13. Gabriel
13
Gabriel
“ S o, what do you usually do on Saturdays?” Lexi asks.
“I work.”
She throws me a look of complete disbelief from the passenger seat. We’re going to meet Dominic.
The morning went by without a hitch. As the sun peeked in, I gently closed the bedroom door between us, stealing a glance at the woman in my bed. She was peacefully sleeping on her side, with her thigh showing under the T-shirt that had ridden up to her waist. A few strands of hair tickled her cheek, the faintest smile playing on her lips. Her arm was draped over the pillow, teasingly revealing the seductive curve of her breasts beneath the thin fabric of her T-shirt.
You’re in deep shit already, Gabriel, if you’re looking at her like that . I usually leave the hotel room in the morning after spending the night with a woman, arranging for room service to deliver something sweet, along with coffee and flowers. And I never look back. It’s safer that way.
I buried myself in work in the study, emails blurring on the screen as I tried to focus. Even the icy sting of the long shower I took earlier couldn’t wash away the lingering warmth of her touch or the echo of her laughter in my mind .
Lexi showed up around eight, took a few brave sips of my freshly brewed coffee, and we decided to grab something to eat on the way since my fridge was all protein shakes—not exactly her idea of breakfast.
Lexi talks back with a bit of a pout whenever we disagree—like a mini warning light on her face. I’ve learned a lot about her just by watching her expressions. I keep reminding myself she’s a client and that I’m supposed to be her bodyguard, focused on keeping her safe and figuring out her weak spots. But ever since she practically fell into my arms at the Casino, all I can think about is those lips and the way my pulse jumps whenever we touch.
She’s short, sassy, and claims that she doesn’t need my protection. But then there’s the other side: brilliant, independent, and the most captivating woman I’ve met in ages. Lexi makes it clear she doesn’t want me around, but her body language tells a different story. She didn’t exactly push away my kiss, and she melted into every hug I gave her. Her words might say no, but her body seems to whisper something else.
“And what about Sundays?” She pouts again, waiting for my response.
“I work as well. I kind of work all the time. My security company has to monitor all our locations over the weekend. My people work, so I do, too.”
“And you wonder why you don’t have a girlfriend!” she scoffs.
“I don’t. You’re the one who keeps wondering. It’s like you’re waiting for me to make you an offer.”
We’re already downtown, close to Dominic’s hotel where Lena’s staying. I haven’t told Lexi about the fake dating plan yet. It was our first night together, and there was enough going on without me springing this on her, too. I wanted her to rest. The door between our rooms stayed open all night. I listened to her breathing slow down, evening out like a lullaby. A part of me wanted to hold her close and cuddle her worries away. She would’ve been better off in my arms, but I don’t want to start something that can’t go anywhere. Right now, she needs someone looking out for her, not another complication.
“What kind of offer? To be your girlfriend, you mean? You already said you don’t do relationships.”
My stomach clenches. I said a lot last night. I would’ve said anything to get her away from me before it was too late. Before we got too hot and heavy and my hands ran down her body, her naughty breasts pressed against me, my tongue slipped between her teasing lips and my cock… Fuck. Get it together, Gabriel!
“We should take advantage of that viral video of us at the Casino and spread the word that we’re together. That’s what the offer was about.”
“And why would we do that?”
“In this city, nobody dares to touch my woman.”
“That sounds… territorial,” she says, going quiet.
Huh. That’s not exactly a decline. No epic eye roll or dramatic hair-flips in protest. Shockingly, Lexi doesn’t throw my offer out the window like yesterday’s garbage. Small victory, I guess.
“Look, I went on some tough missions in the Navy and got to witness things most folks wouldn’t believe. That made me who I am today. Everyone in this city knows me and my business. I’m dedicated to what I do, and I’ll do whatever it takes. People know me for being honest and dependable.”
“I’ll just be your client, then. Should be enough. We can start telling people about it.”
“Let’s just do it my way, okay? You’ll be safer if people know you as my girlfriend than as my client. ”
“Is this why we’re heading to Dominic’s? You want to parade me around to show I’m yours?”
“Lexi… You don’t know the first thing about me.”
“I only know what you tell me, Mr. Clamshell.”
“What else do you want to know? What would make you say yes to my offer?”
