Deadly Christmas (10 page)

“The man was wearing a mask and he disappeared in the parking lot. The cameras only go so far,” Art said. “He kept his mask on the entire time.”

“Well, hopefully he learned his lesson about approaching women in jewelry stores,” James said. “The next ones might have a full charge on their tasers. By the way, Jake, did you take that taser from Ally?”

“I can’t find it,” Jake replied. “I went through her purse looking for it and she’d already taken it out and hidden it. I have no idea where it is.”

Grady snorted. “That’s my baby sister,” he said, grinning. “She’s no idiot. She knew you would try and take that from her and she hid it before you could. Now I’m getting her something special for Christmas.”

“Are you telling me you wouldn’t be worried about Sophie running around with a taser?” Jake pressed.

“You forget who raised Sophie,” Grady replied, nonplussed. “She carries a small handgun in her purse. She has a license to carry concealed. She wouldn’t have bothered to shock anyone. She would’ve just shot them.”

“That sounds like a woman I want to meet,” Art said. “With that in mind, we’re staying at the Ritz Carleton out by the airport. Ava isn’t thrilled, so I gave her my credit card and she’s throwing a big party. You’re all invited.”

“Oh, well … .” James balked. That was the last thing he wanted to do.

“Since you missed the California party, I insist,” Art said. “I’ll email you four invitations. I can’t wait to meet the rest of your family, including that wife you never stopped talking about … and now your sister, of course.”

“Sure,” James said, clenching his jaw. “I’m sure Mandy and Ally will be thrilled to go to a Christmas party.”

“I don’t want to go to a Christmas party given by some dippy California trophy wife,” Mandy pouted later that evening, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Tell me how you really feel,” James said, wrapping his arm around her waist and tumbling her into his lap. They were in the living room, four takeout menus spread across the coffee table as they tried to decide what they were going to order for dinner, when James sprung the big news on his favorite blonde.

“You said yourself that she was insufferable.”

James couldn’t remember if he used those words or not. He knew he’d left out all of Ava’s overt flirting when reporting back to his wife every night. He didn’t want her worrying and, loath as he was to admit it, she still had an insecure streak where he was concerned. He was trying to eradicate it, but he knew Ava’s intentions would bug Mandy.

“She’s a pain, baby,” James conceded. “Art is a client who is paying very well for a security system that he’ll hopefully utilize for years to come. Can’t you spend one hour at a Christmas party for me?”

“Oh, sure, use that as an excuse,” Mandy said, rolling her eyes. “Like I can really say no to that.”

James grinned. “Thank you, wife.”

Mandy’s expression was thoughtful as James nuzzled his nose against her cheek. “Does he know Ally and I were in the store during the robbery?”

“I told him the truth,” James replied. “I didn’t think lying about something like that was in our best interests. He thought it was funny and now he’s dying to meet Ally. He wants to give her a gift for saving his merchandise.”

“Ally will like that,” Mandy said. “She loves getting gifts.”

“Speaking of that, Jake wants to hijack your shopping trip with Finn. He’s convinced he needs to buy Ally more for Christmas.”

“I’m sure she’ll be fine with whatever he bought for her.”

James arched a challenging eyebrow.

“Okay, you’re probably right,” Mandy conceded. “Ally is just so manic about Christmas. She’s going to love those diamond earrings, but I think she kind of had her heart set on another type of diamond.”

James stilled. “Is she expecting Jake to propose over Christmas? If so, I don’t think he’s there yet.”

“He’s not,” Mandy said. “I told Ally to let things happen in their own time, but I think she’s worried he’s going to leave her. I wish she could see – I mean actually see – the way he looks at her.”

“Yes, it’s absolutely filthy,” James said, resting his hand on Mandy’s flat abdomen.

“You know what I mean,” Mandy said. “She needs to relax. I told her that when you surprised me with your proposal it was the best thing ever. I was convinced you were nowhere near that point yet, so when you asked … .”

“You thought I asked because of the explosion,” James corrected, referring to an incident that left Mandy recovering for weeks.

“I thought there was a chance you were asking because of the explosion,” Mandy conceded. “I don’t think that now, though, so don’t worry.”

“What do you think now?”

