifts, right?”
Mandy shrugged, unperturbed. “Yes, but now we don’t have to unpack which means we can go straight to the hot tub once the family leaves.”
“You’re wise and beautiful, baby. I never should’ve doubted you.”
“ S O , tell me absolutely everything,” Ally prodded after dinner, admiring her loot as it rested on the outside table and everyone relaxed under the dwindling daylight. “Did you get to see Stonehenge?”
“I sent you photos,” Mandy said. “I also emailed you several updates.”
“I know,” Ally said. “You sent like a hundred photos, though, and since I wasn’t in them I lost interest after about two photos. They’re just big rocks.”
“Hey! They’re magical rocks.”
Avery Hardy gurgled on his mother’s lap as Mandy raised her voice and offered the excitable blonde a smile. He was still tiny, although he made a bevy of adorable facial expressions now and was responsible for holding his own head up. He continued to develop a unique personality all his own with every passing day.
“I think he grew a foot while we were gone,” Mandy said, smiling at the baby. “He’s getting more hair, too.”
“I think he’s a genius,” Ally said, shifting her eyes to her nephew. “I took
Ally narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “What did you get me?”
“Nothing,” James said, smirking as Grady flicked the tip of Ally’s nose for good measure. The Hardy brothers were experts at annoying the lone female sibling in the family. “We were so caught up with each other we didn’t have time to even think about you.”
James didn’t miss the expression on Jake’s face as the man pressed his lips together to keep from laughing. Jake knew darned well that Mandy would never return to town without a gift for Ally. Still, since Jake was the one who often had to put up with Ally’s moods, he enjoyed watching her brothers mess with her.
“You … suck,” Ally muttered.
“James … .” Mandy shot him a dark look. “I bought you several gifts, Ally. They’re in the suitcases, though, and if you want them you’re going to have to wait until we have time to unpack.”
Ally brightened considerably. “I’ll unpack for you. That would save you guys time and let you rest after your long trip.”
Mandy stilled. She hated domestic tasks like dishes … and laundry … and vacuuming … and especially unpacking. “On one condition,” she cautioned. “Every gift you find in there you have to bring to me so I can dole them out. I got gifts for everyone.”
“Yay!” Ally hopped up and down. “I’ll do it while dinner is cooking.” She turned to Jake with an expectant look. “You need to carry the suitcases upstairs for me.”
Jake didn’t appear thrilled at the prospect. “Why me? I don’t care about your gifts, angel.”
“Do you want to have sex tonight?’
James groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ally!” He wasn’t unaware of his sister’s sexual relationship with Jake – and he considered the man one of his best friends – but he hated hearing about it.
“Let me grab those suitcases,” Jake said, making his decision on the spot and maneuvering around James. “You’re unpacking them yourself, though. I’m afraid of finding something … weird.”
“Like what?” Ally asked, genuinely curious.
“I don’t know,” Jake replied. “They might have weird shark porn or something for all I know. I can’t see that. I’ll be traumatized for life.”
James slung an arm around Mandy’s shoulders as they watched the couple chat during their trek up the stairs. “I’m surprised you let her do that, wife,” he said. “You know she’s going to go through everyone’s gifts, right?”
Mandy shrugged, unperturbed. “Yes, but now we don’t have to unpack which means we can go straight to the hot tub once the family leaves.”
“You’re wise and beautiful, baby. I never should’ve doubted you.”
“ S O , tell me absolutely everything,” Ally prodded after dinner, admiring her loot as it rested on the outside table and everyone relaxed under the dwindling daylight. “Did you get to see Stonehenge?”
“I sent you photos,” Mandy said. “I also emailed you several updates.”
“I know,” Ally said. “You sent like a hundred photos, though, and since I wasn’t in them I lost interest after about two photos. They’re just big rocks.”
“Hey! They’re magical rocks.”
Avery Hardy gurgled on his mother’s lap as Mandy raised her voice and offered the excitable blonde a smile. He was still tiny, although he made a bevy of adorable facial expressions now and was responsible for holding his own head up. He continued to develop a unique personality all his own with every passing day.
“I think he grew a foot while we were gone,” Mandy said, smiling at the baby. “He’s getting more hair, too.”
“I think he’s a genius,” Ally said, shifting her eyes to her nephew. “I took
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