Page 50 of Deadly Forever

Mandy smirked. “I can’t believe you’re letting me join the team. This is so much fun.”

“You’re the heart of the team, baby,” James said, taking her palm and resting it against his chest. “You’re my heart.”

“Oh, puke,” Grady muttered, shaking his head.

“We need you to go, too,” James added, shifting his gaze to his brother. “Kaspar has seen Jake and me so we’re going to have to hide in the shadows. We want you at the bar in case Kaspar gets fresh.”

“Consider it done,” Grady said, glancing at his Mandy and Ally. “Go slut yourself up, ladies. We finally have need for your … talents.”

Ally’s expression was murderous as she locked gazes with Grady. “You’d better sleep with one eye open. I’m totally cutting that hair before the wedding.”

“Promises, promises.” Grady didn’t look worried. “Move it along, hens. This rooster isn’t going to crow without some help.”

“I’M GOINGto kill her,” James muttered two hours later, leaning back in the dark corner booth at the brewery and scowling as he watched Mandy and Ally giggle at the bar. “What was she thinking?”

“She was thinking Grady told her to dress slutty,” Jake answered, blasé. “I don’t know what you expected her to wear. It’s not as if a turtleneck was going to get the job done. You asked them here to entice a pervert, after all.”

James narrowed his eyes as he watched Mandy on her stool. Her dress was so short he worried it would ride up and show off her rear end and the top was cut so low he could tell she wasn’t wearing a bra. Ally’s dress was even worse, although James worked overtime not to stare at his sister.

“I didn’t even know she owned that dress,” James griped. “She’s never worn it for me.”

“That’s because you get her naked the second you see her,” Jake pointed out. “She never gets a chance to get dressed up and go out because you don’t let her do it.”

James tilted his head to the side as he mulled over Jake’s words. “That’s not true. We go out all of the time.”

“You take her to the place on Groesbeck for seafood … or you take her for Middle Eastern when she’s got a hankering for fattoush,” Jake countered. “Those are jeans and peasant top places.”

James made a hilarious face. “Peasant top? How do you even know what that is?”

“I’m a smart man and Ally makes me look at catalogs with her all the time. It’s a bonding ritual of sorts. If I’m a good sport, I generally get kisses.”

James snorted, amused. “You might be right about not taking Mandy out enough,” he said. “Maybe I should plan a fancy dinner.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Jake protested. “She’s obviously happy with the life you’re living.”

“Yeah, but I want her to have everything,” James said. “In fact … do you know that thing she said about prom?”

Jake racked his memory. “The part where she has a fantasy where you see her in a prom dress and fall in love?”

James nodded. “I’m going to throw a private prom for her. I’m going to buy her a corsage and everything.”

Jake chuckled. “That actually sounds kind of neat … and uniquely you guys,” he said. “Are you going to decorate with a balloon arch, too?”

James didn’t hesitate when he answered. “Yup. I’m going to set up special lights and get retro music. I’m going to do it all.”

Jake was oddly touched by the fierce look on his boss’s face. “That sounds like the perfect evening for her,” he said. “I think she’ll love that.”

“I hope so,” James said. “Speaking of the perfect night, though, here comes our pervert.” James inclined his chin in the direction of the bar. He wasn’t surprised when Kaspar surveyed his options and settled next to Mandy. “I’ll kill him if he touches her. I’m not joking.”

“Hey, you’ve got it easy,” Jake said. “Look at the top of Ally’s dress. Her boobs are three times bigger than what Mandy has to offer.”

James was insulted on his wife’s behalf. “My baby’s body is perfect.”

“Oh, you’re such a girl,” Jake said, leaning back in his seat and watching the show. Ally made a big deal over Kaspar, giggling and batting her eyes as she pretended to laugh at something he said. She was clearly enjoying being undercover. “On second thought … you’re right. I think we should kill both of them.”

“Or at least keep them locked in the house if they’re not wearing ankle-length bathrobes,” James grumbled. “Look at the way that pervert is staring at my wife’s cleavage. That’s my wife.”

“She’s not wearing her wedding ring,” Jake reminded him. “He doesn’t realize she’s married. Ally’s engagement ring is in her purse. I thought she was going to cry when she took it off.”