Remy by Susan Bliler Page A

perfect formation with little small talk, except for one member who’d later introduced himself as James.  Not wanting to appear timid, Harlow introduced herself to each Walker in succession.  She knew one, Shane.  He was the one who’d done some one-on-one training with her.  The other Walker was Recker, who had been the one to break into her house and drug her.  A fourth teammate, Legion, was apparently away on a mission, but it must not have been too dangerous because James made goo-goo eyes and fanned himself when he told her.  After that, James took a moment to explain that the team was aware of the problems she’d endured on the human team.  He assured her that no Walker would ever intentionally harm a female, and that if any Walker on the team injured her, even unintentionally, he’d take care of it.  He explained that one of his best friends, York, had recently mated a human woman and, out of respect for her, he wouldn’t tolerate the slightest affront to Harlow.
    Harlow nodded gratefully, but couldn’t help but wonder if Mason had paid the Walker to be some form of personal bodyguard.
    Without warning the Walker men snapped to attention.  Dazed, Harlow’s eyes shot forward, and she snapped to her best rigidity.
    Remy stalked past as he began barking orders.  It was odd to see him like this.  He’d been so attentive and almost gentle with her when he’d visited in the infirmary.  Watching him from the corner of her eye she felt her attraction to him soar, knowing she’d have to work even harder now to keep her distance.  She was on an all-Walker team after all, and where the humans on her previous team hadn’t scented her attraction to Remy, the Walkers standing beside her surely would.
    “Fall out!”  Remy commanded, but Harlow didn’t move. 
    Too busy formulating a plan to hide her infatuation, she’d missed his entire dialogue.  Turning, she made to follow her team when Remy caught her arm.
    “Where do you think you’re going?”
    Turning to face him, she kept her eyes averted.  “With my team, Sir.”
    “Wrong.”  He released her and pointed in front of him.  “It’ll be you and I for some one-on-one.  I need to make sure you’re up to snuff.”
    She glanced over her shoulder at her team who were forming a fight circle and preparing to battle.
    “Today, EnemyHunter!”
    Turning, she faced forward and marched to the spot where he’d been pointing.   Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her former team in a circle of their own, two combatants in the center duking it out.  Fear hit hard.  She didn’t know if she was up for this.  How hard did Remy expect her to go? 
    Turning to face him, she lifted her balled fists, but still didn’t meet his eyes. 
    He squared off against her and she disappeared in the shadow his larger body cast over her.  “Eyes on me.” 
    She didn’t look up.  Instead, she kept her eyes pinned to his chest, hoping to be quick enough to move when he did. 
    She wasn’t.
    One second she was tensed and ready to go, the next his large foot swept hers out and she was falling.  He caught her, quickly lowering her to the ground before his big body pressed into hers.
    ***
    Remy had Harlow pinned to the ground, and even then she refused to meet his gaze.  Indignation flared to life, and for all his worth, Remy couldn’t understand why her refusal to make eye contact wounded him.  It was like she was trying to hide from him.  He wondered if she was upset because he’d taken her to the infirmary.  Maybe she was mad that Mason had found out?  Maybe she was still too injured to be back with the team.  Or, just perhaps, she simply didn’t like him. 
    “Look at me!” he challenged, collaring her throat with one strong hand.
    Tentatively, Harlow’s eyes found his. Beneath his hand he felt the slender column of her throat convulse as she swallowed, the pulse of her heartbeat tripping before increasing in speed beneath his