Page 48 of Deadly Conflicts

“Oh, you’re such a smooth talker,” Grady said, taking a seat between Sophie and Louis. “I can’t believe you’re talking like that in front of our parents. It’s so … disrespectful.”

James had almost forgotten that his parents were present. Louis’ ominous words at Peter’s house still haunted him, although he had no idea what they meant. “Our parents have four children,” James said after a beat. “I’m sure they understand about onions.”

Louis chuckled at his children’s banter, enjoying the way they interacted. “I certainly do,” he said. “Your mother and I solved that particular problem by eating onions together. If you both do it, no one complains or notices.”

“Let’s do that,” Mandy suggested. “You know I love onions on my hamburgers.”

James sighed, resigned. “Fine. You have to rub me in the hot tub tonight, though.”

“Ooh, that sounds fun,” Rose enthused. “We should all meet for a double date in the hot tub this evening. I’ll bring a bottle of wine so we can really cut loose.”

“Um … sure,” James said, faltering. “I … that sounds great.”

Grady almost fell over he was laughing so hard. “Ha, ha. I think the sharkpocalypse is about to hit after all.”

Mandy looked almost sad when she shifted her clear blue eyes to James. “We can sleep in the guesthouse tonight if you want,” she whispered. “We can create our own sharkpocalypse with the projector once we’re alone.”

James smiled. She always knew how to make him feel better. “I’m so glad we have a good lock on that door.” He kissed the tip of her nose and kept his voice low. “You didn’t tell me how your outing with Jake went.”

“I thought he told you.”

“He did,” James confirmed. “He said you were wonderful. I already knew that, though. I wanted to hear about things from your perspective.”

“Oh, he got Ally the most beautiful ring ever,” Mandy enthused. “She’s going to be so happy. I almost wish I could be there to see it when he pops the question.”

“That’s a little weird, baby,” James said. “I’m pretty sure they’re going to do something filthy when that happens. I’m sure you remember what happened when we got engaged.”

“Yeah. You pulled your truck in the garage and lowered the door and we went at it like drunken teenagers at a kegger because we didn’t have keys to the house yet. It was a dream come true because I always wanted you when I was a teenager.”

James chuckled, delighted. “You shouldn’t want to see that part,” he said. “That’s private.”

“I don’t want to see that part,” Mandy clarified. “I just want to see her get everything she’s ever wanted.”

“We will get to see that,” James said. “It’s not a one-day thing. It’s a forever thing.”

Mandy’s smile was so pretty it almost blinded James. “I’m glad I get to spend forever with you.”

“Oh, wife, you have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that,” James said. “We’re definitely sleeping in the guesthouse tonight.”

“You’re so romantic.”

“Oh, baby, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

ALLY WASquiet when she entered the house, Jake thoughtful as he trailed behind her. She’d answered questions and laughed when appropriate over the course of the barbecue, but she didn’t appear to be herself.

Jake locked the front door and set the security system before dropping his keys on the sofa table and moving closer to the woman he loved. “What’s wrong, angel? Do you feel all right?”

His voice was barely a whisper and they’d been silent for so long the questions jolted Ally back to reality. “I’m fine.” She plastered a smile on her face. “I was just thinking.”

Someone else might’ve been fooled by the act. Jake knew every smile in her repertoire, though, and he recognized the fact that the happiness she professed didn’t make it all the way to her eyes. “Come here.” Jake pulled Ally to him, wrapping her in a tight hug as he rested his cheek against her forehead. His mother used to check to see if he had a fever that way when he was a child. It stuck with him, and now he associated the gesture with love. “You don’t feel warm.”

“I’m not sick,” Ally said, tilting her head back so she could meet Jake’s steady gaze. “I’m fine. Honest.”

“You’re not fine, Ally,” Jake countered. “I can tell when you’re fine. You put on a good show for your parents’ benefit tonight, but you weren’t yourself. Why don’t you want to tell me what’s going on?”

Ally opened her mouth to answer and then merely shrugged.

“You don’t know what’s going on?” Jake prodded. He wasn’t used to being the one forcing a conversation. It felt alien to him.