Deadly Conflicts (Hardy Brothers Security Book 21) (4 page)

“That makes two of us,” Vince said, his tone suggestive and smarmy.

“And that will obviously be the highlight of my night,” Jake said.

“
H
e seems
… nice.”

Ally was irritated with Jake’s proprietary attitude when he left to make his rounds, but she wasn’t exactly thrilled with Vince’s game playing. When she shifted her brown eyes to him, there was no warmth in her expression. “He’s very nice. I happen to love him a great deal.”

“I guess that’s good for you,” Vince said. “What about me, though?”

Ally’s patented “you’re a tool” expression came out to play. “What about you, Vince? Last time I saw you I believe you were pulling your pants on as you left my apartment. You said you had a business meeting out of town and would call me in a few days when you got back. That was a good five years ago.”

Vince’s smile was rueful. “It was a long meeting, baby.”

Ally frowned. “Don’t ever call me that.”

“Oh, you used to like it when I called you that,” Vince said, chuckling. “You got all cuddly when I did.”

“That was before James started calling his wife that and it became something of a running joke in our family,” Ally said, not missing a beat. “Mandy is the only ‘baby’ in the family now. Well, except for my nephew. He’s a baby so he’s technically a baby. He’s just not James’ baby. Wait … what was I talking about?”

“How happy you are to see me.” Vince flashed what Ally assumed to be his most charming smile. She remembered it vaguely from years before, but she was immune to it now. “Hold up, though. Did you just say the blonde you were with earlier was married to James?”

Ally nodded. “They’ve been married for more than a year.”

“Did he knock her up? She looks pretty good for popping out a kid.”

Ally’s scowl was murderous. “Why do people assume Mandy trapped James into getting married? He loves her.”

“Hey, it wasn’t an insult about your friend,” Vince said, holding his hands up in a placating manner. “She’s freaking hot, if that’s what you’re worried about. It was just a commentary on your brother. He didn’t seem to be the marrying type last time our paths crossed.”

“I wasn’t even sure you remembered him,” Ally said. “As for what type of man he is … well … he’s the best kind. He’s happy and he’s made my best friend practically euphoric. He’s a great husband.”

“Okay,” Vince said. “I didn’t mean any offense. I’m sure you remember that your brother and I didn’t exactly see eye to eye.”

Ally remembered the strife well. She was young and dumb when she hooked up with Vince. James recognized him for what he was and stepped in to protect his sister. Ally wasn’t happy with his overbearing attitude – which was normal during that stretch – so she laid into her brother and they didn’t talk for several weeks. By the time they made up Vince was long gone and Ally had learned a valuable lesson about trusting the right sort of men.

“Yes, but he was right about you,” Ally pointed out. “You did use me and break my heart.”

“Oh, I didn’t use you, Ally,” Vince argued. “I just … we were so young.”

“We were young.”

“And so dumb.”

“You might’ve been dumb, but I’ve always been a genius,” Ally argued.

“I did have a business trip and when I got out to California I fell in love with the state and they offered me a position out there,” Vince explained. “I didn’t want to leave you but … I was too young to settle down and I knew you wouldn’t move.”

“You still could’ve called,” Ally said, crossing her arms over her chest. “Five minutes could’ve saved me a lot of worry and hurt.”

“I’m sorry for that,” Vince offered. “I really am. I was a coward, though.”

“Well … I guess it doesn’t matter. We’ve both moved on. It’s not as if we were going to spend the rest of our lives together or anything.”

“No, I guess not,” Vince said. “Still, I would be lying if I said I didn’t think of you when I moved back to Michigan. I was going to look you up.”

Ally snorted. “Sure you were.”

“I was,” Vince said. “I’ve only been back a week and a half. I wanted to get the dealership up and running smoothly before I begged you for a second chance. I guess that’s not going to happen, though.”

“No, it’s not,” Ally agreed. “Wait, dealership? Are you the one raffling off the free car?”

“Yeah.” Vince bobbed his head up and down. “I own a series of dealerships now. I’m my own boss. I wanted something close to home so I could move back and be near my mother. I thought a free car giveaway would be a good way to draw attention to the business.”

“That’s definitely an idea,” Ally said. “It’s an expensive idea, but it’s probably a good one.”

“Well, I don’t want to brag … .”

