James fought the urge to laugh. This wasn’t funny. He leaned over, pulling the hood off the struggling figure beneath his girlfriend. When he caught sight of the smooth face, he gave in and chuckled. “I think you can let him up.”
“What if he’s the guy who tried to throw acid on Emma?” Mandy countered.
James motioned to Finn. “Do you recognize him?”
Finn glanced at the man. On closer inspection, he was a teenager, not man. “That’s not him.”
James smirked. “Get off of him, killer.”
“If he’s not that guy, then why was he going after Emma?”
“I was going to ask her for her autograph,” the teenager spat out. “You crazy, bitch!”
Mandy placed her tongue in her cheek. “Oh.”
James held out his hand. “Let him go.”
Mandy reluctantly climbed off the boy, brushing the back of her jeans down as she stood. “Maybe I overreacted.”
James nodded, pulling her over to him so he could kiss her temple. “I would rather see you overreact than not react at all.”
Finn reached down and helped the teenager up.
“I’m sorry,” Emma said. “You just took us by surprise.”
The teen scowled. “Well, if it’s okay with your bodyguard, can I get that autograph? I saw you at Detcon a few weeks ago, and I thought you were really cool. When I saw you here, I just wanted to see if I could talk to you and get you to sign a comic book or something. I would never hurt you.”
“An autograph is fine,” Emma said.
“How about a picture?” The boy was hopeful.
Emma smiled tightly. “A picture is fine, too.”
The teen smiled happily, handing his cellphone to Finn. “Make sure it’s a good picture, dude.”
Finn rolled his eyes, but lined up the camera.
James took the opportunity to pull Mandy away from the crowd. “Are you okay?”
Mandy frowned. “You mean other than feeling like the ugly stepsister whenever I’m in a room with Emma? Yeah, I’m great.”
James made a face. “Ugly? Are you saying you feel insecure?”
“Look at her,” Mandy said. “Who can compete against a woman who looks like that?”
“There is no competition, baby,” James said. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Mandy shook her blonde head. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
James pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her. “No, I’m not.”
“Really?”
“You’re the only mermaid I want,” James said. “Don’t you ever even think otherwise. I can only take so much drama in a twenty-four-hour period. I can’t take you suddenly being insecure on top of everything else.”
“You have been through it today,” Mandy said, brushing a strand of hair away from his face. “How about we call it a day and go home?”
“Will you wear the coconut bra?”
“For you? Anything.”
“Finn, we’re leaving,” James barked.
Sixteen
By the time Finn managed to convince the teenager that Emma had someplace else to be, someplace important, he was exhausted. Mandy and James beat a hasty retreat, and Finn had no doubt where they were going. It seemed some undersea exploration was in order on the second floor of Hardy Brothers Security this evening.
He wouldn’t make the mistake of bothering them again tonight.
He led Emma out to his Escalade, making sure she was snug and safe in the vehicle before he loaded the hatchback up with her goodies. When he climbed into the driver’s seat, he fixed her with a worried look.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Emma said. “It was just a … weird day.”
“You’ve been having a lot of those,” Finn said. “What do you say we pick up some food and head back to the apartment?”
Emma looked relieved. “That sounds good.”
“What do you like?”
Emma shrugged. “What do you like?”
“I’m fine with whatever you want,” he replied.
“I’m fine with whatever you want.”
“You know, this game is more fun when you actually give an opinion,” Finn pressed. “How about you say a food you like, and then I’ll say a food I like?”
Emma raised her eyebrows. “Okay, how about Italian?”
“We could get some pasta from Sorrento’s,” Finn said. “That sounds good. There’s one on the main road just before Mandy’s apartment.”
“I thought you were going to say a food you like,” Emma protested.
Finn smiled indulgently. “Next time, how does Lebanese sound?”