"Not On My Watch "
an excerpt

Gabriel heard Shayne before he saw her. He’d come down the stairs so that he could formulate a plan of action. Jason had just compared her to a tiger trapped in a cage and one didn’t mess about with a tiger in a gage unless one had a plan.
He’d just reached the third floor landing and was taking the turn to head down to the second floor when Shayne’s voice came to him, echoing in the rafters. It was clear, authoritative and even at this decibel…sexy; which immediately gave him pause. It was no secret that Gabriel was attracted to passionate women; they were the most interesting, had the most to say, were rarely ever boring and made the best lovers.
Although he hated confrontation, especially with a woman, there was something to be said for a heated row followed by some hot make up sex; provided she was a passionate woman.
In fact, his mind had wandered for a full minute after she’d burst through the door earlier. His attraction to her had been immediate, so much so that he’d almost turned the job down. All that spit and vinegar, claws out; he couldn’t help but fantasize about how those claws might feel raking down his back. But the hard truth was, if he accepted this job it would mean she was strictly off-limits. He would be her protector and therefore being her lover was out of the question.
When Jason had emailed him about a romance author he had as a client, Gabriel had pictured some older married woman with six kids and a dead marriage trying to relive the good old days. He had NOT expected Shayne and he was half pissed at Jason for not warning him.
She was an exotic woman with curves. Not one of those skinny ass model types. Her curves were everywhere, her breasts, her hips, her behind and they were all perfect. He couldn’t tell her nationality but she had that creamy toffee all-year-round kind of tan that could be African-American, Hispanic or any number of other ethnic groups. He wasn’t sure but he would find out. In fact, there were a lot of things he needed to find out; like if he was going to be able to trust himself doing this job without crossing the line.
Leaning over the railing Gabriel spotted the crowd near the main revolving door. It consisted mainly of three security guards and Shayne.
“I’m following orders lady.” One burly old security guard explained. “You gotta calm down.”
The old mans manner was firm but kind; definitely a good sign given the situation. He didn’t get ruffled and he didn’t get angry; just nicely persistent and the other two guards seemed to be following his lead. Gabriel made a note of that for the future.
“You are also violating my civil rights by holding me without cause and against my will.” She spouted back. “So unless you are itching for a law suit, I suggest you step out of my way.”
“Ma’am I know how you feel but if you’ll just be patient for a second, Mr. Shannon will be right with you.” The older man tried yet again to appease her.
Gabriel watched the exchange with interest. On the one hand it gave him an opportunity to observe how the staff, he might well be working with, handled conflict. On the other hand, it showed him that Shayne was completely capable of controlling herself despite being angry. The fact intrigued him because only moments before she’d been about ready to lose it back in the office. It would be interesting to explore this woman and her triggers especially as right now he seemed to be one of them.
A movement caught Gabriel’s eye from the staff maintenance hall behind the Zen Garden to the right of the front desk. A fourth security guard emerged and crossed the main lobby. The man was stocky with a gray crew cut and tan leathery skin that spoke of someone who’d lived most of his life out in the hot sun. He approached the group slowly but to Gabriel it was less about being unhurried as it was about being predatory.
The man unsettled him enough to spur him back into motion. Gabriel cleared the second landing and was on the last stair case when he heard Shayne’s startled cry. Gabriel rounded the fountain and rock garden at the bottom of the stairs and saw that the fourth guard had grabbed one of Shayne’s arms and twisted it up behind her back.
“I’ll show you pansies how it’s done. We don’t deal with that kind crap around here.” The guard shoved Shayne ahead of him like a rag doll.
Gabriel wasn’t quite sure he could identify the feeling that came over him then. It wasn’t quite rage but it was certainly far more dangerous than anger. He moved toward the bank of elevators far more casually than he felt, and punched the ‘Up’ arrow to retrieve the elevator just as he turned toward the approaching pair. His eyes met Shayne’s and for a long moment he tried to convey that everything would be alright but he only saw confusion there. He remembered that they didn’t have that kind of relationship yet. She didn’t trust him, so he gave up on that and spoke his piece.
“Let her go now.” His words were clear and it was unmistakable who they were for.
The guard just scoffed. “Yea right!”
