Page 59 of Deadly Forever

“What?” Mandy knit her eyebrows together. “Is that a serious question?”

“Not if it’s going to get me in trouble.”

Mandy snorted. She couldn’t help herself. “I want to accomplish something with my day,” she explained. “I love painting, but I don’t want that to be the only thing I do with my life.”

James audibly swallowed. “Please don’t tell me you want to go back to the courthouse. I mean … if you do … I’ll stand by you. I’ll always stand by you. I don’t want you back there, though. I’m not going to lie and pretend I do.”

“I don’t want to go back to the courthouse,” Mandy said. “I promise that’s not what I’m getting at.”

“Okay, what are you getting at?”

“I … .” Mandy broke off and chewed on her bottom lip, uncertain if she should continue or let the conversation fall by the wayside.

“I can see your mind working, wife,” James said. “You’re embarrassed by what you’re about to admit and you’re wondering if you can distract me with nudity – or something equally enticing – to make me forget this conversation. Just for the record … you can’t.”

Mandy blew out a frustrated sigh. “I’ve been thinking about something over the past few weeks, but I’m afraid you’ll think I’m an idiot for even considering it.”

“If you really believe that, then you don’t know me at all.”

Mandy’s eyes were glassy when she lifted them. He had a point. He’d never once laughed at her when she told him about one of her ideas. The only time he ever made even close to a fuss was when she decided to take a cooking class. In the end, he’d been completely right about that.

“Well, I have that money sitting in the bank from what’s left of my inheritance and … um … I thought maybe I would start a foundation for women and children who need help getting back on their feet following a domestic abuse situation.”

Mandy refused to meet James’ weighted gaze as he stared at her.

“Look at me, baby.” James’ voice was gentle and when Mandy risked a glance in his direction she found an earnest expression on his face. “I think that sounds like a wonderful idea. I think that’s something that would be right up your alley. You’d be good at it.”

“I want to ask Judge MacIntosh to help with some of the legal stuff.”

“I think that’s also a good idea,” James said. “He’s retiring, but he would jump at the chance to help with something like that.”

“I want to ask Emma and Ally to be part of it, too.”

James smiled. “Ah, the three musketeers. How fun.”

“I mean that I want it to be full-time jobs for them,” Mandy clarified. “Actually, I know Emma won’t want to work full time, but I want her there as much as possible. I want to make sure there’s a place for her to take Avery while she’s there. Then, when he’s older, I want her to be able to use her teaching degree with the younger kids.”

“I think that sounds like a plan.” James loved the sparkle in Mandy’s eyes. “You should probably ask Sophie, too. I know she’s busy at the newspaper, but something tells me she’s going to want to donate her time for something this worthwhile.”

“I can’t believe you’re agreeing to this so easily,” Mandy said. “I thought you would fight me on it.”

“And why is that?”

“Because we’re going to set up a shelter and angry and abusive men will come looking for these women and children.”

James stilled. That part of the scenario hadn’t occurred to him. “We’ll figure it out,” he said after a beat. “We’ll find the right building and then I’ll handle security. I’m sure Peter will be able to help us out with affordable guards when the time is right, too.”

“Really?”

“Really, baby,” James said, focusing on her. “I think it’s great that you want to donate your time like this. You’ll still have plenty of time to paint, too. I think this is the best idea you’ve ever had. Er, well, aside from marrying me, that is.”

Mandy’s relief was palpable when she threw her arms around James’ neck. “Thank you.”

“Oh, baby, don’t thank me,” James said. “I want you to have whatever your heart desires. If this is what you want, I want you to have it.”

“That’s good,” Mandy said, digging her fingernails into the back of his neck. “Do you know that warehouse next door to Hardy Brothers Security? The building is for sale and I want to buy it for the shelter.”

James kept his arm around Mandy’s waist as he sucked in a breath. She’d clearly been thinking about this for a long time. “I’m fine with that,” he said after a beat. “In fact, I like that idea a great deal. We’ll be close if something happens, but we won’t be right on top of each other.”