And cold?
Vanquished seemingly forever.
Mandy slid her fingers into his hair and tugged lightly to get him to look at her. "So. We had visitors?"
Guilt and dismay arrived far too quickly, furling a line between his brows. "I'm a shitty bodyguard."
She shook her head. "That's not what my body is currently saying. It's singing your praises pretty damn hard."
A grin escaped before his expression turned serious again. "We had visitors."
"But we're safe? Here, in the apartment?"
He nodded, although he still looked embarrassed.
She raised a brow. "Then as far as I'm concerned, you were doing your job, although I certainly hope I wasn't just a job to you."
"Hell, no." He spat out the words so fast she had to dip her head to hide her smile.
They untangled themselves, taking turns to slide under the water one last time to rinse. Justin found them towels, and they dried off in companionable silence.
Mandy caught him by the hand and led him into the bedroom, tugging him to the mattress and under the covers before he could protest.
"You said Cole and Caden would track our visitors, yes?"
He nodded slowly.
Mandy stretched her arms and let a yawn escape, smiling again as his gaze lingered on her naked breasts. She curled herself against him and pulled the covers up to their chins. "Then we let them track. I want a nap."
"But I should-"
"-wanna nap with you."
Her decisive statement was enough to stop him in his tracks, and suddenly she was surrounded by a hot, naked bear-shifter of extraordinary size.
The sheets were silky soft, his arm under her head was rock solid, but the hand draped over her belly touched her skin with the most delicate of strokes as she let the fears and excitement of the day carry her off into slumber.
Justin lay wrapped around perfection and wondered what the hell he'd been thinking.
He hadn't been thinking, or at least not with his big head, from the instant he'd gotten her naked. Or even before-
Yet after her decisive reminder that they were safe, he let his self-flagellating thoughts go and instead savoured the warmth of being tangled with her.
Justin actually fell asleep, waking as she stretched lazily against him, her smooth skin sliding over his then away far too quickly as she rolled from the bed and disappeared into the bathroom.
He dressed then headed to the kitchen to wait for her to reappear.
Mandy joined him only a minute or two later, dressed to go out. "I'm hungry. Want to go back to NLT?" She paused, wrinkling her nose in the most adorable manner. "If you think it's safe."
"Out of all the places we could go, that's one of the safest," he admitted.
She held his hand the entire trip, the tall street lamps brightening their route. He expected her to glance around nervously, but she marched with confidence at his side, asking non-stop questions about his job, and his place in Yellowknife where he lived most of the time, working with Tyler.
Instead of him distracting her from the unknowns of the day, she was in complete control. In fact, whatever magic she was using, during the short walk she managed to get him to spill the beans and share a secret about his boss.
He pulled open the door at NLT as Mandy laughed behind her hand. "And Tyler's never eaten them since?"
Justin shook his head and guided her toward a side booth. "Who knew too many malted milk chocolates could have that effect on a big guy like him?"
He lifted her to the seat, stepping back rapidly as she scowled then swatted at him. "You need to stop throwing me around like a sack of potatoes," she complained.
"I like carrying you." He just grinned harder as he dodged the flimsy napkin she tossed in his direction.
Justin seated himself so he could see the door, back on guard.
It wasn't unexpected. Nadia showed up at their table about thirty seconds after the waitress had taken their order.
She eyed them both. "Troubles, kids?"
"No trouble." Justin stared her down, not willing to admit anything if he didn't have to. Besides, he wasn't really lying-there was no trouble currently happening, at that moment, in that location.
Nadia raised a brow but didn't say anything specifically judgmental.
In fact, she turned to Mandy and offered a welcoming smile. "If you're hanging around town for a while, pop in on Thursday night. That's ladies night. And line dancing."
Mandy's eyes lit up. "If someone can teach me-I've never done that before."
"Of course." Nadia caught her by the fingers and squeezed. Then she tossed a stern command at Justin. "Ladies only. Don't even think about trying to sneak in. I'll kick your furry butt out myself if I catch you."
