Falling For Her Bodyguard

“Ah, Boone Williams.”

CHAPTER FOUR (#u358e2534-8289-5d6e-9913-31b1fcf2139c)

“I CAN’T BELIEVE that Boone Williams walked into my Great Barbecue for lunch.” Kelly helped Lyle load up the station van with the last of the equipment.

“Oh, it’s your Great Barbecue now, is it?” Lyle slammed the doors shut.

Kelly smirked. “You know what I mean. He must have heard me on the radio and couldn’t stay away.”

“I’m pretty sure the guy had no idea there was a radio station inside. He was definitely trying to avoid being recognized. My guess is he did not plan to show up where someone was playing his song and giving away tickets to see him in concert. Walking into your show was probably his biggest nightmare.” Detective Walsh had an affinity for being no fun.

“Okay, so I know he’s a private guy, but I don’t think he’d call it his biggest nightmare to walk into a restaurant where I’m doing my show.”

“Your Great Barbecue. Your show. Someone sure is all about what’s hers,” Lyle teased.

Kelly nudged him with her elbow. “Keep it up and I won’t put in a good word for you with a certain someone we both know.”

“Did I mention what a great show you had today?” Lyle asked, changing his tune. “Top-notch, Kel.”

“I’ll meet you back at the station,” Detective Walsh said, backing away.

She was happy to be free of her shadow even if it was only for the short drive to the radio station. When she got back to her office, she would call her uncle and see if there was any other possible solution to this problem. Maybe she could convince him there wasn’t really a problem. Yes, the guy messed up her car yesterday, but maybe that was it. He was mad, got his revenge and now he would move on.

She could hope.

“It’s overkill to have a bodyguard, don’t you think?” she asked Lyle. She wanted him to agree with her and put the lingering doubts she had to rest.

“Maybe,” he answered quickly. He glanced her way. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s not. This guy had to know what car you drove to mess with it, which means he’s watched you come and go. That’s a bigger deal than someone sending you gifts in the mail. A bodyguard might be what you need until your uncle finds the guy.”

It bothered her to think about being watched. How long had that been going on? Was he still watching without her being aware? The thought made her skin crawl.

At the station, Kelly contemplated asking the detective to stay in the parking garage instead of coming inside. She hadn’t yet explained to Caroline that she had been given private security and wasn’t sure how that would go over with the boss yet. He was there to open her door as soon as Lyle parked the van, however.

“If you can give me a quick tour of your office, I should be able to wait outside for you to finish up. It would be helpful for me to have a lay of the land in case anything was to happen while you were inside,” he said.

The relief was immediate. Kelly’s shoulders were no longer tight. “That sounds like a good idea. I’ll show you around right now.”

He offered to help Lyle carry the equipment into the building. With his arms full, he used his body to hold the elevator doors open for her. Kelly noticed the scar on the left side of his neck as they rode the tiny elevator up. She wondered how he got it but didn’t ask.

“Do you have a first name?” she asked instead. “I’d like to be able to introduce you as a friend of mine if we run into my boss.”

He stared at her with his hazel eyes. Outside they had looked greener, but inside they were a golden brown. “You can call me Donovan.”

“Okay, cool. You can call me Kelly instead of Miss Bonner. That sounds so formal and I’m not really a formal person,” she said. Donovan nodded and Lyle snickered. If he had been close enough, Kelly would have given Lyle’s shins a little kick. She hated that the detective made her feel so awkward. Maybe now that they were on a first-name basis, he would lighten up and things would be a bit more relaxed. “Donovan. That’s a good name.”

“My mom thought so,” he replied.

For some reason the elevator was taking forever and silence made Kelly nervous. “Anyone ever call you Don? Donnie? Dono?”

“No. And please don’t try to be the first.”

The elevator signaled they had arrived at their floor and the doors opened. No nicknames for the detective. At least he had a first name. Calling him Donovan made things feel less threatening. Hopefully, the only person she’d have to introduce him to was Nancy. Caroline liked to stay in her office anyway. It was unlikely they’d bump into her during the quick tour.

“Kelly, you’re back already?” Caroline, in her red power suit and killer heels, stood next to the reception desk because of course she wasn’t in her office like she usually always was. Kelly’s luck lately kind of stank.

“We’re baaaack.” Kelly regretted saying it that way the moment it came out of her mouth.

Caroline’s sense of humor was nonexistent. She appeared more annoyed than amused. “I need to talk to you. Who is this?” she asked, staring at Donovan, who had a box full of K104 promotional material in his hands.

Kelly hoped her broad smile didn’t come across as fake as it was. “This is my friend Donovan. He was kind enough to help us carry things up from the van.”

Juliette, the receptionist, frowned. Her eyebrows pinched together behind her glasses. “Aren’t you the police officer investigating what happened in the parking garage?”

Donovan looked to Kelly for help. Of course, he must have introduced himself to Juliette when he was here earlier, and Juliette never forgot a face.

“He is,” Kelly answered. “He’s a friend, who also happens to work for the police department. It’s nice to have friends on the force, right?”

“Nice indeed. Well, I hope you figure out what happened,” Caroline said to Donovan before turning to Kelly. “You remembered to lock your car, right?”

“My car wasn’t broken into. It was vandalized.”

“Oh, well, it’s still important to lock up. When you don’t, you invite trouble. That’s all I was trying to say.”

Kelly reminded herself not to take offense. Caroline didn’t get where she was by thinking bad things just happened. She was a strong believer in being in control of one’s destiny. In Caroline’s mind, if Kelly wanted something, she simply had to work hard for it and she’d get it.

Kelly wanted a new contract.

“You wanted to talk to me?”

Caroline fiddled with her earring. “I did. Come on back to my office.”

“Lyle, can you show Donovan around before he has to go?” Kelly asked, wanting to get the detective out of there as quickly as possible.

“Yeah, sure,” Lyle replied even though it looked as if he’d rather do anything other than that.

“Thank you,” she mouthed as she followed Caroline back to her big, corner office.

Caroline’s office was immaculate. Everything was in its place. The only thing on her desk was her mammoth computer monitor and keyboard. Her tidiness was as intimidating as she was.

“I know you’re anxious about your contract coming to an end soon. I want to reassure you that there is a place for you here at K104.”

Kelly nearly leaped out of her seat. “That’s great. Thank you. I love it here and I definitely don’t want to be anywhere else.”

“That’s good. But I do need to put some serious thought into where you fit in the lineup. There’s been some discussion about moving you to the morning spot. I need to know you’re willing to do what it takes to help this station maintain its top spot in the ratings.”

The coveted morning spot? The most listened-to time of the day? Kelly wanted to do cartwheels across Caroline’s spacious office. “I am willing to do whatever you want me to do. I have some great ideas that I wanted to run by you, as well.”

Caroline held up a hand. “Hold on. I’m not looking to brainstorm with you. I want to challenge you.”