Laura looked out the window of her hotel room, the lights of the city below making her feel insignificant. When her step-sister, Charlotte, had heard that she was going to be in Los Angles she had talked her fiancé, Kellan, and a couple of their friends into flying up from San Diego for a weekend getaway. They were staying in the same hotel, and she had arranged to have dinner with them in the hotel's restaurant.

She walked back over to the mirror and fastened the small pearl earrings in her ears then, brushing her hands down her black cocktail dress, she looked at her reflection one last time.

Laura and Charlotte had never been close or even that friendly, but their shared affection for Tabitha, Charlotte's mother, had allowed them to develop a relationship in the last few months. The horrible history that they shared had been revealed, making them both realize that they had misjudged each other. Although they still hadn't discussed any of their shared past, they both knew of it through Tabitha.

Smoothing her tightly coiled hair one last time, she was satisfied with her reflection. Picking up her four inch stilettos she walked towards the bed, sitting, she put them on and took a deep trembling breath. This was the first time she had seen Charlotte in over two years and she was anxious.

All of their communication had been through emails and phone calls.

Picking up her purse and shawl, she looked around the room one more time before leaving. As she pulled the door closed she heard someone do the same next to her and when she looked up Davis staring at her.

He was wearing the same thing he had been earlier, but he had thrown a suit jacket over the outfit.

"You look stunning," he said as his eyes took in every detail of her appearance.

Clearing her throat she thanked him as she tried to suppress a blush.

"Where are you off too looking so lovely? Should I be jealous?"

There was that word again. "In my experience only insecure men are jealous," she threw out as she walked passed him.

He started to follow her. "Maybe, but seeing as we're not in a relationship yet, I'm not secure in your feelings towards me."

Laura's stomach bottomed out at his words then rose to her heart. Her feelings towards him...she had no clue what those might be other than lust.

"Yet? Try never." Laura punched the arrow for the elevator, trying her best to play it cool.

"Never say never," he said softly, standing right behind her. If she leaned back even slightly she would be in his arms.

They were silent as they entered the elevator. The tension filled the small confined space as he watched her and she did her best to ignore him. The fact the she was failing miserably was evident. "Would you please stop staring at me?"

"Do I make you nervous?" he asked.

He was teasing her and she didn't like it. "No, you make me remember things I would rather forget!" she said it with such force her whole body jerked.

"What kind of things?"

She looked at his reflection in the mirrored doors. He looked confused and concerned. When was the last time someone had been concerned for her? Was it just his concern that made her want to be weak, or would any man's concern do the same?

Thankfully the doors opened allowing her not to respond.

As she exited the elevator with Davis right behind her she glanced around the lobby and saw Charlotte and Kellan, and they were with Josh and Devon McIntire, old friends of her family's. Josh and Kellan had served in the Navy together, and even though they were recently retired they still wore the air of military men. They were both dark and handsome men and looked almost like brothers.

Trying to forget that Davis was behind her, she moved towards their small party a forced smile on her lips as she tried to relax the tension in her shoulders and back.

"Charlotte, Kellan," she greeted with a polite social kiss on the cheek. When she was done she turned and did the same with Josh and Devon.

They looked from her to Davis expectantly. She turned towards Davis, her face carefully blank as she made the introductions. "Davis Stevens, this is my sister Charlotte Temple and her fiancé Kellan Hilliard. And these are old friends, Josh and Devon McIntire."

Davis nodded a sincere smile on his face. "So, Kellan and Josh?" he said holding out his hand to the two men who took it.

Kellan smiled as he shook his hand. "Good to see you again Davis, how's your brother? Still globetrotting?"

"Last I heard he was in Eastern Europe somewhere. I try not to ask too many questions, it saves me from worrying too much. But what's this I hear about you getting married, congrats."

Josh took his hand, looking from him to Laura. "How about you Davis? Still trolling the bars?"

Davis grinned again as he looked down at Laura. "Nope, not anymore."

Laura felt her already tense shoulders tense more. Had he just implied that they were an item? Laura opened her mouth to deny it when Davis cut her off before she could make a sound. "Here are the others." They all turned to look at the elevator where Carmen and Kelly were making a dramatic exit, or entrance, depending on your view.

"I wasn't aware that you were joining us?" Laura said in her most polite voice. She really wanted to throttle him.

"Neither did I until just now, but it seems to have worked out well." He motioned for the girls to join their group.

