"I was running through the woods, like I usually do and on our usual route."

Mace nodded then hit the wood again to split another log. Harper wondered what would have happened if Mace were there with him. s.h.i.t, Mace would have disarmed Sally and maybe even hurt her with his quick moves.

He thought about leaving out the part where Sally drew her weapon, a Glock.

But then he never lied to Mace or the others. He never held back with them. They were his family.

He cringed just waiting for Mace to explode on him when instead he heard laughter. Mace found it amusing.

"Are you f.u.c.king kidding me? Some chick in spandex got the jump on you?"

"What chick in spandex?"

Harper turned to see Orin join them. He stepped down off the porch with his hands in his front pockets.

"Some chick was running through the woods on the same route as Harper and when she saw him, and thought he was some pervert, she drew a gun on him."

"s.h.i.t, Harper. Are you okay? Who was she and what was she doing with a gun?" Orin asked.

"I don't know who she was or why she had the gun. She sure as s.h.i.t knew how to use it though. Pulled it out in a flash and held it with steady hands. Like a trained professional."

"Could be retired military. Though I think Wyatt and his deputies would know for sure. Glad she didn't decide to pop you one," Orin said as he slapped Harper on the shoulder.

Harper shook his head at his buddy's teasing.

"s.h.i.t, that would have truly sucked. You've been through war, f.u.c.ked up major crazy secret missions, and even some dangerous jobs here on US soil, and this Terminator chick could have ended your life because she thought you were some pervert in the woods. f.u.c.king scary," Mace told Harper.

"Really f.u.c.king scary," Orin added.

"Did you find out her name at least or maybe where she lives? Perhaps Wyatt should talk to her about carrying," Mace wondered.

"Her name is Sally, and no I have no idea where she lives. It wasn't a big deal. I think she realized she was safe and put it away as if nothing happened. It was her behavior and actions afterwards that keep me wondering about her."

"Oh s.h.i.t, you got the hots for this woman. d.a.m.n, who would have thought that gun play was your thing in the bedroom," Mace teased.

"f.u.c.k you, moron. That wasn't it at all. She was very pretty, had a great body, and a sort of sweet personality," Harper said.

"Sweet personality, my a.s.s. She sounds like some psycho feminist on a power trip because she has a gun. You're lucky she didn't shoot your c.o.c.k off," Mace said in annoyance. He then started carrying on about women wanting to use men.

Mace didn't trust easily and that was putting it mildly. He sure as s.h.i.t didn't date and never felt compelled to engage in a committed relationship. His sourness about women stemmed from his inability to commit. The military had ruled his life and their lives. Even after retiring they were still putting everything on the line. Instead of for their country that they loved, they did it for kicks, the adrenaline rush, and the money. G.o.d knew the government didn't take care of their soldiers the way they portrayed to the public.

Harper looked at Orin. His expression serious and dark like always. He had a distinguishing nose, a firm, muscular jaw, and very dark eyes.

"What's up with you?" Orin asked Harper. Harper turned toward the woods, his thoughts still on Sally, the mysterious blonde from the woods. He laughed at his own thoughts. He was making her a mystery. Mace was probably right. She was more than likely some psycho woman with the need to feel empowered by drawing a gun on unknowing men. But as he thought that, it didn't feel right at all.

"I've never seen you like this. Are you spooked from this woman getting the upper hand on you and drawing the gun, or are you interested in finding out more about her and seeing her again?" Orin asked him.

Mace stopped chopping wood.

"Are you f.u.c.king kidding me? Fatal Attraction could have been based on a true-life story. If Harper pursues this woman, h.e.l.l, if he f.u.c.ks her, she could go psycho and try to kill him, maybe chop his c.o.c.k off."

"s.h.i.t, Mace. Where the h.e.l.l do you come up with this s.h.i.t? Why are you such a callous b.a.s.t.a.r.d?" Orin asked.

