Deadly Intentions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 1) (6 page)

“So, you have no idea who it was?”

If James’ arrival had thrown her for a loop, the presence of the cops was close to driving Mandy crazy. James insisted on calling the police, making sure she was settled on the ground, her back to her Focus, before he pulled his phone from his pocket. They’d arrived within minutes.

“No,” Mandy said. She was back on her feet, but shaky. “I didn’t recognize it.”

“Was it the same one that tried to hit you before?” James asked.

Mandy wrinkled her nose. “If I recognized it, I would say so.”

James frowned. “So you don’t recognize it?”

Now he was just being difficult. “A dark, four-door sedan looks like a dark, four-door sedan,” Mandy gritted out. “There are a lot of possibilities in that market.”

James reined in his temper. He wanted to shake her. Actually, he wanted to shake her and then wrap his arms around her to make sure she was safe. He tamped down that emotion. Now was definitely not the time.

The cop was nonplussed. “This is the second time a car has tried to run you down in this parking lot, Ms. Avery.”

“I noticed,” Mandy replied sarcastically. “It’s hard to miss.”

James wasn’t happy with the deputy’s tone. “What are you saying?”

“Are you sure she’s just not looking for attention?”

James had never met this particular sheriff’s deputy before – the sheriff’s department handled policing duties in Mount Clemens – but he wasn’t particularly thrilled with his work ethic. “I saw it happen.”

“And why were you here?”

James shuffled, unsure how to handle the situation. “I was waiting for her to leave,” he said finally.

“And what are you to Ms. Avery?”

Now James definitely knew he didn’t like the deputy’s tone. “We’re old friends. She’s been having a few problems.”

The deputy raised his eyebrow. “Problems?”

“Yeah, like people trying to run her down in the courthouse parking lot,” James said. “It’s happened twice now.”

“And you are?”

James managed to swallow the growl threatening to erupt from his throat. He pulled his identification out of his pocket and shoved it in the cop’s direction. He wanted to punch him in the face – but he was fighting that urge. The deputy looked at the badge, frowning. “Hardy Brothers Security? I’m still trying to understand why you’re here. Is there some foreign dignitary that needs protection?”

James furrowed his brow. Mandy could feel the anger wafting off of him. She put a hand on his arm to still him, worried he was about to do something stupid. “I know Mr. Hardy from when I was a kid,” she answered. “After the incident in the parking lot last week, his sister suggested I contact him. I was worried, so I did.”

James sucked in a deep breath, although Mandy’s hand on his arm was causing another emotion to bubble to the surface.

“So, you went to a security company because your imagination is running wild?”

That did it.
James was teetering close to the edge of a cliff. “She’s obviously not imagining everything.”

The deputy didn’t look convinced. “And what do you think is going on here?” His question was pointed in James’ direction.

“I think someone wants to hurt her.”

“And you’re sure she’s not just faking it for attention?”

“I’m sure.”

The cop sighed. “Well then, I guess it’s good that she has a security expert to protect her.”

A vision of his fist connecting with the deputy’s face flooded James’ mind. He fought the urge. “I guess so.”

Mandy glanced between the two men. She wasn’t particularly worried about the deputy’s safety. She was more worried about James going to jail. “I’m tired,” she announced.

James slipped an arm over her shoulders protectively. “I’ll take you home.”

“I can drive,” she countered.

“I’ll take you.”

Mandy considered arguing with him, but it didn’t seem like a good idea. “Fine.”

“Great.”

“Good.”

“Get in the car.”

Mandy trudged to the passenger side of the Explorer while James remained where he was standing, practically daring the deputy to try and stop them. She pulled on the handle, but the door didn’t open. “The door is locked.”

James didn’t want to be the first one to break eye contact but, finally, he did. He moved in the direction of his Explorer, pulling his keys out of his pocket as he did. Mandy climbed into the vehicle when the door unlocked, resting her head against the back of the seat as she waited for James. Once he climbed into the vehicle, she couldn’t help but be worried about his obvious anger.

“Thanks for checking on me,” she said finally, meaning every terse word.

James glanced in her direction, his brown eyes softening when they met her blue ones. “It’s my job.”

“It seems to me, you’re going above and beyond the call of duty,” she replied. “Especially since we haven’t talked about a price.”

James swallowed hard. “You’re getting the friends and family discount.”

“And that is?”

“That is nothing,” James said. “You’re a friend. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

Mandy’s heart warmed at his proclamation, but she could stop the niggling disappointment in the back of her brain.
Friends. They were friends, nothing more.

James shoved the key in the ignition and the engine roared to life. “Let’s get you home.”
 

THE RIDE
back to Mandy’s apartment was uncomfortable – to say the least. James was stewing about the deputy’s lack of interest, and Mandy was conflicted by a bevy of emotions she couldn’t put a name to. So, silence enveloped the Explorer and both parties were happy to embrace it.

When he pulled into the slot in front of Mandy’s apartment, James killed the vehicle’s engine and climbed out of the Explorer. Mandy was surprised – and excited – for a reason she couldn’t quite narrow down. She expected him to watch her enter the building and then leave – like he had after their Thai dinner. Instead, James waited in front of the Explorer, not saying a word.

Finally, Mandy blew out a sigh, and climbed out of the vehicle. “I’m okay.”

James didn’t respond. Instead, he held out his hand, ushering Mandy toward her apartment. Once she was at the door, she realized her hands were shaking as she tried to fit the apartment key into the lock. James took the keys from her wordlessly, opening the door and pushing her inside. Once they were beyond the threshold, James shut the door and engaged the new deadbolt. Then, just to be sure, he slid the security chain into place.

