Deadly Addition (Hardy Brothers Security Book 9) Read Free Page A

you?”
    “You congratulate someone when they’re pregnant,” Ally said.
    “Not necessarily,” Mandy said.
    “Oh, whatever,” Ally said. “Just because you and James have decided that you don’t like kids, that’s not how everyone feels.”
    “I’m not saying it is,” Mandy said.
    “Whatever,” Ally said, holding up her hand and turning to Sophie. “You like kids, right?”
    “I hate them,” Sophie said.
    Ally stilled. “What?”
    “I don’t like them,” Sophie said. “They bug the crap out of me.”
    “You don’t want kids?” Ally was incensed.
    “I want to travel,” Sophie said. “I like naked Sundays in the hot tub. Kids will ruin that.”
    Emma burst into tears.
    “I’m with Sophie,” Mandy said, ignoring Emma’s sobs. “I’ve never wanted kids. I didn’t even like dolls when I was a kid.”
    “That’s not true,” Ally said. “You carried that stuffed dog around with you everywhere in elementary school.”
    “That was a stuffed animal,” Mandy pointed out. “I like animals. I’m trying to convince your brother to adopt a cat.”
    “A cat is not a baby,” Ally pointed out.
    “I don’t like babies,” Mandy countered. “They freak me out.”
    “How can you not like babies? You must be a sociopath.”
    “I don’t like babies,” Sophie said. “I’m with Mandy. They freak me out, too.”
    “Babies are beautiful,” Ally complained. “Babies are a gift.”
    “Then have a dozen of them,” Mandy said. “I’m not having any. James and I have already talked about it. We’re happy with just the two of us.”
    Ally shifted her gaze to Sophie. “Have you and Grady talked about it?”
    “No,” Sophie said. “We haven’t made any decisions.”
    Ally shot a triumphant look in Mandy’s direction.
    “That doesn’t mean we’re having them,” Sophie said. “I’m not sure I want any.”
    “Oh, come on,” Ally protested. “Everyone wants babies.”
    “Not everyone,” Sophie said. “I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
    “And I’m saying no,” Mandy added.
    “I think you’re both heartless,” Ally said.
    Emma’s sobs overtook the room.
    “Oh, Emma, it’s going to be okay,” Mandy said, pushing past Ally and kneeling down next to the crying woman. “If you don’t want it … there are options.”
    “There are not,” Ally argued.
    “Shut up, Ally,” Sophie said, joining Emma and Mandy on the floor. “It’s going to be okay.”
    “I don’t know what to do,” Emma admitted, her face streaked with tears.
    “Just … you have time,” Mandy said. “Don’t make your decision tonight. You have to think about it. You have to talk to Finn.”
    “No,” Emma said hurriedly. “I can’t tell Finn. Not yet.”
    Ally was nonplussed. “You have to tell him. You’re having a baby.”
    “I need time to absorb this,” Emma said. “I’ll tell him when I’m ready.”
    “But … .”
    “You can’t tell them,” Emma said. “Not until I’m ready.”
    “It’s okay,” Mandy said, brushing Emma’s hair out of her face. “We won’t tell.”
    “We won’t,” Sophie agreed.
    Three sets of eyes shifted to Ally.
    “Fine,” Ally grumbled. “We won’t tell. You have to make a decision, though. I’m not good at keeping secrets.”
    “None of us are,” Mandy said. “This isn’t our secret to tell, though.”
     
    “SO, are you going to tell me what was going on here tonight?”
    James fixed his eyes on Mandy, curious.
    “Nothing was going on,” Mandy said, stripping her shirt off and dumping it in the hamper inside of her closet. “I don’t know why you’re so suspicious.”
    “I know when you’re lying.”
    “I’m not lying,” Mandy said, unbuttoning her shorts and tossing them into the hamper next to her shirt. “I’m offended that you think I’m lying.”
    James pursed his lips. “I love you.”
    Mandy lifted her head, her face muddied with confusion. “I love you, too.”
    “If something is wrong with you … tell