The Mandate of Love (Guardians of Refuge Book 4)

Judge Makenzie Stewart's decisions haven't always been voted favorably in the court of popular opinion; however, she loves living in her childhood home on Cache Island. She is determined to overcome the minor inconveniences of staying on the island, doing an unpopular job. However, preparing for a significant narcotics trial, she finds herself apprehensive over some especially threatening harassments.

Having the legal system back you up is cold comfort when you go to bed at night alone, exposed to the wild, untamed world that criminals can access quicker than the law. Seeking another perspective, she told her friend about what was happening. Things got hot fast with the entry of their bossy, interfering, and oh-so-enticing friend.

Commander Ryder Mason could finally acknowledge it. He was tired of being alone, tired of the occasional hookup, and tired of going home to an empty house. After seeing his long-time friends find soulmates, maybe it was time he left this man's Navy and went rogue. Retire. But he loves his job, loves his life, and now he wants to share it with someone intelligent, who has their own goals in life, and if it wasn't too late, maybe raise a couple of kids. Easy, right?

Ryder agrees to go on a recon mission to visit his friends, check out the retirement opportunities, and enjoy their company. That's when he met Makenzie Stewart. Kenzie is a dream and meets every criterion he had, except she is too independent and stubborn. When danger comes calling, she ignores it. But when it gets too invasive to ignore, she stands up to it herself, resistant to accept help. How is a man to keep his spicy woman safe?

Like Kenzie, Ryder lives under others' mandates and stays within the lines when he can, but all bets are off when the danger grows, and the scare tactics have turned deadly. Using his training and instincts, with the help of his friends, Ryder does what he does best, find the enemy's weaknesses and exploits them.

It isn't the thrill of the chase for Ryder, its fear for the woman that has sent his system into overdrive that motivates him. While Ryder knows Kenzie is the woman for him, he's determined to make her see it as well... after he keeps her alive by eliminating the threat.