Page 30 of Deadly Conflicts

“Oh, bummer,” Grady said. “It’s not a festival if Mandy and Ally don’t squawk like chickens.”

“You’re on thin ice,” Ally warned, poking Grady’s chest. “You’re kind of a tool today. What gives?”

Grady shrugged. “I think it has something to do with having to work on a weekend. I wish my boss wasn’t such a jerk, but there it is.”

“You could always find another job,” James suggested.

“That will never work,” Grady said. “I’m an acquired taste.”

“And I’ve acquired you,” Sophie said, rubbing her nose against his cheek before licking her cone. “You guys should be nicer to my man. He’s very sensitive … like a woman.”

“Thank you, sugar. That makes me feel so much better.”

Everyone laughed at Grady’s hangdog expression. It was only after a few moments of silence that James realized Vince was staring at them with incredulous eyes.

“What?” James asked. “Does the collective group have something on their faces?”

Vince shook his head. “No. I just … you’re all so domestic.”

“That’s what happens when you settle down,” James said. “You live a domestic life … with mortgages … and bills … and houses … and yard work.”

“I think you just described settling,” Vince said pointedly.

Mandy licked her lips as she felt James tense behind her. “No one here settled,” she said quickly, hoping to head off an argument before James let his temper get the better of him. “Everyone here picked the person they love and decided this was the life they wanted to live.”

“Well, no offense, but this just isn’t the James Hardy I remember,” Vince said. “The man I knew slept with a different woman every night. They looked nothing like you, honey.”

“And now I sleep with the same woman every night,” James said.

“Or so you say.”

“That did it.” James handed his ice cream cone to Mandy. “Hold that, wife. I’ll be back before you know it.”

“James, don’t kill him,” Mandy hissed. “If you go to jail that’s going to totally ruin our naked night in the hot tub.”

“James, he’s not worth it,” Jake called out. “He’s just trying to get a rise out of you.”

“Yeah? Well, it’s working,” James said, a small thrill coursing through him when he caught a glimmer of fear flitting over Vince’s face. “I think this has been coming for a long time.”

“I’ll sue you,” Vince warned, taking a step back. “I’ll sue you for everything you’re worth.”

James stilled. “Don’t ever insinuate I’m cheating on my wife.” His voice was chilly. “In fact, don’t even look at her.”

“I have no interest in your wife,” Vince sputtered. “I don’t even like blondes.”

“That’s good,” James said. “Don’t look at my sister either.”

“Hey, your sister and I have a history that does not involve you,” Vince said. “You’re not the boss of her. In fact, last time I checked, you two weren’t even speaking.”

“That was five years ago,” Ally argued. “We made up soon after you left. He’s my brother. We’ll always make up.”

“Well, how great is that?” Vince’s tongue was practically dripping with sarcasm. “Everyone is one big happy family, huh?”

“What is your deal?” Sophie challenged. “We were having a perfectly good time until you interrupted us. I don’t understand what you hope to accomplish. You’re outgunned and outclassed over here. What is your master plan?”

Ally darted a curious look in Sophie’s direction. “What do you mean?”

“I mean he clearly has an agenda,” Sophie replied. “I have no idea what it is – and perhaps he’s just in to getting negative attention – but he’s being a butthead on purpose. I can always tell because I’ve interviewed so many buttheads for the newspaper over the years I’ve started to classify them. He’s a classic narcissistic butthead, for those keeping score.”