"I wouldn't be so sure about that, darling," he replied looking over her shoulder. Before she could turn around, Wyatt was tipping his hat and walking away.

Lauren turned to see Harper and two other men. Men who were just as tall and muscular, and just as handsome as Harper. She absorbed the sight of them, from thick, muscular thighs, their jeans stretching to capacity, to their physically fit muscles peeking out from beneath tight shirts. She had to swallow hard and try to gain control of the instant attraction she felt. These men in Pearl were something else. No wonder women grabbed a few of them at a time.

"Lauren, meet Galvin and Gus. They're part of my team. Galvin was our commander," Harper introduced them and both men looked her over then held her gaze.

She looked at the two men who seemed to be absorbing her body with their eyes.

"I have nothing to say to you, Harper." She turned around and started walking away. She could hear the other two men chuckle but Harper hurried to catch up to her. He grabbed her hand and walked along with her. She tried pulling it from him but his hold was firm.

"Why are you angry with me? I didn't do anything wrong."

She stopped and stared up into his gorgeous blue eyes.

"You were spying on me. You purposely found me in the woods and created that chance meeting just so you could keep an eye on me for Mary's friend. I get it. It's a game to a man like you. Maybe you're not used to independent women who can handle taking care of themselves and you thought this would be funny. I really don't care what you have to say. I can take care of myself. I sure as s.h.i.t don't need you and your team of SEALs to do that for me like I'm some weak, helpless female. So screw off, Harper, and take your buddies with you."

She turned around to walk away and heard one of the men whistle and the other say "d.a.m.n."

"She's got a h.e.l.l of a temper on her, Harper," one said.

"But can fill out a pair of blue jeans like I've never seen before," the other added. Gus, she believed, was his name.

She stopped walking and turned around to scold them when Harper pulled her into his arms, ran his hand under her hair to the base of her head, and kissed her.

Gus looked at Galvin, who appeared entranced by the woman. Gus felt it, too. She was gorgeous and nothing like he expected her to be. Maybe because Mace and Orin warned about her being some conniving woman who used her body to try and seduce a drug dealer to get a piece of the action. But by her response to the sheriff and to them, he'd say she was quite capable of handling things on her own and she was filled with att.i.tude.

He watched Harper kissing her and then he saw her kissing Harper back and a series of wild thoughts went through Gus's head.

Galvin cleared his throat as he and Gus looked around them at the scene Harper and Lauren were making.

Harper pulled back and pressed Lauren back against the bench, placing his hands on either side of her on the bench so she was caged in.

"I'm only going to tell you this once. No one sent us to watch over you. I didn't know who you were when we met in the woods a couple of weeks ago. I didn't know anything about you until yesterday. But I can tell you one thing, it's all going to change."

"No, Harper. It isn't. I'm not a member of this town and community."

"You already are, but just don't realize it yet," Gus told her as he joined them. He stared down into her blue eyes and held her gaze.

"I'm Gus, by the way." He reached his hand out for her to shake as Harper stepped back.

She shook his hand and they both stared at one another. He felt the attraction immediately and it hit him why Lauren was so appealing to Harper. He was attracted to her, too. Her trim waist, large b.r.e.a.s.t.s, long blonde hair, and big blue eyes were mesmerizing. But it was more than just her looks and her smoking figure. She was tough, controlled, and had an edge of strength and power to her. He found it appealing for more reasons than he could contemplate.

"This is our commander, Galvin," Gus introduced him next.

Gus watched Galvin stare at Lauren firmly while he shook her hand. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and Galvin held her gaze.

"We have a few things to discuss. How about a little lunch?" Galvin asked.

"I have shopping at the store to do. Besides, there really isn't anything for us to discuss. I'm not interested," she said and started to turn to walk away.

Galvin took her hand and held her gaze. They froze in place and Gus had to hide his smile.

"We're taking you to lunch. How else are we going to get to know you and lay down the rules?" he told her and before she could lash her tongue of fire at him, Galvin led her down the sidewalk with Gus and Harper right beside them.

Lauren wasn't sure what to do or how to react to these men. It was crazy, but as angry and annoyed as she was for believing they thought she should automatically accept their protection and control, she felt confused about it, and sort of intrigued. She was attracted to them. What woman wouldn't be for that matter? The muscles, the six foot plus frames, and gorgeous bodies were enough to make a woman beg. They had a lot to offer, but she wasn't biting. She had too much on her plate right now. She took care of herself. That was the way it had to be.

