Deadly Intentions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 1) Read Free Page A

have to remind me.”
    “My name is Mandy,” she said, finally lifting her eyes up to meet his again. “Mandy Avery.”

Two
    James lifted his dark eyebrows in surprise. Mandy Avery? This couldn’t be Mandy Avery. Mandy Avery wore jeans that were too big for her and hoodies that could fit him and still have room for another person inside. Mandy Avery was cute and shy. Mandy Avery was not … well, she certainly wasn’t the beautiful woman standing in front of him.
    Mandy bit her lip and shuffled uncertainly as she regarded James. He didn’t look all that different to her. He was still tall, a few inches over six feet. His shoulders were broad, his hips narrow. He obviously still worked out, if the biceps poking out from under his rolled up sleeves were any indication, that is. His hair was a little longer than she remembered, shaggy almost. It fell over his furrowed brow in a delightfully attractive way.
    Mandy shook herself. That wasn’t the reason she was here. “I … um … Ally told me where to find you.”
    James snapped out of his reverie. “You’re still in touch with Ally?” He would’ve expected his sister to mention something like that.
    “We just got back in touch actually,” Mandy replied. “I was surprised when I found out she was living down here. We had lunch together yesterday and she mentioned that you guys ran a security business here in Macomb County.”
    James smiled warmly as memories of Mandy’s crush on him flooded back. Maybe she’d sought him out to bring that crush to reality? He could certainly deal with that. She wasn’t a middle-school girl anymore that much was clear.
    “She suggested that you guys might actually be able to help me,” Mandy continued, wringing her hands under James’ studied gaze.
    Mandy’s words penetrated the weird haze encumbering James’ mind. “You need help? My help?”
    James was having trouble believing that the cute, little thing in front of him could possibly have need for his brand of help. Maybe it was just ego, but he was still laboring under the assumption that this was all a ruse to get him to ask her out.
    “Oh, sure,” James said, smiling slyly. “Why don’t you come into the office?”
    James ushered Mandy into the next room, motioning to the open chair next to Grady. He was surprised when Finn and Grady moved toward Mandy excitedly.
    “Mandy Avery?” Finn greeted her with a wide smile. “Wow, you look great.” He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her warmly.
    Mandy returned the hug, and the welcoming smile. “Hey, Finn. You look the same, except for the hair. Is that a military thing? I heard you joined the Navy after high school. You’re doing this now, though?”
    James bit the inside of his mouth. Finn was only two years older than Mandy, so he’d been in school with her longer. It made sense that she knew Finn better. Still, he hadn’t warranted a hug – not that he wanted one.
    Once Finn took a step back, Grady replaced him and forced another hug out of her. This one bothered James more than he wanted to admit. Grady had only been in high school with Mandy for one year. They were hardly close. Wait a second, James mentally chided himself. Why was he even worried about this? That was just ridiculous.
    “Mandy Avery,” Grady said, separating from her reluctantly. “You grew up hot.”
    Mandy smirked. “So did you,” she said. “The hair is a nice touch. It makes you look dangerous.”
    “That’s what I’m going for,” Grady admitted, sliding back into the chair he’d vacated and running a hand through his shoulder-length hair. “The women love a bad boy with long hair.”
    Mandy raised her eyebrows. “Is that what they tell you?”
    “That’s the truth, baby,” Grade said, his smile seductive. “You can find out if you want.”
    James cleared his throat uncomfortably. “She’s a potential client.”
    Mandy shifted her gaze to James, trying to get a read on him. He seemed uncomfortable, although she