She was still living at the convenience of the wolf pack while waiting for her financial information to come through. Once it did, she intended to pay them back for everything, not because they expected it but because it was an important step for her in truly becoming her own woman again.
The woman who'd gotten lost when she'd married Todd Ainsworth.
Eight years she'd been with the man. Eight years of her life that she'd never get back. She wished it had been possible to leave him earlier, but she couldn't dwell on that now. She was looking forward, not back.
Last night before going to bed she'd sent an email to her family. The first one in over eight years-for good reason-and she was already anticipating their answer with hope and dread.
So many decisions loomed, but for now, until she heard from them, she was going to move ahead with her plans.
The warm air and delicious smells of the coffee shop greeted her like a friendly hug as she walked through the door, stepping to one side automatically with her back against the wall as she took a first cautious look around.
Some lessons had dug in deep. But perhaps it wasn't a bad thing to be alert and vigilant.
A familiar couple waved at her from a nearby table, and she made her way over to greet them. "If you keep doing this, I'll think you're following me," she warned the wolf Alphas.
"Total coincidence," Amy insisted.
"We're just flies on the wall," Evan countered.
Mandy laughed. "I've heard of horse flies and sand flies, but now you've got me curious to see what a wolf fly looks like."
Evan grinned. "Handsome buggers, I hear."
She spoke with them for a moment before going to the counter and ordering two coffees and an assortment of breakfast items. They promised to deliver the food, so she went and nabbed an empty table by the window, somewhat surprised Justin wasn't already there.
The food arrived the same time he did. He pulled out the tiny chair and attempted to wiggle his bulk into the limited space.
The person seated behind him grew wide-eyed and panicked for a moment, and Mandy gave herself a mental slap. "I forgot how much room you take."
She shuffled her chair back and tugged the table closer.
Justin tucked his elbows in a little tighter and offered a smile. Picking up the coffee cup in front of him, he held it out in a toast. "Good morning."
"Good morning."
They clinked cups then drank deeply. The entire time his gaze drifted between her and the others in the shop as if he were on surveillance, determined to keep her safe.
He gestured toward the wolves. "Were the babysitters your idea? Not that there's anything wrong with that," he hurried on, "Just wondering."
"Complete coincidence," Mandy told him. "Like wolf flies on the wall."
Evan and Amy snickered from their position across the room, and both she and Justin twisted toward the wolves before turning back to face each other.
"Damn snoopy buggers," Justin whispered. "That bionic wolf hearing is going to get them in trouble someday."
Right- She'd forgotten that detail. It didn't matter that they were sitting far away, Amy and Evan could hear every word as if she were speaking through a megaphone.
"Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to meet in public," she began before reconsidering.
The wolves were her friends, and they were only looking out for her. And if she truly was taking control of her life that meant not worrying about what others thought of her plans.
"Ignore them," Mandy ordered. "I've got some good news to share."
Justin turned his attention on her as if she were the only one in the room. "Good news is always good."
Mandy nodded. "My divorce papers came."
His eyes widened in approval. "Well, congratulations."
"I've been waiting for them to go through. I know according to shifter law he's been out of my life for a while, but I wanted to make sure there were no further legal entanglements."
Because the one thing she could trust Ainsworth to do was mess up her life any way he could, the vindictive bastard. Not just her life, but her family's.
Justin's fingers twitched on the table where they lay only inches from hers. "I'm pleased for you. So … what does this mean? What are your plans?"
She kept her gaze fixed on the coffee cup to avoid letting him read her thoughts. "Plans?"
"Are you moving? Getting a job?"
He seemed to have a whole lot of other unasked questions hovering on the tip of his tongue. The control he showed leaving them unasked impressed her. "I have no plans on getting a job immediately, but I have put some things in motion for down the road." Her email to family. "In the meantime, I've made a list."
"Hmm." He examined her face. "A bucket list?"
"Not as big and shiny as that. It's probably silly, but there are a lot of ordinary things I've never gotten a chance to try." She smiled at him. "I think you know that I grew up in fairly fancy circumstances."
"Lady Amanda." He nodded, then looked a little sheepish. "You know I researched both you and Todd thoroughly this past summer."
Oh. She considered for a moment, glancing toward the wolves out of the corner of her eye. "Does that mean you know my secrets?"
He shook his head. "I know your family has a title-a gift from the bears of the UK, and I know you've been estranged from them for eight years. I don't know why, but I'd assume it had something to do with Todd."
He was far too astute. "Right on all counts, but I'm not ready to talk about that yet. The point is I went from Lady Amanda, to Lord and Lady Ainsworth, because when Todd and I married, he had very grandiose plans, which meant again living a particular lifestyle."
"And you want more of the simple life?"
She nodded. "Definitely. And I want it to be new and fresh, which is why I asked everyone to call me Mandy. I'm reclaiming myself, in a way."
Warm fingers wrapped around hers, and he gave a brief squeeze before letting go. "Good for you."
He was so easy to talk with when he wasn't being bossy and growly. Although, she secretly liked that side of him too.
"And that's where my list comes in. Living in the pack house gave me a safe place to adjust to my new world, and now I feel as if the time is right for me to start going through the items I've noted."
"I'd say it was more than time. You deserve to enjoy some common, everyday pleasures."
He was being careful. Cautious, which was exactly what she needed to boost her confidence. "Would you like to see it? My list?"
The muffin in Justin's hand stuttered to a stop inches from his mouth.
"I'd be honoured." He put down the food and reached for the paper she slid across the table, glancing toward the wolf pair who were craning their necks in the hopes of catching a glimpse.
Justin made a show of holding the paper in the perfect way that they could almost, but not quite, see it.
Mandy laughed softly. "You're mean."
"Just wait. They're gonna find themselves a pair of eagle shifters to do their spying next," Justin whispered.
"I told you we should've made that pair of bird shifters stay in our territory," Evan grumbled as he got to his feet.
He and Amy waved goodbye then left. Mandy smiled in return, but Justin gave a dramatic evil-villain chuckle, as if they'd successfully vanquished an opponent.
"They mean well," Mandy pointed out.
"Wolves are the biggest busybodies."
Then he focused his attention on the list for real, his smile widening as he went down some of the items. "You wild woman. I don't know if you can do some of these unsuper-"
Yes, it was easy to tell the instant he hit the section of her list that ventured into naughty territory. She had the list memorized, she'd read over it so often, and partway down the page, it read …
take a painting class
camp in an RV
go snowmobiling
give a blowjob
go fishing for salmon in bear form
Justin's smile slowly faded, and his grip on the paper tightened briefly before he took a deep breath then consciously relaxed.
He folded the paper then put it back on the table as he met her gaze. "Who the hell do you … ?"
She raised a brow, and his words died off, his eyes flashing hot before he dragged himself under control and tried again.
"I mean, there's no damn way … Wait … " His mouth opened and closed a few times as he struggled to find the right words.
She waited patiently. He dragged in a deep breath then let it out as if he were blowing out a candle somewhere on the next table over.
"Mandy?"
"Yes?"
He cleared his throat. "I would like to offer to help you with your list."
Which was exactly what she hoped he'd say. "Lovely. On one condition."
"Anything," he swore, his tone ragged and one step from out of control.
She might want to move on and be independent, but there were items she needed a companion to complete. She'd been watching Justin closely for the last while. "If you want to help me with some things on the list, you have to help me with all the things on the list."
His lips twitched before he broke into a massive smile. "You're trying to scare me away, but it's not going to work."