Page 24 of Deadly Forever

“I’m … sorry,” Landers said after a beat, his face crumbling. “I … that was wrong of me to say.”

“You’re right,” James snapped. “Don’t even look at her! Look at me.”

Landers snapped his attention to James and licked his lips. “This is not how I planned on approaching you. I … just wanted answers. I didn’t mean to attack you.”

“Well, you didn’t do a good job of that, Marty,” Graham said, shaking his head. “These folks aren’t the reason Nate and Dakota are dead. They were there. If you’d entered and asked your questions in a reasonable manner, Mr. Hardy would’ve answered them. That’s what he was doing for me.”

“I see that,” Landers said, rolling his neck. “I didn’t mean to do what I did. I just … I don’t know what else to do. My son is gone.”

“And I’m sorry for your loss,” James said, glancing at Mandy. Her face was unreadable. “I am willing to answer your questions, but if you raise your voice to my wife again we’re going to have issues.”

“I’m sorry,” Landers said, and for the first time since entering the office he appeared to be a rational man. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Hardy.”

James was blithe as he turned his back on the man and focused on his wife. “Baby, maybe you shouldn’t be here,” he said. “I obviously have some stuff to do, but you don’t need to stay here while I’m doing it. Let Grady take you home.”

“But … .” Mandy snapped her eyes to James, hurt flitting through the clear blue orbs. “I thought you wanted me here.”

“I do, but we’re going to split the difference,” James said. “I have some stuff to deal with here and I don’t want you stuck here for the afternoon. Grady is going to take you home and as soon as I’m done here I’m going to come to you.”

“I think that sounds like a good plan,” Grady said, relieved.

“Me, too,” James intoned. He pointed toward his office. “Mr. Landers, Mr. Graham, if you’ll take your seats, I’ll be with you shortly.”

“I really am sorry,” Landers offered lamely.

James remained focused on Mandy. “I know you are. That’s the only reason I haven’t thumped you for what you said to my wife.”

Mandy blew out a sigh as she stepped closer to James, leaning toward him as he smoothed the back of her hair. “This isn’t how I envisioned us spending our day.”

“We’ll have time together later,” James said. “The second I’m done with them I’ll come home to you.”

“Promise?”

“Forever.” James pressed a kiss to Mandy’s mouth. “Go home and paint something for me, wife. I want to know you’re safe. That’s the most important thing to me.”

Mandy wanted to argue but she knew it wasn’t the right time. That didn’t stop her from issuing an edict. “You have two hours before I come looking for you.”

“I’ll be home long before then, my baby. I promise.”

JAMES expected to find Mandy in her studio when he returned to the house. Instead he found her in the kitchen, romantic candles lit on the table and the scent of something edible wafting through the room. He was dumbfounded.

“You cooked?”

Mandy jumped at the sound of his voice, offering a rueful smile when she realized he snuck inside without her noticing. “You frightened me.”

“I’m sorry, baby,” James said, pulling her in for a hug. “This caught me off guard, though. I expected to find you in your studio. I had plans to strip you naked and order pizza.”

Mandy smirked. “I wanted to do something nice for you.”

“You did that the day you married me,” James said, glancing around the table. He could smell the seafood Alfredo warming in the oven and his mouth watered. “Okay, baby, I’m going to ask a question and I don’t want you to take it the wrong way.”

“Are you going to ask me if I’m trying to give you food poisoning?” Mandy asked, narrowing her eyes. “That’s what you always ask when I cook.”

“That’s not true,” James countered. “I generally only ask if you’re trying to give me food poisoning if you venture outside of canned pasta or microwave dinners.”

“You’re mean,” Mandy muttered, jutting out her lower lip. “You’re a mean, mean man.”

“I’m sorry.” James stroked the back of her head and kissed her forehead. “It’s just been a long day. This came as a total surprise.”