“Yes, you do.”

Vince smirked. “You’re right. I do. I’m giving away an expensive car. How cool is that?”

Ally shrugged. “I guess it’s cool. It would be cooler if you were able to make sure it goes to a needy family.”

“Well, sadly, that’s not how a raffle works,” Vince said. “You can’t rig a raffle because it’s illegal. I understand what you’re saying, though.”

“It’s still a nice gesture,” Ally said. “I hope your new dealership is a smashing success … even if you are a tool.”

Vince laughed. “You’re still feisty. I love that about you.”

Ally shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortable with the way Vince stared at her. “Well, I hope things go well with your raffle. I should find Jake so we can get some dinner.”

“The carny?”

Ally stilled. “I don’t know what your deal is, but don’t speak about him that way,” she said. “I love him.”

“I’m glad you love him,” Vince said. “I just … I’m jealous. I admit it. The second I saw you it was as if no time had passed and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with you.”

“Well, time has passed, Vince,” Ally said. “I’m with Jake and I love him more than anything. While I’m glad to see you – and happy you seem to be doing well – I’m not interested in anything more.”

“Because of Jake?”

“Because I’m not,” Ally replied. “Jake and I live together. We’re not just dating and having a good time. We’re building a life together.”

“And yet I don’t see a ring on your finger,” Vince pointed out.

Ally hated herself for glancing at her bare finger. “The ring will come when it’s time,” she said. “It doesn’t really matter from your perspective, though. It’s none of your business.”

“Now, don’t be like that,” Vince cajoled. “Even if we can’t pick up where we left off, I’d still like to be friends. I remember you as being a lot of fun.”

“I am a lot of fun,” Ally agreed, grinning. “We can be friends. We just can’t be more than that. My heart is already taken. There’s nothing to pick up because I let that thread go not long after you left.”

“Well, that’s disappointing but understandable,” Vince said. “Still … friends?” He cocked an eyebrow and extended his hand.

Ally flashed an earnest smile and gripped his hand. “Friends.”

Vince’s eyes flashed as he shifted them to his right and focused on a bickering couple walking past them. The man’s arms were laden with craft show trinkets and the woman was smiling as she watched him struggle under the weight of her shopping finds.

“Isn’t that your brother … and the blonde you were with at the mall?”

Ally nodded, beaming.

“I thought you said he was happy?” Vince challenged.

“Oh, he’s happy,” Ally intoned. “Love is grand … and Mandy will reward him handsomely for helping her carry all of those treasures. Don’t you worry about that.”

“I just … never would’ve believed it if I didn’t see it with my own eyes.”

“Oh, believe it,” Ally said, grinning. “Love changes everyone sooner or later. You just have to find the right person.”

Vince’s expression was unreadable as he shifted his eyes to Ally. “I can’t wait for that to happen to me.”

J
AKE GROANED
as he lowered himself onto the couch in the living room mere minutes after walking through the front door with a sugared-up Ally. “What a long freaking day.”

“The night is still young,” Ally countered, buzzing about. “What do you want to do next?”

Jake shifted his weary eyes to his girlfriend and the lingerie bags clutched in her hand. He was exhausted. A day of painting and then a full work shift caught him off guard. Still, if she wanted to grant a few wishes before sleep, who was he to argue? “What’s in the bag, angel?”

Ally offered Jake a pretty smile as she clutched the mysterious shopping bags to her chest. “That’s for me to know and you to find out later … when you haven’t been bad.”

Jake blew out an annoyed sigh. He knew this was coming. Ally lulled him into a false sense of security by avoiding the topic once she rejoined him by the carousel. He should’ve realized she was only delaying the fight for a time when they didn’t have an audience. “Oh, angel, do we have to do this tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Fine.” Jake leaned back on the couch and locked gazes with his brunette beauty. “Let me have it.”

“Vince and I dated for two months and it was over before things ever got a chance to be serious,” Ally replied, taking Jake by surprise. He was expecting her to yell at him, not explain her history – which he pretty much figured out on his own. “I was young and stupid. I had a broken heart for like two weeks. Then I moved on.”

“Ally, you don’t have to tell me this,” Jake said, lowering his voice. “I … it’s none of my business.”

“I thought we were in a relationship,” Ally challenged.

