by Tina Gerow
Stone Maiden
By
Tina Gerow
ISBN: 978-1-927476-18-5
Published By
Books We Love Ltd.
(Electronic Book Publishers)
192 Lakeside Greens Drive
Chestermere, Alberta, T1X 1C2
Canada
http://bookswelove.net
Copyright 2012 Tina Gerow
Cover art by Michelle Lee 2012
Dedication
To my two favorite guys, Darian and Jon, who live with a writer and all the eccentricities that implies, and still love me anyway. You guys rock!
To my Critique Group, The Butterscotch Martini Girls (http//www.butterscotchmartinigirls.com) who when I told them I wanted to write a series about four gargoyle sisters didn’t blink, but just cheered me on. You ladies are amazing!! I say we all make a run for the New York Times Best Seller’s List at the same time!! Let’s go!
To the strong women characters who lodged themselves in my brain and ultimately became my four gargoyles – I hope I did you justice! J
To my Publisher, Books We Love, for giving my Maiden series a second chance to reach readers! Thank you guys! You are amazing!! J
Chapter One
“Take your hand off me, or I’ll remove it and several other of your favorite appendages.”
Ariel Knight stood toe to toe with the Goliath blocking her way and stared him down. She’d faced hellhounds, demons, vampires, and all manner of scary beasties in her time. One oversized cowboy with a chip on his shoulder didn’t even cause her to bat an eyelash.
“Now, sweetheart, you’re not wanted here, so why don’t you just go on back to wherever it is you came from.”
His gravelly voice reminded her of the sound her car made when she didn’t add oil for too long. And the “sweetheart” grated on her nerves. She took a breath, calming her simmering temper and tried to use her most professional voice along with her sweetest smile. “This is the last time I’m going to warn you, Jeb. I have an appointment with Logan McAllister, and no one is going to scare me off.” From her background check of Mr. McAllister, she knew Jeb was a former bouncer and Logan’s horse trainer and sometimes security man.
If this is any indication of his people skills, he needs to stick to the horses.
His deep chuckle reverberated around her. “You’ve got spunk, I’ll give you that, but you’re no match for me, and we both know it. So, this is the last time I’ll ask you to leave before I help you out the door.” His lascivious gaze slid over her like an oily caress. “And believe me, that won’t be a hardship.”
Dream on, big boy. I’ve been leered at by far scarier things than you.
Quick as lighting, Ariel grabbed Jeb’s wrist. Twisting it back at a painful angle, she used leverage to drive him to his knees and then locking his hand up behind his head, she applied more pressure to keep him there.
The door in front of her flew open, and a man right out of her fantasies stepped through and then stopped short as if he’d slammed into a solid wall. He stared at the scene in front of him openmouthed as if still trying to comprehend what he saw. Ariel took the opportunity to study him right back.
He stood before her, six foot plus of golden muscular delight topped by gently waving sandy blonde hair and piercing blue-gray eyes the color of the sea after a storm.
Jeb’s whimper brought her back from her male inventory. She glanced down to see her captive’s eyes watering from pain. “I tried to ask you nicely,” she reminded him.
The intensity of the scrutiny from the blue-gray eyes burned through her skin until she glanced up. The passion swimming in the fevered depths hit her like a physical blow. It zinged through her, touching off small sparks of awareness throughout her body and causing heat to pool between her legs. She sucked in a breath, fighting not to drown in the sexual buffet of sensations assaulting her. Closing her eyes for a moment, she allowed two hundred years of training to return her to her calm center.
Ariel stood stock still as he completed his slow inventory. And if his hungry gaze was any determination, he liked what he saw. A flicker of pure female delight flowed through her until she reined it in.
Get your mind out of your crotch!
She’d even worn her business skirt and blazer to appear professional, but the way he looked at her gave images of him peeling her out of the business attire to discover what secrets she hid underneath, which blew the whole professional image out the window.
“You must be Mr. McAllister,” she said, breaking him out of his inventory.
“Yes,” He said reached out to shake her outstretched free hand.
“I’m Ariel Knight. I believe we have an appointment?”
His lips quirked just enough to show the dimple in his left cheek. “Yes, I believe we do.” He gestured down at Jeb still trying to break out of Ariel’s leveraged grip. “Would you mind letting Jeb up?”
Ariel smiled, just a small curve of her lips, and met his gaze. She wondered briefly what his stormy eyes would look like darkened with desire as he moved inside her.
Get a grip, Ariel. You’re here to work, not…play. Her traitorous body reminded her it had been quite a while since she’d played, and it would be more than happy to nominate Logan McAllister to play with. She chided herself out of that train of thought and glanced down at Jeb. “Now, I’m willing to let you go if you promise to keep your hands to yourself. I really don’t want to have to hurt you.”
Anger flashed in Jeb’s gaze and smoldered. She knew she’d just made an enemy, but in her job, she made many more of those than friends. Jeb’s ego was taking a beating, but from the pained look on his face, she wasn’t overly surprised when he finally muttered, “Yes, Ma’am.”
“Ma’am works much better on me than sweetheart,” Ariel said. She released Jeb’s wrist and stepped back so he could stand, keeping enough distance to maneuver in case he wanted to take another shot. But he only stood, rubbed his sore wrist and glared at her.
