Read Online Deadly Intuition (Hardy Brothers Security Book 2) by Lily Harper Hart - Free Book Online Page B

happy couple in the other room was draining her attention. Finally, Grady ceased his verbal interlude and followed her gaze.
    “They’re cute.”
    Sophie sighed. “They’re happy.”
    Grady’s eyes were searching. “Are you happy?”
    Sophie shook off the haunting sentiment filling her lungs with invisible liquid. “Of course.”
    Grady didn’t look convinced. “Are you really happy?”
    “Are you?”
    Grady smiled, the expression lighting up his handsome face. “I try.”
    “That’s not really an answer.”
    “From the queen of the non-answer? I’ll take that as a compliment.”
    “You do that.”
    Grady glanced back in the direction of the office. “Find a bed!”
    Sophie poked him in the ribs. “Leave them alone. They’re … refreshing.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    Sophie shrugged. “I live in a world of … unhappiness. People don’t find their way to me until there’s no hope on the horizon, and the story they have to tell is so heartbreaking it will make you cry. Those two have hope. Those two have more than hope, they have … delight in each other. It’s beautiful.”
    Grady’s gaze was fixated on Sophie, his voice raspy. “It is beautiful.”
     
    “ALL RIGHT,” James said when everyone shuffled back into his office. “This is a lot of names to run, and we can only do so many at a time. I say we order some food and start running them.”
    “How many searches can you run at one time?” Sophie asked.
    “Only three,” James replied. “I suggest we break up into three teams.”
    Finn barked out a laugh. “ Puh-leez ! The James and Mandy team isn’t going to get very much work done before they get distracted.”
    James’ eyebrows knit together. “Are you saying I’m incapable of doing my job?”
    “No,” Finn hedged. “Although, I think Mandy serves as somewhat of a distraction to you.”
    Mandy moved to climb off James’ lap, biting her lower lip uncertainly. “I can go upstairs and leave you guys to it.”
    James already missed her warmth. “No. You don’t have to go. I can do my job with you around. I think I’ve proven that over the past few months.”
    “I didn’t mean anything bad,” Finn protested, his face coloring. “I was just teasing the two of you. I didn’t mean anything by it. Don’t get all worked up, bro.”
    James knew he was being sensitive, but he prided himself on his work ethic. He’d built Hardy Brothers Security from the bottom up, and he didn’t want anyone calling his drive into question – even if it was his younger brother, and even if he was only joking.
    “Let’s order some food,” Grady suggested as a way to ease the obvious tension. “I think everyone is just hungry.”
    Finn nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah. Let’s eat.”
    James felt Mandy’s hand rest on his shoulder. “Let’s order some food. You’re always crabby when you’re hungry.”
    James purposely relaxed his shoulders. “What does everyone want?”
    “Let’s just go simple with pizza,” Grady suggested. “Everyone likes pizza.”
    James glanced up at Mandy. “I’m not sure she can eat pizza.”
    “Oh, come on,” Mandy protested. “I’m starving. I haven’t had anything decent in days.”
    “I made you soup.”
    Mandy snickered. “Campbell’s made me soup. You just heated it up.”
    James’ eyes narrowed.
    “You did a really good job, though,” Mandy said hurriedly, patting his shoulder soothingly. “I’ve never had better chicken and stars in my life.”
    Grady snorted out a laugh. “You made her chicken and stars? That’s what Mom used to make for us when we were sick.”
    “The doctor said you should only have bland food for a week,” James reminded her.
    “The doctor also said that, once the food poisoning shot through me, I would be better. I’m better. I want some pizza.”
    James sighed. “Fine. Nothing spicy for you, Blondie. If I have to spend the next two nights sleeping on the bathroom floor again, I’m going to be grumpy –