Page 45 of A Lady's Heart
Justin didn’t care. Mandy’s stern expression had softened at his words. She laid a hand on his arm. “I know he can hear. That’s not the point. I’m not trying to keep secrets, I just want to be with her, alone.”
He nodded, then stepped back as Nadia linked her hands around his arm and Cole’s, hauling them toward the door. “See, Cole? See how much easier things go if you just listen to the smarter people in the room?”
Cole snapped his teeth at her, and she laughed.
“Okay, that one was a little mean of me. Come on, Mr. Growly. Your new friend will be here when you get back. I need you to come give me a hand for a minute.”
“But she said—”
“Mandy might not mind your bionic wolf hearing, but they deserve privacy. And I really do need your help. Please?” Nadia wheedled.
Cole refused to budge until he got Danielle’s attention, speaking softly but most definitely an order. “Don’t eventhinkabout leaving town without me.”
Danielle scratched her cheek with her middle finger before turning her attention back to her sister.
Justin was pacified by the fact Mandy seemed completely in control, and comfortable, so he went outside, the doors closing with a solid click behind him.
After the adrenaline rush of the last few moments, Mandy was happy to sit back down, catching hold of Danielle’s hand again and squeezing it tightly.
“Tell me everything that’s happening at home. No, wait. Tell me how you found me. No, wait…” Mandy shook her head. “I feel as if we’ve got forever to catch up on, and I don’t even know what to ask you.”
Daniel glanced toward the door “Then don’t. Let me ask the questions instead. Are you really okay? We’d heard terrible things, but it’s still nearly impossible to get any up-to-date news on the island.”
“I really am good. I’m free,” she told her sister, honest relief in her voice.
Danielle didn’t jump up and down with excitement the way Mandy had hoped she would.
Instead her sister took another glance at the door. “Who’s he? The big bear? Because he doesn’t look any safer then Todd.”
Oh. Now Mandy understood why the private discussion. “Justin is nothing at all like Todd. Okay, yes, he’s a big, possessive bear, but in all the ways that count, they’re nothing alike. He’s been so careful with me.”
“He hauled you halfway across the north on a moment’s notice.”
Mandy gave her sister a warning glance. “He brought me to Chicken to protect me becauseyouand someone else broke into my apartment, and we were afraid it was someone associated with Todd.”
Daniel relaxed the tiniest bit. “That was me and one of the clan. Susanna wanted to come, but she’s a lousy tracker. And I couldn’t take any chances. Even now, what if you’re just saying something because you think it’s what’s best for us? For the family? That’s what you did before.”
Her past was coming back to haunt her. “Not the same thing at all,” Mandy’s insisted. “Todd is out of my life for good.”
“Then come to the island. We need you there. We need you to make a difference.”
“I’ve been gone for eight years. The island isn’t home anymore,” Mandy protested.
Silence hung in the air. Her sister seemed to deflate, slouching back in her chair.
“Okay, this is going to sound stupid, but you’re like the big sister in a storybook who’s been shut away in an ivory tower for years.” Danielle made a face. “I know about you, and I care for you, but I…don’tknowyou as my sister.”
“Yet,” Mandy added, her own sorrow adding to the mix. “But I understand what you mean. I want the best for you, and Susanna, and the rest of the island, but you’re all distant memories, in a way.”
They stared at each other sadly. “Tough truths, hey, sis?”
“The toughest,” Mandy agreed.
Danielle’s expression grew softer. “Here’s another tough truth. I’m sorry, but Nana passed away a couple of weeks ago. That’s when we started looking for you.”
Mandy had expected this to happen at some point. She’d been away for so long, and she’d somehow known that her grandmother would be gone before they could reconnect. Their relationship was…difficultto say the least. The cold spot that had formed inside her when she chose to leave all those years ago and her Nana hadn’t protested—that coldness protected her now, and made her numb to grief.
She went with polite, although she didn’t really remember her Nana very fondly. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