Logan, visibly trying to hide his smile, turned to his bouncer. “Thank you, Jeb. I think I can take it from here.” Jeb looked between the two of them before nodding and turning to go.
Logan turned his attention back to Ariel and let his gaze wander over her again as he motioned to his office. “Ms. Knight, after you.” Normally, Ariel didn’t appreciate the perusal, as if she was the all night dessert buffet, but for some reason, when Logan did it, it sent thrills shooting through her.
He pulled the door shut behind them and gestured for Ariel to sit. “What can I do for you?”
Ariel settled comfortably into the chair in front of the desk, fixing an easy smile on her face, as he relaxed into his own office chair. “I take it by my warm reception, you weren’t the one who requested this meeting.”
Logan took his time answering. “I’m sorry about Jeb. I hope he didn’t hurt you.”
Ariel’s left eyebrow quirked in amusement. “I think I’ll recover.”
“My business manager’s been attempting to hire a bodyguard for me.” Logan leaned back in his office chair, steepled his fingers and stretched his long legs out under the desk. “He and I don’t exactly see eye to eye on the issue.”
Ariel leaned forward, and her gaze seared into his. He seemed to have the power to mesmerize almost like a cobra. Ariel’s heart tripped into high speed and slammed into her chest. “So, where do we go from here?”
He chuckled, an amused glint twinkling in his eyes. She could practically read his thoughts. He couldn’t see her as a bodyguard, but thought she might prove interesting in other aspects. Nothing she hadn’t seen before. And when he said, “We could always discuss it over a romantic dinner.” Ariel tried not to chuckle at the male predictability.
She smiled as a wicked
thought took hold. He wanted to play. All right. She’d play. And when the kitty tossed the mouse into the air and hooked him with her claws, she’d decide what to do with him. “Do you always proposition prospective employees, Mr. McAllister?”
“Only the ones who take my breath away.” A large lopsided grin bloomed over his face.
Ariel tried to hide her answering smile, but this was just way too easy.
“I’ve brought a list of references.” She took a small envelope from her inside blazer pocket and placed it on the desk in front of him. “I’m sure you’ll want to call them and check my firm’s experience and performance.”
Vivid thoughts of Logan personally checking her performance and experience flooded her brain, and she shifted in her chair as heat pooled low in her stomach. You have a job to do! Keep your mind in the game and we can take care of the dry spell later!
She glanced up in time to see his emotions and thoughts flow across his face as if they were written there. She wondered if Mr. McAllister played poker. If he did, she’d bet he lost a fortune at it. His thoughts were so transparent, she considered giving the guy a break. He still didn’t think he needed any guard at all, let alone a woman. But Gabriel had asked her as a personal favor to take this job, so she’d convince Mr. McAllister it was in his own best interest one way or another.
He leaned forward and gazed into her eyes, not even bothering to pick up the envelope she offered. His frank gaze issued an unspoken challenge as old as time. She refused to back down, but kept her gaze steady on his—not that it was a particular hardship in this case.
He broke the standoff first. “Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself, Ms. Knight?”
Ariel nodded once and shifted into professional promotions mode. “My three sisters and I own and run the Knight Security Agency. Each of us is trained in most forms of security and combat. Although we prefer to do the security well enough that the combat isn’t often needed. It keeps the clients safer, and we are less intrusive in their day to day lives.”
Logan raised a brow and looked intrigued, but not by her or her sister’s guard skills, she was sure. His next question confirmed her suspicions. “I meant personal about you. You know, where you grew up? What do you like to do in your spare time? What are your favorite restaurants? What time can I pick you up? That sort of thing.”
Very smooth, Romeo. How easy do you think I am?! Her body seemed ready to remind her, so she pushed forward with the conversation before it could. Ariel leaned forward so she could whisper something to him over the desk, hopefully with her eyes glinting mischievously. “Mr. McAllister, I’m applying to be your bodyguard, not your personal escort service.”
Logan laughed as if she’d surprised him, then leaned back in his chair, a grin curving his sculpted lips. “I would never offend you by considering you any kind of personal escort, Ms. Knight. I was thinking more of a cozy dinner companion.”
It was Ariel’s turn to laugh. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that. But then so am I.”
He smiled, warming to the challenge. “I love that in a woman.”
“I’ll just bet you do.”
She was surprised he wasn’t swaggering with all the ego and confidence he portrayed sitting behind his big desk in all his gorgeous glory. She would’ve been able to work up some self-righteous fury had it not been for the fact she’d been drooling over him since he opened the door in front of her.
“There’s a terrific steak and seafood house about twenty minutes away. We could continue our discussion over dinner.” A smile blossomed across his face, making her inwardly catch her breath. She reassured herself that any woman still breathing would be affected by that lethal weapon.
Too predictable, McAllister. Time for the cat to move in for the kill. “Let me see if I can cut to the chase for you, Mr. McAllister.” She stood and began to walk around the office, examining his songwriting awards and pictures, purposely invading his personal space, putting him on the defensive.
After a moment of obvious discomfort, he seemed to recover his composure. She smiled inwardly, enjoying their banter.
