Deadly Desperados Read Online Free Page A

going to yank your hair out.”
    After placing their orders, Jake focused his attention on Mandy. He was mystified how she could sleep with everyone chatting around her. “Do you think she’s really asleep?”
    “She’s drooling on my shoulder.” James gazed fondly down at his blonde. “She’s asleep.”
    “We can stop at a restaurant in the airport if you don’t want to wake her up,” Jake offered. “I honestly haven’t seen her that still since the day I met you guys.”
    James snorted. Jake’s introduction to the Hardy family came at a tempestuous point in their lives. Mandy was recovering from being injured in an explosion, and when the middle Hardy brother, Grady, brought Jake to James’ apartment, his first glimpse into their lives involved Mandy sleeping on James’ chest. He knew then that there was something different about this family. He was glad he stuck around to find out what it was.
    “She sleeps hard,” James said. “If she’s really tired she snores.”
    “Ally does that, too,” Jake said.
    “I do not!” Ally was horrified.
    “It’s cute, Angel. Don’t worry about it,” Jake said, squeezing her hand. “I like it when you snore.”
    “I don’t snore,” Ally muttered.
    James rolled his eyes until they landed on Jake. “While we’re waiting for breakfast, why don’t you tell me about your uncle and aunt. I’d like to get a feel for what we’re walking into before we get there.”
    “They’re great,” Jake said. “Uncle Ben … no rice jokes, Ally … served in the Army for four years before moving from Michigan to Kansas. He’s the one who convinced me the military might be a good fit when I was restless after high school graduation.”
    “He grew up on the west side of the state?”
    Jake nodded.
    “How did he end up in Kansas?” James asked. “No offense, but Kansas isn’t usually one of those states you uproot your entire life to move to. You’re either born there or … tricked into moving there.”
    Jake snickered. “Kansas is beautiful,” he argued. “You’ll see when we get there. It’s different from Michigan, that’s for sure. That doesn’t mean it’s not a great place to live.”
    “I didn’t mean anything by it,” James offered. “The only thing I know about Kansas is what Mandy’s reruns of Smallville have taught me.”
    “And what’s that?”
    “Beware of bald men and meteor rocks,” James replied, not missing a beat.
    “What about your aunt?” Ally asked, rubbing her hands together nervously. “Do you think she’ll like me?”
    “She’ll love you, Angel. Don’t get worked up over this.” Jake realized he’d done a disservice to Ally by hiding her away from his family. Part of it was selfish. He didn’t want to share her with anyone. They already spent so much time with her brothers he felt like they were mired in nonstop family politics. He didn’t want to add his family to the mix when his favorite thing to do was hunker down alone with the brunette of his dreams. “I promise they’re both going to love you, Ally.”
    “Of course they’ll love you, Ally,” James chimed in. “They’re going to take one look at you and start measuring your hips to see if you’re of proper breeding stock to carry on the Harrison name.”
    Jake scowled.
    “What? I’m guessing farm jokes should be limited on this trip, huh?” James was enjoying himself despite the early hour. Nicer weather was beckoning him. He loved Michigan except for one notable exception: the long and brutal winters. He hoped to take Mandy on many warmer climate excursions once she quit her job at the courthouse in September – not that he was counting down the days or anything.
    “You can make farm jokes,” Jake said. “My uncle makes farm jokes. Just … they’re good people. I don’t want anyone making them feel bad because they’ve chosen to live a different kind of life than we have.”
    “Do you honestly think I would do that?” James asked, adjusting