Badge of Honor [The Town of Pearl 9] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever)

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  “Possibly. It’s up to Lauren. But I think she’s worth exploring the possibility with. I really think you’ll see in her what I do.”

  Mace waved his hand at Harper, dismissing him. “This woman has her claws into you already and all you did is kiss her. Shit, you need more experience with women and with sex, Harper,” Mace told him.

  “Screw you, Mace. You’re the one who needs more experience. You’re such a damn tight ass, you don’t even know how to let go and enjoy sex. You think of it as a means to get what you want and then be done. No connections, no lasting emotions, just cold, quick sex.”

  “Who the fuck are you? Dr. Phil? Since when are you an expert in relationships or sex? If I’m not mistaken, you haven’t had one relationship with a woman since we met years ago in boot camp. So don’t fucking stand here and try to act like you know what the fuck you’re talking about,” Mace snapped at him.

  “Calm down, you two. There’s no need to fight and say shit you’re going to regret. The bottom line is none of us ever felt comfortable in a relationship with a woman. None of us ever found a woman we wanted to learn more about or be around more than just for a roll or two in the hay. So no one is an expert here,” Gus told them.

  They were all quiet for a moment when Orin spoke.

  He took a slug from his beer and stared at the fire. “I guess it would be kind of nice to be with the same woman for a while. You know, get to know her, take care of her, and let my guard down enough to enjoy her for a while instead of for a night,” Orin told them.

  “Great, now he has you thinking of precious moments and being tender and courting some woman. We’re doomed,” Mace added.

  Gus, Harper, and Galvin chuckled just as Galvin’s phone rang.

  “It’s Dmitri,” he said and took the call.

  They all looked concerned. Even Galvin felt that slight tension in his chest. Most of the time when Dmitri called them it was for a job, or some work he needed done discretely. But as he listened to Dmitri talk, he couldn’t help but look at Harper and feel bad for the guy. It seemed this woman Lauren he was so interested in could be a criminal herself, and as good as dead with the Tenth Street gang from New York after her.

  “So what is it that you want us to do?”

  Dmitri explained and then Galvin told him he was going to put him on speaker so the others could hear. When he did, he saw all their expressions change and then Harper’s face turn bright red as he clenched his jaw. It seemed he wasn’t going to take the information lightly. This woman Lauren he felt was perfect for them was either a corrupt cop, or an innocent one caught in the middle of a drug raid gone badly. Throw in the mark for death on her chest, and yeah, even he felt a bit on guard.

  * * * *

  “So we’re talking full investigation and full contact with this woman?” Orin asked, joining the conversation. His curiosity was growing about Lauren, and his buddy’s deep, and instant, interest in her. Right now, Orin thought Harper looked ready to explode.

  “Don’t be so obvious about it. You already have an in now that Harper has made contact with her,” Dmitri said.

  Harper’s eyes widened. “How do you know that?” Harper asked.

  “The woman whose house Lauren is staying in is the one that contacted me to save her from getting killed while she was in the hospital,” Dmitri told him.

  “The hospital? So Lauren did sustain injuries?” Harper asked.

  “Victor is sending you everything I have including how I first came in contact with Lauren.”

  “Who is she staying with?” Orin asked.

  “Mary Higgins,” Dmitri replied.

  “The wealthy older lady who lives in that estate behind the Inn?” Gus asked.

  “Yes. She’s like family so when she called needing help I immediately stepped in.”

  “What’s your take on this, Dmitri?” Galvin asked.

  “I want to believe Lauren’s a good detective, caught in the middle of corruption and a bad situation. But we’ll need to figure that out quickly. It’s all in the file. Let me know if you have further questions.”

  Dmitri disconnected the call and Mace walked inside to get the laptop.

  Orin looked at the fire slowly burning out. They had been getting ready to add another log, but it wasn’t necessary now. The atmosphere had changed immensely. They now had another job to do, but this time it was closer to home and that put Orin on edge and certainly the rest of the team as well.

  Chapter 8

  Lauren needed to head into town. Beth got the wrong protein shakes and Lauren couldn’t help but to think she did it on purpose. It seemed Mary and Beth were pushing for some kind of love match to happen between Lauren and Harper.

  Lauren headed down to Main Street when she saw the sheriff standing by his truck on the corner talking with a woman and two children. He immediately looked up and caught Lauren’s eye. She nodded and gave a small smile and he looked her over.

  She wasn’t in hiding today so much. She wore jeans, sneakers, a pale blue V-neck T-shirt, and carried a backpack with her.

  “Good afternoon, ma’am,” the sheriff said and stopped talking to the woman with the two children so he could talk with Lauren. She eyed him over. The sheriff was a big man. He had lots of muscles, a firm expression, and defined lines by his eyes probably from being in the sun a lot or even squinting or scowling. He seemed very commanding. She respected that.

  “Good morning, Sheriff,” she said and held his gaze.

  “I haven’t seen you in town much. Are you starting to feel a bit more comfortable here?” he asked. She wasn’t stupid. She knew he knew about why she was here in Pearl and why she was living with Mary.

  Lauren looked around the town. “I was just heading toward the store and hoping they had some things I needed. It looks like you run a nice, safe town here, sheriff. I respect that,” she told him as she crossed her arms and stood in a stance she knew probably spoke volumes to Wyatt. It was a cop thing. Body language said a lot about a person.

  He eyed her over and smiled. He looked around them and then back down into her eyes.

  “You’re safe here, Lauren. I want you to know that, and to understand it’s not just a line of bullshit.”

  She nodded.

  His expression grew firm.

  “You’re very lucky that Harper didn’t hurt you or worse in the woods last week when you drew the gun on him. He’s a highly trained SEAL, among other things. It could have been disastrous.”

  “Only for him if he attacked,” she replied in her defense. But actually she felt badly for that incident. Harper seemed so nice. But then after talking with Mary she wasn’t even certain if Harper and her met by chance or on purpose. That still pissed her off.

  “You don’t know Harper or his team. They are very capable. Let’s just leave it at that. My point here is that it isn’t necessary to be carrying, Lauren. The men of Pearl are your protectors.”

  Lauren shook her head and tried to not let her attitude show. She didn’t want to get into a pissing contest with the sheriff. Mary had to continue to live here long after Lauren left the town.

  “I have a license to carry, and I’m a trained professional.”

  “Things are different here in Pearl. I understand that you’re a detective from New York, and that you’re under a lot of stress right now with your current situation. However, as the sheriff, I need to ensure the safety of all members of this community. Drawing a weapon on another citizen cannot become a habitual act.”

  “I can assure you that I only drew my weapon because Harper appeared out of nowhere. I have a right to defend and protect myself. Are you telling me that women in this town are completely submissive, and aren’t allowed to be in control of their lives and can’t even protect themselves when they’re alone?”

  “The majority of women in Pearl are quite independent and assertive, I can assure you. What I’m trying to tell you is that you are not alone. You don’t need to feel like you’re defending yourself a
nd that no one would be here to assist you if need be. Sooner or later, someone is going to want to claim guardianship of you and you’re going to have to accept it because it is a number one rule of Pearl. It ensures that you truly are being protected and watched over during this time of concern.”

  She eyed him over, her arms still crossed in front of her chest. “I can take care of myself, Sheriff. No one is staking a claim over me or staking guardianship, as you describe it.”

  “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 shit 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 “damn.”

  “She’s got a hell 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 attitude.

  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 breasts, 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 hello, 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 hello 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 décor 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 breasts, 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 sexually.

  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 Michelle.”

  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.

  Michelle 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 bullshit, just the truth,” Galvin told her firmly.

  She shot from the hip without even thinking.