Chapter Six
JANE SAT up in the bed. Something was wrong, she looked over at Declan’s empty bed. Fuck. Did the stalker get past them? She slipped out of bed and put on a nearby pair of jeans barely taking time to put on her boots. She forced the panic down and grabbed her phone and tucked her Beretta in the waistband of her jeans. She was going to shoot Shaw five seconds after she found him. She’d never lost a principle before, she wasn’t about to now. She sent a text to all the rest of the night team. Seconds later she got one from Repo. He said Declan locked himself in the ballroom. She dug through her bag and found her lock picks and hurried down stairs. Two of the guards were standing outside the door.
“What’s up?”“The man said he needed some alone time.” Repo ran his hand through his brown hair, his brown eyes sparkling with laughter.
Hoss snickered. “What the hell you doing to him?”
She scowled at Hoss, but said nothing.
He shrugged. “I got the place surrounded, no one’s getting in.”
Jane used her lock picks to open the lock, but didn’t open the door. “I got this.”
The men stepped back and she opened the door and looked inside the darkened room. On the screen was Fred Astaire doing the top hat dance from the movie ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’. She slipped inside and closed the door behind her. She heard the beat of tap shoes as her eyes adjusted to the darkness and it was Declan tap dancing. This amazed her. She leaned back on the door and watched him. There was A look of joy on his face that overwhelmed her. He was incredible. He matched Astaire move for move. She knew he moved with grace, but him dancing was like magic. It reminded her of watching her mother belly dance. There was sheer happiness on her face as she pushed her body to its limit. It was the same with him.
She never thought tap dancing was sexy, but with Declan it was hot. His bare chest glistened and his hair was disheveled. No wonder women went crazy for him. This man was walking sex.
The dance ended and she intended to slip out of the room, before he noticed her, but her hands started clapping.
The shock on his face startled her then it turned to anger. “Can’t I have a moment to myself?”
Jane raised her hands in supplication. “I’m sorry,” came out of her mouth when she really should have been yelling at him for breaking the rules.
“Why the hell are you here?”
“So you don’t die.”
“I’m fine. I needed to be alone.”
Jane could go with anger, but she felt as if she’d interrupted some sacred moment. “All you had to do was tell me you were coming down here to get your dance on.”
He grabbed a towel off the chair. “I didn’t want to wake you, it was a long day.”
Jane took a breath. He was trying to be a nice guy. Most of her clients thought their bodyguards were their personal assistants. Declan didn’t treat any them like that, he seemed to respect the job. “They don’t pay me to sleep.”
He let out a long breath. “I needed to blow off some steam.”
“You’re really good. How come you are fronting a rock band when you could be on Broadway?” She watched him wipe the sweat off his body and she had this insane desire to offer her tongue for the job. She could have slapped herself for being so horny. Day five of my captivity and all I can think about is licking Declan Shaw’s body from top to bottom.
“I don’t want people to know I still dance.”
He sounded like he was ashamed at having this incredible talent. Jane didn’t get it. He should celebrate that talent. “Why?”
“Rock star tap dancer? Really?”
“What does your band say?”
His blue eyes widened. “They don’t know, except Malcolm.”
She laughed. That was hot. “Declan Shaw has a secret.”
“One he’d like to keep.”
Jane put her hand over her heart. “I’m paid for my discretion.”
He walked over to her and stopped when he was a few inches in front of her. “Can I trust you Jane?” He asked her in low sexy tone.
Jane wanted to take a step back and get out of his personal hotness zone, but that would be a sign of weakness and he’d see that she was attracted to him and he'd use it to his advantage. She couldn’t let him think that. She nodded. “I had a client who likes to dress in drag and he runs his third world country like a dickhead.”
He leaned in closer. “Tell me a secret, Jane,” he whispered.
Please don’t let me cream my panties. That would be bad. “I have a lot. Ones that I can’t tell anyone.”
He reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Bullshit, you weren’t always G. I. Jane.”
She laughed hoping to break the tension. “Hawaiian Barbie.”
“What about Hawaiian Barbie?”
“I got one when I was six. I took her to West Point with me and kept her hidden the entire time.”
