“Thank you.” She walked into the room and made eye contact with me right away, an enormous smile on her face. She winked when Troy turned his back, and I stifled a giggle. She glanced at the coffee table and then at me, a crease forming at her brow. I knew what was coming. “You didn’t offer Troy anything to eat or drink?”
Mom was an amazing hostess, and anyone who came to our home when I was growing up received a slice of banana bread or whatever treat she had on hand, always homemade.
I turned to Troy with a guilty smile. “Forgive my manners. I was so wrapped up in what we were discussing that I forgot to offer you something to drink. What can I get you? Water? Iced tea?”
“Water is fine,” he said, glancing perceptively between me and my mother.
The previous night I’d made cookies, so I went to the kitchen and pulled two from a cookie jar.
“So, tell me, Mr. Littman,” Mom crooned. She was seated next to him on the couch, one hand placed delicately underneath her chin. “Are you married?”
My face heated at her candor as I leaned against the kitchen counter, still holding the cookies. She certainly hadn’t wasted time asking that question. I tried to catch her eye, but she wasn’t looking my way.
Since it was easy enough to see Troy wasn’t wearing a wedding ring—I’d taken note of that myself—I could only guess her question was meant to spark a conversation on the topic.
“No, I’m not married,” he said, shrugging, and he didn’t seem uncomfortable with the question.
“Are you seeing anyone?”
“Mom! That’s none of our business.” Mortified, I froze, wishing I hadn’t invited her to come by. The last thing I needed was a meddling mother trying to set me up with my own bodyguard. What must he think of us?
“Oh, honey, I’m just making conversation.” Mom glanced at me and smiled, but she was dangerously close to sharing her true motives in front of this man.
“It’s fine,” Troy said, unperturbed. “I’m not seeing anyone. I don’t have time for that these days.”
“Oh? Why not?” Mom asked.
Sighing, I put the cookies on a plate and filled a glass with purified water from the refrigerator. Her question annoyed me, but I still wanted to hear his answer.
“I just got a promotion heading up the new division of Bad Boy Bodyguards.” He glanced at me with a wary look. “After I finish this job.”
Mom clapped her hands together with glee. “That’s wonderful. Your parents must be so proud.”
He flinched and then quickly composed his features. It happened so fast I doubted Mom caught it, but I did, and it made me think his relationship with his parents might be strained.
“They’re happy, yes.” He glanced down with a blank expression.
I brought the water and plate of cookies and set them in front of him on the coffee table. “Hope you’re in the mood for a snack.”
“Thank you, that sounds good.” He picked one up and took a bite, and Mom and I jointly held our breath, waiting for his response. He made a sound in the back of his throat. “Delicious. How did you know peanut butter cookies are my favorite?”
“I didn’t. I made them yesterday because they’re my favorite.”
He laughed. “Look at that. We have something in common.”
I grinned. “Who would have thought?”
He cocked his head to the side, his strong jaw working as he chewed. “Should have known though. You like things extra sweet. Makes sense that you’d have cookies lying around.” He took another bite. “These are perfect.”
“Glad you approve.”
“What would you do if I didn’t?”
“Snatch them right out of your hand. I never waste a good cookie.”
“I’d like to see you try,” he said, stuffing the rest of the cookie in his mouth. He began chewing, his mouth full like a chipmunk.
My eyes widened, not expecting him to be so eager. “Don’t choke on it.”
He winked and finished chewing. “Haven’t had something this good in a long time.”
My heart fluttered despite my determination not to react to him.
Mom glanced from me to Troy and then back again as if trying to figure us both out. Troy picked up his glass of water and took a sip.
Mom tilted her head to the side, appearing to ponder something. “Well, you two certainly have chemistry. This should be an interesting relationship.”
“Mom!” My face turned blistering hot at her bluntness. What had gotten into her? She’d never responded this candidly before. “This is a professional association, and that’s all.” I glanced at Troy apologetically. “Sorry, Mom wants me to find someone if you haven’t figured it out already.”
“I just want to see you happy. You’ve gone through so much.” Her eyes turned stormy as she rose and stood by my side, smoothing a lock of hair behind my ear. “Can’t a mother want the best for her daughter?”
“Yes, but please don’t involve Mr. Littman—”
“Call me Troy.”
“Please don’t involve Troy,” I repeated. “You’re embarrassing me.” The last part was said in a whisper.
Troy’s expression softened. “Ahh, give your mom a break. I can see how much she loves you. You’re lucky to have that.” He said it so sincerely that I took a moment to study him. His eyes were sad, but there was admiration there as well.
He didn’t seem embarrassed, but all the same, I gave Mom a look, my eyes widening as if to say “that’s enough.”
The message came through loud and clear. She picked up the empty plate—Troy had already slipped the second cookie into his mouth—and brought it to the kitchen. “Please forgive me. Sometimes I speak out of turn.”
I studied her for a moment, not sure what that statement was about. Mom always thought through what she said to others, so either she was extra nervous about my safety and saying all kinds of things to divert her focus from the real issues at hand, or Troy Littman had made quite an impression on her. I turned my attention back to Troy. He was much more patient when he was on the job. I had to give him kudos for putting up with this.
