Page 23 of A Lady's Heart
Evan held a hand to Justin who shook it firmly. “Anything you need, bro. It’s yours.”
“I’ve got people around town. Someone will be in touch with you to let you know what’s happening with the projects we’re doing together.”
The wolf chuckled. “I should’ve known you’d have backup plans and would be ready to leave at the drop of a hat.Flash.”
“Don’t try to flatter me,” Justin warned. “We both know there are backup plans to our backup plans at this point in our lives.”
“Of course. That’s what happens after you learn a few hard lessons about what happens when you’re not prepared…” The wolf gave a rather pointedlookin Justin’s direction.
Mandy wasn’t quite sure what they were talking about, but when Justin motioned for her to join him, she stepped forward.
He picked up both her suitcases, one under his arm and the other gripped in his large fingers, before offering his free hand.
“I can take care of one of my suitcases,” she suggested. “Won’t it be hard for you to protect me with both your hands full?”
“Good point.” He moved instantly, dropping the smaller suitcase and extending the handle so she could roll it with her right hand as he took hold of her left hand again.
They were halfway down the block before she realized she hadn’t officially said goodbye to Evan because she’d been too amused by Justin’s elaborate manoeuvering to keep hold of her fingers.
“And how exactly is this better?” she asked. “You still have both hands full.”
“Yeah, but I can throw the suitcase at anyone who threatens us, so it’s a perfect weapon.”
They walked at a brisk pace as he guided them down the well-lit main streets of town. Behind them, Evan lurked in the shadows, a wolfish tail, offering double the protection.
“I suppose we’ll have people following us all the time?” Mandy asked.
“Not unless it becomes necessary. And if it does, you shouldn’t even notice them if they’re doing their job right.” He gestured with their joined hands toward a side street, tugging her in the new direction. “I said I’d protect you, and I’ll use whatever means necessary, but I hope you’ll let me take care of the details. If you want me to tell you everything, of course I will, but…”
Since he’d done such a clever job making it clear her only real option was to trust him, it seemed foolishness on her part to make his job more difficult. “Tell me what I need to know, or if I have concerns, I’ll ask. If necessary, just tell meyou’ve got it covered, and I’ll let it go at that.”
They moved in relative silence for the next couple blocks. She concentrated as hard as possible on her surroundings, listening for danger, but there were nothing but the erratic noises that were always present at night in a city, no matter how small. Soon enough they were behind the pack house where Justin escorted her to a Land Rover, popping the back open and tossing her suitcases in before helping her up the steep step into the high vehicle.
He was around the truck and in the driver’s seat almost instantly, and she remained quiet, her curiosity at high, until they were safely on the road heading south out of Whitehorse.
“This isn’t your truck,” she pointed out. A quick glance in the back proved her bags weren’t the only ones there. “Are thoseyoursuitcases?”
He nodded, gaze fixed on the highway. “I texted my contact. He’s loaning the Land Rover to us for a bit. Just in case our visitors have been hanging around the pack house for a while. They might know our vehicles, or have them bugged.”
All the precautions felt over the top, but she held her tongue and refused to allow her protests to escape. If he thought it was necessary—
She’d said she would trust him, so until proven otherwise, that’s what she was going to do. It would take less energy on both their parts if she weren’t questioning all the time.
Mandy was in a full-on personal debate to decide if she should ask where they were going, or if that crossed the line, when he volunteered some information.
“It’s going to be pretty clear which way we’re going to anyone with half a brain. There are only three main routes out of Whitehorse that don’t end in the middle of the bush, and no one is going to believe you’re foolish enough to get yourself trapped on one of those.”
“Right.”
“You mentioned you wanted to go snowmobiling. Best place for that right now is farther north.”
Mandy twisted in her seat to stare at him. “Seriously? We’re really going to work on my list?”
“Well, not this instant, but sure.”
She was one second away from protesting before deliberately slamming her lips shut.I need to trust him. He knows what he’s doing.
She forced herself to relax back into the leather seat. “I’ve never driven a snowmobile.”
