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.