Wilson was frowning. “Stella,” he said. “Of course, I remember you. Lynn Davidson’s sister. You’re still having trouble with that man and his crew?”
“The crew are frightened off,” Stella said firmly. “Thank you so much for your help with that.” Wilson and Mavis had come to help drive off the wolf pack, back when she’d first gotten away from Todd and moved back in with Lynn.
He waved a hand. “My pleasure. Why didn’t you call on me again?” He glanced back and forth from her to the men. “I would have been glad to help you. Mavis as well, I’m sure.”
Mavis was a snow leopard shifter like her mate and daughter. Stella stammered, “I didn’t—want to impose on you both again.”
Last time, it had been an emergency. There’d been a whole wolf pack to deal with, and they’d had to get help right away—no time for calling in out-of-state security specialists. Stella hadn’t even considered bothering Wilson and Mavis over something like Todd refusing to leave her alone.
Wilson’s brows drew together. “No imposition. I don’t like to hear that people are being intimidated or threatened. I’d much prefer to be allowed to be part of the solution. In the future...”
“Understood, sir,” Nate said quickly. “We’ll let you know if you can help us any further.”
“See that you do,” Wilson said firmly.
He left with the same purposeful step he used to go everywhere, and they turned to go inside. Carlos insisted on going first, which made Stella feel like some kind of famous celebrity.
And then Stella was on her way to sit down and talk about becoming an artist.
Mavis smiled when she knocked, inviting her in with a wave. Stella closed the door behind her, motioning Nate and Carlos back to sit in the hall—she wanted this to be private, especially if it turned out that the whole idea was a non-starter.
“Stella,” Mavis said, getting up to shake her hand. “It’s lovely to see you again. I trust the wolves of the area have learned their lesson?”
Stella winced. “Well...all but one of them.”
So then she had to explain the whole situation again—and, startlingly, she got the same reaction.
“I wish you’d called us!” Mavis looked angry. “I can’t believe that worthless young man is still following you around. Though, well, I suppose if you’d only called on us, you’d never have found your own mate, so it’s all working out for the best, but if you have any more trouble in the future, please let us know.”
“I will,” Stella promised, feeling a bit dazed. It was strange how many more connections she had than she’d realized. She’d been feeling alone, before Nate arrived, always waiting for Todd to catch her by herself or just with Eva. But really...she was anything but alone.
“Good. Now.” Mavis sat back down behind her desk, attentive and businesslike. “Let’s talk business. What brings you in?”
“I want to be an artist.”
Hearing the words out of her own mouth was a shock. She hadn’t said those words since...maybe not since she was a teenager. Certainly not since well before Eva was born.
Because back then, she had wanted to be an artist. She’d thought about painting the Montana landscape, selling her work, becoming well-known enough to make her living traveling the world and painting the beautiful things she saw in foreign countries.
Maybe now she was getting a second chance. It seemed dangerous to hope so much, but...maybe it was really going to happen.
Mavis was smiling. “Professional art, hm? I think we can start you off in that direction. Let’s talk audience.”
And just like that...it was starting.
For the first time in a long time, Stella could feel something lock into place inside her.
Purpose.
When was the last time she’d had a real goal to work for? It had been so long. She’d been drifting from place to place, from person to person, idea to idea, job to job.
Well, now she had a place, and a person. And here was her idea. Hers.
And with the help of these connections she hadn’t realized she had...she was going to work for it.
***
Nate