Justin pulled himself up, drawing his dignity around him like a shield. "If you catch me is the key word in that statement."
She turned on him, folding her arms over her chest. "Oh, sugar, don't delude yourself."
They held a good-natured staring match for a moment before a huge bear shifter shuffled from the shadows to whisper in Nadia's ear.
She nodded then turned to offer a farewell. "Martin says I'm needed at the bar. I'll see you soon, Mandy. And Justin?" She narrowed her gaze. "Let me know if I can give you a hand."
He dipped his head. He wasn't foolish enough to turn down her help, but hopefully it wouldn't come to that.
They were nearly done their meal when Caden and Cole marched through the door, hair tousled, clothing askew. The brothers spotted them and headed straight to the table.
"Head's up," Justin warned.
Mandy slid closer and tangled her fingers around his biceps.
The wolves tossed themselves onto the padded bench on the opposite side of the table. They were both breathing hard, and Cole grabbed the water jug and lifted it to his mouth to drink straight from the pitcher.
Justin eyed them before glancing toward the door suspiciously. "Where're your targets, boys?"
"Don't start with us, big guy, or I'll go full-moon on your ass," Cole warned.
"It's a reasonable question." All three of them pivoted to stare at Mandy who'd been the one to speak. She shrugged. "Justin said you were the best trackers around. I'm surprised to see you here, without anyone."
Caden growled as he slammed a hand on the table. Justin had his fingers trapped in an iron-clad fist between one second and the next.
Silence cut like a knife.
Mandy clicked her tongue in warning, and Justin forced himself to let the wolf free.
Caden glared at Justin, but the wolf muttered sorry before letting out a gruff grunt. "We did track them. But they hit the edge of the river and swam off, headed north. No freaking way was I getting in the water to chase down a couple of bears in their native territory."
Beside him, Mandy glanced up in confusion. "Swam off?"
Justin grimaced. It was unwelcome news. Out of all the shifter species he'd expected trouble from, their new suspects were not on the list. "He means polar bears."
Caden raised his hands in a shrug. "There's not much use trying to follow them without contacting someone at-"
"You think they were polar bears," Cole snapped. "I'm not sure. You got in the way-I couldn't see clearly."
His brother whirled on him and glared. "Don't be a pain in the ass, bro."
"Don't be a jerk, bro," Cole retorted before glancing across the table. "I'm going to track them down."
Mandy dipped her head, but she held a little tighter to Justin's arm. "But you're sure that they're gone. For now, I mean?"
Caden leaned back, wrinkling his nose. "We did a lap around town before tracking you here. There were only two unfamiliar scents, and they're long gone. I can't tell you how sorry we are they accessed a couple of our sleds like that. Must have hot-wired them."
She blinked in surprise, obviously caught on his earlier comment. "You know everyone in town by their scent?"
Justin leaned down to whisper in her ear. "It's a wolf thing. Be thankful they don't sniff like dogs do."
He secretly patted her butt.
Her eyes widened.
Of course with their abilities, the wolves had heard his comment. The brothers growled a warning, but his tease had brought back a flicker of a smile to Mandy's lips, and that's all that mattered.
She offered him a quick wink before facing the brothers again. "But you can track them?"
Caden jerked a thumb at his brother. "I couldn't, but I bet he can. Pain in the ass."
"Jerk." Cole dipped his head. "I came back to make sure you guys were okay, but I'm heading out again. I swear I'll find them. There's something … "
The wolf looked off into the distance, his eyes going out of focus as if he were concentrating on something only he could see. More weird wolf mumbo-jumbo, Justin figured, but the offer of tracking was a good one. It would allow him to stay in Chicken and protect Mandy, and still get to the bottom of the mystery.
"Thanks for that," Justin said with sincerity.
Mandy reached across the table and squeezed Cole's hand. "Yes, thank you."
Caden slapped his brother on the shoulder then motioned toward the door. "Come on, my mate will be waiting. We'll feed you before you take off."
The brothers slipped away, vanishing like shadows.