Page 45 of Deadly Forever

“We just came from your school,” Jake said smoothly. “We actually have some questions for you so it’s good that you’re here. James is always grumpy when he has to go without seeing Mandy for long stretches of time.”

“He has a funny way of showing it,” Ally pointed out. “For a guy who missed his wife so much, he couldn’t wait to get her into another room.”

“Do not add to this madness, Ally,” James warned, extending a finger in his sister’s direction. “I’m just not used to all of the office activity. I want everyone to stay exactly where they’re at and keep doing what they’re doing. I like this. It’s a nice change of pace.”

Grady pressed his lips together to keep from laughing as he flashed an enthusiastic thumbs-up in James’ direction. James ignored his brother’s reaction and focused on Mandy.

“Baby, I want you here and I want you to keep doing what you’re doing,” James said. “I swear it. I was just … surprised. That’s all.”

Mandy’s smile was enigmatic as she turned back to Darcy. “I told you it would be fine,” she soothed. “James is even going to buy us lunch to prove how fine it is, aren’t you, dear husband of mine?”

James swallowed hard at her challenging tone. “I would love to buy you lunch, wife.”

“We want Red Lobster,” Ally interjected.

James scowled. The nearest Red Lobster was at least twenty minutes away and it would be a royal mess when they got it back to the office. “Really? Why not Olive Garden?”

“We just had Olive Garden,” Mandy pointed out. “We talked about seafood before and Darcy said her parents won’t go to Red Lobster even though it’s her favorite.”

James shook his head. He’d already lost. Everyone in the office knew it. There was no sense denying it. “Red Lobster it is.”

“Yay!” Ally hopped up and down as she clapped her hands. “You’re such a good brother.”

“I am,” James agreed, locking gazes with Mandy. “I’m a good husband, too.”

Mandy didn’t immediately respond, which made James uncomfortable.

“I’m a good husband, right?”

“We’ll talk about that later when we’re alone,” Mandy said.

James made an exaggerated face and focused on Jake. “I might’ve been wrong about the games.”

Jake grinned. “Oh, you did this to yourself.”

“I know.”

“James, why don’t you get a pad of paper and start taking orders,” Ally suggested. “I’m going to want a big entrée and a lot of appetizers.”

“Me, too,” Mandy said. “What do you want, Darcy? Don’t worry about price. James is happy to pay and place the order.”

“I’m definitely happy to do it,” James gritted out.

“Way to hold your ground, man,” Grady said, smirking. “You’re the kind of husband I want to be when I grow up.”

James ignored him. “What does everyone want?”

“THIS ISthe best lunch ever!”

Darcy was so enthusiastic James couldn’t help but smile. He adored the way Mandy, Emma, and Ally doted on her. They all seemed to inherently know what she needed at any given moment to make her feel closer to the group.

“I’m glad you like it,” James said, watching warily as Mandy slid closer to him and grabbed a crab leg cluster from his plate. “Hey, wife?”

“What?”

“Don’t you think you should’ve asked before stealing that?” James challenged. “How do you know I wasn’t going to eat it?”

Mandy didn’t look bothered by her husband’s tone. “What’s yours is mine, right? Isn’t that what you told me?”