Mace got serious and Harper could tell he was angry. He threw down the ax. "You finish up. I've got better things to do than stand around here and talk about some woman in the woods that got Harper all screwed up in the head."

He walked away and Harper just stared at his back as he left.

"He can be such an a.s.shole sometimes," Orin said as he walked toward the wood and the ax.

"I'll do that. I need to get things off my mind," Harper took the ax.

Orin stepped back. "You know, if you like this woman, you'll need to find out everything you can about her. Otherwise Mace will, and any little thing she has on her, Mace will bring up."

"I don't think we need to get all paranoid about this woman."

"You don't think so, Harper? How do you know she wasn't sent here to hurt one of us or someone else in town? You know there are a lot of people who live in Pearl who do different types of work. Look at us. We dab in investing in small businesses and we get hired as heavies, gun-enforcing muscle for the Russian mob."

Harper lifted the ax over his head and then onto the log of wood chopping it.

"It's an honest day's work, and it doesn't compare to the danger we faced as SEALS."

"Just watch your a.s.s with this woman. Let me know if you need help tracking her down. I'm going to head back inside to see what jobs we have coming up for Storm."

Harper nodded his head and then went back to chopping wood, wondering why Mace reacted the way he did, and why he was feeling as if he were desperate to meet Sally again. All Harper knew was that he'd never reacted to a woman the way he automatically did to Sally. He would find out who she was and where she lived. He was good at tracking people. He was a Navy SEAL.

Harper lifted the ax and continued to chop the wood until his mind went from thoughts of Sally to thoughts of food and feeding his belly. A glance around the area an hour later and they wouldn't need to chop wood for months.

Mace walked into his bedroom, closed the door, and paced the room. He saw his reflection in the mirror. Gruff along his jaw, the dark, hollow look to his eyes, and he felt himself process his reaction to Harper. Why he was being such a d.i.c.k was obvious. He was feeling jealous, insecure, almost like he was never going to be normal or feel like a regular guy. None of them brought women around or talked about them. They disappeared for a day or so, or even a night here and there, and it was self-explanatory what they were doing. Easing that ache a man had.

He ran his fingers through his hair. He hadn't had s.e.x with a woman in over a year. Why? He had nearly become obsessed with one pretty young thing an hour and a half out of town. She had been his regular partner for months, and he felt comfortable, sort of, with her. Then she told him it was over. That she couldn't wait around for him to commit or be more than a s.e.x partner. She wanted more. She wanted the house, the kids, the connection, and the commitment he wasn't capable of.

Mace wasn't about to a.n.a.lyze why he was adamant about such a relationship. Well, maybe he should a.n.a.lyze it, get out what was bothering him and concerning him about a relationship. He didn't want to tell his team, his brothers, his thoughts. His desperate need to have them close by. Like he needed them to be with a woman. That was crazy. All the dangerous life-threatening things he did in his life with his team made him stronger, harder, but apparently more dependent on them.

Now here was Harper meeting some woman with a gun in the woods and acting like he was under a spell. How f.u.c.king hot was this woman? She had to have a h.e.l.l of a body and a d.a.m.n beautiful face for Harper to react like this.

He thought about that and ran his hands over his face as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Could he date a woman? Find a woman he could feel comfortable and candid with? He didn't think it was possible. He trusted himself and his team, his brothers-in-arms.

He thought about his reaction to Harper. He was a jerk. He was feeling jealous, inadequate, and incapable. They were all compet.i.tive but supportive. He didn't wish bad things for Harper or anyone else. He was just so confused when it came to women and committing. He had to make things right for Harper. If he didn't find out who this woman Sally was and how to get in touch with her, then Mace would hunt her down for him. It was the least he could do for being such a d.i.c.k.

He took a deep breath and sighed as he stood up. Again he saw his reflection in the mirror and cringed. He looked like some psycho mercenary. He was in perfect physical condition. Had muscles everywhere as well as scars. He lifted his shirt and saw the definition on his belly. He thought about what it might feel like to have the feminine touch of a woman against his skin. That delicate feel of fingers, nails, and the scent of sweet perfume. Could he be gentle, and then a little rough? Could he make her scream and then beg for more of him? Could he ever feel safe enough to let go, to lie with a woman in his arms and know that everything was perfect even if only for a minute, an hour, a day?