“We are.”

“Then shouldn’t an ex-boyfriend showing up out of the blue be your business?”

Jake wasn’t sure what answer she wanted to hear. “Angel, I love you,” he said simply. “I don’t need a list of everyone you’ve been with. I figured if someone important showed up, you would tell me and we’d talk about it then. I wasn’t upset because I thought you still had feelings for Vince, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Then why did you treat me like property when you sensed he was interested in me?”

Jake scowled. She was good. He had to give her that. She’d set a trap and walked him straight into it. “He bugged me.”

“He bugged you?”

“Oh, Ally, I’m sorry,” Jake said, dragging a restless hand through his hair. “I knew it was wrong the second I did it. He made that carny crack, though. I know I wasn’t exactly dressed for the prom or anything, but I hate it when people assume things.”

Ally pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “The prom?”

“You know what I mean,” Jake said. “He was all suave looking and apparently I resembled a carny.”

Ally took pity on him as she sat on the couch and rested her hand on his leg. “You don’t resemble a carny,” she said, laughing. “You resemble the man I love. In case you haven’t noticed, by the way, I happen to think you’re pretty hot.”

“Oh, yeah?”

Ally nodded. “I’m still not a piece of property.”

“I know that, Ally,” Jake said, pressing his thumb to her cheek. “I wasn’t trying to own you. I was trying to make sure he stayed away from … .”

“Your property?”

“My heart,” Jake corrected. “You have no idea how much I love you. I don’t like it when other people look at you the way I do. I like to think we have something special.”

“We
do
have something special,” Ally said. “That something special comes from mutual trust and love, though. It doesn’t come from you puffing your chest out and thumping it.”

“I did not do that,” Jake said, laughing. “I am not your brother.”

“No, you’re not,” Ally agreed, leaning closer so her lips were a mere fraction of an inch from Jake’s mouth. “I’m very glad you’re not my brother. That makes what we’re about to do a heck of a lot less icky.”

Jake’s eyes were heavy-lidded as he regarded her. “What are we going to do?”

“I thought you wanted me to dress up and grant wishes?”

“Let’s save that for another night,” Jake said, grabbing Ally around the waist and tilting her so she fell back on the couch. She was giggling when he crawled on top of her. “I just want my beautiful girlfriend tonight. I don’t need any games.”

“What a good answer,” Ally said, laughing as she leaned forward so Jake could tug the shirt over her head. “I just want my beautiful boyfriend tonight.”

“You’ll have me every night,” Jake said, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her breast as it spilled out over her bra. “Forever.”

Ally’s eyes glowed, love washing over her. “Show me.”

Jake didn’t have to be told twice. He smashed his mouth against hers as he moved his hands up to the button of her shorts. The couple tangled tongues for a bit, content to take things slow and bask in each other’s love. Jake’s hands were steady but unhurried as they stripped Ally’s shorts and panties off of her lithe body.

He moved his lips to her neck, trailing a series of kisses down her collarbone and stopping at her breasts as he unclasped the bra, sucking a nipple into his mouth and causing her to moan as he slid a hand under her butt and positioned her so he could have easier access. After licking her other breast for a few moments, he kissed his way down her flat abdomen and rubbed his thumbs over the soft skin of her thighs before covering her quivering mound with his mouth.

Ally hissed with delight as she felt his tongue delve inside of her, crying out as he licked her length with fervent abandon. She writhed on the couch as Jake held her hips steady, attacking her in a manner he knew she liked. It wasn’t long before she was tumbling over the edge, her thighs shaking as she tried to absorb her orgasm.

Before she could even open her eyes, Jake was on top of her. They kissed passionately, Ally tangling her hands in Jake’s hair as he slid his body on top of hers. He was naked, although Ally couldn’t remember him undressing. It didn’t matter, because he sucked her tongue into his mouth as he slid inside of her and that was all of the distraction she needed to forget about his magical stripping skills.

They gasped as they joined, taking a moment to let their beating hearts slip into the same rhythm, and then Jake began moving his hips. He picked a leisurely pace as he kissed her, marveling at her beauty as she moaned his name. In that moment, Jake knew that he could never want anyone but her. To be fair, he knew that before this night. He’d known it a long time, in fact. At times like this, though, the love was overwhelming.