As more introductions were made they started towards the restaurant.

"What are you doing now Davis?" Kellan asked, making conversation.

"It is my current pleasure to be escorting these beautiful women around the country taking their photos for Landau."

"You're a fashion photographer?" Josh asked, shocked.

"Yes, lucky aren't I lucky. It sure beats what I was photographing when I last saw you." Neither man argued that as they followed the hostess to their table.

"What were you photographing when you were with them?" Kelly asked with her usually chipper smile.

"War," Davis said simply as he held out Kelly's chair.

"Oh, how horrible. Was it really bad?"

"Yes," Davis said as he turned and held out Carmen's chair with a smile.

Kellan had seated Charlotte and was now holding out Laura's chair for her. They were seated at a large round table and Davis had somehow managed to land in the seat next to Laura's. Charlotte was on her other side

The waitress approached them and took their drink order while Laura did her best to ignore Davis's arm across the back of her chair. Charlotte kept shooting covert looks at the two of them, as if she didn't quite believe her eyes.

"So, tell me about the wedding plans Charlotte?" Laura asked more for something to say then because she was interested in talking about it.

"We've decided to have it in Virginia, since up until recently that is where we both were living. We're going to try to keep it small, but you know Mother, I doubt she will let it be too small since she will feel it necessary to invite all of Gerald's contacts."

Laura froze, her eyes meeting Charlotte's and then Kellan's

"I thought Father retired, why would you need to invite all of his contacts?" Kellan and Josh had assured her and Tabitha that her Father was retiring.

Kellan and Josh looked at her, wearing their best poker faces, which considering they were retired Navy SEALS was something.

"It seems his retirement was deferred," Charlotte said, answering for the men.

Laura meet Charlotte's eyes and it was obvious that she was just as unhappy about it as Laura was.

"I guess you can't go against the President of the United States." Laura was rubbing her scar under the table as she forced a smile to her lips, trying to appear as if it mattered very little to her.

Since he hadn't retired, she wondered if he had been able to get Brad out of trouble. Her eyes meet Kellan's across the table and he looked at her "No change on the other," he assured her and she breathed a little easier.

"Your Father knows the President?" Kelly asked with impressed awe. "What does he do?"

"He's a Vice Admiral for the Navy. I have no clue if he knows the President, but a deferment from retirement can only come from the President," she said it matter of fact with no feeling in her voice.

Wanting to do nothing but leave the table, she forced herself to focus on something else. "So the wedding will be in Virginia?" she started again, hoping Charlotte would pick up where she left off before they were distracted.

The discussion of weddings led to a general discussion on the topic, and Davis soon had them all laughing at some of the escapades he had had photographing weddings.

Laura was distracted by his fingers which kept brushing the nape of her neck and playing with the loose tendrils of hair there.

The conversation flowed fairly easily, although Laura was not overly talkative, not that she ever was, but between the news of her father and Davis's attention she was at her wits end and couldn't wait to get away.

When dinner was finished and they were leaving the restaurant they were debating about going to a local Jazz club, but knowing that she had a photo shoot the next morning Laura had a ready excuse to get away.

"Why don't you join us tomorrow?" Davis offered to the others.

"We can't, we have some business to take care of but the ladies might enjoy it," Josh said, looking down at Devon and Charlotte.

"I would love to see what my sister does," Charlotte said with a sincere smile.

"Excellent, we're meeting here at seven tomorrow morning," Davis said looking at his watch. "If you'll all excuse me, I have an appointment to keep." With a wave, he headed towards the bar and Laura saw him greet another dark headed man who looked vaguely familiar to her.

After saying her good nights she got on the elevator and rode silently to her room, looking at her reflection in the glass, wondering when she would stop letting her father have power over her. She hadn't lived at home in over thirteen years, but she felt as if she was still that young girl cowering in her room as he went off on one of his rages. When the elevator stopped she made her way slowly to her room and heard the phone ringing on the other side of the door.

It was odd since no one ever called her on her hotel phone, they all used her cell. Picking it up she said hello cautiously.

"Hey beautiful, come on down to the bar, I have a surprise for you." Davis's warm tones reached out to her from the other end.

"No, thanks Davis, I'm tired I would just like to go to bed."

"Laura I pro-,"

"No, thanks Davis." She said as she hung up the phone. She waited for it to ring again and when it didn't she gave a relieved sigh and got ready for bed, hoping Davis had finally gotten the point.