Page 46 of Deadly Forever
James had been telling her that since long before they were married and she insisted on using her meager courthouse income to pay for everything when he had a lot more money and resources to offer.
“What’s mine is definitely yours,” James agreed, although he snagged back the crab legs anyway. “That doesn’t go for food, though.”
Mandy made a face. “But … I want them.”
James couldn’t stop himself from chuckling. “Then ask me for them.”
Mandy opened her mouth and glanced at Ally before snapping it shut. She clearly thought she was going to get her way no matter what.
“Ask me,” James prodded.
“May I please have your crab legs?” Mandy asked, pained.
“You may,” James said, giving them back and pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose. “I expect you to reward me for this fabulous lunch later, though.”
“I shall be the shark.”
James grinned. “I’ll be the shark. You’d better scream a lot when I catch you, though.”
“Ugh, you’re so gross,” Ally complained, making a face as her brother and best friend exchanged another kiss. “Don’t you guys think you go overboard sometimes?”
“We’re going overboard tonight,” James replied. “That’s why I’m going to be the shark.”
“I don’t get it, but I love the way you guys are with each other,” Darcy said, a dreamy expression on her face. “I hope I find someone who will love me that way some day.”
“You will,” Maverick enthused. He’d kept his eyes on Darcy throughout the entire meal. James wasn’t keen on feeding him, too, but he couldn’t exactly omit him with so many witnesses present.
Mandy pursed her lips as she regarded Maverick. He was clearly smitten with the young girl. She worried his overt interest would be too much given what she had to deal with. For her part, though, Darcy merely seemed flattered with the attention.
“Now that I’ve fed everyone, we have some business to discuss,” James said, wiping his hands on a napkin and grinning when he saw Mandy sucking the meat from one of the crab leg shells. “You’re so classy, baby.”
Mandy ignored him. “What did you guys find at the school?”
“Well, summer school is in session, and we found out that all four of the boys were supposed to be in it,” Jake supplied.
“They were?” Darcy looked surprised. “I didn’t know that. Of course, I was too embarrassed to go to graduation so I didn’t realize they weren’t there either.”
“You shouldn’t be embarrassed,” Ally chided. “That’s your graduation. Those boys should’ve been embarrassed.”
“I didn’t want to risk any of the other kids calling me a slut again,” Darcy admitted. “It just wasn’t worth the annoyance for a piece of paper they ultimately mailed to my house.”
“We ran into a girl in the hallway,” James explained. “Her name was Serafina.”
“Ah, Serafina Brown,” Darcy intoned, shaking her head. “It doesn’t surprise me that she’s in summer school.”
“She said she failed chemistry … and then asked me to prom,” James said, his eyes twinkling when Mandy made a face. “She’s got a lot of blond hair and blue eyes, and for a second she reminded me of my wife.”
“Did you consider going to prom with her?” Mandy asked.
“Of course not.”
“I had a dream the night before my prom,” Mandy said, her expression wistful. “I dreamed you showed up on leave from the military and my prom date got the chicken pox so you took me as a favor to Ally. You took one look at me in my dress and fell in love.”
James’ heart pinched at her dreamy smile. “I think that’s exactly what would’ve happened if I was home on leave at that point,” he said after a beat. “It’s probably good that I wasn’t.”
“Why is that?”
“Because if I fell in love with you, we both know I could’ve never voluntarily left you,” James answered. “I would’ve been court marshaled and labeled a deserter. That would’ve ruined everything.”
