Lauren felt Wyatt go on high alert beside her, his body shifting from attentive boyfriend to something else entirely. Something harder. More dangerous. His hand on her back pressed firmer, not possessive now but protective, keeping her anchored to him while his eyes swept the restaurant with the kind of precision that came from years of hunting and being hunted.

Across the table, Nate was doing the same thing. His casual conversation with Eric never faltered, but his eyes tracked the windows, ...