“I think that you would cry if you didn’t have me with you every day for the rest of our lives,” Mandy teased. “I think you cried every night we were apart.”

She wasn’t far off. “I didn’t cry. I just pouted,” James said, kissing her cheek.

“Did you buy me a lot of Christmas presents while you were in California?”

“Oh, here we go,” James said, shifting Mandy so she was facing him but still comfortable on his lap. “Tell me the truth, did you search this house for gifts while I was gone?”

“I … .” Mandy broke off, biting her lip.

“That’s what I thought,” James said, tickling Mandy’s ribs. “Why do you think I changed the combination on the safe while I was gone?”

“Because you don’t trust me.”

“I trust you with my heart but not with Christmas gifts, baby,” James said. “You’re going to have to learn to live with that.”

Mandy sighed. “Where are my gifts now?”

“Where are my gifts?” James pressed.

“I’m not telling you that,” Mandy said, giggling when James dug his fingers in and tickled her harder. “You can’t know what I bought you until Christmas morning.”

“Well, then you can’t know what you’re getting until then either,” James said. “I don’t care how you try to manipulate me.”

“Just tell me … is it bigger than a breadbox?”

James snorted. “I got you more than one thing, baby.” He racked his brain. He was fairly certain he had more than forty gifts for her now. Cripes. Her head was going to implode when she saw all of her loot. “Actually, if you want to let your mind run wild, you’re going to have quite a few gifts to open this year.”

Mandy wrinkled her nose. “Did you go overboard?”

“Maybe.”

“I did, too,” Mandy admitted. “I like buying things for you. I can’t help myself. That being said, you know that I don’t need gifts, right? I just need you for Christmas.”

“Oh, so cute,” James said, grabbing her around the waist and lowering her toward the floor. “We both know you want gifts. Don’t go all martyr on me now, baby.”

Mandy pursed her lips to keep from laughing. “Okay, I might like a few gifts.”

“Something tells me you’re going to be happy, wife,” James said, reaching for the button on her work slacks. “Now, how about we celebrate Christmas early with a present for both of us?”

“I thought you wanted dinner.”

“I’m just switching out my menu choices. Guess what? You’re the appetizer, main course and dessert.”

“WHERE
do you think the best spots for the cameras are?” Jake asked the next morning, his eyes busy as they scanned Art’s Michigan store location.

All four members of Hardy Brothers Security were at the store to expedite matters. Since things were slow so close to the holiday, they left Emma in charge to man the phones and converged on the jewelry store to map out a plan. The faster they got it done, the faster they could focus on their women – and all of them would rather be doing that than this.

“I say we hide one in the sign so we catch people approaching the store,” Grady said. He stood in the archway separating the store from the rest of the mall. “It won’t deter anyone, but it might give us a good shot of people approaching and leaving.”

“Good idea,” James said. “We also need at least one in the merchandise room.”

“I think we should put two in there,” Jake said. “That way every corner is covered.”

“Agreed.” James let his gaze bounce around the rest of the store. “I’m thinking we should also put one in that corner and another under the clock on that wall. We’ll have to test them, but I think that’s going to give us full coverage. What do you think, Finn?”

“Hmm?” Finn glanced up from the display case he was studying. “Oh … um … I trust your judgment. Do you think Emma would like a Pandora bracelet? I know you got Mandy all those geeky charms – I especially like the Hulk one – but they have pretty charms, too.”

James frowned. “Are you saying my wife isn’t pretty?”

“Of course not,” Finn scoffed. “She likes weird stuff, though. Emma likes girly things. Mandy wouldn’t be caught dead in a bracelet with little hearts and flowers on it.”

“I had a blue rose made special for Mandy’s bracelet,” James said.

“That’s different. Blue roses signify your relationship with Mandy. In general, she wouldn’t pick out flowers for her bracelet. She’d rather have sharks … and witch hats … and slasher movie dudes.”

James looked thoughtful. “Do you think they make a Jason Voorhees charm for a Pandora bracelet? Mandy would love that.”

“Mandy already has more loot than she needs,” Finn countered. “Focus on me.”

James sighed and moved to the display case so he could study the bead assortment. Finn was right. Mandy would hate all of them. Well … except for the little owl.

