Read Deadly Conflicts (Hardy Brothers Security Book 21) Online
Authors: Lily Harper Hart
Deadly Conflicts (Hardy Brothers Security Book 21) (20 page)
“I will always be here for that,” Jake said, kissing her cheek and pulling her tight as he sank into one of the chairs at the edge of the room. He was content holding her. Heck, he would be content holding her like this for the rest of his life.
“I’m still sorry I missed hitting him,” James said. “That would’ve made my day.”
“Hey, it looks like you still have a chance,” Grady said, inclining his chin toward the spot behind James and pointing. “I think he was faking being knocked out.”
“Of course he was,” James muttered. “He’s a total wimp.”
Vince was on his feet and moving, aiming his unsteady body toward the front door.
“Don’t make me chase you,” James warned.
Vince didn’t stop running, instead bolting through the open doorframe. He didn’t get very far, though. The unmistakable sound of something metal striking something hard – like Vince’s empty head – filled the room and Vince fell backward when a shovel appeared in the opening. Someone had struck him with the lawn tool, and since he was running at the time, the blow was fairly severe.
James expected to see his father appear in the opening. Instead he saw a familiar blonde. Mandy dipped her head inside and glanced around. “Everyone good?”
“I told you to stay in the truck,” James snapped. “Why didn’t you? I had this under control.”
“I don’t like him and don’t you even think about yelling at me,” Mandy said. “I just did you a favor.”
“You’re in big trouble, wife,” James said, moving around the couch and kicking Vince’s arm with his foot to make sure he was legitimately out before pulling her to him. “You’re in huge trouble!”
“I don’t really care,” Mandy said. “You’re still massaging me for two hours in the hot tub tonight.”
“That’s not going to be nearly as much fun without nudity,” James muttered, smoothing her hair as he kissed her forehead. “You’re still in trouble.”
“Oh, leave the girl alone,” Louis admonished, stepping into the doorway. “You should’ve seen the way she teed up Vince’s head and gave it a good whack. I forgot she was a good softball player when she was younger.”
James made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. “I told her to stay in the truck!”
“You’ll get over it,” Rose said, appearing behind her husband and smiling when she saw Jake holding Ally as close as humanly possible without their two bodies fusing together. “A happy ending.”
“We all get happy endings,” James said. “We’ve all earned them the hard way, too.”
“I agree.” Rose’s smile was enigmatic. “You’re a secretive lot, though. That much has become obvious over our visit.”
“We’re not secretive to be jerks,” James said. “We just don’t want you worrying.”
“Well, I don’t think you’re going to be able to get away with your crap any longer,” Rose said. “We’re not going to let you be secretive and cut us out of all the excitement. That part of your lives is over.”
James knit his eyebrows together, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Your mother and I put in an offer on a house yesterday,” Louis replied. “The owner accepted. As of now, we officially live close to all of you.”
“Oh, well, good,” Grady said. “I for one am glad to have the best parents in the world close.”
“Shut up, you suck-up,” James said, causing Rodrigo and Sven to snicker. “I can’t believe you’re moving down here. What about your house up north?”
“We already sold it,” Louis replied. “The entire point of our visit was to see what you’ve been hiding and then unveil a little secret of our own. You know, give you a taste of your own medicine.”
“Well, great,” James said. “Does that mean you’ll be living with us until your house is ready?” He was resigned to the possibility.
“Oh, that doesn’t seem fair to everyone else,” Rose said, smirking. “We’re going to jump around from house to house and stay with everybody.”
“Oh, well, that sounds great,” James said, beaming when he locked gazes with Grady. “I think Grady’s house should be first on your tour.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Rose said.
“Oh, man.” Grady made a dirty face. “This family sucks.”
“No, this family is amazing,” Jake said, pressing his eyes shut as he rocked Ally. “This is the only family I know where it’s okay to be yourself … and love as deeply as you possibly can.”
“Oh, that’s a sweet sentiment,” Rose said. “I happen to agree. Grady, we’ll be at your place tonight. We expect you to have dinner ready when we get there.”
“Yay!” James clapped his hands behind Mandy’s back as he continued to hug her. “
Shark Week
is back on, baby!”
“And all is right with the world,” Mandy said, giggling.
“
W
hat a beautiful night
.”
Ally pulled the black helmet off, giving no heed to her wild waves as they spilled out, and perched it on the back of Jake’s motorcycle. Two days prior she was held hostage – kind of – but she didn’t even suffer a tiny nightmare when it was all said and done.
Vince was behind bars, local police working to coordinate charges with California law enforcement officials. He would probably end up serving time in Michigan, but only because a multitude of people he put behind bars littered California jails and the odds of him surviving their wrath were slim. The Michigan police were looking for a low-level mafia freelancer who helped him steal the car, but they didn’t appear worried that he would eventually turn up.