He studied her. “I never pictured you as the Barbie type.” It was a sweet memory of her childhood. “My mother thought she looked like me as opposed to blonde haired blue eyed Barbie.”
“And?”
“When I was sent to the Middle East I took her with me.”
“She’s hiding in your bag next to your pound of C-4?”
“The C-4 is at home.”
He chuckled. “Disappointed. Where’s Barbie?”
She closed her eyes for a second. “She bought it in the Afghani Kush.”
“I’m sorry.”
He seemed generally apologetic. That was very sweet. If she wasn’t careful she’d end up liking him. That Jane Peterson cannot be done. “Thanks for that.”
“How did you do it?”
“What?”
“Go to war? Fight?”
She was surprised he cared. Most of her clients didn’t want to know her, they wanted to wind her up and hoped she’d step in front of bullet. How do you explain this someone who wasn’t there? “First you go to defend your country, or something you believe in, but in the end you’re trying to keep your friends alive.”
“You’re incredible Jane. You’re a hero.”
That sent a shiver down her spine. “Are you trying to get in my pants again?”
The corner of his mouth tilted up. “Always, but that’s not why I said it.”
“Why did you say it?”
“I’m in awe of you.”
What did a girl say to that? “Don’t be. I didn’t do anything a lot of other people didn’t do. I’m impressed you dance like Fred Astaire.”
“I never had anyone’s life in my hands.”
“Being a doctor, a plumber, a solider. We make existence possible. You and dancers, writers, actors, you make life worth living. That’s important.” She meant that. Books, movies, and music helped her keep her sanity in the desert.
His smile widened. “Are you a fan?”
She did like their music. “I might be.”
He laughed, low and seductive.
She liked the way he laughed. She liked the way he looked when he laughed. This wasn’t the fake laugh he did for the cameras. If she wasn’t careful she was going to like a lot of things about Declan Shaw and she couldn’t afford to do that. Right now she was supposed to be the focus of all his attention but that was make believe. There weren’t any other women he could hone his attention in on. The second he didn’t need to have her, she be gone and he’d be on to the next woman.
“I think it’s time you take me to bed.”
Oh dear God yes. “I bet if you said pass me the mashed potatoes you’d make it sound dirty.”
He stood. “What I could do to you and some mashed potatoes would be illegal in this town.”
“That would be saying a lot.”
He opened the door for her and let her out of the ballroom. None of the guards outside waiting for them looked at him. He closed the door and his cell phone vibrated, he checked the screen and answered it.
“Hey Brody?”
Jane stepped back and let him have some privacy. After a few minutes he hung up and they walked up the stairs together. Somehow his body brushed up against hers and she felt the shiver of desire course through her. She hoped to God he didn’t figure out that he was flipping her switch, because he’d leap on that at the first scent of blood, like the big blond predator he was.
At the bedroom, he opened the door for her. “After you.”
“You’re full of good manners.”
He snickered.
“You want to watch my ass again.”
“Your ass is very watchable.”
Well if she were honest she’d tell him his was too, but she suspected he already knew. She’d spent enough time with guys to know who was faking confidence and that was not Declan Shaw. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Go to bed.”
“I’m going to shower first.”
Which means she’d have to listen to him jack off. She suspected, he left the door open so she could hear him. Because God knows he wasn’t quiet about it. “Okay.”
“It doesn’t bother you does it Jane?”
“What?”
“Me in the shower?”
She decided to play dumb. “I approve of good hygiene.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Then I’m totally lost.”
“I know you listen.”
She was busted. That was what they were paying her for. And it’s not the worst she’d ever seen. “Newsflash. Listening is half my job.”
“I think about you.”
“That’s nice.”
“You intrigue me.”
She inclined her head toward the bathroom. “Go be intrigued in the shower.”
“I’m sure I will be.”
Jane rolled her eyes.
Declan winked at her and headed for his bed. Just as he stepped in front of the French doors gun shots rang out shattering the glass.
Jane grabbed him and pulled him down to the hardwood floor. “Bathroom! Get into the tub.”
Another volley of gunfire rang out.
Declan started to stand and Jane pressed her hand in the center of back. “Crawl.”
