“I still don’t understand what her underwear has to do with anything.”
“One day, when she was wearing them, I realized that I was just as happy snuggling with her in those stupid underwear as I was stripping the black, lacy ones that match the garters off of her with my teeth,” James said. “That’s when I knew there was no escape route – even if I wanted one.”
“Because of the underwear?”
“I think the underwear is just a symbol.”
Grady rolled his neck, considering. “You still want to take the underwear off, right?”
James snorted. “Of course. I’m not a woman.”
“Just making sure,” Grady grumbled.
“I think you need to decide if you want see Sophie’s underwear,” James said.
“I think that’s my problem,” Grady shot back.
“I know you want to see the fancy underwear,” James replied. “Do you want to see her comfortable underwear, though? That’s the question.”
“And what if I don’t know?”
“Then you need to figure it out – and you can’t do anything until you do. You’ll just screw everything up if you move too fast. Trust me. I know.”
“The incident?” Grady asked.
“The incident we’re never speaking of again,” James agreed.
“So, I have to decide if I want to see her underwear,” Grady mused. “Thanks. You’ve given me something to think about.”
James was glancing back at his bedroom. Obviously Grady had given his brother something to think about, too. “You want to go and see what underwear she’s wearing, don’t you?”
James was on his feet, switching the television off. “Turn off the lights and lock the door on your way out.”
Grady couldn’t be sure, but he was almost positive he heard James humming the theme music from Jaws as he moved toward his bedroom.
Thirteen
Sophie slept fitfully, finally giving up on the attempt and showering while it was still dark outside. She pored through the files again, sipping from a mug of coffee at her dining room table, but her mind was unfocused.
Thoughts of Grady Hardy were confusing her, making her mind busy, convoluting her normal morning routine.
How could a man she’d met two days before have turned her life upside down?
Sophie refused to give in to the melancholy. She booted up her computer and checked her email. Most of it was inconsequential. Her editor wanted an update, which she typed out and fired back to him. She deleted all the spam. No, she didn’t need a bigger penis. The one under Grady’s jeans was more than enough for her to focus on. One message, though, managed to catch her attention.
She opened it, her heart skipping a beat as she read.
You’re looking into things you ought not to be looking into. You have no idea what you’re doing. If you don’t stop, you’re not going to like what happens. I can promise you that. Pick another story and move on.
Sophie searched the email for some form of identification, but she couldn’t find any. Whoever had sent it had created an anonymous account on Yahoo. There were ways of tracking that information down – but going to the police didn’t seem like a smart move – and she wasn’t sure where else she could turn in this instance.
She only had one option, and the empty house seemed to be urging her to engage that option.
She was in her car, her laptop sitting on the passenger seat, and heading toward Hardy Brothers Security just as the sun breached the horizon.
“DID you finish all the searches last night?” James found Finn sitting behind his desk a little after 7:30 a.m. The youngest Hardy brother’s diligence didn’t surprise him.
Finn shook his head. “No. They’re taking a while. You know how it goes. I got through about half of them.”
“Well, we’ll run the rest of them today.”
“Where’s Mandy?” Finn glanced around.
“She’s sleeping. She’s not a morning person.”
“I figured she was on the payroll now,” Finn teased.
“I’m paying her in different way,” James replied, glancing up when the bell over the front door of the lobby jangled. He’d unlocked it when he came down but, since business hours were posted on the door, he wasn’t expecting anyone for at least another hour.
Sophie shuffled into the room, her laptop clutched to her chest. She looked nervous. “I’m sorry to bug you so early.”
James took a step toward her, reading fear and doubt on her naked features. “That’s okay. Did something happen?”
Sophie handed him the laptop. “Someone sent me a threatening email.”