Jake and Ally spent the next day in bed – other than fixing the front window, of course – and James gave Jake the rest of the week off so they could spend it together. Louis and Rose were happily settled at Grady’s house – although the middle Hardy brother wasn’t nearly as gleeful as they were – and that allowed Jake and Ally to bask in one another for as long as they wanted. Jake’s suggestion of a sunset picnic at their favorite spot took Ally by surprise, but she gladly accepted.
Jake took care of everything in the basket and refused to show her what he packed. They linked fingers as they walked toward their favorite bluff. It was just a short jaunt through the trees and then they would have absolute serenity at their fingertips.
“It is a beautiful night,” Jake agreed, squeezing Ally’s hand as they walked. “I have a beautiful night and a breathtaking woman. From where I’m standing, things are just about perfect.”
“Ooh, you’re such a smooth talker tonight,” Ally teased. “Just for the record, I’m a sure thing. You don’t have to pull out all of your seduction tricks.”
“Who said anything about tricks?”
Jake smiled when he caught sight of the flickering candles, his heart rolling when he heard Ally’s audible gasp. He had help planning his night, Mandy and James agreeing to light as many candles as he needed to make sure the bluff looked exactly how he envisioned.
The sun was low in the sky and it cast a warm glow over the expansive area. The light wouldn’t last long, but the candles – arranged in the shape of a heart – would be there to light the way once the sun exited. He wanted to see every second from here on out.
“What’s going on?” Ally swallowed hard, her heart hammering when she caught sight of the display. “I … what … did you do this?”
“I had a little help,” Jake replied, dropping the picnic basket outside of the heart before leading Ally into the middle of it. “I didn’t want to risk a forest fire, no matter how much I love you.”
“But … .” Ally wet her lips, confused. “What is this?”
Jake didn’t answer with his mouth, instead dropping to one knee and producing a velvet box from his pocket. Ally’s heart wasn’t the only one beating a mile a minute. Ally realized what he was doing before he had a chance to utter a word.
“You don’t have to do this because of Vince,” she said. “You can wait until you’re ready.”
“I
am
ready,” Jake said, fighting off tears. “I’ve been ready for a long time. I needed help getting the details right, and I really hope you like this because I had to take Mandy shopping to make sure I got the right one.” Jake flipped open the box and caused Ally’s heart to flutter. It was the most beautiful ring she’d ever laid eyes on. It reminded her of one she saw in a catalog as a young girl and instantly fell in love with.
“Mandy remembered.”
Jake nodded.
“She was trying to tell me without telling me,” Ally said, a tear sliding down her cheek. “She told me you loved me and I would get everything I ever wanted if I was patient.”
“Is this what you want?”
“I want you,” Ally replied. “Patience has never been one of my virtues, but you’re great at it. Maybe it will rub off on me.”
“Oh, angel, you don’t need anything to rub off on you,” Jake said. “You’re perfect.”
Ally sniffled as her head bobbed up and down. “Well, are you going to ask me or just sit there and watch me cry?”
“I’m going to ask you,” Jake said, taking a deep breath. “Ally Hardy, I didn’t know love was possible for me until I met you. I didn’t believe in fate or soul mates, but you changed all of that. You made me believe in myself and opened my heart.
“Whenever I look at you I see the sun,” he continued. “I see my future and my forever. I will never want anyone but you. I promise to love you with my whole heart as long as we’re together in this life … and also when we’re together in the next. Will you marry me?”
Her moment was here and yet Ally couldn’t find the words to answer. Instead she dropped to her knees and threw her arms around Jake’s neck, their mouths finding each other as love washed over them.
Jake never broke the kiss as he slipped the ring on Ally’s finger, his arms engulfing her as he pressed her to his chest and welcomed her into his heart. Forever.
“I can’t wait to marry you,” Ally blubbered.
“That makes two of us,” Jake whispered. “I love you, Ally.”
“I love you.”
The couple resumed kissing, busy hands roaming as they clung to each other.
And in the bushes, James worked overtime to drag his crying wife away from the scene before things got more … horizontal.
“Come on, baby. This is their private time. I allowed you to stay for the proposal even though I didn’t think it was a good idea.”
Mandy momentarily fought his efforts, her eyes glazed from the hundreds of candles and wonderful moment. “Happily ever after.”
“For all of us,” James said, pulling her to him. “Now come on. I’ve got a proposal for you when we get home.”
“Does it involve nudity?”
“Maybe.”
“Can we have ice cream, too?”
“Absolutely.”
Mandy smiled. “Then this is the best happily ever after known to man.”
“It always will be, baby. I promise you that.”
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I
’m a romantic at heart
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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