He followed her order and she drew her Beretta and followed behind him. Once she got him in the bathtub, she thought about the fact that the glass was supposed to be bullet resistant.
Declan got in the tub. “Go help the rest of them.”
“I don’t leave you.”
“Malcolm--”
“You’re my job.”
He tried to stand up.
The bathroom door slammed open and Malcolm and Gavin stood there. Jane aimed her gun at them. “Get down!”
She grabbed Malcolm and pulled him in the tub on top of Declan. “Gavin get behind the tub.” He stood there for a second and she noticed the gun in his hand. Jesus Christ he had a Desert Eagle .50 Cal. That thing was a hand cannon, he was going to blow the shit out of himself. “Give me the gun.”
“But--”
“Before you blow your balls off.” She held out her hand and he put the gun in her hand.
“Jesus you stink.” Malcolm said.
Declan huffed. “Get your knee out of my nuts.”
There was a kissing sound. “Am I turning you on?”
“Both of you put your freak back on the leash and shut up.” Or she’d shoot them herself.
“What about everyone else?” Gavin asked.
Before she could answer her cell pinged. She pushed it at Gavin not wanting to take her eye off the door in case there was a breech. “Answer that.”
“Hoss: Mama Bird contained.
Another ping.
“Repo: Yoko Hendrix contained.” Gavin said.
Another ping.
“Chill: Possum contained.” He repeated.
Another ping.
“Bodi: question mark.”
“Answer back. G-Baby, Tolstoy, Apollo contained.”
Malcolm stuck his head over the rim of the tub. “What the hell is all that?”
“Everyone is reporting in who they have eyes on.
“Who’s Mama Bird?” Declan asked.
“Jocelyn.”
“Travis and Charlotte are Yoko and Hendrix?” Malcolm asked.
“Yep.”
“Possum?” Gavin asked.
“Really?”
“Vaughn.” They all said together then laughed.
“G-baby?”
“That would be you.”
Gavin giggled. “I like it.”
Of course he did.
“Tolstoy?” Malcolm asked in an angry tone. “They call me Tolstoy? That’s just wrong. He’s a long winded asshole.”
Nice to know. “You’re stuck with it.”
“Can’t I be Steinbeck or Langston Hughes?”
“No.”
“So I’m Apollo. The sun god.” Declan gave her a throaty chuckle.
“And the god of music.” She had to remind him.
“I like it.”
The personification of male beauty. Mick and his choices. “You would.”
“What do you call Shane?” Gavin asked.
“Thor.” Jane could practically hear Malcolm’s eyes rolling.
“Why Bodi?” Malcolm asked.
“It’s short for Boudica.”
“Celtic Warrior queen?”
She liked that Malcolm was smart “Yeah.”
“I like it.” Declan said.
Jane waited for the all clear. “So Tolstoy your first instinct when the bullets went flying was to run in here and save your friend?”
“Yeah.”
She glanced at Gavin’s gun next to her leg. She was thinking about keeping it for herself, because she wasn’t going to let him run around with that piece. “And yours G-Baby was to grab your piece and run in here guns blazing?”
“Yes it was.”
She fought the urge to laugh. “I can respect that, but tomorrow we’re going the to gun range.”
“All of us?” Gavin sounded excited.
“Especially you Dirty Harry.” She sighed. “Where the hell did you get the hardware?”
“At school.”
Dumbass could’ve been arrested. “You realize that is an illegal firearm.”
“I didn’t want anyone hurting Declan.”
Dear God that boy may be smart enough to prove string theory, sweet as the day is long, but he had the common sense of a rock. “Yo, bodyguard on duty.”
“That was before you showed up.”
“I don’t like you having a gun.” Malcolm said. At least someone had some sense.
“You gonna tell Mom?”
“I might.”
Gavin snorted. “Fuck you snitch.”
Jane really was impressed with the dedication of Declan’s friends. Not only did it speak to how they felt about him, but also the kind of man he was to breed such loyalty. These guys were tight. She suspected as tight as her and Mick and his men. And it reinforced her theory that Declan was a different man with them. Ego-centric assholes don’t get this kind of fearlessness devotion. She rubbed her tired eyes. This was going to be a long night and she had a lot to think about.