He let his shirt go and stared at his reflection.

"You're one broken, f.u.c.ked-up, scarred SEAL, man. A good woman will never find you appealing or worth her time and her body."

He turned around and headed toward his bed, plopping down on the comforter and staring up at the ceiling fan. His mind wandered on all the f.u.c.ked-up s.h.i.t he'd done in his life, and how truly dark and scarred he was. A fine, beautiful woman might not want him but at least he had his team, his brothers-in-arms.

Chapter 6.

Lauren avoided taking the same jogging route through the woods in hopes of not b.u.mping into Harper. Despite how the man remained on her mind the last several days, she knew she couldn't entertain some fling. G.o.d knew when she would have to hightail it out of here. She was still waiting for some sort of response from her commander about the next steps in securing her safety and possible return to New York. The last conversation left her feeling pretty discouraged about the legal system and the fact that Miklos, Rafael, and Orlando got away with attempting to kill her. Even as she asked him about Frank, he gave spotty information and told her to not worry about it and that it was taken care of. She researched the case and the news reports online that morning and saw that there was never any mention of Frankie's death and she wondered if he were still alive. Could they be covering it up and saying that he was dead when he wasn't? But why?

It seemed to her that more was going on in this investigation than she had been let in on. It was also apparent that her commander didn't want her in contact with Hercules and his crew or Agent Burk. How had her and Frankie wound up there anyway?

She thought about that as she got ready for another run and a workout against that set of hills that made her injuries burn and caused her to lose a bet against Harper.

She shook her head. She was in no position to flirt or fool around with some s.e.xy, attractive cowboy like Harper. She needed to train and to be in tip-top shape. She had to be ready to fall into survivor mode at the drop of a hat.

Lauren thought about the informant that Frankie knew and how they got the call a few blocks away from that location. Had he known that this guy was going to call him? Had he already planned on going in and taking down Miklos and Aces? The way Frankie got out of the car and didn't wait for backup was completely against protocol. Why did he resist waiting for backup? Why did he approach the way he did all gung ho and as if he were some bulletproof superhero.

She closed her eyes and saw his body jerk as each bullet hit him.

She released an annoyed sigh and stood up after tying her sneakers.

It was warm out today. She wore her spandex leggings, a sports bra, and a tank top in black-and-green camo. Then she pulled on the light, nylon vest that would cover her gun she had in the holster on her back. She wasn't going anywhere without her weapon.

Lauren headed downstairs, gave a quick wave and good morning to Beth, and then off she went. The air was cool and pleasant but would soon be warm and humid in no time. She started off behind the house going over the trail she had a week ago. She needed to head toward those hills. She never liked to fail. She usually never did. Having Harper beat her up those hills had really gotten under her skin. Despite the pain it had caused her ribs and the scarred skin of her gunshot wounds, she was determined to not fail again.

She made her way through the winding pathways, not seeing a soul and being grateful for it. As she looked to the right, she noticed the area of plusher, thicker woods that was a bit farther off course. Feeling the need for a challenge, she headed that way.

As she ran farther up the steep hill then into thicker brush, she heard what sounded like branches cracking. Sure enough, a quick turn to her right and there was Harper.

Her mouth dropped at the sight of him. The son of a gun wasn't wearing any shirt. Even from the distance she could tell he was in great physical condition. His pectoral muscles were thick and hard, he had a twelve pack for abs, and his arms were defined as well. The man was a fantasy. Too bad she was hiding out in this town.

She turned away although he'd probably already seen her drooling over his body. But then he stopped a foot or so away from her just as she heard a noise a half a yard in front of her. She immediately saw what appeared to be a few dogs together. Then she heard Harper.

"Don't move."

