Skin Walkers: Gauge

by Susan A Bliler

  As if that ended the conversation, she dropped her eyes and bit the tip off a spear. As she chewed, Gauge studied her and realized that she was too thin. Most women intentionally starved themselves to look like Ella, but the thought of her being so slight because she had no other choice had Gauge grinding his back teeth together. Why hadn’t someone taken care of her?

  “What about your family? You couldn’t rely on them.”

  Ella’s eyes shot to Alysa, who was now oblivious to the conversation as she devoured her macaroni and cheese. Ella’s response was practically a whisper, “It’s just us. No one else.”

  “But you worked didn’t you? There had to be…”

  “Gauge,” Ella leveled her dove-gray eyes on his. She contemplated a lie but quickly discarded the idea. “I could lie to you and make up some excuse, but the truth is that I did the best I could. Please drop it.” She reached across the table and pulled a warm roll from the basket in the center of the table. “Why don’t you tell me about your life pre-StoneCrow? What did you do?”

  She buttered her bread and peeked up at him expectantly hoping he’d take the bait and allow her to force a change of subject.

  Unknown to her, Gauge suddenly felt guilty for having had such an easy life. He’d complained and he’d hid, but it was nothing compared to what Ella and Alysa had obviously endured and the bite of shame was hard. How had he ever complained about his life?

  He took a sip of his wine and cleared his throat. “I joined the Army straight outta high school. Did my time and then went to college on a VA loan. Got a degree in accounting. Now, I’m here.”

  Ella smiled, grateful that he’d permitted the change in conversation.

  The warmth in the gesture had Gauge’s hands itching to touch her.

  “Well that’s not all,” she chided. “Tell me about your family. Have you got siblings? Where are your parents? Have you got any children?’

  Gauge noticed that she blushed with the last question.

  “My parents are in Ireland. That’s how I came to find out about the position here; they’re good friends with CEO StoneCrow’s parents.”

  “What do they do?”

  “Retired. Both. My father was military and my mother was a medical receptionist. Nothing fancy.”

  “Hey,” Ella shrugged between bites, “whatever pays the bills. You’d be surprised to hear half the jobs I’ve had to take just to make ends meet.”

  “Like what?” he challenged, attacking his plate.

  Not expecting the question, Ella set her fork down and dabbed at her lips with her napkin. “Well. Let’s see. I’ve been a cocktail waitress, a casino attendant, a house keeper, a waitress, a secretary.” She smiled, “Once I even paid the bills by swamping out bars at night. Worst job ever!”

  Gauge’s eyes darted to Alysa and he couldn’t hide the anger in his tone. “What did your husband do while you were out breaking your back?”

  Again, he saw her mind working as she stared at him. Finally she straightened her shoulders and answered. “I lied to you. I’m sorry. I-I don’t have a husband. I never have. It’s been just me and Alysa.”

  Interesting. Twice in one meal she’d gone out of her way to tell him the absolute truth. “Why lie in the first place?”

  She shrugged one slim shoulder before lifting a hand to curl it around her neck before smoothing her palm down her arm. “I didn’t want to have to explain myself. It’s easier just to tell people her father’s deceased. He’ll never be part of her life.”

  “Why so honest with me then?” When he pinned her with his gaze he was taken aback to see the hint of trust reflected in her eyes.

  “I don’t know,” she bit her lower lip before releasing it. “I don’t feel like you’ve got any malicious intent and frankly I’m tired of running.”

  “Running?” his brows hiked and his curiosity piqued when Ella paled.

  “Hiding,” she amended quickly. “Did I say running?” her laugh was brittle. “I don’t know why I said that.” Christ, he’ll scent the lie! “I meant hiding. Hiding the fact that I’m a single mother,” she rushed on even as she felt her cheeks flame. “Anyway,” she set her fork down. “We should go.” She turned toward her child, “Alysa?”

  “Awww, I’m not done,” Alysa pouted.

