Page 43 of A Lady's Heart
Her lips twitched. “There were a lot ofifs andsomethings in that sentence, Justin. Remember our deal? I trust you to keep me safe. If I need to stay here because you’re absolutely sure that’s the only way, I’ll do it. But if I’m safe at your side, we should go.”
Yeah he wasn’t about to lie, and she was right.
Dammit. She was right. Shewassafe at his side. That’s what he needed to convince her of, for now and the future. And there was only one way to face the challenge, and that was to deal with whatever in her past was haunting her, once and for all.
“Grab your stuff, and let’s go.”
Oh boy, she’d become the best bluffer in town.
Mandywantedto face whoever it was who’d been stalking her, but it was an outright lie to say she was comfortable with the idea.
Nightmares of her days married to Todd kept intruding, but she forced the memories aside by focusing on the big, gentle giant at her side. The wall of protection that he offered.
Nothing would happen to her with Justin around, and so the only thing to be afraid of was backing down.
Justin squeezed her fingers as they stood outside the door of the Wolf Brothers Wild Adventures shop, waiting for her to work up her courage.
The door opened and Caden stepped out, tugging the door closed behind him as he glanced between them. “Take a deep breath and relax,” he ordered. “Nadia’s here.”
Tension drained out of Mandy like pulling a plug from the sink, and she noticed Justin breathed a sigh of relief as well. “Oh, brilliant idea.”
“It’s always good to have backup in place.” Caden grinned before elbowing Justin in the side. “Pulled one over on you, hey, Baloo? You forgot we got the rooten-tootenest cowboy sheriff around in these parts.”
Justin made a gagging noise. “I’ll be sure to tell her you said so. In those exact words.”
Caden’s expression twisted slightly. “Aww, you don’t have to do that. Seeing as we’re kinda busy right now, and all.”
“Don’t feel like explaining yourself to her, do you?”
The wolf shook his head. “Hell, no. I like my fur on the outside, and my tail knotless, thanks.”
They walked through the door, and that eerie sense of calm hit. The one that filled a room when Nadia was trying to keep things under control. Fresh and clean, invigorating and yet slightly drowsy, the scent after a spring rain. Mandy curled her fingers around Justin’s hand to tug him forward with her.
There was a lot to take in at one glance. Nadia stood to the left, leaning on the wall. On the opposite side of the room, Cole sat at the table with his fingers wrapped around the frail wrist of a dark-haired young woman…
Mandy’s heart leapt with excitement, and she dropped her hold on Justin and sprinted across the room.
It all happened in an instant.
Justin’s gaze landed on Cole, sitting at a table with his fingers wrapped tightly around the arm of a dark-haired woman. Justin took a closer look, confused for moment until he realized why the stranger looked so familiar. That’s when Mandy took off from his side, rushing forward with her hands thrown out in greeting.
“Danielle?”
The next moments passed in a rush of noise and confusion as Mandy pulled the other woman into her arms. Cole stood, and Justin hovered behind Mandy, having chased after her as quickly as he could.
“Oh, Mandy. Itisyou.” The other woman burst into tears.
Justin stood at Mandy’s back in case he was needed, but it seemed she knew who the other woman was, so he turned to taunt Cole. “Took you long enough.”
“There were complications,” Cole snapped, all joking aside as he watched Danielle closely.
Obsessively.
Oh shit, that didn’t bode well.
Someone cleared their throat loudly, drawing their attention across the room to where Nadia was holding up the wall. She rolled her eyes. “You mustn’t think much of me with the way you’re both hovering over those women,” Nadia complained. “Sit down, all of you. The sooner we figure out this mess, the better.”
Mandy refused to let go of Danielle’s hand, pulling her into the chair Cole had abandoned, and forcing the men to take positions behind them.
