“No, she doesn’t. She was going to pay me handsomely.” He took another bite as his thoughts churned. “Maybe it’s not about money.”
“It’s about what then?” Mandy narrowed her eyes skeptically. “Love?”
Clint shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. What did you tell her exactly?”
“Our story.” Mandy’s eyes widened in shock and then understanding. “There are always two sides to a story, right?”
“Right,” he said suspiciously, not sure whether he would like where this was going.
“We need to hear her side.”
“I don’t think—”
“Please? What can it hurt?”
“My lawyer said—”
“Your lawyer won’t be necessary if she drops the complaint. Trust me on this.”
Clint hesitated. He did trust Mandy, but this seemed like a bad idea. Then again, having the case dropped would be amazing. Would it be worth the risk?
Mandy looked so excited and eager. How could he deny her when she had stood by him?
He nodded. “I will call, but do not get your hopes up. I doubt she’ll start talking now.”
And that was how Clint soon found himself inviting Dana over for dinner to discuss the case. Surprise, surprise, she accepted.
7
Mandy rushed around the table, ensuring that it was set properly. Dana would be here any moment. She had no idea what to expect.
A knock sounded at the front door.
Mandy stiffened. “Should I get it?”
Clint entered the dining room from the kitchen. He laid the shepherd’s pie on a hot plate in the middle of the table. “I’ll get it.”
He kissed her temple and patted her shoulder as he walked by. Mandy gripped the back of her chair and waited. Nerves and worry rifled through her. Maybe this was a terrible idea. Maybe it would make things worse. Was that even possible? Things were bad now.
“Come in, Ms. Carson,” Clint said.
Dana walked in. She wore a black and white floral dress, boots, and a grown. “I told you to call me Dana,” she said stiffly.
“Are you hungry, Dana?” Mandy asked.
Dana nodded. “Yes. I haven’t been eating lately. Too stressed.”
Mandy wanted to ask about the source of her stress. Fear that Clint was the cause stilled her tongue.
Dana started toward the table and hesitated.
Mandy grinned. “You can sit here,” she said, sliding over to pull out Dana’s chair.
Dana nodded. Was that a wisp of a smile? Mandy couldn’t be sure.
Talking was awkward, slow going, and frankly, terrible. It didn’t seem to be making things worse, but it wasn’t making things better either.
Mandy eyed Clint and then Dana. Dana did look a little thinner in the face. Her appetite was down. At least, she had eaten tonight. Clint was good outside the house, working the land, and inside, even with some plumbing, and in the kitchen. He amazed her every day.
“Are you hungry for dessert?” Mandy asked eagerly.
Dana rubbed her throat. An undercurrent of sorrow hung over her the entire meal. “I don’t know. I should probably leave.”
“I made some brownies.” Mandy stood and held up her phone. “Clint, my mom just texted. She needs some help. It shouldn’t take you too long. I’m sorry.”
Clint frowned. “What does she need—”
Mandy jerked her head toward her parents’ house. “The toilet. You’ll be back soon.”
He glanced at her to Dana and back again before nodding. “I’m sorry, Dana. Mandy, cut me a slice?”
“A big one,” she promised.
He walked around the table and hesitated by her side.
“You can kiss her goodbye,” Dana said, looking away.
Clint did, just on the top of her head.
Mandy waited until the door shut before leaning forward. “I know a lot of people like milk with their brownies. How about a chocolate martini instead?”
Shocked, Dana lifted her arched eyebrows. “I don’t—yes. Yes, please.”
“Come on.”
Mandy had Dana follow her to the kitchen and quickly prepared the martinis.
“Cheers.” She carefully tapped hers to Dana’s.
Dana took a sip. “What’s your plan? Get me drunk and convince me to drop the suit?”
“I want to talk and relax. Just you and me.”
“What if I don’t want to?” Dana asked.
“Then you enjoy your martini and brownie, and you go. No hard feelings.”
“Sure.” Dana scoffed.
Mandy shrugged and grabbed a knife. “Corner or inner piece?”
“Corner of course.”
Mandy laughed. “Everyone loves corners but me. I prefer the soft gooeyness of the inside.”
“That’s all you.”
“Big piece?”
“A little bigger.”
Mandy grinned and obliged. “There you go.” She handed Dana a massive slice.
Mandy went to cut herself a piece from the dead center.
The center was pure chocolate. As in liquid chocolate.
The center hadn’t cooked.
“Hm…” Mandy shrugged. The eggs should’ve cooked long enough. She’d made a massive chocolate lava cake instead of brownies. No big deal.
She exchanged her plate for a bowl and her fork for a spoon.
“Just needs ice cream,” Dana said. “This is delicious.”
“Can never go wrong with chocolate.”
Mandy expected Dana to agree. Instead, she sniffled and grabbed her martini. She already had downed half of it. Now, it was down to a quarter.
“That’s what my husband thought,” Dana muttered. “Soon-to-be-ex-husband. What a dick.”
Mandy gulped down some of her chocolate martini. It was strong but delicious. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.
“So was he. Sorry, he got caught. He would buy me a box of chocolate all the time. I didn’t realize why until later. He was cheating on me. He, oh, man, what a dick Dick was.”
Mandy couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing. “His name was Dick?”
“Richard. I only ever called him Richard until I found out he was cheating on me. Now, he’s Dick. Dick I won’t be having. I’m sorry. I couldn’t handle seeing him happy with someone else. Clint was the first man I thought handsome after the fallout, and I don’t know. I was feeling depressed, and I went for it. I didn’t know he was with you. I guess… I’ve gone over everything in my mind so many times. Maybe I did see something that wasn’t there. I probably did.”
