Page 28 of Deadly Conflicts

8

Eight

Mandy and Jameswere all smiles as they returned to the group, their arms laden with sugary goodies. James pulled up short when he saw the new arrival standing at the edge of the blanket.

“Son of a … .”

Mandy followed the path of James’ gaze and frowned when she recognized Vince talking to the group. From thirty feet away he seemed calm and loose, although Ally was clearly tense and Jake looked as if he’d rather swallow a razor blade than talk to the man.

“Why?” James made a disgusted face. “It’s almost as if he’s trying to ruin my day.”

Mandy chuckled despite the sour look on her husband’s face. “If you let him get to you he’s going to keep doing it,” she said.

“See, it is about me,” James muttered.

“It’s not about you,” Mandy countered. “It’s about Ally. Annoying you is just a bonus.”

“Hey, wife, there’s something I should tell you about my history with Vince,” James said, licking his lips. He wasn’t thrilled about admitting an embarrassing memory, but he refused to lie to Mandy. “Um, I might’ve hit him. Twice.”

“You might’ve hit him, huh?” Mandy’s blue eyes twinkled. “I know. It’s okay. I’m not going to yell at you, or think less of you as a man.”

“You know?” James narrowed his eyes. “Ally said she didn’t tell you. She has such a big mouth. I was going to tell you last night but … well … I chickened out.”

“First off, Ally didn’t tell me,” Mandy said.

“Oh, well strike that ‘big mouth’ comment then.”

“I figured that out on my own given the way you two looked at each other,” Mandy said. “You squared your shoulders like you were trying to intimidate him and he was afraid but desperately trying to pretend he wasn’t.”

“Do you really think he was afraid of me?” James was intrigued by the suggestion.

“Yes,” Mandy said. “I also think you didn’t tell me because you’re convinced I’m frightened of you at times when you lose your temper. That’s ridiculous and it bugs me as much as me being insecure bugs you.”

“Duly noted.”

“It’s okay that you don’t like him,” Mandy said, softening her tone. “Ally is your sister and you love her. When you love someone you go out of your way to protect them. Ally understands that.”

“I wish I could pretend to be altruistic and say that hitting him had everything to do with Ally and nothing to do with the fact that I can’t stand him,” James said. “I’m not so blind to my inner failings that I can say that, though. I hit him because I can’t stand the smug look on his face.”

“Well, just try and hold it together,” Mandy said. “The car drawing is right before the fireworks, right?”

James nodded. “Yeah. It should happen in about twenty minutes.”

“Then he’ll be out of our lives,” Mandy said. “He’s only here because of the car.”

James wished he believed that. “He’s here for Ally, too. Don’t kid yourself.”

“It doesn’t matter, James,” Mandy said. “He’s barking up the wrong tree there. Ally is completely in love with Jake. She never loved Vince even back then. She thinks she could’ve eventually fallen in love with him, but they were young and stupid and he left before they had the chance to find out. She will never truly forgive him for what he did to her.”

“She forgave Jake for lying about his former partner, which almost got her killed,” James pointed out.

“She understood that didn’t come from a place of malice,” Mandy countered. “They made amends. Jake would never betray her now.”

“No, he wouldn’t.”

“Just like you wouldn’t betray me.”

James graced Mandy with a goofy smile and sloppy kiss. “You’ve got that right, baby. Let’s eat our snacks and kick the creep to the curb, shall we?”