“There’s nothing to forgive,” he said, a kind smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He must have sensed my stare because he glanced at me. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re actually a nice guy when you want to be.”
He chuckled, and this time his smile turned devilish. “You’re right. When I want to be.”
Chapter 7
Troy
The first few days guarding Kayla were uneventful as she didn’t have any concerts or major events scheduled. She had a few errands she had to do, so I accompanied her on those outings, but, honestly, a part of me wished I was elsewhere. I would rather comb through resumes and start the interview process for the new division since that was where my focus needed to be. This assignment was just a means to an end and nothing more.
The other part of me didn’t mind hanging around her as much as I thought I would. Despite my initial impression of her at Busy Bean, she wasn’t attention-getting at all. I had to admit, for the most part, she was pleasant to be around.
“As soon as Robert gets here, we can leave,” she said, giving me that girl-next-door smile, dimples and all. To say I wasn’t affected by it would be a lie. She was cute. I’d give her that.
Today’s plan was to accompany Kayla to a charity dinner. Her friend, Robert, would be her escort for the evening, and I would shadow them to make sure all went smoothly. Robert was the guy who had reached out to Ansel Williams, the CEO of Bad Boy Bodyguards. He met Ansel at a business conference, and Ansel promised we would provide good service at a discount. Besides that, I knew virtually nothing about the man but figured I’d get a sense of him tonight. He’d taken steps to protect Kayla, so he had to be a decent guy.
Kayla glanced at the clock on the wall. “Where is he? He should be here by now.”
I didn’t feel a response was needed as she was talking to herself.
Turning my gaze to her, I allowed my eyes to trail the curve of her graceful neck. She paced in front of the door in her sky-blue evening gown with rhinestones across the bodice. She wasn’t wearing heels but had opted for those red cowboy boots she’d worn the day I saw her at Busy Bean. Earlier, she’d mentioned it was her signature item, and she liked to wear them as often as she could, even to events such as this one.
There was a knock, and I quickly got up to answer the door. A man with a receding hairline waited outside in a black tuxedo. He stood about five foot ten and surprise flickered across his face when our gazes met.
“Who are you?” He was clearly thrown off guard by my presence, and that seemed strange considering Will had informed him of services starting.
I extended my hand. “Name’s Troy Littman. Bad Boy Bodyguards assigned me to Miss Keller.”
“W-What?” He stared at me, dumbfounded, his mouth opening slightly as he regarded me.
Sizing him up, I took in his thin, wiry frame, pronounced forehead, eyes that were astute and shrewd. He looked to be somewhere in his forties, and upon second glance, my instincts warned me to be a little wary.
“You aren’t the man Ansel told me about,” he said. “I specifically asked for someone who’d been around the block a few times.”
“I can assure you my experience is quite extensive.”
“Robert, is that you?” Kayla walked up behind me, but I was blocking the doorway with my body so she couldn’t see around me.
“Yes, I’m here, sweetheart,” he said, “but this…man…is in the way.” He flicked his hand, indicating I should move, but I didn’t budge an inch.
He was exactly as Will had described him, but I had every right to ask for his I.D. anyway. Granted, I hadn’t done that when Kayla’s mother visited, but this guy was already rubbing me the wrong way.
Kayla cleared her throat impatiently. “What’s the hold-up? We’ll be late if we don’t leave soon.”
“I need to see an I.D. before we proceed.”
Robert pulled out his wallet, eyebrows pinched, irritation showing all over his face. “Here you go.” He removed his driver’s license from his wallet and held it a little too closely to my face. It was him, so I stood to the side and gestured to come inside. Since I filled up most of the space in the doorway, he didn’t have a lot of room to walk by, but then again, he didn’t need it, and I didn’t bother to make it easy.
“What took you so long?” Kayla asked as he sauntered into her home like he owned the place.
“Got caught up at the office with a new client. Couldn’t be helped.” He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then glanced over at me narrowing his eyes. “Mr. Littman, I know Ansel wouldn’t have just given us anyone, so I assume you have the basics down, but I asked for the very best and was told Kayla would be getting an older, ex-military guy. You are not that.”
My jaw clenched, and I took a moment to relax my shoulders. What was his problem? This man knew nothing about me. “Ansel initially assigned Burt, but he had to take time off for health reasons. I’m also ex-military—served in the Marines. Kayla is in good hands, sir.”
He nearly glared at me then, his lower lip trembling with anger, and though he put on a formidable effort in controlling himself, I had to smother a laugh. This guy was something else.
“I’m not happy with this turn of events. I’m calling Ansel to demand a more suitable bodyguard.” He pulled out his phone and was about to dial when Kayla put a hand on his arm.
“Please don’t. I’ve already gotten used to Mr. Littman, and he’s very good. I like him.” She glanced up at me, the corners of her mouth lifting in a smile that reached her eyes and stayed there for several long seconds. The force of that smile hit me like a torpedo to the gut.
Despite my irritation with this guy, Kayla had a calming presence that soothed my frustration.
