Badge of Honor (The Town of Pearl 9)

He glanced at her as he prepared to take off running, too.

“On three?”

She nodded and looked ahead. Staring at the profile of her face, Harper almost lost count. How stupid? It was three numbers and when he said three, in a whisper, she took off and he hesitated.

“Shit,” he blurted out and ran after her and up toward the hill. As they ran nearly side by side, he felt the difficulty of the steep hill and so did the woman who grunted low and then gasped. He had to beat her. He just had to so he could find out who she was. As he made it to the top of the hill, overjoyed for beating the woman and now prepared to interrogate her, he saw she wasn’t there. Instead she was on her knees a few feet back and holding her side. She looked about ready to cry and he felt like such a bastard.

“Shit. Are you okay? Damn I didn’t mean for you to get hurt,” he said as he slid down and knelt next to her. She sat down and wrapped an arm around her waist and took short, painful breaths.

“Damn it. Damn it to hell,” she complained.

“Are you okay?” he asked her and she nodded her head.

He sat down next to her and his gut clenched. She was hurt. Not from the sprint up the hill but from an injury on her side. There was no way a woman in such physically fit condition would have a cramp or something. Call it intuition or instincts, but he knew she was hurt. Perhaps that was why she carried a gun? Maybe she was in trouble or something.

“What?” she snapped at him. He hadn’t realized that he was staring at her.

“You’re hurt.”

She shook her head and went to move but gasped. He reached over and covered her knee with his hand. He was a lot bigger than her and when he placed his hand over her knee and made that physical contact he felt the heat move over his entire body. His cock even hardened and stood at attention. He was instantly attracted to this woman and he couldn’t even see her face or her eyes.

“You’re not okay. You’re definitely hurt. An old injury?” he asked.

She pulled her sunglasses from her face and snapped at him, “It’s none of your business. Just leave me alone please, and go bother someone else.”

He stared into her gorgeous blue eyes and she stared right back at him.

“I’ll be fine.”

“What’s your name?” he replied and he watched her lips part and all he could think about was how sweet those lips would taste. He was shocked. He’d never had a reaction like this to a woman before. It was so fast and wild. She was exquisite.

He raised one eyebrow at her and she held his expression with annoyance written all over her face. However, she must have sensed his stubbornness for she replied softly.

“If I tell you, will you leave me alone?” she asked.

He couldn’t resist as he reached up and gently pushed a stray piece of blonde hair from her cheek and held her chin with his thumb and pointer. He held her gaze. “I doubt it. Tell me your name.”

* * * *

Lauren was shocked at the rush of emotions and the attraction she had to this stranger. The man was gorgeous, hard, and muscular, and there was a darkness about him. His blue eyes were bold and in great contrast to his tan complexion. He acted so authoritative and in control, and she couldn’t help but think he was someone important or perhaps just believed himself to be important. Like a man who was used to giving orders or even taking action. Why that thought aroused her she didn’t know. She also didn’t need any complications while living in Pearl. She had training to do and fucking around with some hot cowboy wasn’t going to help her to remain on guard and well trained.

She looked away. “Sally,” she lied. “Okay, now you can leave me alone,” she said as she looked straight ahead. The pain in her side from where her wound over her ribs was actually burned. She overdid it and now she would suffer the aches for the rest of the night, maybe even tomorrow. She hoped it didn’t inhibit her from working out and training.

“Sally, nice to meet you. I’m

Harper Calloway.” He reached his hand out and she slowly looked at him then his hand. She was afraid to shake it. To touch him again after the attraction and spark she felt when he touched her knee before. But as the stinker raised one of his eyebrows at her and gave her that sassy, sexy look, she fell for it and shook his hand. He smiled softly.

“Now, that wasn’t so bad was it?” he asked.

She went to stand up, holding her side as the ache continued. He helped her.

“Easy now. Maybe you should rest a little longer. I’ll stay with you,” he offered and she shook her head as she cringed and stood up straight.

“I’ve got it, Harper. Thanks for the adventure. Have a nice day.”

“Wait. You’re leaving so soon?”

“I’ve got plans. Besides, I think we’re done here,” she replied and he gave her a smirk. A coy, sexy little grin and wink that made her think this wouldn’t be the last time she bumped into Harper Calloway. She was shocked at the sensations and the excitement she felt at the prospect. Nothing like this ever happened to her. She really needed to refocus on her agenda and not the eye candy.