  “Ella!” Gauge stood and grabbed her arm. “Stay,” he softened his tone and his eyes turned imploring. “Please! I wasn’t trying to scare you off. If I…,” he changed his course with a smile. “Stay and I promise no more questions about the past.” He kept his hand firmly on her arm.

  “Please, momma?”

  Ella smiled weakly, “Okay.” She reclaimed her seat and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear without meeting Gauge’s eyes.

  “I know it’s going to be difficult for you to do,” his voice was pitched low, “but you can trust me, Ella.” He turned to smile affectionately at Alysa. “Both of you can.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m just…” she shook her head and still refused to look up. “My past isn’t something I’m proud of and I’m just hoping for a fresh start.”

  “Hey,” the deep timber of his voice drew her eyes up. “That’s something we’re both looking for.” He saw some of the tension leave her small frame and when she took up her fork he relaxed back in his chair and changed the subject. “So, Alysa, what do you want for Christmas, pretty girl?”

  “I want a bedroom!” she piped up excitedly.

  Ella’s fork clattered to her plate and her breath left her in a pain-filled whoosh. No food, no room for her child, she sounded like a horrendous mother even to herself and she knew all the facts. This’ll never work! Tears flooded her eyes and she stood quickly with the intentions of snatching up Ella and getting the hell away from Gauge. She was too slow.

  Strong arms wrapped around her and led her out of the room as Gauge tossed over his shoulder to Alysa, “Eat your pie, pretty girl. Have mine too if you’d like.”

  Alysa squealed with delight, oblivious to Ella’s sudden disappearance.

  In the adjoining room, Gauge closed the door but didn’t release Ella as she struggled in his hold.

  “Gauge,” there was a quiver in her voice as she attempted to reign in her emotions. “We’re going. Please let me go.”

  “No.” He pulled her harder into him so that her slight frame was flush with his.

  “Look,” she refused to lift her eyes as she stopped pushing at the wall of his chest. “I know how bad it sounds,” she swallowed hard, unsure how in the world she could change his low opinion of her now. “We moved a lot, but I always worked. I provided as best I could,” she rushed on, “I did what I could, and…”

  He forced her head up and his lips sealed over her own, devouring any other explanation she’d give.

  Startled at first, Ella didn’t respond but, slowly at his tongues insistence, she returned his kiss. Hands that had been pushing at his chest slid over the well-muscled plane to twine, tentatively, around his neck as she clung to him. She needed his strength, his support, his understanding.

  Chapter 9

  Molesting his assistant hadn’t been Gauge’s intention, but all rational thought flew out the window when he realized she’d been seconds away from running from him. In all honesty, he’d been dying to taste her all day. Arriving at the office to find that she’d followed his direction regarding her scent and appearance had been the first key to his undoing. It wasn’t lost on him that she’d worn slacks when he’d told her not to, still it didn’t matter. The sleek clothes and lack of hideous glasses transformed her into a new woman. His initial estimation had been confirmed. Ella Garret was exquisite. No. Exquisite seemed too weak. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on, and he’d been itching to touch her all day.

  When Ella melted against him and moaned weakly, Gauge had to force himself to pull back. He wanted her, and if she clung to him for another second, all soft, pliant, and needy, then he knew that he’d take her.

  Breaking the ki
ss, he stared down and watched her eyes slowly flutter open. The hazy lust slowly receded to be replaced by stark realization that quickly morphed into mortification.

  “Mr. Alexander,” she tried to pull back but he held her firmly against him.

  “Don’t do that. Don’t look like you suddenly regret something that was meant to happen. Something that needed to happen.” His tone lowered, as he gripped her chin and locked his eyes on her lips, “Something that is going to happen again.”

  “I work for you,” she pushed at the wall of his chest. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”

  His eyes glinted with a barely restrained fury as they found hers. “Why? Because it’s unacceptable to mainstream society? We don’t live in that world, Ella. We live in this one.”

  “Sir, I…”

  “Don’t call me that,” he growled.

  “Sir, we shouldn’t,” she didn’t get to finish.

