Badge of Honor (The Town of Pearl 9)

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.