Deadly Illusions(47)
Finn glanced over at James, who was studying the screen of his laptop intently. “And you thought that was a good idea?”
James’ face was impassive. “She needs rest.”
“She is standing right here,” Mandy said.
“I noticed,” James replied. “Your dulcet tones tend to carry when you’re excited.”
“Do you think that’s funny?”
James sighed, finally finding the courage to meet her angry eyes. “I did what I thought was right. You might not like it. Personally, I didn’t like it when you ran back into a burning building for a photograph. I guess we both have our crosses to bear.”
“You said you were over this,” Mandy argued. “I said I was sorry. I can’t keep saying it.”
“Well, I’m sorry, too,” James said. “I just want you to … rest for a few days. I want you near me. If that makes me some awful person, then I guess I’m guilty as charged.”
Mandy ran her hand through her blonde hair, frustration rolling off of her in waves. “When you say things like that, it’s really hard for me to be angry with you,” Mandy said.
James’ frowned tipped upside down.
“Hard, but not impossible,” Mandy said. “You have got to stop doing stuff like this. It’s not right.”
“When you stop doing stuff like what you did, we’ll talk,” James said. “For now – just for now – I want you with me.”
Mandy shook her head, blowing out a sigh and turning so James couldn’t see her face. From his position, Finn studied her profile – and the effort she was exerting to keep control of her temper was immense.
“Well, I just wanted to fill you in on my visit to the police department yesterday,” Finn said, trying to break the tension. It only took him a few minutes to relate the events of the previous afternoon
“Well, that’s just some craptastic news,” James said, glancing over at Mandy’s back. “That makes this a whole other level of scary.”
“I just thought you two should know,” Finn said. “I’m going to be in contact with Detective Andrews, so I’ll keep you updated.”
“Well, thanks for that,” James said. “I’ll get in touch with him, too. Maybe there’s something we can do on our end.”
“I appreciate that,” Finn said.
“How is Emma doing?” James asked.
“She’s good,” Finn said, trying to tamp down the blush rushing to his cheeks. “She’s really good.”
Mandy finally moved, turning to Finn. “You slept with her, didn’t you?”
Finn shrugged. “Maybe.”
James chuckled. “From the looks of you, it went well.”
“It’s a work in progress,” Finn said.
Mandy pursed her lips. “You need to be careful with her, you know that, right?”
Finn frowned. “I have no intention of hurting her.”
“I know that,” Mandy said. “She’s just … well, she’s vulnerable. She’s lived a harder life than any of us can even fathom. You need to take that into consideration.”
“Where is this coming from?” James asked. “I thought you wanted them together?”
“I do,” Mandy said, refusing to meet his gaze. “I just want Finn to be careful.”
Finn smirked. “We’ve been very careful. Thanks for leaving the condoms in the nightstand, by the way. They’ve been coming in handy.”
“You better wash those sheets,” James said.
Mandy forced a tight smile onto her face. “That wasn’t what I was talking about.”
“I know,” Finn said. “I’m being careful all around. You don’t have to worry about that. I’m being a perfect gentleman – even when she doesn’t want me to be.”
ONCE Finn left the office, James found himself alone with a stewing blonde and a rapidly shrinking room.
“Do you want to yell at me?”
“I don’t know,” Mandy said, pacing near the door.
“Do you want to hit me? That’s made you feel better in the past.”
“No.”
“Do you want to come over here and sit on my lap and let me snuggle up to you until you have no choice but to forgive me?”
Mandy rolled her eyes, biting her lower lip. James detected the faint trace of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
“I think, if I did that,” Mandy said. “You would get the wrong idea.”
“And what’s the wrong idea?”
“That I’m okay with what you did,” Mandy said.
James pressed his lips together, considering. “I know what I did was wrong,” James said. “I just wanted to be able to see you.”