As they walked through town, and people waved or said h.e.l.lo, never taking a second glance at the three men walking with her, she started to really think about the town and what it had to offer. She noticed the multiple men with one woman and how normal it appeared. She also noticed the way the town was so clean, and deputies patrolled on foot and in patrol cars.

But it wasn't like they were monitoring or being overly controlling. They talked with the townspeople. They stopped the car to say h.e.l.lo or check things out, and it all looked so different than her world. It wasn't just because she came from such a big, wild city like New York. There was graffiti, garbage overflowing on sidewalks, and the constant hustle and bustle. Pearl was the complete opposite. It was the storybook, almost faux idealistic town from the decor to the darn sheriff. It made her realize how desensitized she had become to violence, homicide, crime, and the pure evil people were capable of.

She almost felt like she wouldn't fit in here. Like she was too tainted with evil.

It shocked her until she felt the hand on her waist and heard the sound of a small bell chiming as they entered what appeared to be a very nice diner.

Was it her, or were these men looking for any excuse to touch her? And why was it that their touches affected her so?

A woman behind the counter gave a wave, but Lauren noticed these men just nodded their heads. They didn't smile and wave back or even exchange pleasantries with anyone. They beelined it toward the back corner booth, Gus motioning for her to slide into the middle.

She didn't want to do that. She liked having an escape route, a means to get up in an emergency.

"I think I'll sit on the end," she told him. Then felt Galvin's hand on her waist and his body press up against hers.

"Slide on in there, darling. We got you covered," he told her in a thick, hard tone that said he meant business yet had the effect like that of something warm drizzling over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, causing them to ache.

It was then she felt the firearm on his hip, and she wondered how she had missed that earlier. A gun. I was thinking he meant something s.e.xually.

Rolling her eyes, she took the seat and slid along the shiny burgundy leather. Maybe she hadn't noticed because Harper had his tongue down her throat and she felt about ready to come in his arms. That little episode didn't even feel real. Had she imagined it?

She felt her cheeks warm from the thoughts, and then she felt the two thick solid thighs collide against her thighs on either side. Harper and Gus took position beside her. Galvin sat on the end, looking relaxed yet ready to jump into action.

"Good morning, Galvin, Gus, Harper. Haven't seen ya in here for quite some time. Who's your friend?" a young redhead asked.

"This is Lauren. Lauren, meet Mich.e.l.le."

The waitress looked her over and Lauren just stared at her. She never was one to do that whole sizing up another female thing. It wasn't like these men around the table were Lauren's. The thought surprised her, but more importantly the idea that they were so close, and acting like she belonged to them, caused an alarm to go off inside of her.

Mich.e.l.le took their drink orders and then Lauren cleared her throat.

"I really do have some shopping to do at the grocery store. I think I'll skip lunch," she said and began to move toward Gus like she was getting up and for him to move. Gus, with his light shadow of a beard and dark eyes, held her gaze. His eyes slowly swept over her lips, his expression firm.

"Tell us about New York," he said and she felt her chest tighten.

She looked around them to be sure no one could overhear.

"Nothing to talk about."

"Darling, from the file we got on you and your situation, I'd say there was a bunch to talk about," Galvin added.

"What file?"

"All you need to know is that we expect the truth from you. No lies. No bulls.h.i.t, just the truth," Galvin told her firmly.

She shot from the hip without even thinking.

"Who the f.u.c.k are you? I don't have to tell you s.h.i.t," she stated firmly, drawing some attention from other patrons in the room.

Harper leaned closer. "Lower your voice. We're not the enemy. We're here to help you."

Her eyes widened.

"So you did just show up in the woods to try and gain my trust. You lying b.a.s.t.a.r.d," she exclaimed.

But then Harper cupped her cheeks with his palms and held her firmly.

"What in G.o.d's name are you talking about?"

She covered his hands with her hands.

"You lied. You were told to find me in the woods over a week ago and then to become friendly with me so you could get information."

"No. I didn't. We met by chance. I couldn't get you out of my head so I told my team about you. But then we heard from a man we do special jobs for and he mentioned you," Harper explained.

"I don't believe you," she stated and turned away from him causing his hands to leave her cheeks. She felt the loss of his touch, and that manliness of his embrace.

"I'm not lying, Lauren," Harper told her again.

"Enough of this. It doesn't matter. What matters is your safety. You're a new member of this community," Galvin told her as Mich.e.l.le arrived to take their food order.

Lauren rambled off the grilled chicken salad with diced apples and raisins because it was the first thing she saw on the menu. The others ordered burgers.

