Wade Savage's father had secretly asked the Elite Guardians
Agency to keep an eye on Wade, who has a radio show;
someone
has been stalking him for a bit over a month. Wade did not
think much of the stalker until the bodyguard watching
him is viciously attacked; she was one of the four women
who
comprise the Agency.
Olivia Edwards, co-owner of Elite Guardians, immediately
takes over the case. Things have escalated, and she's not
taking any chances, especially since Wade has a twelve-
year-old
daughter, Amy. Wade is very much intrigued by Olivia in
spite of the difficult circumstances, but she remains
businesslike but a bit aloof.
I'm not sure if it's because of the (gorgeous!) cover, but
I
was under the impression that ALWAYS WATCHING was a Young
Adult book, but both lead characters are in their early
thirties, it doesn't really matter, and it is how I saw
Olivia. I really like how the relationship between Wade and
Olivia progressed; for once, the heroine remained focused
on
her job, and did not let her attraction compromise her
professional integrity, and although he really wanted to
start something, Wade didn't push. The Elite Guardians'
four
members are gradually introduced, and they are all equally
intriguing. I am not overly fond of books where children
are
featured, but I liked Amy a lot: she behaves exactly as a
tween should, and the relationship between her and her
father
felt entirely genuine.
ALWAYS WATCHING is a very good suspense, the pace is even
and relaxed; I found it interesting that, while there is
quite a bit of tension, and some passages are downright
chilling, it's captivating while remaining pleasant to
read.
At first, I was pretty sure of the identity of the stalker,
but as the threats escalate, the suspect list grows, and I
was as confused as the characters as to whom the culprit
was. ALWAYS WATCHING is a very entertaining read, and I'm
looking forward to the next instalment in the Elite
Guardians series; well
done, Ms. Eason!
The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have more than
just
skill and prowess in common--they're also all women. When
it
becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio
personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father
secretly
hires Elite Guardians in order to protect his son.
But when Wade's bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed,
agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the
gap.
Olivia's skills are about to be tested to the limit as
Wade's stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his
door
to threatening those closest to him. Olivia has the
feeling
that she's next on the list. And to complicate things
even
further, she realizes that her heart may be in as much
danger as her client.
Excerpt
THURSDAY EVENING
The music played in the background while the charity’s
benefactors finished their dinner. A few danced, some
chatted. Others looked slightly bored with the whole
thing.
But one person caught her eye.
She watched the elegantly dressed female from across the
room. She fit in nicely with the crowd, blended well. But
stood out in one regard.
“He’s mine,” she whispered. “He’s mine and you can’t have
him. Go away.” No one knew what it had taken for her to
get here tonight. No one knew the work she’d put in to
making sure she was at this event. No one. And no one was
going to ruin it either.
So what should she do? She had seen the woman following
him, watching him, her eyes tracking his every movement,
never leaving him alone. Even following him to the
bathroom and back. Oh, she was discreet. She never made a
move to approach, but she watched.
Her heart thumped in time with the upbeat music. How
could she get him to see her? Truly see that they
belonged together and had belonged together . . .
forever?
Grudgingly, she admitted that the woman was pretty. Dark
hair and eyes. Just the kind of woman he would be
attracted to. “Well, you can’t have him.” She paused to
draw in a deep breath and take another bite of her
orange-glazed duck.
It would be fine.
She chewed, swallowed, and looked up. And met the eyes of
the woman across the room. She dropped her gaze back to
her plate. Why was she looking at her? Did she see
something? Could she know what she was thinking?
Another deep breath. Of course not. She couldn’t get
stupid now. She glanced at the man who’d stolen her
heart. And some fat cow at his side. Why had he brought
her? She reached for her glass.
“Are you all right? You look like you’re agitated.”
She nearly choked on the sip of tea. “Agitated?” As good
a word as any, she supposed. She placed the glass back on
the table and forced a smile. “No. I’m just fine, thank
you.”
“Good, I’m glad.” He took the seat next to her. “You look
beautiful tonight.”
She swallowed, despising the lump in her throat. “Thank
you.”
“I’m glad you could make it.”
Was he? She glanced at the woman across the room again.
“I wouldn’t have missed it.” Good, she was getting her
composure back.
“Of course not. You deserve this.”
She stared at him. “I do?” Then blinked and gave a small
laugh. Thankfully, it came out low and amused, not coarse
and nervous like she felt.
“You do. I think you deserve to have whatever makes you
happy.” He smiled and his white teeth flashed bright in
his tanned face.
She tilted her head. “Are you flirting with me?” Because
if he was, he was out of luck. Her heart was already
taken.
He chuckled. “Would you like to dance?”
“You want to dance? With me?”
“I asked, didn’t I?”
“Then I’d love to.” Maybe he would see and would take
note. She rose and placed her hand in his. Then glanced
back at the woman across the room. The other woman’s eyes
were back on Wade.
The fury renewed its desire to come out, to spill over
onto the woman. But she held it back.
“Is there a problem?” her dance partner asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You seem tense.”
“I’m fine.”
He nodded in the woman’s direction. “You don’t like her?”
She stiffened. “I don’t know her.”
“At least you didn’t pretend to misunderstand who I was
talking about. I like that.”
She was in control. She could handle this. She smiled up
at him. “Forget her. I already know what you do. Why
don’t you tell me something about yourself that I won’t
read in the papers.” She listened with one ear while her
gaze drifted back to the woman who couldn’t seem to keep
her eyes off Wade. Yes, it might be time to do something
about her. But that was fine. She’d killed for him
before, she’d have no trouble doing it again.
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