GargoylesEmbrace by Lisa Carlisle

Chapter One
     
    Tracy brushed her fingers over the smooth stone of the
gargoyle perched at the end of the bar of the Vamps nightclub.
    “I’m stuck with the late shift tonight,” she said. “But at
least I took in some good money.”
    She stood over the crouched gargoyle and ran her hand over the
smooth area between its two horns, down the back of its head and over its
hunched back where its two wings connected. “Thanks for always listening,” she
said, aware of how foolish she sounded speaking to a statue. If anyone saw her,
they’d think she was stone-cold crazy. She bent to kiss its smooth, chiseled
stone cheek in gratitude.
    Over the last few months, Tracy had begun talking to the
stone gargoyle as if it were a companion whenever she had a few moments alone
in the bar. Why she gravitated toward this one gargoyle while several others
were perched around the club, she didn’t know. She found something compelling
about it, drawing her in, and she often confided her secrets to it.
    Tracy rested her hand on the gargoyle’s shoulder while she
scanned the club. Bottles and cups were scattered in every dark corner and
under the other perched gargoyles. The scent of sweat and spilled beer still
permeated the club.
    “Trace.”
    Was it one of the guys out back? The guys she worked with
were bringing out the trash and the bottles for recycling. The other bartenders
had already settled up and left for the night. They rotated who could leave
first and who had to stay to make sure they were stocked for the next night.
    No, they knew better than to call her Trace.
    “It’s Tracy,” she said, turning to face the intruder.
    And stared into the face of her ex.
    “What are you doing here, Brian?” The muscles in her body
tensed as she gauged the distance between her and the pepper spray behind the
bar should she need it.
    She thought she felt a tiny movement under her hand.
    No, she had to be losing her mind. As if stone could move.
    She kept her hand on the stone like a security blanket,
almost gripping it now that Brian had appeared.
    “I came to see what you were doing tonight. Thought maybe we
could hang out.” The way he slurred the words indicated he’d already had one
too many, a bad sign.
    “Definitely not. The restraining order should make that
clear.”
    “Babe, I was in a rough place and I took it out on you. Let’s
put the past behind us and try again.”
    The cold stone felt warmer beneath her hand. How strange.
Was she so heated from the tension of Brian arriving that her palm could warm
cool stone?
    “No, Brian. I’ve given you too many chances and each time it
ended worse than the time before.”
    “Babe.” He approached her. “I would never hurt you again.”
    “Don’t come any closer.” She moved away from the gargoyle to
get to her purse behind the bar.
    “Trace, you’re soooo dramatic.” He moved behind the bar.
    Tracy was distracted by the gargoyle statue behind him. It
was changing color, from gray stone to what appeared to be—flesh.
    “Come on, we were good together. Don’t you miss the sex?”
    The stone wings of the gargoyle statue unfurled into
enormous sleek, black, feathered ones. The gargoyle reshaped itself, rising
from a crouched position to stand on two legs to a full height well over six
feet.
    And its head. The horns sank back into the stone while light-blond
hair sprouted to take their place, growing past its broad shoulders. Within a
few seconds, the grotesque stone creature she found lovable had transformed
into a breathtaking male with flawless bronze skin, long blond hair and the
magnificent physique of a Viking warrior. Who stood before them stark naked.
    “Holy shit!” she exclaimed, eyes widening.
    “I know, babe. The sex was awesome.”
    She fumbled for her purse, searching for the damn spray. She
wasn’t even sure who she was going to direct it at now with two threats facing
her.
    It was too late. Brian had grabbed her wrists and tried to
kiss her.
    “Get