Page 76 of Deadly Forever

Twenty-Two

“Doyou know what you’re doing yet?”

James stood at the foot of their bed shortly before seven and watched Mandy’s silhouette move in the bathroom. She couldn’t see him. She was getting ready for the bachelorette party – which no longer existed – and he found he was strangely nervous.

“We’re just going to hang out and play cards,” James answered automatically. “We’ll probably have a few drinks.”

“Are you going to a bar?” Mandy sounded distracted.

“We’re going to hang out in the guesthouse, baby,” James said. “We don’t really want to deal with a bar.”

“That doesn’t sound like much fun,” Mandy said. James had no idea what she was doing in the bathroom, but she looked to be applying makeup of some sort. “This is the second-to-last night of freedom for those guys. You should at least go out to a bar or something. No strippers, though.”

James chuckled. “No strippers, baby. No one is interested in strippers.”

“Grady?”

“Well, he might be interested in strippers,” James conceded. “He’s more interested in what we already have planned, though.”

“Okay.” Mandy didn’t sound convinced. “I don’t want to hear any crying when we’re talking about our amazingly fun evening tomorrow, though. You guys had your chance.”

“Something tells me we’ll be fine,” James said, his heart hopping when he realized Mandy was moving toward the door.

“How do I look?” Mandy froze when she found James standing at the edge of their bed. He was dressed in a tuxedo – which looked to be new – and holding a plastic container in one hand and a garment bag in the other. “I … what is this?”

“You look beautiful, wife,” James said, smiling. “You always look beautiful, though.”

“Thank you,” Mandy said, licking her lips. “What is this, though?”

“I can’t tell you yet,” James said, smirking as he extended the arm with the garment bag. “It will ruin the surprise.”

“But … I don’t understand.” Mandy knit her eyebrows together as she took the bag. “Am I supposed to put this on?”

“You are.”

“But why?”

“Because I have a surprise for you,” James replied, not missing a beat.

“You know I hate surprises,” Mandy grumbled. Despite her best intentions, though, she looked intrigued.

“You don’t hate surprises,” James countered. “You hate that I managed to hide something from you. There’s a difference.”

“Not much of one,” Mandy said, her blue eyes curious when they locked with his. “What about the bachelorette party? If I miss it, Ally is never going to forgive me. I know you want to keep me close after what happened this afternoon, but I really am okay.”

“I know you’re okay,” James said, keeping his voice even. “You’re always okay, baby. You have an amazing recovery rate. I think you might be a little bit magical.”

Mandy’s smile was wry. “I think you’re pouring on the charm and it’s completely unnecessary. How about I promise to be home early and you can surprise me then? I’m not really interested in getting falling-down drunk.”

“How about you put on that dress for me instead?”

“But … I can’t abandon Ally,” Mandy said, her tone pleading. The last thing she wanted to do was let down her husband but ignoring Ally right before her big day would be unforgivable. “She’s my best friend. She wants me with her. I honestly think Sophie and Emma would forego this ritual, but Ally is another story.”

“Ally is already handled,” James explained. “Jake has a surprise for her.”

“What about Emma and Sophie?”

“They’re getting the same surprise, wife,” James said. “I swear you’re going to love what’s about to happen. I need you to do something for me first, though, and you’re wasting time.”