Read Online Deadly Rivalry (Hardy Brothers Security Book 17) by Lily Harper Hart - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lily Harper Hart
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chickens?”
The corners of Mandy’s mouth tipped up. “My husband often refers to me as a hen.”
“Well, these are roosters, but they’re very popular,” the girl said, handing Mandy a heavy object.
The rooster was delightful. It was purple and white with a red gobbler. She was instantly in love with it. Mandy laughed as she looked it over. “I’m surprised how heavy it is.”
“They’re designed that way,” the girl explained. “The gourds are popular, too, but the roosters are everyone’s favorite.”
Mandy tipped it over and glanced at the price tag. “It’s expensive.”
“We’ll take it,” James said, grabbing the rooster from Mandy’s hand and handing it back to the sales clerk. “Wrap it well. We’re going to be at the festival all day and I don’t want it to break.”
“You’ve got it.”
Mandy shifted her eyes to James. “You don’t need to buy that for me,” she said. “It’s kind of expensive.”
“Something tells me you’re worth it, baby,” James said. “Besides, if we’re going to mark our art fair anniversary, you need a gift.”
“This isn’t the same art fair.”
“It’s close enough,” James said. “I’m buying it for you so … let it go.”
Mandy pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “You know it’s a rooster and not a hen, right? I’m going to name it James and put it on my desk.”
“You have to name it Adonis if you’re naming it after me,” James said. “You have to be fair.”
“Adonis?”
“I don’t make the rules,” James said. “I just have to abide by them.”
“You’re definitely cute,” Mandy said, instinctively hugging him and kissing his neck. “You’re smoking hot, too.”
“Just wait until I get you in that hot tub,” James said. “I’m going to show you how smoking hot I am tonight.”
After purchasing her rooster, James followed Mandy down the long aisle of craft tents. Two years ago he would’ve hated an event like this. Now he relished watching Mandy because her joy was palpable. She saw beauty in everything, and he saw beauty in everything she did. An art fair was a perfect outing for them.
Mandy was intently going through a series of prints in a bin when James shifted his gaze to the outside street, frowning when he caught sight of Madeline. She was at the booth across the way, her eyes seemingly fixed on a ceramic bowl. James knew she’d been watching them moments before. He had no idea how he knew it, but he did.
As if sensing his gaze, Madeline lifted her head and feigned surprise. She waved instead of crossing the street, and James was thankful she insisted on playing her game instead of infringing on his day with his wife. There was no way Madeline was interested in an art fair. She either took a chance they would be there – or followed them. James didn’t like either scenario.
Mandy was so focused on her art hunt she didn’t notice Madeline, and when they moved farther up the street Madeline headed in the opposite direction. James exhaled heavily and laughed when Mandy picked out a metal rooster for the back garden before moving back toward the carnival.
They purchased iced teas at a stand and then directed themselves toward the games, James prodding Mandy to pick a stuffed animal so he could win it for her. In truth, James’ competitive nature would force him to play games simply because he liked to win. Since Mandy enjoyed picking out a stuffed animal at every festival – and then sitting back and watching him win it for her – it became something they could do together.
“Look,” Mandy said, pointing high on a shelf at the balloon dart exhibit.
James followed her finger, smirking when he saw the stuffed shark. It was actually cute, although not as ornate as the other animals. “Is that the one you want?”
“I don’t know. Do you think you can win it for me?”
It was a challenge, and James always rose to a challenge. “Baby, take a step back,” James said,
The corners of Mandy’s mouth tipped up. “My husband often refers to me as a hen.”
“Well, these are roosters, but they’re very popular,” the girl said, handing Mandy a heavy object.
The rooster was delightful. It was purple and white with a red gobbler. She was instantly in love with it. Mandy laughed as she looked it over. “I’m surprised how heavy it is.”
“They’re designed that way,” the girl explained. “The gourds are popular, too, but the roosters are everyone’s favorite.”
Mandy tipped it over and glanced at the price tag. “It’s expensive.”
“We’ll take it,” James said, grabbing the rooster from Mandy’s hand and handing it back to the sales clerk. “Wrap it well. We’re going to be at the festival all day and I don’t want it to break.”
“You’ve got it.”
Mandy shifted her eyes to James. “You don’t need to buy that for me,” she said. “It’s kind of expensive.”
“Something tells me you’re worth it, baby,” James said. “Besides, if we’re going to mark our art fair anniversary, you need a gift.”
“This isn’t the same art fair.”
“It’s close enough,” James said. “I’m buying it for you so … let it go.”
Mandy pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “You know it’s a rooster and not a hen, right? I’m going to name it James and put it on my desk.”
“You have to name it Adonis if you’re naming it after me,” James said. “You have to be fair.”
“Adonis?”
“I don’t make the rules,” James said. “I just have to abide by them.”
“You’re definitely cute,” Mandy said, instinctively hugging him and kissing his neck. “You’re smoking hot, too.”
“Just wait until I get you in that hot tub,” James said. “I’m going to show you how smoking hot I am tonight.”
After purchasing her rooster, James followed Mandy down the long aisle of craft tents. Two years ago he would’ve hated an event like this. Now he relished watching Mandy because her joy was palpable. She saw beauty in everything, and he saw beauty in everything she did. An art fair was a perfect outing for them.
Mandy was intently going through a series of prints in a bin when James shifted his gaze to the outside street, frowning when he caught sight of Madeline. She was at the booth across the way, her eyes seemingly fixed on a ceramic bowl. James knew she’d been watching them moments before. He had no idea how he knew it, but he did.
As if sensing his gaze, Madeline lifted her head and feigned surprise. She waved instead of crossing the street, and James was thankful she insisted on playing her game instead of infringing on his day with his wife. There was no way Madeline was interested in an art fair. She either took a chance they would be there – or followed them. James didn’t like either scenario.
Mandy was so focused on her art hunt she didn’t notice Madeline, and when they moved farther up the street Madeline headed in the opposite direction. James exhaled heavily and laughed when Mandy picked out a metal rooster for the back garden before moving back toward the carnival.
They purchased iced teas at a stand and then directed themselves toward the games, James prodding Mandy to pick a stuffed animal so he could win it for her. In truth, James’ competitive nature would force him to play games simply because he liked to win. Since Mandy enjoyed picking out a stuffed animal at every festival – and then sitting back and watching him win it for her – it became something they could do together.
“Look,” Mandy said, pointing high on a shelf at the balloon dart exhibit.
James followed her finger, smirking when he saw the stuffed shark. It was actually cute, although not as ornate as the other animals. “Is that the one you want?”
“I don’t know. Do you think you can win it for me?”
It was a challenge, and James always rose to a challenge. “Baby, take a step back,” James said,
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