Gary: Starke Private Security, #5

By Kate Stone

Why does the past always come back to haunt you?

It was hard work to get past being dumped by the only woman I'd ever loved but I'd done it. All that went out the window when she came to me asking for help. Now everything is on the line - personally and professionally - and I can't afford to screw this up.

 

I didn't want to go to Gary for help, but I knew he was the only man I could count on. He was the only man I could ever count on, and that's why I left him all those years ago. Can we make it through this threat without me telling my secret and ruining everything? 

 

***

 

Gary, the fifth book in Kate Stone's Starke Private Security series, is an instalove romance with an alpha male who will do anything to protect his woman...and make her his. Of course these two have a happy ending, with no cheating and no cliffhanger. Books in the Starke Private Security series can be read in any order.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kate Stone
• Release date: Feb 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201331696

Book preview

GARY

by

Kate Stone

Copyright 2021, Kate Stone

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, transmitted, or distributed in any printed or electronic form by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of Kate Stone, except in the case of brief quotations embodied within reviews and other non-commercial uses allowed by copyright law.

For permission requests, email

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

For Mr. Stone, who makes all my dreams come true.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Gary      8

Chapter 2 – Davina      10

Chapter 3 – Gary      13

Chapter 4 – Davina      24

Chapter 5 – Gary      26

Chapter 6 – Davina      31

Chapter 7 – Gary      36

Chapter 8 – Davina      43

Chapter 9 - Gary      47

Chapter 10 - Davina      52

Chapter 11 - Gary      58

Chapter 12 – Davina      63

Chapter 13 – Gary      67

Chapter 14 – Davina      71

Chapter 15 - Gary      75

Chapter 16 – Davina      79

Chapter 17 - Gary      85

Chapter 18 - Davina      90

Chapter 19 – Gary      97

Chapter 20 - Davina      101

Chapter 21 – Gary      105

Chapter 22 – Davina      109

Chapter 23 – Gary      113

Excerpt from Chloe’s Catch      117

Other Books by Kate Stone      127

About the Author      128

Chapter 1 – Gary

When I sat at the bar and told Edwards I wanted a scotch on the rocks, he narrowed his eyes and said, So, exactly how much shit are you in, Gary?

I have no idea what you're talking about.

A large man with a booming laugh, he told me, As many years as I've been serving you, my friend, I've spotted a pattern with you. When things are going well, you're strictly a craft beer man. But when things are getting hairy, you head straight for the hard stuff. So, what's the story?

I sighed. I find myself in one of those situations that I never thought I'd find myself in, you know? I'm one of those guys who likes to plan for just about every contingency out there and when something comes along that I didn't plan on, it kind of throws me for a loop.

So what the hell is it? he asked.

I closed my eyes and slowly shook my head. Right now, it's not something I want to talk about, I explained.

So, what's the plan, then?

I downed the drink in three gulps and set the empty glass down. The plan, Edwards, is for you to keep these coming and for me to get drunk.

***

The Uber driver was a young guy who obviously understood that I only needed him to drive and not to entertain me. During the drive, I just did my best to keep my head from spinning off my neck.

Yeah, I knew full well that getting drunk wasn't going to really accomplish anything but for a little while, I'd been able to put my problems on hold.

When we arrived at my house, I carefully made at the counter, closing my eyes and just wanting my life to return to where it had been a week ago.

My phone vibrated.

I picked it up, saw the Caller ID, and muttered a string of curses under my breath — and then I accepted the call.

Chapter 2 – Davina

Hey, there.

The moment I heard Gary's voice, heat shot through my body and I closed my eyes, just wanting to take a moment and hold onto the sound of it.

Hi, Gary. I'm sorry for calling so late, but I remembered that you were a night owl and I thought I'd take a chance on you still being awake.

Yeah, still a night owl, he said, although this particular little nocturnal raptor might be a little bit drunk, so if I don't seem to be making any sense, that'll be the reason why.

Right. Of course. The Gary I knew would always head to the bar whenever he needed to avoid anything unpleasant — and I knew I fell into that category at the moment.

I can call back later, I said. You should probably get some rest. We can talk tomorrow.

We'll talk now, he stated. I checked with all my people and they’re all dealing with other clients right now.

Right. Well, it had been a long shot, anyway. Sure. I understand. I should have known better, actually. It was stupid to think that you'd be running a place that wasn't always operating at peak capacity, right? I'd appreciate it, though, if you could recommend someone that you know who might be able to —

I'm handling you personally.

Hearing those words were like feeling his arms around me and for the first time in quite a while, I didn't feel completely alone.

Then, I thought about how things between us had been left and the feeling went away.

I don't know what to say, I said. I — I didn't intend for you to deal with this personally. I just knew that you had a private security business that was well-respected.

Silence built up.

Let's get together to discuss your situation, Gary finally said.

I can be at your office tomorrow morning whenever you want.

No. We're not doing the office.

That caught me by surprise. We're not?

You still owe me for that last dinner where you never showed up. Meet me at The Consulate at eight tomorrow night.

He hung up before I could reply.

Chapter 3 – Gary

In all the time I'd gone out to dinner either on dates or business meetings with clients, I'd never had trouble figuring out what to wear.

Tonight, though, I rummaged in my closet, going through my outfits and finding there wasn't a single one of them meeting the look I wanted.

Staring at my reflection in the full-length mirror, I realized that I probably should have gotten a haircut earlier. My hair hadn't reached the stage where I looked like someone who needed to stay away out of public places, but it was getting