Dana grabbed her glass and drank the rest.
“I’m sorry. That’s all I can say. I wanted to lash out because I felt like I was being attacked everywhere.”
“It’s all right.” Mandy impulsively hugged her.
The front door opened and shut. “Where’s my brownie?” Clint called.
Mandy quickly cut it. “Right here.”
Dana intercepted the plate, walked over to the doorway, and handed it to Clint.
“I’m sorry,” the woman said. “I’m going to drop the suit. Please, will you reconsider my job? I need to have my house and land changed completely. I have to make it my own.”
Clint gaped at her in shock. His gaze shifted to Mandy. He shook his head and opened his mouth.
“He accepts,” Mandy blurted out.
“I do?” Clint said, surprised.
Mandy nodded.
Clint shrugged, grinning slightly. “I do.” He took a bite of his brownie. “A little different this time.”
“It’s delicious,” Dana said.
Clint grinned. “I’m not complaining. Wait. You two had martinis?”
“Do you want one?” Mandy asked.
“And get my guy card revoked? No thanks. I’ll have milk.”
Mandy and Dana burst out laughing.
8
Dana’s job was so involved that it took Clint two months to finish it. Dana was nothing but a com
plete professional the entire time. She even gave him a bonus and told all of her friends about his excellent work. It was funny how life worked. Dana and Mandy became friends. Dana wasn’t one of Mandy’s core friends, but still, it amazed Clint how far they had come.
Now that the job was done, Clint had set up a special dinner. The reservation was scheduled for twenty minutes from now, but he arrived early. His suit was perfect, but his tie was strangling. No tie. Forget it. That wasn’t him.
He yanked it off and undid his top to buttons. There. Better.
The hostess took him back. A few minutes later, Mandy was brought back. This place was high end, and she dressed up for the occasion. Her gown was light to dark blue ombre with a thigh-high slit. She looked stunning.
Before Mandy sat down, she kissed his cheek and then shocked him by going down on one knee.
“Mandy,” he said.
She placed a finger to his lips. “Clint, let me, please? I’ve been living with my parents since everything went bad with Jack. I’ve thought about returning to Toledo all the time, but it would only ever be for a visit. I want to visit Brent’s grave and see my friends, but my heart is back here. It’s next door. It’s with you.”
“Mandy, I—”
“Marry me,” she said in a rush.
“Is that a question?” he asked. “That didn’t sound like a question.”
Mandy sniffled. Tears of happiness filled her beautiful eyes. “Will you marry me?”
Clint burst out laughing and reached into his pocket to remove the ring box. He popped it open.
“I had planned on asking you that, so I think that tells you my answer.”
Mandy shakily held out her hand, and he slid the ring onto her finger. All around them, other customers burst into applause as Mandy lifted just enough from on her knee to kiss him. Clint's heart was so full. This woman had captured his heart, and he adored her. Now, he would have her forever. He couldn’t wait for their lives to start anew as two as one.
9
Mandy fiddled with her veil. She didn’t really want her face to be covered, but she also suspected she would cry during their vows. Maybe it would be best to have it down after all.
“Are you sure about this?” Alexis asked.
“You know I am.”
“Marrying again,” Claire murmured.
Mandy’s heart ached. Claire’s husband had died. Claire absolutely refused to date. While they had convinced Mandy to go on blind dates, they all knew better than to dare try that with Claire. Her entire world outside of her friends were her daughters. She never made the time to go out. Her heart would always belong to her husband and no one else.
But that wasn’t for Mandy, although she had thought the same once upon a time. She could love them both and disrespect neither at the same time.
Olivia hugged Mandy tightly. “He adores you. I’m so happy for you.”
“You are?” Mandy asked, even though she wasn’t surprised. She was floating, deliriously happy.
“Of course, you goof.”
Mandy grinned and blinked back tears. Of course, each of them was in her wedding party.
Speaking of wedding, it was time to march down the aisle.
Mandy’s father walked her down. The moment she spied Clint waiting for her, the tears started. He looked so handsome, her wolf, and she knew that her life would be that much fuller with him in it.
Before their friends and family, in an intimate wedding, Mandy and Clint pledged their lives together until death did them part. Somehow, Mandy knew that Brent had been watching over them. For the first time, she could think of her dead husband without sorrow or grief crushing her.
Mandy would always love Brent, but she would also always love Clint. The hole in her heart was now filled since her heart overall had grown larger. Brent had been her first wolf, but Clint would be her last. Love was truly remarkable.
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading Protecting What’s Hers! I had a lot of fun writing this series, and I hope you enjoyed reading it. Please consider writing a review. It would mean the world to me!
Until next book,
Daniella
Other Books By Daniella Starre
To Love and Defend
Protecting What’s His with His Alpha Valentine
Protecting What’s Hers with Her First Wolf, Her Lonely Howl, and Her Last Wolf
Protecting What’s Theirs with Her Only Wolf, Her Deceased Wolf, and His Elated Howl
Protecting Their Home with Her Wanton Howl, Her Frustrated Howl, and His Sole Soul
Protection with His Complicated Howl, His Discouraged Howl, and His Satisfied Soul
To Love and Defend Boxed Set with Their Joyous Howls
Clashing Claws
Flames and Fervor
Smoke and Seduction
Embers and Ecstasy
Harmony’s Harem
With Emmi Rue
Order of Divinity
About the Author
Daniella Starre loves love, chocolate martinis, and… okay, any kind of martini. When she’s not writing about werewolves finding their mates, she’s binging all kinds of shows and movies on Netflix.
Follow Daniella
www.DaniellaStarre.com
[email protected]
Protecting What's Hers (To Love And Defend Book 2) Page 13