She eased her hand behind her back and was about to reach under her vest to grab hold of her gun when she felt Harper's hand clutch her arm and then his body close to hers.

"Don't. They'll just keep walking and be on their way in no time. Stray dogs," he whispered.

She turned her head to the right and then felt his hands on her hips. They were warm, and masculine. She started to move when he gripped her snugger then pressed against her.

"People let their dogs get wild and sometimes they're rabid. Those guys look like they don't have much time left. They'll be extra aggressive."

"Maybe we should put them out of their misery?" she asked. Then she felt his palm ease along her belly. She gasped as she locked gazes with him over her right shoulder. His blue eyes stared deeply into hers. His hands felt right against her body. She liked it.

"You want to put someone out of their misery? Pick me, and let me kiss you already."

He leaned closer and she was shocked by his move, his slick play with words, but she didn't pull away. His lips touched hers, and just her luck he tasted like heaven.

He maneuvered her against the tree, pressing her back against the hard bark. Even that turned her on. Everything did, in an instant. His hands against her body, the sensation his large presence caused within her core, and the intensity of his blue eyes as Harper's words left his lips in some exotic tune.

His kiss was deep, sensual, as her senses kicked into overdrive. She could smell the scent of soap, cologne, and muskiness of the woods. He slid his one palm along her hip to her a.s.s in exploration and as his hand grazed over her other side and against her scar, she gasped and pulled away. Reality reminded her that she wasn't free to explore any of these emotions. She was far from free.

"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" he asked, taking her hands and pulling her closer to him. But he looked over her shoulder then back at her. She glanced that way, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear after she pulled one hand free of his gentle hold.

The wild dogs were gone. They were all alone, and she didn't know what to do or say next.

He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as she stared up at his handsome face. He was so enticing, so s.e.xy and manly. She could get lost in his eyes, never mind his embrace. She felt his thumb brush along her ribs.

"Are you injured here?" His tone, calm yet a.s.sertive as if he were in command, gave her mixed emotions. She felt aroused by him, by Harper's tone and commanding personality. She also felt unsteady. She was always trying to prove herself in life, yet here she was wishing she had someone who could care for her, take care of her. She wouldn't have to face what was yet to come along. But that wouldn't be fair to Harper. To this gorgeous man she didn't even know.

"What?" she asked, pulling away and taking a few steps back to put some distance between them.

He stood there and stared at her. "You favored that side last week when we first met and you stopped on the hill. Are you injured there?"

She stared at him. He was too observant. Was he a cop? A detective?

"What do you do for a living?"

His eyes widened and then he glanced to the right then back at her. He was going to lie. It was all in his body language.

"I do a lot of things. I'm retired from the SEALs. And you? What do you do?" he asked.

"A lot of things. I'm taking some time off to figure out what I want to do next. Pearl seemed like a nice place to do that. You know, a place where no one bothers you." She turned around and started to walk.

He reached for her arm, pulling her to a stop. "You're kidding me right? You're going to walk away from me after that kiss we shared?"

He looked so upset, and she felt guilty. Too guilty to shove the guy away and lie about the kiss. It was freaking incredible. But what could she do? She couldn't get involved with him. This wasn't the right time.

"Come on, Sally, give me a chance. Let's get to know one another and see where this attraction leads."

Sally? He called her Sally and she felt so guilty about that, too. She wouldn't lie to him. It wasn't right. It didn't feel right, and she wasn't a liar.

"Listen, my name isn't Sally."

He raised one eyebrow at her and then looked her over as he crossed his arms in front of his ma.s.sive chest.

She reached out and touched his forearm as she began to make an excuse but then put her hand down, looked at the ground, and then back up at him.

"My name is Lauren. I lied because I didn't know who you were and was just being cautious. I am visiting town for a while, but I won't be staying long. I just thought it would be better to lie."

"Well, Lauren, I guess I could understand your need to be safe. I did show up in the woods unexpected, but I do remember it being you who drew a gun on me."

He stared at her.