Deadly Christmas (13 page)

“And apparently they were hot doing it.”

“Great. Can we get the video? I … need to get this to our computer guy.”

Art smiled as he sympathetically patted James’ arm. “I cannot wait to meet your wife and sister.”

“Yeah. They make a great first impression.”

“How do I look?”

Mandy stopped in the Ritz Carleton lobby long enough to study her reflection. Her blond hair was gathered into a simple bun, a few loose tendrils escaping to frame her face, and the black dress she wore boasted a high slit – that had James’ mind wandering – and a neckline that covered everything and yet still plunged low enough to give James ideas for the ride home.

“I think we should go in that bathroom over there and forget the party.”

Mandy smirked. “I’m being serious,” she said. “I’m guessing this is going to be a ritzy party given what you’ve told me about this woman. I don’t want to look … low class … or anything.”

James scowled. “You could never look low class, baby. Stop fussing. You look beautiful.”

Mandy blew out a sigh and slipped her coat off. James collected it and slung it over his arm, marveling at the sight of her sculpted shoulders. Working out in the pool had turned her already slim body into a work of art.

“I’m serious,” James said. “Let’s go in the bathroom and then go back home.”

“These are
your
business associates,” Mandy reminded him.

“Screw the business. I want you.”

Mandy gave him a soft kiss, making sure to wipe her lipstick off his mouth before taking a step back. “One hour. Then we can go home. And, as incentive, I’m not wearing any underwear. You can think about how that will play to your benefit during the drive home.”

James grinned. “I love you so much it hurts sometimes.”

Mandy slipped her hand into his and let him lead her toward the ballroom. “You know you have to dance with me, right?”

“You know you have to let me feel you up under the mistletoe, right?”

“Smooth,” Grady said, moving out from under a nearby archway with Sophie on his arm. The tall reporter was dressed in a gorgeous blue sheath that hugged her limited curves in all the right places.

“Do you hang around eavesdropping all of the time, or is this a special occasion?” James deadpanned.

“Oh, Sophie, you look beautiful,” Mandy gushed.

“You do, too,” Sophie said. “That slit is really high.”

“That’s just the way I like it,” James said.

“By the way, Finn texted me and he and Emma aren’t coming,” Grady said.

James furrowed his brow. “Why not?”

“If anyone asks, the official reason is that Emma doesn’t feel well,” Grady replied. “Finn says she put on a dress and had an absolute fit because she thought she looked fat. That pregnancy is turning out to be a great excuse to get out of things, if you ask me.”

Sophie pinched his arm. “Emma is hormonal,” she said. “She feels doubly fat because she worked as a model. She can’t help herself. She made her living on her looks and now she’s insecure about them. Give her a break.”

“I didn’t say it was a bad thing,” Grady said. “In fact, if you let me shove a pillow up your dress we can use it for an excuse to leave right now.”

Sophie made a face, causing James and Mandy to chuckle. “You promised to dance with me.”

“Oh, I’m going to dance with you, sugar.” Grady wrapped his arm around Sophie’s waist and whispered a filthy suggestion into her ear, causing the comely reporter to blush. “Then I’m going to do an even better dance when we get home.”

“I’m not sure I’m going to make it home,” James admitted. “I do not want to be here.”

“Join the club,” Ally said, moving in behind her brothers. Her off-white dress scooped low in the front and Mandy marveled at the excessive cleavage her friend managed to pull off and still look classy. “Jake kept faking he was going to throw up out in the truck.”

“Who was faking?” Jake asked, tugging on his tie. His suit was black and simple, but he looked about as uncomfortable as any man could. “I honestly might get sick.”

“You clean up nice, Jake,” Mandy said, beaming. “And, Ally … wow … how did you get your boobs to stick up like that?” Mandy moved to her friend’s dress and glanced down the neckline. “You’re not wearing a bra.”

Jake perked up. “I’m starting to feel better.”

“Shut up,” Grady and James said in unison, shooting him twin looks of disapproval.