“Do you see something you like?” In addition to being the store manager, Ryan Carmichael was also Art’s son. He watched the Hardys work for thirty minutes straight, intrigued by what they were doing but eager to stay out of their way. He approached them cautiously now. “I’m not in your way here, am I?”

“You’re fine,” James said, smiling. The man was nervous. He didn’t know if it was because of his small frame or the excitement from a few days before. “I think Finn wants to get his girlfriend a Pandora bracelet and a few charms.”

“Sure,” Ryan said, opening the back of the case and pulling the beads out. “What do you like? Dad said to make sure you guys got a good deal.”

“That’s not really necessary,” James said.

“My dad said you would say that and to give you the deal anyway,” Ryan said. “Come on. It’s Christmas. Pick out a few things.”

“His wife already has so much stuff she’s not going to know what to do with it all,” Finn said. “I need to play catch-up. I need one of the bracelets and give me the daisy charm … the hearts with the pink gems … um … .”

“Doesn’t Emma like the Cinderella story?” James asked.

Finn nodded.

“Get her the Cinderella carriage right there, too.”

“That’s a good idea,” Finn said, exhaling heavily. “That’s one gift down.”

“How about a locket,” Grady suggested, pointing into the case a few feet down. Finn and James moved to his side. The locket in question was beautiful and looked like an antique. “I know you don’t want to get her something else with the baby in mind, but you could put a photo of you and one of the baby sonogram in here. She could replace it with a photo of a baby when it’s born.”

“That is really beautiful,” James said. “I kind of wish Mandy would wear something like that.”

“You wouldn’t change Mandy for anything,” Finn scoffed. “I’ll take the locket, too.”

Ryan nodded happily.

“Before you put that Pandora display away, I want that owl charm,” James instructed.

“You’re getting Mandy
another
gift?” Finn was flabbergasted.

“Hey! She’s my wife and I’ll spoil her if I want to.”

“Oh, those are words every woman wants to hear,” Ava purred, stepping into the store.

James cringed when he saw her. He knew she was in town, but he hoped the only time he would have to see her was at the Christmas party – when he could hide behind booze and his blonde.

“Hello, Ava,” James said, hoping his tone didn’t reflect the irritation he was feeling.

“Hello, James.” Ava practically purred as she sidled up to him. “I’m so glad I have a chance to see you again. Art told me he invited all of you to our Christmas party.” Her predatory eyes roamed each man in turn. “You all are definitely going to … liven … things up.”

James took a step back to increase the distance between Ava and himself. “Ava, this is Finn, Grady, and Jake. We all work together.”

“Are you all Hardys, too?” Ava asked, her gaze landing on Grady and making him shift uncomfortably. “You have some very impressive genes in your family.”

“I’m not a Hardy,” Jake said.

“He’s just living with one,” Finn teased.

Ava looked disappointed. “Oh, are you two gay?”

“No,” Jake sputtered.

“He’s dating our sister,” James supplied.

“I’m living with their sister,” Jake corrected.

James recognized the statement for what it was. It wasn’t a dig at him. It was a warning for Ava that he was already taken. He clearly didn’t like the woman either.

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Ava said. “Are you all spoken for? I know James claims to have some wife he adores, although I find it hard to believe anyone could be as great as he says she is.”

“You’ll get a chance to meet her at the party and find out for yourself,” James said.

“Well, I’m definitely looking forward to that,” Ava said. “Are all of you bringing dates?”

“We are,” Grady answered. “We’re all happily involved and shopping for the women in our lives.”

“Bummer.” Ava quickly lost interest in the conversation and turned her attention to Ryan. “When you’re done with their … gifts … meet me in the back room,” she ordered. “I want to pick out a few things from some of the more expensive collections for my party.”

Ryan nodded, shooting an apologetic look at James.

“I can’t wait to see all of you at my party,” Ava said. “It’s going to be legendary – especially for this area.”

“We’re looking forward to it, too,” James lied. “My wife was very … excited … when I told her last night.”

“I can’t wait to meet her. I’m sure we’ll be fast friends.”

James had his doubts, but he wisely kept them to himself. He knew Mandy was going to take one look at Ava and want to claw her eyes out. At least the party wouldn’t be dull.