Amy Vastine - Falling For Her Bodyguard

“So do I,” he interrupted. “And when you aren’t where you’re supposed to be, it makes my job a little harder.”

“It makes your job harder? You were the one who abandoned your duties. My boss sent me here. What was I supposed to do? Tell her I couldn’t go on location because the cop my uncle sent to babysit me had to go deal with some personal issues?”

With his hands on his hips, his head fell forward. “I’m sorry about that,” he mumbled at the ground.

“What was that? Did I hear an ‘I’m sorry’?”

His head lifted and their eyes met. “I’m sorry I had to leave. I take my job seriously, and you know your uncle. I don’t want him to think that I wasn’t making your safety a priority.”

Of course he was more worried about her uncle than her. Truthfully, she was more worried about Caroline than anyone else.

“Listen, I am under a microscope right now. I can’t have you attacking innocent people while you’re watching me. My contract at the station is on the line. I don’t want to get you in trouble with my uncle, but I have to call him and get him to back off on this bodyguard idea.”

Detective Walsh held his palms up. “Whatever you want to do is fine by me. I’m not going to stop you from calling your uncle, but I am asking you not to throw me under the bus when you do. Your job is on the line and so is mine.”

She didn’t want to get the guy in trouble, but she had to make a case for getting rid of him at the same time. “I’ll do my best,” she promised.

Kelly started back to her makeshift work area but Detective Walsh touched her arm. “This is a bad idea, by the way. Leaving yourself out in the open like this. Shouting it from the treetops exactly where you are and how long you’ll be here. It makes you an easy target.”

“How is it any different than being at the studio? He knows where I am every day I work.”

“Yeah, but can he walk right into your studio? Can he sit a few feet away from you during your entire show? Whoever your little stalker is, he can get his hands on you here if he wants that.”

Kelly wrapped her arms around herself. She sure hoped he didn’t want that. There wasn’t a chance this guy would really show his face. Was there?

“Well, you’re here now. If he was spying on me and saw what you did to Lyle, I should be fine.”

Detective Walsh tipped his chin. “For today. Until you call your uncle. In the future, you need to think about this kind of stuff.”

She had been so gung ho about getting rid of her bodyguard a few seconds ago, but now, it seemed like one of Uncle Hal’s better ideas. Her uncle would catch this stalker, obsessed fan, whatever he was. She wouldn’t need someone to protect her forever.

* * *

DONOVAN HAD BEEN on a few stakeouts in his day. This wasn’t exactly like those but close. Instead of sitting in a car all day, he got to hang out at one of his favorite barbecue places and eat the free food the manager kept bringing him. Standing behind the table where the radio station crew sat to do their show, he slathered the pulled pork in some of the tangy and sweet Kansas City–style sauce.

“How’s it taste?” the manager asked, checking in for the third time. Donovan wasn’t sure if he was simply being generous or was afraid of getting slammed to the floor like that Lyle guy.

“It’s delicious, sir. This might be even better than the brisket, and that was heaven.”

The man’s whole face lit up. He took pride in what he did and it showed. “Glad you like it. Can I get you anything else? Did you get some cornbread?”

“I’m good, thank you. I’ve had two pieces of cornbread. You guys make the best.”

“Appreciate that. Let me know if there’s anything else we can do for you while you’re here.”

Donovan gave him a will-do nod before the manager did a quick check on Kelly and her crew. She was off-air at the moment and chatting it up with a couple of female customers. Kelly laughed at something they said and thanked them for stopping by. She had a way with people. There was something very down-to-earth about her that people seemed to be attracted to.

“Kelly Bonner, I am your biggest fan.” A man the size and height of a professional basketball player appeared at the table. Donovan could see Kelly’s back straighten and her shoulders tense. He set his sandwich down on the counter behind him and quickly wiped his hands. He had let the food distract him from watching the room.

“Glad to hear it. Would you like to spin our wheel and win yourself a prize?” she offered. Kelly’s producer had set up a prize wheel that listeners could spin for radio station paraphernalia or free food from the restaurant.

“Can I win a dinner date with you if I spin?” he asked, causing Donovan to inch closer.

“You can definitely win dinner,” she replied, ignoring the come-on.

“This place is fine for lunch, but I want to take you somewhere real nice. I know this great Italian place on the north side of town.” He placed his hands on the table and smiled down at her like a fox in the henhouse.

Donovan stepped in. “Sir, I’m going to need you to back away from Miss Bonner, please. Either spin the wheel for your chance to get your hands on a free can cozy or get in line for lunch.”

The man stood up and reached into the inside pocket of his suit coat, pulling out a business card. “I don’t need any can cozies, but if you want to have some of the best lasagna you’ve ever tasted, give me a call.” He slid the card across the table.

Kelly’s producer picked up the card. “I love lasagna. I’ll drop your card in our drawing for tickets to the Grace Note concert.”

The guy looked like he was about to say something when Kelly said, “Good luck and thanks for listening to K104.”

Taking the hint, he made his way to the register to buy himself some lunch. Donovan hoped he himself had never made a woman feel that uncomfortable before and been so clueless about it. He prided himself in being able to read people better than that.

“Sorry we had to interrupt your lunch back there,” Kelly said, cracking a smile. “I think this is the first time since we’ve been on the air that I’ve seen you empty-handed.”

Donovan tried not to roll his eyes.

“Do you think that was the guy?” her producer asked. “I listened to him talk, hoping I would recognize his voice.”

“That wasn’t him,” Donovan said.

“How do you know? You didn’t hear the guy when he called yesterday,” Kelly challenged.

“I know because you told me your stalker is angry at you for saying you had a boyfriend. That guy strode up to you like there wasn’t a chance you’d reject him. I’m less concerned about the men who approach you than the guys who hang back and watch you without saying a word.”

Kelly scanned the room with wary eyes. She bit down on her bottom lip.

Her producer put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Kel. Between me and Detective Walsh, no creep is going to touch you.”

“You’re sweet, Lyle, but I’d like to be able to take care of myself.”

Donovan admired the way she thought, and given the ease with which he took Lyle down earlier, her friend wasn’t going to be much help if things got physical. It was best she learned to defend herself.

“Maybe you could get some pepper spray,” Lyle suggested.

Kelly glanced back at Donovan and fought a smile. “I hear that’s not the best idea, actually.”

Maybe she wasn’t as stubborn as he’d assumed.

Lyle’s computer chimed. “Shoot, you’re on in thirty seconds.”

Kelly put on her headphones and Donovan slipped back behind her. It was his turn to scan the room for anyone out of the ordinary.