Read Online Deadly Rivalry (Hardy Brothers Security Book 17) by Lily Harper Hart - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lily Harper Hart
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handing her his drink. “You’re going to be amazed at how fast I win that shark for you.”
“Don’t go broke trying to win it,” Mandy cautioned. “We can probably buy one online for twenty bucks.”
“Are you insinuating I can’t win?”
“I’m insinuating these games are rigged and you’re a poor loser,” Mandy clarified. “Don’t go nuts.”
“You make me nuts, wife,” James said, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. “When I win this for you in less than five minutes, though, you need to bow down and tell everyone here who your master is.”
“Sure,” Mandy said, smirking. “You’re on.”
A N HOUR later James handed Mandy the shark and tapped his cheek.
“Thank me, wife.”
Mandy rolled up to the balls of her feet and did as instructed, pressing a loud kiss to his skin and giggling. “That was a lot longer than five minutes.”
“Yes, well, I’m a perfectionist,” James said, puffing out his chest as he grabbed one of the bags so Mandy wouldn’t be overloaded. “I wanted to make sure I did it exactly right. I didn’t want the shark to be tainted.”
“Good to know,” Mandy said, grinning. “I’m hungry.”
The words were music to James’ ears. “What do you want? They have kebabs from that place you like over there.”
“That sounds good.”
Mandy settled at the table with her loot while James ordered their food. When he returned to the picnic table he found Madeline sitting across from Mandy. The brunette happily chatted away while Mandy forced a smile.
James internally groaned as he moved around the table and delivered Mandy’s lunch, opting to sit sideways on the picnic table so he could keep Mandy close and deliver an obvious message to Madeline.
“Hi, James,” Madeline greeted him brightly. “I thought I saw you over at the art fair. I was sure I was imagining things because you don’t seem like an art fair sort of guy, but then I remembered you said Mandy was an artist. Does she make you go to art fairs?”
James handed Mandy a stack of napkins. “No. She doesn’t make me do anything. I like going to art fairs with her.”
“That’s not the same James Hardy I used to know and … like,” Madeline said, her smug smile wide enough to split her face.
“Well, I guess you didn’t know me then,” James shot back, his tone blasé. “What are you doing here? I wouldn’t think this is your scene.”
“Well, I’m doing a giveaway for the spa and I thought I should probably be here to hand out business cards,” Madeline answered. “Networking is a learning process, but I’m doing my best.”
James faltered. That was actually a legitimate reason for being at the fair. Still, James wasn’t convinced that was Madeline’s reason for attending. “Well, that sounds fun.”
“I also thought we could talk about the security system,” Madeline added. “You’ve been busy this week. Whenever I stop in at the security building Grady informs me you’ve just left … or you’re working from home … or you’re out on another job.”
“I’m a busy man,” James said. “You’re not my only client. I put Jake in charge of your job. I’m sure he’s doing everything correctly. He’s very reliable.”
“I’m sure he is, too,” Madeline said. “I thought we could talk about a few more enhancements today. I’m sure Mandy doesn’t mind. This is business, after all.”
Mandy’s cheeks colored. “I can go back to the blanket and see what everyone else is doing,” she offered lamely.
“No,” James said, shaking his head. “I’m not working today. I’m sorry, Madeline. If you have updates you want to talk about, Jake will be available Monday. This is a family day. I’m spending it with my wife.”
Madeline clearly wasn’t used to being put off. “But … it will only take five minutes.”
“Well, then it can take five minutes on Monday,” James said. “There’s absolutely nothing you can say to drag me away from my wife.”
“What?
“Don’t go broke trying to win it,” Mandy cautioned. “We can probably buy one online for twenty bucks.”
“Are you insinuating I can’t win?”
“I’m insinuating these games are rigged and you’re a poor loser,” Mandy clarified. “Don’t go nuts.”
“You make me nuts, wife,” James said, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. “When I win this for you in less than five minutes, though, you need to bow down and tell everyone here who your master is.”
“Sure,” Mandy said, smirking. “You’re on.”
A N HOUR later James handed Mandy the shark and tapped his cheek.
“Thank me, wife.”
Mandy rolled up to the balls of her feet and did as instructed, pressing a loud kiss to his skin and giggling. “That was a lot longer than five minutes.”
“Yes, well, I’m a perfectionist,” James said, puffing out his chest as he grabbed one of the bags so Mandy wouldn’t be overloaded. “I wanted to make sure I did it exactly right. I didn’t want the shark to be tainted.”
“Good to know,” Mandy said, grinning. “I’m hungry.”
The words were music to James’ ears. “What do you want? They have kebabs from that place you like over there.”
“That sounds good.”
Mandy settled at the table with her loot while James ordered their food. When he returned to the picnic table he found Madeline sitting across from Mandy. The brunette happily chatted away while Mandy forced a smile.
James internally groaned as he moved around the table and delivered Mandy’s lunch, opting to sit sideways on the picnic table so he could keep Mandy close and deliver an obvious message to Madeline.
“Hi, James,” Madeline greeted him brightly. “I thought I saw you over at the art fair. I was sure I was imagining things because you don’t seem like an art fair sort of guy, but then I remembered you said Mandy was an artist. Does she make you go to art fairs?”
James handed Mandy a stack of napkins. “No. She doesn’t make me do anything. I like going to art fairs with her.”
“That’s not the same James Hardy I used to know and … like,” Madeline said, her smug smile wide enough to split her face.
“Well, I guess you didn’t know me then,” James shot back, his tone blasé. “What are you doing here? I wouldn’t think this is your scene.”
“Well, I’m doing a giveaway for the spa and I thought I should probably be here to hand out business cards,” Madeline answered. “Networking is a learning process, but I’m doing my best.”
James faltered. That was actually a legitimate reason for being at the fair. Still, James wasn’t convinced that was Madeline’s reason for attending. “Well, that sounds fun.”
“I also thought we could talk about the security system,” Madeline added. “You’ve been busy this week. Whenever I stop in at the security building Grady informs me you’ve just left … or you’re working from home … or you’re out on another job.”
“I’m a busy man,” James said. “You’re not my only client. I put Jake in charge of your job. I’m sure he’s doing everything correctly. He’s very reliable.”
“I’m sure he is, too,” Madeline said. “I thought we could talk about a few more enhancements today. I’m sure Mandy doesn’t mind. This is business, after all.”
Mandy’s cheeks colored. “I can go back to the blanket and see what everyone else is doing,” she offered lamely.
“No,” James said, shaking his head. “I’m not working today. I’m sorry, Madeline. If you have updates you want to talk about, Jake will be available Monday. This is a family day. I’m spending it with my wife.”
Madeline clearly wasn’t used to being put off. “But … it will only take five minutes.”
“Well, then it can take five minutes on Monday,” James said. “There’s absolutely nothing you can say to drag me away from my wife.”
“What?
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