“It’s special tape,” Ally said, giggling as Sophie came over to take a look, too. “It’s going to hurt like hell when I have to take it off, but I think it’s worth it. I look like a princess in this dress.”

Ally’s self-esteem was always on display.

“You do look like a princess, angel,” Jake agreed, slipping his arm around her waist. “Unfortunately, I have a feeling I’m going to have to beat off a hundred would-be princes thanks to that dress.”

“I only want you to be my prince,” Ally cooed.

“Is there a private room around here?” Jake asked, glancing around.

“Don’t be gross,” James ordered, tugging Mandy back toward him. “That’s still my sister.”

“Dude, you were threatening to take Mandy into the bathroom and skip the party when you came in,” Grady pointed out.

“How long were you eavesdropping?”

Grady shrugged. “Let’s get this over with,” he said. “I say we put exactly one hour in and then make excuses that we just have to get home to check on Emma. If she’s going to use that pregnancy as an excuse to get out of this, surely we can use checking up on her as an excuse to save ourselves.”

“I’m with you there,” James said, glancing into the busy ballroom. “Okay, here’s what’s going to happen: We’re going to go in, find Art and that viper wife of his, have ten minutes of conversation, have something to eat, push the hens around the dance floor for exactly one song, and then get out of here.”

“You’re such a romantic,” Mandy deadpanned.

“I’m going to romance your ass off when we get home,” James countered. “I want out of this suit. I want you naked in the hot tub. This was not something I wanted to do.”

“So, you’re saying you’re happier with chicken wings,
Jaws,
and me than a fancy party?” Mandy pressed.

“That’s my perfect evening,” James said, rubbing his nose against Mandy’s cheek. “Now, come on. Everyone socialize like you’re happy to be here and then we’ll fake a text to get out of here. In fact, Grady, you need to text Finn and tell him to text my phone with a fake emergency in exactly one hour.”

“Got it.”

“Here we go,” James said, smiling at the girl behind the coat check counter and handing the jackets he was carrying over. “Mingle and then let’s get out of here. Don’t lose one another.”

“You’re so bossy,” Ally grumbled.

“Shut up, princess.”

“I’M SO
glad you came,” Art enthused, beaming as James led his cadre of cohorts to the center of the room where Art and Ava were holding court. “Wait … aren’t you missing a brother?”

“Finn sends his apologies,” James said. “His fiancée is pregnant and she got … violently ill when they were trying to leave. He really didn’t have a choice in the matter.”

Mandy and Ally exchanged amused looks.

“In fact, he’s taking her to urgent care and if she’s legitimately sick we’re going to have to go and help him deal with it,” James continued.

“That’s awful,” Art said. “I hope it’s not too serious.”

“Me, too.”

“Okay, well, introduce me,” Art said, clapping his hands. “I’m assuming the blonde is your wife. She’s just as lovely as you made her out to be.”

Mandy forced a smile for Art’s benefit. “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Your husband talked about you nonstop while he was out with us,” Art said, his eyes twinkling. “One would almost think he was paid to do it he mentioned you so often.”

“Well … I guess I’ll put a little extra in his paycheck this week,” Mandy quipped.

James could tell she was uncomfortable so he placed his hand at the small of her back to bolster her. “She lives up to the hype.”

“I’m sure,” Ava said, moving to her husband’s side and looking over the small group with what could only be described as disdain. “You must be magic in the sack to catch him.”

Mandy tilted her head to the side, unsure she heard the woman’s words correctly. “I’m sorry?”

“Ignore my wife,” Art interjected, chuckling nervously. “She often feels the need to compare herself to others. There’s no need to do that, dear. You’re my favorite woman in the world.”

“Why would I compare myself to her?”

James sensed the conversation slipping away from him. “Thank you for inviting us,” he said. “I think we’re going to get something to eat, though.”

“Wait. I haven’t met your sister yet,” Art chided. “I’m dying to meet the woman who tasered a man and saved my inventory.”