It was a half second too long. In one graceful movement Gabriel grabbed Shayne and spun her in the direction her arm was being held to loosen the pressure. He then quickly jerked her out of his grip while simultaneously delivering a well placed punch to the man’s throat. The elevator whisked open with an audible ding and Gabriel shoved Shayne none-too-politely into the elevator and quickly followed suit. He stood dead center to block the door way in case of a counter attack. He was right to expect one. Still gasping for air, the guard pushed up off of the wall he’d used for support and lumbered awkwardly toward them.
“Sixth floor. Push the button.” He ordered in a tone that brooked no argument.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her push the button and he sighed inwardly. Another question had been answered.
The guard picked up his pace and was reaching for the door when the two sides met together silently locking him out. Dropping his head in relief, Gabriel took a moment to collect himself and then turned to look at Shayne. He found that she’d backed herself into the furthest corner from him and was holding one arm against her chest, like a bird with a broken wing.
Concerned he stepped forward. “Are you alright?”
Her good hand shot out and held him off. “No.”
“I need to make sure that he didn’t hurt you.” Gabriel watched her eyes intently, attempting to gauge her mood.
“I’m not hurt.” She declared weakly.
Gabriel covered up a smile. She was pouting and he was almost sure her mood had shifted.
“Then why are you holding your arm?” He adopted the ‘fatherly’ voice that Edward Cameron, his mentor used for times like this.
She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment and then gave in. “I’m only a little hurt.”
“May I?” Gabriel’s eyebrows rose but he made no move to touch her giving her the time to decide it was ok.
Eventually she nodded and he took a step toward her. Placing his hands lightly on her shoulder, Gabriel began a careful examination, his fingers moving deftly from her shoulder, down to her elbow and then her wrist, manipulating her arm to check for its soundness. Shayne winced a bit when he’d check the motion of her shoulder joint but other than that, she’d seemed unharmed.
“You’ll probably need a little Ibuprofen, something to take down the swelling and ache. Your shoulder might feel a little tight for a few days but I think you are mostly ok.” Gabriel realized he was still holding her hand but until she noticed he was inclined to just keep holding it.
It seemed all the earlier fight of the day had gone out of her and was now replaced by a milder version of the woman he’d already seen.
“I told you that much.” She crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him briefly both surprising and delighting him.
“Yea, you did.” He grinned. Okay so maybe all the fight hadn’t gone after all. He was rather happy to know it. “Good call. Want a cookie?”
Shayne looked as if she was revving up to say something smart when her face went all dead pan. “Ruuuude.”
Gabriel threw his head back and laughed. Just when he thought he knew how she might respond, she switched things up on him.
“Hey. I don’t recall being the only one rude today.” He tossed over his shoulder as the doors swished open and he stepped out onto the sixth floor.
She stepped out behind him, her hand still firmly held within his as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She hadn’t seemed to notice yet that she was still holding hands with a stranger.
“I was grumpy.” She admitted unapologetically.
“And yet you seem to be in a much better humor now.” Gabriel led her down the hallway, passed the open office doors and curious gazes of onlookers, to the exit door that led into the stairwell and pushed it open for her.
“Well what time is it?” She asked.
He glanced at his watch as they started down the flight of stairs. “Eleven fifteen.”
“Well there you go.” Shayne kept pace with him as they moved. “I’m always much better after ten a.m. I’m a night owl. I don’t do mornings.”
His eyes met hers as they stopped at the fifth floor exit door and he swung it open. “Duly noted.”
“Mind me asking what all the bait and switch was about?”
Gabriel’s head snapped around. So she had noticed.
“Oh don’t look so surprised. It’s kind of hard not to notice when you get off on the wrong floor. I’m not stupid you know.”
“Never that.”
They turned the corner and passed the front desk where Keely sat manning the phones. She looked up in surprise and then her eyes dropped down to their entwined hands. Gabriel hoped like hell that Shayne hadn’t seen that but when he felt her slide her fingers quickly out of his, he knew she hadn’t missed a thing.
“So who did you say you were again?” Her tone had changed. It wasn’t harsh but it was less welcoming that it had been only moments earlier. It was as if she’d only just realized she was holding hands with a stranger and now the spell had been broken.
“Gabriel Shannon.” He watched her out of the corner of his eye.
“Yea I caught that. What I mean is,” Shayne lifted her head to look at him, her eyes were close to being mutinous and her words were slow and calculated. “Who-are-you?”
The distrust was back. It was warranted. She really had no clue who he was and it was time to remedy that.
“I’m your bodyguard.” They paused in front of Jason’s office door. “I’m here to protect you.”