  He bent and lifted her so that her legs were wrapped on either side of him, with one strong arm shelving her ass. He found the wall and pressed her into it as his mouth claimed hers. His body crushed up against hers. He could feel the heat of her even through their clothes. Her arousal heightened and when the scent of it hit him, a growl rumbled in his chest as he rolled his hips and ground his erection into the cradle of her thighs. She gasped into his mouth and her breathing hitched, but she wasn’t pushing him away. No, her fingers curled into the fabric of the shirt at his shoulders, pulling him closer.

  Gauge cursed himself for starting something he knew they couldn’t finish. When he finally pulled back, Ella slowly blinked up at him from the veil of sooty lashes. Her lips were swollen, her cheeks flushed, and her breathing was erratic.

  The corner of his mouth lifted. “I must admit, I like this look much better.” He lifted a hand to brush a wisp of her hair back from her cheek. “But if you keep looking at me like that, gorgeous, I’m going to take you so hard and deep up against this wall that you won’t even care that there’s a little girl in the other room.

  Ella blinked hard, remembering Alysa. “Shit,” she muttered under her breath, wiggling in his hold. He slid her down the front of him and groaned at the sensation before placing her on her feet where she busied herself righting her clothes. Satisfied, she side-stepped him and made a bee-line for the door. His hand caught her arm.

  “Hey?”

  She turned to look at him and knew her face was still flushed. She opened her mouth to speak, but the look of concern of Gauge’s face halted her.

  “There are no judgments here, Ella.” He motioned with his head toward the door that led to the dining room and a waiting Alysa. “I know things have been hard. If you ever need to talk,” his hand slid down her arm to curl around her slender fingers, “I’m here.”

  If I ever need to talk? He’s here? Had he just attempted to seduce information from her? She knew the color drained from her face when Gauge’s handsome look of concern twisted to one of anger.

  “That is not what that kiss was about! I didn’t kiss you to get information from you. I kissed you because I wanted to.”

  Tilting her head back to look straight up at the ceiling, Ella drew in a deep breath and held it for long moments before she exhaled very slowly hoping to dispel her inner turmoil. When her eyes finally met his, her resolve was back. The character she was playing was back. “Mr. Alexander, thank you for dinner. We’ve gotta go.”

  “Damn it, Ella!” he reached for her, but she called out to Alysa.

  “Hey baby,” she pulled the door open, jerking her arm out of Gauge’s grasp as she glared at him, but spoke to the child. “Dinner is over. We need to go.”

  Gauge could only watch as she crossed to the table and pulled Alysa up into her arms.

  “Thank Mr. Alexander for dinner.”

  “B-but you didn’t eat!” Alysa’s head swiveled toward her mother before she pointed at Ella’s half full plate.

  “That’s okay, baby,” she pinned Gauge accusingly, “I’ve lost my appetite.”

  “Thanks!” Alysa waved excitedly as Ella rushed from the suite leaving Gauge to scrub a hand down his face as he muffled a curse. He stalked to the table and slumped in his chair, shoving his plate away.

  He was brooding when he felt a mental nudge indicating some Walker was trying to contact him through the mist. He permitted it.

  “Gauge, this is King. I’ve got some information on Ms. Garrett that I think you’re going to want to hear.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’m just ending my shift. If you’re free, I’ll be up in five.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  ***

  “You’re one hundred percent sure?” Gauge questioned, frowning at the information King had just provided.

  “I’m sure, Gauge. I hadn’t noticed, until the shifted Walkers pointed it out. I partially changed and they were right. Alysa is not Ella’s daughter.”

  “Sonofa…” Gauge’s expression darkened and he pinned King with feral eyes, “Tell me you haven’t given this information to Monroe.”

  King shook his head, “Not yet. But at some point, it’ll have to be done. I don’t know if Ella’s kidnapped the child or if they’re here to gain Intel on Walkers, but you need to find out and find out fast!”

  “Christ, they were just here.”

  “And you couldn’t tell,” King sounded skeptical.