James pulled Mandy to the side and made room for Ally to move forward. He wasn’t surprised to find her openly glaring in Ava’s direction. She’d obviously heard what the fake blonde said to her best friend.

“You, my dear, are stunning,” Art said, his gaze fixated on Ally’s cleavage. He wasn’t even trying to hide his point of interest – or, er, two points of interest.

Jake cleared his throat as he furrowed his brow. He was clearly uncomfortable with the situation, and James didn’t blame him.

“How much did those cost?” Ava asked. “I’m surprised how nice the work is given this is Detroit, after all. Still, that’s pretty impressive.”

Ally’s eyebrows flew up her forehead. “Excuse me?”

“Okay,” Jake said, smoothly stepping in and grabbing Ally around the waist. “I think my angel needs something to eat.”

“I think we all need something to eat,” Grady said, rubbing his forehead. As surreal as the situation was – and part of him wanted to be amused – he was offended on both Mandy and Ally’s behalf.

“Wait, who are you?” Art asked, turning his attention to Sophie.

As the foster daughter of a mobster and a reporter who put herself on the line every day, Sophie was having none of Art and Ava’s crap. “Oh, you’re not going to be interested in me,” she said. “You can’t look down my dress because I have nothing to show off and if your wife tries to insult me, I’m going to punch her and then she’s going to need even more
impressive
work on her nose.”

Grady’s mouth dropped open.

“Oh, crap,” James muttered.

Instead of being insulted, Art barked out a delighted laugh. “You might be my favorite.”

“We really need to get some food into our … wonderful women,” James said, firmly grabbing Mandy’s hand. “We’ll say goodbye before we go.”

“We will not,” Mandy hissed as James dragged her away. “I’m going to yank that woman’s hair out.”

“I’m going to make our excuses when we leave,” James replied, his tone low. “I … this night was a horrible idea. We all should have come up with excuses.”

“Apparently I could have used my new plastic surgery as an excuse,” Ally suggested, bitterness overtaking her.

“Angel, take it as a compliment,” Jake said, making sure to press his body to the back of Ally’s when he noticed several men by the bar checking her out. “You’re never wearing that dress in public again, by the way.”

“You said I looked good,” Ally protested.

“You look like every filthy dream I’ve ever had about you,” Jake shot back. “That doesn’t mean I want everyone else sharing in my dream.”

“Does anyone else think there’s something weird about Art and Ava’s marriage?” Grady asked, pushing Sophie closer to the buffet table. “You need to pick some food to eat so your mouth is too busy to form words, sugar.”

“Leave her alone,” Mandy snapped. “She didn’t say anything we weren’t all thinking.”

“Yes, but she said it to our employer,” James argued.

Mandy narrowed her eyes. “How often did that woman throw herself at you while you were out there?”

“What?” James sputtered, his cheeks burning. “I … why would you think that?”

“Because Art said you were constantly talking about me,” Mandy replied, her shoulders stiff. “I’m guessing you were doing that because Ava was trying to get in your pants.”

“First off, I talk about you every chance I get.”

Mandy crossed her arms over her chest, anger practically pouring out of her.

“I do talk about you every chance I get,” James hissed, realizing he had no choice but to tell the truth. “I might have brought you up a hundred times a day to make sure Ava knew that I wasn’t interested. That doesn’t mean you’re not my favorite topic of conversation or that I didn’t mean every word.”

Mandy rolled her eyes until they landed on Ally. “What do you think?”

“I think that woman is a menace and James did the best he could,” Ally said, weariness overtaking her. “I thought it was going to be fun to dress up and go out. Now I just want to go home.”

Jake tugged her to him, pressing her close to his chest. “We’re going home, angel.” He cast an apologetic look in James’ direction. “I’m not making her stay here – especially when I don’t want to be here either.”

“None of us are staying here,” James said. “I think we all owe Sophie an extra Christmas gift for ending this evening early.”