Grady was going in for a kiss when the doorbell rang, causing both of them to jump and scatter apart. Sophie broke the silence first, giggling as she tried to catch her breath.
Grady ran a hand through his hair, his chest heaving. “Are you expecting anyone?”
“No. It’s probably just James or Mandy checking on us.”
“Probably,” Grady growled, getting to his feet. “Remind me to tell them what great timing they have.”
When he threw open the door, Grady was surprised to find an unfamiliar face staring back at him. The man was older – in his late sixties or so, if Grady had to guess – and his dark hair was shot through with more gray than color. The man was wearing an expensive suit and leather loafers – and the Ray Ban sunglasses perched on the edge of his nose were supposed to make him look cool, but they made Grady suspicious because they hid the man’s eyes.
“Can I help you?” Grady asked.
“Who are you?”
“Who are you?”
“I asked you first.”
“I asked you second – and I’m the one holding the door.”
The man narrowed his eyes. “Is Sophie here?”
“Maybe. Can I tell her who’s dropping in – unannounced?”
“Do you think you’re funny?”
“I often do,” Grady replied. “If you ask my family, though, they would probably argue the point.”
“Is Sophie here or not?”
“Who is it?” Sophie asked, moving in behind Grady. Grady didn’t move his gaze from the man. He didn’t trust him.
“Peter,” Sophie squealed, moving around Grady. “I can’t believe you’re here. I didn’t think you were in town.”
Grady watched Sophie hug the man, a mixture of amusement and mistrust floating across his face. “Do you want to introduce me?”
Sophie ushered the man into the house. “Of course. Grady Hardy, this is my foster father, Peter Marconi.”
Grady stiffened, forcing a hand out in front of him in an effort to pretend he wasn’t caught off guard by the presence of the alleged mobster in Sophie’s home. Peter’s smug smile cut into Grady’s chest like a knife. He already didn’t like this guy.
Once everyone was settled back in the living room, Peter laid into Sophie for not calling him after the accident. “I had to hear about it from an associate,” he said. “That’s not very nice, young lady.”
“I’m sorry,” Sophie said. “I really thought you were in New York for the month. That’s what Beth said when I called the house about a week ago.”
“You have my cellphone,” Peter reminded her. “I’m always available for you on that.”
Sophie bit her lip. “I know. I just always feel funny calling you on the cellphone, in case you’re in the middle of business or something.”
Grady tried to look relaxed as he settled on the coach. Sophie was using the word “business,” but Grady was sure she meant something else. The relationship between Peter and Sophie felt weird – and yet comfortable. Sophie wasn’t putting on an act because Grady was there – she was genuinely happy to see the man.
“There is no business that’s more important than you,” Peter said. “Don’t you ever forget it.”
“I’ll try to remember.”
“You do that.”
The room lapsed into silence for a minute, and then Peter focused on Grady. “Sophie introduced you as Grady Hardy, correct?”
Grady nodded.
“Of Hardy Brothers Security?” Peter pressed.
“Yes.”
“James Hardy is your brother?”
“He is.” Grady was trying to play it cool. He didn’t like sharing information with a mobster, whether he’d been convicted of a crime or not.
Peter leaned back in the armchair, his face unreadable. He was feeling Grady out. “Your brother has a good reputation,” Peter said. “I especially liked it when he shot out the front door of the courthouse and then killed a guy to save one of the clerks.”
“Yeah, he’s getting a lot of attention for that,” Grady agreed.
“What did the gentleman in question do to the girl that so infuriated your brother?”
Grady didn’t like Peter’s imperious tone. “He stalked her, tried to run her over with a car – twice, and then tried to gut her with a knife.”
Peter’s eyebrows jumped. “Well then, good on your brother.”
“I agree.”
“And the girl? She’s okay now?”
“She’s fine,” Grady said.
“We’re talking about Mandy, right?” Sophie asked, knitting her eyebrows together.