“Does that mean you’re not up for dinner, darlin’? Or are you just afraid of me?” His voice, a deep Texas drawl, mocked her with the good-ol’-boy routine.
Ariel ignored the endearment and the question. “After two death threats, three break-ins, one act of vandalism and almost having your family jewels removed by a stray arrow, your business manager decides to hire a bodyguard. But you think you can take care of it yourself, so you hire bouncer man…” she gestured to the outer office where she’d encountered Jeb, “to get rid of any potential bodyguard candidates who show up. Am I getting warm?”
Logan’s gaze hardened and he glared at her, the typical alpha man warning away another who invaded his territory. It amused her that now he chose to treat her like an equal—even if it was as a threat. “I can take care of it myself,” he insisted, his male pride obviously smarting. But she noted the wince—probably from the memory of the rogue arrow narrowly missing his most prized body parts.
Ariel pierced Logan with a nonchalant look over her shoulder. “I can see how tight your security is. I batted my eyelashes out at the gate and was admitted without any ID check and no questions asked.” She smiled and continued her perusal of his office.
The blue-gray of his eyes turned dark and deadly. “Now wait just a minute—“
She plowed on as if she hadn’t heard him. “Then I gain admittance to the main house by talking recipes with your housekeeper. She’s making peach cobbler tonight, by the way—apparently your favorite.”
“So I need to have a talk with my staff about checking ID’s. Is that all you’ve got?”
Ariel picked up a picture of Logan shaking hands with Reba McEntire at the Flameworthy Awards and studied it before answering. “No, I have more.” She nodded at the picture. “Nice picture, I’m a big Reba fan.”
He stalked around the desk, grabbed the photo and placed it reverently back in its spot on the shelf. “If you have more to say, get on with it.” He crossed his arms in a defensive posture, then deliberately dropped them to his sides as if he’d just realized what he’d done.
Ariel turned to face him. He stood close enough for her to smell his cologne, which sent her senses churning. Soap, hay, horse and the musky scent of man—it suited him and made her think of dark, steamy nights under the stars with his work-roughened hands roaming over her.
His hostile look brought her back to reality. She needed to remember, she’d invaded his territory and put him on the defensive. She couldn’t afford to let her guard down now.
Why the hell do I keep reacting like a mare in heat with this man?
“Anyway,” she continued when she had his attention. “Then I walk up the stairs to your personal office and your sole security, an ex-bouncer by the look of him, was disabled in less than five seconds.” It probably wouldn’t help his mood to know she’d studied his background extensively and knew exactly who Jeb and every other member of his staff were.
He stood still as a statue, his hands fisted at his sides, his beautiful eyes shooting daggers at her.
“But what concerns me most is when I sweet-talked your housekeeper into giving me a tour, I found several deliberate security breaches.”
“Such as?” He stepped forward, his stony look demanding answers. Suddenly the lord of the manor, she knew security concerns were at the forefront of his mind for the first time in the conversation.
Ariel’s expression softened, and she almost felt sorry for him. She searched his face before answering, and noted a quick look of vulnerability before he hid it behind his mask of anger. “I found taps on your downstairs phone and I’d bet money your office lines are tapped as well. I also found a deliberately cut wire in your security system. Specifically, the wire to the audible alert system. In other words, the lights are on and the alarm looks like it’s working, but no sound to alert anyone.”
He looked like she
’d just kicked him in the crotch, his eyes were wide, his skin tinged a little green around the edges. “Phone taps? Security system wires cut?” He ran both hands through his hair and tried to get himself under control. After a few deep breaths, he asked, “Anything else?”
She nodded. “The locks on the downstairs windows have been tampered with. None of them are operational, but you couldn’t tell by looking at them. As soon as you open the window, they snap off in your hand. I’m sure there’s more, but I didn’t want to seem suspicious to your staff.”
An ironic smile curved his lips. “Seems like you did everything but search my underwear drawer right in front of my staff and they didn’t have a clue.” He shook his head and paced around the small room.
“I’m good at what I do, Mr. McAllister. Let me help you. My clan and I can give you your peace of mind back.”
“Clan?” Logan stopped in his tracks and his sandy blonde brows furrowed at the strange term.
“Sorry, that’s what my sisters and I call ourselves.” She knew he sensed there was more under the surface, but to his credit, he didn’t dig further.
“Ms. Knight, I’ll be frank with you.”
“Please do,” she interrupted, “and call me Ariel.”
“Ariel,” he conceded. “I’m not a chauvinist, but I don’t know how comfortable I am with a bunch of women being my bodyguards.”
She smiled indulgently, as if she expected him to say that very thing. Logan’s eyes flashed at her expression, but he continued.
“Look, I appreciate your time, but maybe you have some men in your company who could come out? That way you and I could still work together in an advisory capacity?”
I’m impressed. At least you’re honest about it.
Ariel smiled. “We are a company comprised solely of females. And every one of us is an expert at both security and blending in. You may look like a womanizer having four women around all the time, but you won’t look like you’ve got a contingent of bodyguards.” She sat down again and watched him patiently. “I’m assuming you prefer discreet.”