Badge of Honor (The Town of Pearl 9)

“People let their dogs get wild and sometimes they’re rabid. Those guys look like they don’t have much time left. They’ll be extra aggressive.”

“Maybe we should put them out of their misery?” she asked. Then she felt his palm ease along her belly. She gasped as she locked gazes with him over her right shoulder. His blue eyes stared deeply into hers. His hands felt right against her body. She liked it.

“You want to put someone out of their misery? Pick me, and let me kiss you already.”

He leaned closer and she was shocked by his move, his slick play with words, but she didn’t pull away. His lips touched hers, and just her luck he tasted like heaven.

He maneuvered her against the tree, pressing her back against the hard bark. Even that turned her on. Everything did, in an instant. His hands against her body, the sensation his large presence caused within her core, and the intensity of his blue eyes as Harper’s words left his lips in some exotic tune.

His kiss was deep, sensual, as her senses kicked into overdrive. She could smell the scent of soap, cologne, and muskiness of the woods. He slid his one palm along her hip to her ass in exploration and as his hand grazed over her other side and against her scar, she gasped and pulled away. Reality reminded her that she wasn’t free to explore any of these emotions. She was far from free.

“What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” he asked, taking her hands and pulling her closer to him. But he looked over her shoulder then back at her. She glanced that way, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear after she pulled one hand free of his gentle hold.

The wild dogs were gone. They were all alone, and she didn’t know what to do or say next.

He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as she stared up at his handsome face. He was so enticing, so sexy and manly. She could get lost in his eyes, never mind his embrace. She felt his thumb brush along her ribs.

“Are you injured here?” His tone, calm yet assertive as if he were in command, gave her mixed emotions. She felt aroused by him, by Harper’s tone and commanding personality. She also felt unsteady. She was always trying to prove herself in life, yet here she was wishing she had someone who could care for her, take care of her. She wouldn’t have to face what was yet to come along. But that wouldn’t be fair to Harper. To this gorgeous man she didn’t even know.

“What?” she asked, pulling away and taking a few steps back to put some distance between them.

He stood there and stared at her. “You favored that side last week when we first met and you stopped on the hill. Are you injured there?”

She stared at him. He was too observant. Was he a cop? A detective?

“What do you do for a living?”

His eyes widened and then he glanced to the right then back at her. He was going to lie. It was all in his body language.

“I do a lot of things. I’m retired from the SEALs. And you? What do you do?” he asked.

“A lot of things. I’m taking some time off to figure out what I want to do next. Pearl seemed like a nice place to do that. You know, a place where no one bothers you.” She turned around and started to walk.

He reached for her arm, pulling her to a stop. “You’re kidding me right? You’re going to walk away from me after that kiss we shared?”

He looked so upset, and she felt guilty. Too guilty to shove the guy away and lie about the kiss. It was freaking incredible. But what could she do? She couldn’t get involved with him. This wasn’t the right time.

“Come on, Sally, give me a chance. Let’s get to know one another and see where this attraction leads.”

Sally? He called her Sally and she felt so guilty about that, too. She wouldn’t lie to him. It wasn’t right. It didn’t feel right, and she wasn’t a liar.

“Listen, my name isn’t Sally.”

He raised one eyebrow at her and then looked her over as he crossed his arms in front of his massive chest.

She reached out and touched his forearm as she began to make an excuse but then put her hand down, looked at the ground, and then back up at him.

“My name is Lauren. I lied because I didn’t know who you were and was just being cautious. I am visiting town for a while, but I won’t be staying long. I just thought it would be better to lie.”

“Well, Lauren, I guess I could understand your need to be safe. I did show up in the woods unexpected, but I do remember it being you who drew a gun on me.”

He stared at her.

“Are you still sore over that?”

He nodded his head.

“I apologized. Besides, you did sneak up on me.”