"You know what? Those sound good. Forget the salad and make my order a burger, Swiss, mushrooms, and those fried onions that he ordered," Lauren told the waitress as she directed a thumb toward Gus. The men watched her closely and Lauren wondered what they were thinking. Then she warned herself to stay on guard. For all she knew, these men could accept a payoff to kill her if they were offered the opportunity and the right amount of money. Trust no one, Lauren. No one but yourself.

For every question or transitional topic that could lead back to Lauren revealing more about herself or the incident in New York, she had a counterresponse that drew attention away from her. She was very good at counterinterrogating, too. That became apparent as she got Harper to talk to her about them being SEALs and how they all lived together in one house.

Galvin watched her closely as he received text messages with updates from Mace and Orin.

They informed Galvin that Lauren was a very highly accommodated detective who'd received numerous awards in her profession as a cop since the academy. He was impressed.

"So what made you decide to become a cop?" he asked her after Mich.e.l.le brought over the burgers.

She had just taken a bite of hers and watched him.

"Someone has to find and lock up the bad guys. You know. Make the streets safer," she said in that thick New York accent that was pretty d.a.m.n s.e.xy. Galvin popped a fry into his mouth.

"Want to save the whole world, do ya?"

She held his gaze and looked him over. He felt those blue eyes of hers as if they had the power to penetrate through his skin. He felt the tingle.

"How about you? Why the SEALs? I mean out of all the branches of the armed forces." She took a bite of her burger. There she went again, avoiding questions, manipulating the conversation to go into her control.

"You first. Why a cop?" he pushed.

She lifted the napkin to her mouth and dabbed the corners.

"I guess it was my calling, my vocation in life. I like people. I also have strong feelings about the law and upholding it. Becoming a cop just fit, I guess."

She ran her finger along the rim of her drink as she spoke.

Galvin had respect for that, for her choice in a predominantly male profession.

She was tough. That was certain. She had to be to sustain three bullet wounds and survive. Mace was texting more stuff. He even mentioned previous injuries. St.i.tches from a knife wound and even a head injury. But she was so d.a.m.n beautiful. He didn't like thinking of her getting injured.

"Well it is the same for me with the SEALs. I knew I wanted to join the service. Went through basic and heard about this elite group, and decided to go for it. I never looked back," he shared with her.

"And you guys? What made you choose the SEALs?" she asked Gus and Harper, and Galvin listened as Harper told her about his brother Gerry who was killed while serving pre-Desert Storm and how much of an influence his brother had been in his life. Galvin watched Lauren as she listened and genuinely appeared interested and saddened by his loss.

"It's never easy to lose a loved one," she said and then went back to eating.

They ate in silence until Harper asked her some more questions. They found out that she had lived in upstate New York and went to a community college for criminal justice and had two sisters.

"So right now your sisters have protection from Dmitri?" Gus asked.

"Dmitri? That's the guy's name who's friends with Mary?"

Galvin didn't realize that Lauren didn't even know who was protecting her and her sisters.

"Yes. That's his name. I'm sure they're safe and sound," Harper tried to rea.s.sure her.

"Does this Dmitri have a last name?" she inquired in a way that put Galvin on edge and made him immediately get her tone. She would ask more questions and push for answers. How much should they tell her? After all, she was a cop, and Dmitri was a made man with the Russian mob, and they worked for him from time to time. Nothing illegal. Just standard guns for hire, intimidation, and security to enforce protection on new businesses and old.

Would she think of them differently than a few minutes ago when she praised their commitment to the country by their service as Navy SEALs?

"Wait, you're not going to tell me who this guy is, and you expect me to tell you everything about me?" she challenged.

"You're on a need-to-know basis when it comes to Dmitri," Gus warned her as he held her gaze with an intense one.

"And I don't need to know?" she replied.

"What made you become a cop in the city instead of in the suburbs?" Harper asked her in an attempt to change the subject. Thank goodness the waitress came over to collect their empty plates. He wouldn't put it past Lauren to make a scene here.

"I was living in the city, and saw how busy and I guess kind of wild New York was. You always have to be aware of your surroundings, and keep an eye on things around you so no one can get the jump on you. You walk quickly, keeping up with the traffic and the other people heading to work. There's a very different feel to walking in New York City than other cities."

"But why become a cop? Out of all the other professions out there and available in a city like New York, why not corporate, business, or fashion industry?" Galvin asked, and she shook her head as if annoyed.