Page 5 of A Lady's Heart
Evan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Kent, do you remember our discussion about showing a little more respect?”
“What’s…happening?”
“Better.”
Evan offered an apologetic smile. “Have you met Kent yet? He’s Caroline’s younger brother. He’s supposed to be learning to be my assistant, but he’s mostly a pain in the ass.”
“Younger siblings have that gift,” Mandy suggested, but she smiled at the young man.
“Kent, drive our friend where she needs to go for the night. You’ll probably want to pick up some groceries and—”
“I’ll take care of Mandy,” Justin interrupted, loud and clear.
He’d stepped closer, one foot between her and the new wolf. Everything about the way Justin held himself made it clear he was staking a claim, and that flutter of anticipation inside her belly raced in a new and unexpected direction.
She twisted on the spot and looked up.
And up.
And up a bit more.
Jeez, he was big.
Mandy swallowed her fears and forced every bit of authority possible into her voice. “Excuse me? Did Iaskyou to take care of me?”
A whole lot ofoh shit, what did I just do?hit his expression, and Justin backpedaled rapidly. “Um, no, but I thought that—”
Mandy slapped up a hand to gesture for him to stop.
She liked him, she really did, but if this was going to work, he had to figure this out now, and not a moment later. “And didyouask if you could take care of me?”
He, and the entire room of wolves—who were watching breathlessly as if this was the best live soap opera ever—all shook their heads. It was like being surrounded by a room of bobbleheads, and she bit her lip so she didn’t burst out laughing and ruin everything.
Instead, she drew herself up as regally as possible. “Then, I’d suggest you try again—some other time. TonightKentis taking me to my new home.”
She turned on her heel and walked away without looking back.