“He’s doesn’t meet my qualifications.” Robert’s jaw tightened, and he looked as if he were about to come unglued at any moment.
“I don’t understand,” she said, jerking her head back as if confused. “He seems quite experienced. Clearly, he’s not someone to mess with, and he’ll keep me safe. Why don’t you like him?”
He didn’t answer for several moments and then he let out a breath. “I wanted a more seasoned man to handle your case.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and widened my stance. “Call Ansel if it makes you feel better, but I have extensive experience, and he asked for me specifically. Ansel knows I’m the best at what I do.”
“Well, there you have it,” Kayla said.
Robert shook his head as if he didn’t believe a word of it. “No, he’s not what I envisioned for you.”
Kayla frowned and looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Robert, please. I’m the one who has to put up with someone following me around all day, and I like Troy. I feel comfortable with him.”
He swiped a hand over his jaw and gave me a suspicious glance. “Trust me on this. He’s not a right fit for you.”
“How can you say that? He just told us Ansel asked for him specifically. If Ansel thinks he’s a good fit, let it go.”
“You need an older man with more life experience. This guy is too young.”
“I’m thirty-three, sir. That’s hardly too young.”
He pursed his lips and glared at me, his movements agitated. “Please stay out of this.”
Kayla glanced at the clock and then at us. “Look, can we table this discussion for now? If we don’t leave, we’ll be late.”
“Fine.” Robert placed a possessive hand on her lower back as they headed for the door. The moment he touched her skin, she flinched and moved away from him, walking a little faster so she was two steps ahead. His expression crumbled, and I instantly felt bad for the guy despite his aggravating behavior earlier. He was in love with her. It was written all over his face, but evidently, she didn’t feel the same way.
Suddenly his demand for an “older man” to take my place made more sense. Robert Sunder felt threatened by me, but there was no need for that. I was a professional and would never start a relationship with a client. Not even one as cute as Kayla Keller.
***
I scanned the room and searched for all the exits in case of an emergency. The hotel ballroom was swarmed with people, a bodyguard’s worst nightmare, especially since individuals were coming and going, making distractions easy. At least a dinner ticket had to be purchased ahead of time and no one was allowed in without that ticket.
I had dressed in the black suit I normally wore for events like these, and I set my face with a serious, unfriendly expression, the one I used when I wanted people to stand back and be wary. I was here to do a job, not chat about the latest gossip.
Kayla, on her part, was handling this quite well as she mingled with the others. A smile pulled at her lips and she had a kind, gracious manner as she walked around the room. I was never more than a few steps behind, and I could tell that bothered Robert, but he wasn’t my client so I didn’t care what he thought.
Yes, he was the man paying the bills, but I had to be concerned with Kayla’s safety first and foremost. If he complained to Ansel and asked to replace me with someone else…fine. I wouldn’t like it, but it would free me up to concentrate on getting the new office in order, and that had been my initial goal, anyway.
We’d come to a stop as Kayla and Robert spoke to a man and woman, appearing in their early fifties. Both women laughed and complimented each other on their dresses while the men compared tuxedos. Typical. All of this would have bored me if I didn’t have to stay alert and ready for anything.
At least this event was for a good cause. Kayla had told me earlier that Fight Hunger, the organization running the charity dinner, made sure children in low-income areas had enough food. I’d gotten my ticket at the last minute, and the bill would go straight to Robert.
A prickly feeling tugged at the back of my neck, a sense that something wasn’t right. Glanc
ing to my left, I noticed a man with blond hair watching Kayla intensely on the other side of the room. There was hurt and anger on his face as he began moving our way, never taking his eyes off her. I instantly went on high alert. She must have sensed his gaze as well because she glanced over at me with a startled expression.
“Troy.” She nodded in the direction of the man, her forehead creasing with worry. “That’s Leo, the one I told you about when we were filling out paperwork. I can’t believe he’s here.”
Right. The guy who’d been pestering her for a second date. A friend set them up, but she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested.
“I’ll take care of it.” I immediately moved to intercept him, adrenaline pumping through my veins. He wasn’t a large man, but he could have a weapon. Before the man reached her, I stepped in front of him and cleared my throat. “Miss Keller doesn’t wish to speak with you, so I suggest you turn around.” My voice was gruff and loud enough to make my point clear.
The man’s brows lowered, and he reared back as if he’d run into a brick wall. “Who are you?”
“Her bodyguard.”
It took him a moment to process that information, but once he did, he appeared confused. “Why does she need a bodyguard?”
“That’s confidential.”
“Unbelievable.” He ran a hand through his hair and attempted to peer around me in order to see Kayla, but I moved each time he tried that.
“I just want to talk to her. She’s been avoiding my calls, but she mentioned this event on our date. I think she wanted me to know she’d be here.”
“Kayla already told you how she feels. She doesn’t want to see you again.”
“She’s just scared to move on after what happened to her husband. If we could just—”
“Let me repeat, she doesn’t want to see you. Be on your way.”
“I need to talk to her.” He pushed me, and when I didn’t budge, fear flickered in his eyes for the first time in our exchange.
Protected By The Bad Boy (Bad Boy Bodyguards Book 1) Page 5
