Page 3 of A Lady's Heart
“I’m doing wonderfully,” Justin said. “Let me know if any emergencies arise, but otherwise, trust me. I’ve got the business side of things under control, and I’m working on theotherparts.”
“I know you are. Have fun with that,” his boss and friend said with a soft laugh. “Theother partsare worth the trouble. Most of the time.”
“I heard that,” Caroline said in the background.
“Of course you did,” Tyler told her. “Excuse me, Justin. I have a wife to deal with…”
Her shriek of laughter cut off into dead air as Tyler hung up, probably with his woman draped over his shoulder en route to the private plane’s bedroom.
Justin tucked his phone into his pocket then straightened his tie, smoothing it over his shirt as he wove his way through the laughing-talking-fighting collection of shifters milling around the living room.
He was a bear in a wolf den—and the real reason he’d remained in town stood mere meters away. Even a few weeks ago she’d tried to avoid him altogether, but today she offered a shy, yet welcoming smile that sent a thrill through him from top to bottom.
While his bear would’ve enjoyed more luxurious and mellow accommodations, if living in werewolf central was what he had to deal with to get close to the woman of his dreams?
Bring on the chaos—Justin was ready to faceanythingfor her.
Lady Mandy Ainsworth ordered her heart to slow down. It was pumping hard enough to power a high-speed motorboat, but all the willpower in the world only eased the edges of her adrenaline-fed reaction.
Adrenaline? Yes, but from good causes, not bad.
She was still in the crowded Takhini pack house, a guest in the wolves’ home…but the one place where it was most important, something had changed.
It was that small yet vital change that gave her the strength to meet the big, sexy grizzly shifter in the eye. Surrounded by a sea of motion, the energetic and happy wolves of the combined Whitehorse packs flowed past, oblivious to how rapidly her world had tilted with the arrival of word from her lawyer.
She wasn’t scared of Justin. As broad and as tall and as handsome as he was, she’d seen the way he looked at her before carefully turning his back and giving her space.
And it was a fine back, all six foot six of it, covered with sturdy muscles and most usually a devilishly expensive suit. As the assistant and bodyguard to a very rich man, Justin dressed and acted far more like his boss’s colleague than his flunky.
She appreciated how he looked in the suit, but she enjoyed his more casual look as well. The soft flannel shirt he’d worn the previous day layered over a dark T-shirt had made her fingers itch to touch.
To stroke, and pet…
…and there went her heart rate again. Because while the thought of becoming intimate with the big beast might make her animal side sit up and preen, it also carried her into dangerous territory.
She’d been the possession of a wealthy man before, and that situation never ended well for the possessions.
No.That direction lies madness.
Mandy was working hard to make sure her previous relationship didn’t define her forever, but she was not about to throw away the lesson she’d been forced to learn. Protecting herself—body and soul—was not wrong. This next bit of time was for her, and she was determined to make the most of it.
Big sexy bears would just have to fit themselves into her agenda.
Someone leaned against the wall by Mandy’s side, folding their arms and staring into the room while standing quiet guard. The female Alpha of the wolf pack, Amy, waved back to someone in the gathering, but mostly she just stood there like a sentinel, waiting for Mandy to speak.
“You don’t have to protect me, you know. I trust your people,” Mandy shared.
Amy shrugged. “Don’t consider it protection. Just a friend looking out for a friend.” She twisted to face her. “How are you doing this fine evening? And who are you thinking of, as if I couldn’t already scent it?”
Her cheeks must’ve gone instantly red, and Mandy looked back across the room to discover Justin had been interrupted by the male half of the Takhini leadership team. Evan stood with his arms folded, his body a solid roadblock between the debonair bear and where she and Amy were chatting. Justin was clearly attempting in vain to cut the conversation short.
Mandy’s embarrassment turned to amusement. “You wolves really have a problem with privacy,” she complained.
Her friend offered a grin. “I’m glad you’re ready to move out of the pack house.” She held up a hand. “To be clear, we would never kick you out, but for the sake of our youth’s delicate sensitivities it’s great that you’re moving yourcourtshipto a more private location.”
Oh My Word. Mandy’s jaw hit the floor then bounced back into position. “That’s rushing things a little.Courtship?I’m moving out and yes, I’m ready to move on, but I’m not getting myself tangled into another relationship right away.”
“Oh, honey, don’t lie to yourself. You and me both know you’ve had your eye on the big sexy brute since day one of getting yourself free from that rat bastard you used to call a husband—and the offer’s still open, by the way, if you ever want me to rip out Todd’s throat.”