Mandy was flummoxed. “What are you doing?”

James knew what he wanted to do. It wasn’t an option. His rage was still fresh. Her terror was still real. This was not the time.
There was never going to be a time.
He wasn’t sure he actually believed the inner-voice that was on repeat in his head anymore.

“You’re staying here?” Mandy wet her dry lips.

The movement wasn’t lost on James – and he felt a slow pull in his groin when he saw her tongue escape from her mouth. “I’m sleeping on the couch,” he said, his voice raspy. “I need to make sure you’re safe.”

Mandy considered his offer. On one hand, she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep if she stayed in the apartment alone. Every noise, every brush of the shrub outside her window, she knew she would freak out. On the other hand, the thought of this man – the thought of
James Hardy
– sleeping on her couch would likely drive her insane for another reason.

“I’m safe,” Mandy said, her voice low.

“For now,” James agreed. “I’m going to make sure that you’re safe for the whole night.”

Mandy inwardly sighed. She wouldn’t say “no.” She couldn’t. She didn’t want him to leave. “Okay.”

James unhooked the gun holster from his belt, pulling it off and dropping it onto the coffee table in the living room. “Do you have an extra pillow and blanket?”

Mandy snapped to action. “Um, yeah.” She disappeared into the bedroom.

James wanted to follow her. Actually, he needed to follow her. He fought the urge. Instead, he remained rooted to his spot next to the couch. He would not give in. He refused to give in.
She’s a family friend. She’s Ally’s best friend.
All the arguments to the contrary in his head were just noise.

Mandy returned from the bedroom, a blanket and pillow balanced on her outstretched arms. “Here.”

James reached for Mandy’s offerings, making sure not to let his hand touch any part of her exposed skin. If he did, he knew it would be over. He would take her in his arms and then, well, then he would just take her. He was at the edge of a precipice here – and it was one he refused to tumble over. She’s just a woman that needs my help, he repeated in his mind.

“Thanks.” James’ voice sounded ragged to his own ears. He could only hope she didn’t notice.

For her part, Mandy was fighting her own demons. He looked so worried, so vulnerable, standing there in the middle of her living room. He also looked sexy as hell, too. There were dark shadows under his eyes, and a tired expression on his face as he rubbed his stubbled jaw. He was still the sexiest man she’d ever seen. He just looked so … appealing.

“Um, do you need anything else?” Mandy fought the urges warring for supremacy between her thighs.
He didn’t think of her that way. She was just Ally’s friend, nothing else.

“I’m good.”

“Okay,” Mandy said, her voice doubtful. “I’m going to take a shower and go to bed.”

A shower? Was she trying to kill him?
James ignored the thoughts in his head. “Okay. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” Mandy echoed.

She moved toward the bathroom, stopping to grab a towel from the closet in the hallway as she did. Stop thinking like that, she warned herself.
You’re imagining things.
It took every bit of energy she had to move into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.

She turned the handles in the shower, making sure the temperature was a good ten degrees lower than she was used to. If she didn’t throw a cold shower on herself, she would be crawling on James in the middle of the night – and no one wanted that, especially James.

Once she was sure the temperature was appropriately cold, Mandy shed her clothes on the floor of the bathroom and stepped under the water. She instantly shivered, her nipples pebbling under the cold moisture sluicing over her, and then stilled herself until she acclimated to the water temperature.

Unfortunately, she was still hot. James’ presence in her apartment could do nothing but make her crazy. And that form of crazy was pooling between her thighs. Mandy sighed, lowering her hand to her own folds.
She had to do it.
If she didn’t, she would try to rape him in his sleep.
How embarrassing would that be when he denied her?
She wasn’t that desperate, no matter what her loins were telling her.

She sighed when her fingers found the insistent throb between her thighs.
Just relax. Let it come.
She needed release. Her fingers searched for the tingling nerve bundle that was screaming for immediate attention, gasping when her fingers found their target.

In the other room, James’ mind was zipping.
What was she doing in the shower? Was she doing what he wanted to do?
His hands slipped into his pants before he even realized what he was doing. The warmth of his own palm wasn’t the heat he really wanted. That warmth was forbidden to him.

Mandy moved her fingers quickly. The cold of the water wasn’t even a factor now. All she saw was James’ face as she pushed herself toward orgasm.

James pulled on his hard member, trying to hide his groan in the wall of the couch. He knew it was a bad idea, but he couldn’t stop himself. Fantasies of Mandy’s face, those perfect pouty lips parted in desire underneath him as he drove into her, were dancing through his head.

She was going to orgasm soon. She could feel the tingle building. She didn’t fight it now. She let her mind flash to James, his angular jaw invading her mind as her finger pace increased.
God, she wanted him so much.

He was going explode. He knew it. He didn’t care, though. An image of her face burning with need was ingrained in his head. He knew he was imagining it, but he didn’t care. He needed release. He needed to explode.
God, he wanted her so much.

James and Mandy came at the same time, both fighting to keep their panting orgasm to their selves.

Once her heartbeat returned to normal, Mandy reached for the shampoo and started rubbing it through her hair. She felt better. Kind of. The truth was, she knew only one thing could make her feel totally better. Unfortunately, it was something she could never have.

In the other room, James was back on his feet. He moved to the kitchen and searched through the cupboards in the dark. When he finally found a hand towel, he wiped himself off and cleaned the inside of his jeans. The immediate edge was gone. It wasn’t what he really needed. Sadly for James, what he really needed, was something he could never have.