He pulled her tighter and covered her with his body in an instant defensive manner. It didn’t go unnoticed by his team as they each stood there watching them. His heart pounded inside of his chest and he wondered what their reaction might be to finding him and Lauren like this. He was ready to fight and to defend this attraction and this desire to have Lauren, when he read through those tight expressions and saw in their eyes the hunger he felt inside.
“Oh God. We…I. Shit, this is crazy,” Lauren said and tried to pull away from him. But like some possessive wild animal who was desperate to hold onto this valuable prize he acquired in the midst of the woods, he held her tighter.
“Don’t move,” he said a little too firmly. She shot him a look. That tough, New York cop look Lauren had given them a time or two over the last several days.
“I mean, it’s okay. This situation, I mean. Don’t pull away from me as if this shouldn’t happen.”
“It shouldn’t have happened.”
He reached up and cupped her cheek. She glanced away from him, seeming stunned by his show of affection and care for her. It was instant, natural, and he could see himself getting used to caring for her even more. She appeared to be taken aback by the expressions on the others’ faces as they all gathered around her.
“Yes, it should have. We’ve all been pussyfooting around this attraction for days now. It started with Harper weeks ago, and then with each of us the more time we all spent with you.”
“Did you plan this? This excursion into the woods where you purposely press against me while I’m trying to get through the obstacle course.”
“No,” Mace said.
“We all needed to get out of the house. To let go and just get lost in something so natural and calming as this obstacle course,” Orin told her.
Mace moved his hand away from her cheek and to her waist. He pulled her close and led her away from the tree and closer to the others.
“I don’t think this is such a great idea. Me getting involved with all of you, like this,” she said and her cheeks turned a nice shade of red.
Galvin stepped closer. He looked her over and ran his hand up and down her arm.
“You’re a beautiful, capable, independent woman. We get that. This is a very dangerous, scary time in your life. We get that, too, but this attraction we’re all feeling is something none of us are used to.”
“Well I’m not used to it either. I just don’t think I can look at this fairly and with an open mind right now, when I’m having trust issues, and most importantly, while there’s a good chance I’m going to die.”
Mace clenched his teeth and Galvin became serious.
He moved his hand from her arm to her shoulder and Mace released her to Galvin.
“We’re not going to let anything happen to you.”
She stepped away from him and Galvin looked at Mace. Mace could tell that Galvin was on edge just like he was feeling.
* * * *
Lauren stepped away from them. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared at the five men around her. They were all such handsome, capable men. She had been trying to act tough, and not in need of any preferential treatment as they embarked on the obstacle course. With Mace so close she hadn’t even thought about the fact she hadn’t fired her gun since that night when Frankie was killed.
But now, as she stepped from his embrace and from their close proximity, she was feeling a bit frazzled.
“Lauren?” Harper called her name. She shot her head up to look at him. She shook her head as he reached for her.
“I want to head back,” was all she said and then turned and started walking away. But as she passed by the others, Gus took her hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed her knuckles.
“I’ll take you back. We can start on dinner while the others gather the stuff.” She nodded her head and they walked along the path. He didn’t let go of her hand, and she didn’t pull away.
* * * *
“What the hell happened?” Galvin asked Mace as they began to disassemble some of the removable parts to the obstacle course.
“I don’t know, Galvin. I was annoyed having her out here and living in the house these last few days. Yet, I liked it.. I like the scent of a woman’s perfume, her perfume and shampoo. I was just trying to show her the course and before I knew it I was demanding that she stay extremely close and she did it. When it was her turn I stuck to her and it became too difficult to resist. One thing led to another and you guys showed up.”
“She’s something else isn’t she? And I don’t just mean her good looks, and her fucking body either. I mean everything about her. The scent of her hair, the attitude, and the toughness and intelligence she has. She’s a lot like us but she’s all alone. She doesn’t have a team to back her up and it looks like her partner may have been up to no good,” Harper told them.
“I’m still confirming the details but it seems that way. Figures we all have an attraction to the same woman and she’s in a heap of trouble,” Orin added.