  “It wasn’t something I was looking for. Why wouldn’t she be Ella’s child? I just assumed…”

  “Well, Ella’s requested residence here at the Estate. Monroe’s been holding back on approval because he wanted to wait and see if she could handle the job. I’m going to put it through to get her and Alysa residing here ASAP. As it stands they could disappear right now and no one would know.”

  “And if they’re enemies,” Gauge hated to ask.

  “Then it’s best we keep ‘em close isn’t it?”

  ***

  The following morning, Gauge entered his office to find Ella already seated behind her desk. At the mere sight of her, his heart rate kicked into overdrive. He’d spent half the night trying to figure out what it is she was up to and the other half reliving their kiss. “Morning, Ella.”

  “Mr. Alexander,” she responded brusquely without looking up from her computer monitor.

  “I’d see you in my office,” he commanded as he crossed in front of her desk, removing his suit coat as he went.

  God, no! Ella didn’t want to be in his office. She didn’t want to be in the outer office, hell she didn’t want to be in the same building as this man. She’d spent the better part of her night thinking about the way he had kissed her. She’d realized too late that it was a ploy to get close to her, but it didn’t change the fact that it’d been one hell of a kiss. Her wild imagination had gone further than that until she was squirming in bed trying to get herself to stop thinking about what it would be like to have him braced over her and driving into her hard and deep as he’d threatened. She was an ingénue when it came to passion, but that fact hadn’t stopped her from having some highly inappropriate dreams about the sexy Walker in the other room.

  Standing, she took a fortifying breath and headed for his office. Once inside, she intentionally left the door open. Head down, and concentrating too hard on the pen and pad in her hands she attempted to sound aloof. “What do you need, sir?”

  “Something’s come up. We’ve got a business meeting we are both required to attend this evening.”

  The revelation had her head snapping up, “Oh! But I can’t,” she was shaking her head as she pointed over her shoulder with her pen, “I’ve got to pick up Alysa from daycare.”

  Gauge’s eyes drank in the sight of her before it was his turn to drop his head and feign aloofness. He began sorting a stack of papers on his desk. “You’ll have to pick her up early and bring her with us.”

  “But, Mr. Alexander, I…”

  He didn’t let her finish, “Mr. StoneCrow is expecting both of us.” He lifted his
head to pin her with a grim expression. “And both of us is what he’ll get. Make your calls. We’ll go up straight from the office at five. You can leave at four-thirty to retrieve Alysa. It should be plenty of time.”

  “Sir,” Ella’s tone was forceful, “she’ll need to eat first and…”

  “It’s a dinner meeting. She’ll eat with us.”

  Ella stood staring at Gauge’s bent head as she attempted to formulate another argument. She found none. “Anything else, sir?”

  “No,” he didn’t look up and she exited his office to call the daycare center and inform them that she’d be picking Alysa up early.

  Chapter 10

  Alysa clamped onto Gauge’s hand while he gripped Ella’s elbow. “Shall we?”

  Leaving their office, Ella couldn’t help but wonder if this is what it’d be like if she and Gauge were an item. Every day, she’d retrieve Ella from day care and the trio would go for dinner before retiring to his suite. She straightened her spine and tensed, not wanting to feel so comfortable in his presence. When she tried to pull her elbow free, he permitted it, but only long enough to snatch Alysa up into one arm and securing the other around Ella’s waist. She tried to inch away, but his strong fingers only curled over her hip and pulled her harder into him. She would have voiced a protest if Alysa hadn’t been so close.

  Gauge led them to the elevator and Alysa clapped excitedly when he let her push the button that took them up to the penthouse.

  The top floor housed the Estates’ pub dubbed the Crow’s Nest, an enormous ball room, and a separate fine dining establishment that rivaled any in the state. Gauge led them to the Crow’s Nest and Ella was relieved. She didn’t want to chance having a rambunctious child in any elegant dining facility.

  Inside the pub, Gauge led them to one of the booths that lined the wall. The pretty female behind the bar approached and laid out napkins. “Welcome to the Crow’s Nest. I’m Cindy. Can I get you something to drink?”