Page 71 of Deadly Forever

“Indeed,” Peter said. “Let’s do this.”

“HOW DOyou think I should do it?”

Maverick was quiet for so long – which went against everything Mandy knew about him – that the bored blonde practically forgot he was in the room with her. She looked up from the magazine she was flipping through and lifted an eyebrow. “How should you do what?”

“You know … ask out Darcy.”

“Oh, that,” Mandy intoned, smirking. “How do you want to do it?”

“I was thinking I would text her.”

The corners of Mandy’s lips tipped down. “If you do that I’m going to kick you in the ass.”

Maverick made a comical face. “You’re mean ... just like your husband. You know that, right?”

“I can live with that,” Mandy said. “You can’t ask her out via text.”

“Why not?” Maverick asked. “That’s how everyone else I know does it.”

“Who do you know asking out women via text message?”

“Dudes in movies.”

“Oh, well, that’s realistic,” Mandy muttered, shifting her head toward the front door of the office when she heard the overhead bell jingle. She couldn’t see who entered the building from her spot in the chair. “We’re not done with this conversation. No matter what happens, do not text her. I’ll be back to discuss the proper way to do this in a second.”

“I still think I should text her,” Maverick grumbled under his breath.

“I heard that,” Mandy challenged, tossing the magazine in the chair she’d just vacated. “If you text her, I’ll smack you really hard.”

“Just as long as you don’t castrate me.”

“I’m not ruling it out,” Mandy said. “Let me see who this is. I thought they locked the front door, but I guess I was wrong. I’ll be back to discuss this in five minutes, so don’t get ahead of yourself and do something stupid.”

“I would never do something stupid.”

“I don’t believe that for a second and neither do you,” Mandy said, waltzing out of the office. “Hi, can I help you?”

“WHERE ARE you going?”

James slid out from between two sports utility vehicles and blocked Kaspar’s path as he headed toward his car. For his part, the guidance counselor looked stunned by James’ appearance and he took an inadvertent step away from the physically imposing security specialist.

“How did you find me?”

“I’m good at what I do,” James replied.

Peter cleared his throat.

“And he’s better at what he does,” James added, reaching for Kaspar’s wrist. “You’re coming with me.”

Kaspar balked, hopping backward to avoid James’ hand. He slammed into a strong body when he did, his eyes widening when he shifted his head and locked gazes with the middle Hardy brother.

“Boo.” Grady made a face, an evil grin spreading across his handsome features as Kaspar jolted and moved away from him. This time it was easy for James to slap a cuff around his wrist.

“What are you doing?” Kaspar asked, jerking his arm away. “You’re not a police officer. You can’t arrest me.”

“Well, that’s where you’re wrong,” James said. “I’m perfectly within my rights to take you into custody. The sheriff’s department has issued a warrant for your arrest and they’re actively searching for you. All I have to do is call them and hand you over.”

“And then our day is done,” Finn said.