“Why not tell me who you really are? What do you do when no one’s looking? I want to know about the private services you offer as bodyguard and protector.”
“I have clients who need me around the clock, but not everyone can afford my fees. It can get quite expensive.”
“What’s the longest you’ve ever stuck with a client?”
“Four months. A dignitary on a peace mission in the Middle East.”
“Don’t the military usually take care of that stuff?”
“They do, but he wanted me, too.”
“So, you’re that good, huh?” Lexi says, raising an eyebrow in a silent challenge.
“Pretty impressive, your new boyfriend, eh?” I say, trying to lighten the mood.
“Boyfriend? I didn’t say I’m on board with this yet. I don’t know… it just feels like you’re invading my life.”
She enjoys being pleaded with. Not ideal—I’ve mishandled this. It turns out I’m more entangled in her charm than I first thought. I can’t step in, do my thing as her protector, and get her to listen to me as I do with all my other clients if there’s no contract between us. After all, she didn’t hire me. I’m not even her boyfriend. We’re like frenemies trapped in this mess together. But it’s time to turn the tables and beat her stubborn streak at its own game.
“You didn’t say no either. Look, I don’t think we can stop this from happening. People already see us as a couple. ”
“Who cares what people think?”
“You should. Being in the spotlight can actually work in your favor. We should play along with this.”
“I didn’t think you cared about how things look.”
“I care about sending the right message, that you’re mine and anyone who touches you won’t live to regret it.”
“Are you serious? You can’t expect me to be okay with that. I get a few threats, and that’s it? I need to get married?”
“Calm down. Who said anything about getting married? Plus, this is one hundred percent temporary.”
“Oh, I’m one hundred percent calm because this will never happen. And if it does, it won’t last, and you’ll have to dump me just as fast.”
“Is that what you’re worried about? Getting dumped?” I slow down as we approach a long red light at the crossroads. Dominic’s hotel isn’t far now. I glance at her, but she turns away. I catch the slight quiver of her lip and the quickening of her breath. “What is it, Lexi?” I ask softly, sensing something deeper is troubling her.
“My past is not relevant to what’s happening today.”
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that? That’s my job. Was there a man who left you? Here in the city? Maybe he’s not too happy that you’re here now?”
“He’s happy. He has a pregnant wife and a dream life.”
“You have no idea how many wives jealous of ex-girlfriends I’ve seen. I’ll need details to check on the guy.”
Biting her lip, she stares out the window, her fingers twisting in her lap before she finally speaks. “We went to the same college. He’s older than me. After he graduated, he married one of our professors, ten years his senior.”
“And how do you know that? Have you met him recently? ”
“No, Lena’s been filling me in,” she says, sounding proud and defensive, like she’s got something to prove.
I know she won’t like it, but I have to ask. “Why did he leave you?”
“It was getting too tough. I needed to take care of my dad. So, I couldn’t do the long-distance thing.”
“What happened to your father?”
“Health issues. He needed me all the time, and things got rough. I dropped out of university. My ex showed up at the hospital twice. After that, he texted me it was best if we broke up,” Lexi says, her voice trembling as she looks out the window, avoiding eye contact. I’ll find out more about her father from Dean—he updates me every six hours.
“So that’s it? You got a text, you broke up, and there was no other conversation?” I need to find out more about this story. The man might be a lead.
“I was way too busy with my dad. Lena offered to slash the tires on the car he was driving. I don’t know if she went through with it after all.”
“Lena seems like your guardian angel. The sister you never had.”
“Yeah, in a way. My big sister.”
“Text me the guy’s name so I can pass it along to my team to investigate.”
“There’s a team working on my case? I didn’t know that.” She pauses for a few seconds, then turns to face me. “I wanted to ask you something. It’s this rumor I heard about a group called the Protectors. Any connection to them?”
I keep my eyes peeled on the road. The steady stream of traffic is a good excuse to dodge the question. The truth about the Protectors can wait. She already has enough on her plate. Right now, it’s best if she sees Dominic and Damien as my friends and former Navy buddies .
“Let’s focus on you and making our relationship public. Trust me, this is the best option.”
“I don’t even know you. How are we going to show up in public together? Everyone’s going to know we’re faking it.”
I could tell her she’s wrong, that she and I are already together. That the electricity crackling between us is more real than any contract. But she’ll get mad, and I’ll waste time trying to convince her. Patience is the name of the game. And that’s what I’m good at.
