Deadly Secrets (Hardy Brothers Security Book 11) Read Free Page A

women.”
    “I don’t have a problem with them,” Cara said. “I just don’t like to engage with them.” She smiled at Mandy and Ally again. “We don’t have a lot in common.”
    “I can see why,” Ally grumbled.
    Jake reached out and snagged her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. “What are you two going to do next? You should enjoy the passes James got for you.”
    “James is the oldest one, right?” Cara asked.
    “Yes.”
    “He’s the hottest one.”
    Mandy made a face. “He’s also married.”
    “I noticed the ring on his finger.”
    Jake’s clenched his jaw. “He’s married to Mandy.”
    Cara didn’t look impressed. “Why?”
    “Okay,” Jake said, pushing away from the wall and grabbing Ally and Mandy’s elbows. “Let’s go … look at something.”
    “Aren’t you supposed to be working?” Cara asked. “I don’t think your employer will be happy to know that you’re babysitting.”
    James picked that moment to reappear. He’d been monitoring the situation for a few moments, and the hard set of Mandy’s shoulders told him things were about to go south. “Actually, I’m fine with Jake spending time with Ally,” he said, pulling Mandy toward him. “Things are under control, and there’s no reason he can’t spend some time with his girlfriend. I’m going to spend a little time with my wife right now, as a matter of fact.”
    “You are?” Mandy was confused.
    “I thought we’d go whip shopping,” James said. “You can tie me up with it later.”
    “How many times do I have to tell you that Wonder Woman has a magic lasso, not a whip?”
    “I just keep picturing a whip.” James tugged on Mandy, pulling her into his arms so he could give her a soothing hug and a small kiss on the forehead. “Come on. We can get something to drink and spend a few minutes together before I have to go back to work.”
    Mandy opened her mouth to argue, but James silenced her with a small shake of his head. “Come on. Please?”
    Mandy reluctantly let him lead her away.
    “I’ll meet you over there in a few minutes,” Ally said.
    Jake slipped his arm around Ally’s waist, trying to bolster her, before turning back to Cara. “If you’ll excuse us, I want to spend a little time with my angel.”
    “Oh, don’t worry,” Cara said, waving him off. “We’ll have plenty of time to catch up later. We have the whole weekend.”
    Jake pressed his eyes shut briefly. “Great. Come on, Ally.”
    Ally was furious by the time Jake isolated her behind a Dungeons & Dragons booth. “She is … .”
    “Just trying to get under your skin,” Jake said, pushing Ally’s hair away from her face. “You’re making it really easy for her to do.”
    “I don’t like her,” Ally said, crossing her arms over her chest. “She’s obviously interested in you. Well, of course, you two have that whole past together. You got to work and play together.”
    Jake rubbed his forehead, weary. “We dated for like two weeks,” he said. “It wasn’t even really dating. It was more like … .”
    Ally narrowed her eyes. “Sex?”
    Jake wasn’t sure how to best answer the question, so he went with the truth. “Yes.”
    “Well, great.”
    “I’m not sure what you’re worried about here,” Jake said. “Are you worried I’m going to take up with a woman I spent two weeks with years ago?”
    “I don’t know,” Ally sniffed. “She’s really pretty.”
    Jake couldn’t help but smile. “You’re prettier, angel,” he said, leaning forward so he could brush his lips against the sensitive ridge of her ear.
    “You think I’m prettier than her?” Ally wasn’t convinced. “Are you blind?”
    “I think you’re the prettiest woman in the world,” Jake said, refusing to take the bait. “You have nothing to worry about, Ally. I don’t want anyone but you.”
    Ally bit her lip, unconvinced. She and Jake had been together for more than six months now, but they were still only dating. Neither one of them had