“You keep saying you don’t know me, even though you slept in my bed, ate my food, saw me naked, and now you know how I kiss.”
“That wasn’t a kiss.”
“Oh, good. I’ll remember that the next time I kiss you.”
“What next time? God, Gabriel, it’s like you’re not hearing me.”
“I mean, the next time when we’ll need to act as a couple in public. So that people won’t see through us, as you said. Plus, if you were the least bit honest with yourself, you’d admit that last night when you were in my arms, wearing my T-shirt, snuggling up in my bed… things were getting pretty boyfriend-girlfriend-y, right?”
“Maybe. But you don’t do relationships, remember?”
“Right. I forgot you never forget anything. Let’s pretend that I do relationships. Happy?”
I get an eye roll and pursed lips in response. Luckily, we pull over in front of Dominic’s hotel. Maybe he and Lena can help me talk her into this. I texted Dom already, asking him for ideas on how Lexi and I could pull off this fake dating thing. He’s way better at this than I am.
** *
I grab my phone to give Dominic a heads-up that we’re here. He has offices in all his hotels, but he keeps a suite on the top floor for himself and our Protectors’ business.
“I’ll look for Lena. She told me she’d be waiting for me in the lobby,” Lexi says, jumping out of the car before I can grab her hand and heading for the entrance. I catch up with her at the revolving door. We should’ve walked in holding hands, at least. God, this woman is driving me nuts. She only wants it her way. I need to change tactics, or I’ll leave room for error. Damn it! I knew I shouldn’t get too involved with her beyond a professional relationship. But we’re way past that now.
Lexi’s already scanning the lobby for Lena. I call Dominic, but he doesn’t pick up. Suddenly, I see a guy get up from the bar and head over to her. He stares at Lexi and then searches for his phone. As he reaches her, he grabs her arm and starts ranting. “You’re that girl who can count cards, right? Am I lucky to find you here or what? How much do you charge?”
Lexi rips her arm free and shoves him away with her other hand. The guy stumbles back, losing his balance, but quickly bounces back and takes another step toward her. “Come on, don’t play dumb. It says here you’re for hire. Let’s talk. I have money.”
What the fuck? Before he can spit out another word, I lunge and grab him by the neck, yanking him six feet away from Lexi. “Take your hand off her. How dare you talk to her?”
The guy turns red, eyes wide like saucers. He shoves his phone at me, babbling something. I loosen my grip, letting him breathe. Squinting at the screen, I see a video of Lucas—smug as ever—yapping on social media. It’s muted at first, but when I crank the volume, a nightmare unfolds—a slideshow with clips of Lexi from the Casino ball mixed with other photos of her. My stomach lurches as it morphs into a gross ad. Her name flashed big, followed by some sick line about special skills and her selling stuff. The last screen is Lucas, laughing like a total creep, saying Lexi still works for him, and I’m just her bodyguard. The guy looks at me and goes, “He’s right, you’re the bodyguard, yeah? I’m going to press charges for assault, you fucking idiot. Fucking meathead.”
My fist is about to fly at the jerk’s face, but before I connect, a yank, like a steel cable, pulls me back. “Let him go. I’ll have my boys kick him out,” Dominic says from behind me.
I pull away from Dominic’s hand, and I snap my head toward Lexi, who seems frozen in the middle of the lobby, tears running down her cheeks. The whole place has turned into a zoo: drunk barflies, Dominic’s confused staff, and even the creep I was about to punch, all gawking at Lexi. Then, like a bad movie scene, everyone whips out their phones. Lucas’s voice, replaying that garbage about Lexi, echoes from every corner.
I grab her shoulders, steering her toward the elevator. On our way, I see Dominic dealing with the guy I roughed up, talking him down and fixing the mess I made of his clothes. He throws me a nod to let me know he’s got things under control. I want to take Lexi, who’s shaking in my arms, up on the top floor, where Dominic’s apartment is. The elevator doors whoosh open, and it’s thankfully empty. We step in, the mirrored walls reflecting our flushed faces. I slam the button for the top floor and wrap my arms tight around her waist, lifting her a little off her feet.
“Hey, it’s okay. You’re safe. I’m with you.”
“I’ll never be safe in this city now.”