“How can you be so sure?” she asked.
“Because I live and breathe country music, and I’ve immersed myself in that culture.
Mark nodded and leaned forward, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “Tell us why you want to host our show.”
For half a second, I thought about giving a contrived answer about reality TV or any number of things that would make me look good. In the end, I didn’t want this job if I had to lie. “To be honest, I’m hoping it will kick-start my career as a country singer. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Television might be a means to an end, but I’m pretty sure I’ll enjoy the journey. Who wouldn’t want to follow other singers around and rub shoulders with people you’d never get to meet otherwise?”
Mark frowned. “So, acting isn’t your first love?”
“No. I’m all about singing and performing on stage. I do have some acting experience but not a lot. I was in a couple of college plays, but if you’re looking for more—”
“An acting background will weigh in,” Sheryl said, “but it’s very important to us that we find someone in the country singing world. That holds even more weight in our minds.”
I relaxed a little and nodded. “Good to know.”
“You did well on your screen test,” Mark said. “You have a wholesome image, and since our target audience includes families, you would be a great fit.”
Sheryl cut in. “Not that we’ve made any decisions yet. We still have a few others to interview.”
“I understand.”
Mark stared at his clipboard and tapped his pen a few times. “We have the funds to film an entire season, and we plan to bring on several guest stars to follow. Our idea is to fly them out to California, but you will be required to go to their hometown on occasion. How do you feel about traveling?”
“It sounds fun. I’m all for it.”
He wrote something on the paper attached to his clipboard. “Are you willing to perform alongside a few of the guests?” He tipped his chin down. “I’m assuming you would be okay with that since you said you’re hoping this show will open doors for you.”
“Yes, I would love to share my voice with the audience. That would make me very happy.” I couldn’t contain my smile, but I wasn’t trying to hold it back.
“That’s great,” he said.
Sheryl crossed her legs and smiled. “We really do like you, Miss Keller. I think it’s safe to say you’re on the short list of people we want to see again.”
That was good news. “Thank you. I’m very excited about this opportunity.”
Mark filled me in on some of the logistics of the show and then asked about my availability. I told him I was currently free, but I would have to continue to schedule other jobs unless I found out they wanted to hire me.
“We won’t begin filming for a few months,” Sheryl said, “and we’ll give you plenty of notice if we call you for the position.”
My shoulders drooped forward, and I strained not to show my disappointment. If filming didn’t start for several months, that wouldn’t fix my need for extra money now. Oh, well. Maybe God wanted me to stop services with Troy. It was becoming more and more clear to me that I couldn’t allow Robert to take care of the bill anymore. It just wasn’t right on many different levels, and it was causing friction in our friendship.
“It was nice meeting you.” Sheryl stood and so did Mark. “We’ll be in touch,” Mark said.
I shook hands with both of them and then Troy and I headed out. Once we were in his car on our way to lunch, I breathed a sigh of relief. “It was the weirdest experience. It was intense but easy if that makes sense.”
Troy smiled and stared straight ahead. “I think I know what you mean. It was a challenge, but you were up for it.”
“Yeah, I believe so.”
“They’d be crazy not to hire you.”
“I don’t know about that. They probably have a ton of talented individuals who want the job.”
Troy glanced at me sidelong. “It’s in God’s hands now.”
“Yes, it is.”
We stopped at a hole-in-the-wall fast-food joint because I had a hankering for a good old-fashioned greasy burger, seasoned fries, and a strawberry shake. We ordered our meals and took them back to the car where we ate in silence for several minutes.
Troy finally broke the ice. “I got a call from my boss, Will, this morning.”
“Yeah?” I stuffed a French fry in my mouth, chewed, and then picked up my burger.
“Robert has requested that I be removed from your case.”
I gasped and dropped my burger in my lap. “Are you kidding me?”
“No. He asked for someone older with more experience.” He swiped a hand across his jaw, a sour look on his face. “He implied that we’ve gotten too familiar with each other and that I’ve been inappropriate.” He coughed uncomfortably. “I told Will we haven’t crossed any lines. He’s going to contact you later today.”
“Oh, my goodness, Troy. I am so very sorry. Robert had no business saying that. And don’t worry, I’ll clear everything up immediately. He had no right to interfere like that.”
Troy grimaced. “As long as he’s paying the bills, he has every right to voice his preferences. Just wish he were more honest.”
Angry tears filled my eyes at the realization that I’d put myself in this position by allowing Robert to pay for my security. I had to end this today.
Okay, Lord, I’m trusting you with my life. If I have to get rid of my bodyguard, I won’t have protection. Actually, I’ll have your protection, and that will have to be enough.
“Troy, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and I’m not comfortable with Robert paying the bills. I don’t have the money to pay on my own, so I have to terminate your services immediately. I can’t go on like this.”
A crease formed on his forehead as he turned to face me. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Whoever attacked you is still out there. He hasn’t shown himself, but that may be because he knows you have security.”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about this, but I don’t know if I trust Robert anymore.”
For the last several days I’d been stewing on what Lillian told me, and even though I still didn’t think Robert was capable of criminal activity, I wasn’t one hundred percent sure about that. Also, I was furious that he’d just tried to get Troy in trouble. That was not okay in my book.
“Give me Will’s number, please. I want to call him right now.”
Chapter 14
Troy
I forced myself to remain quiet as Kayla called Will to do damage control, hating that she was placed in this position in the first place. Will trusted me—no one had ever complained that I lacked professionalism before—and he knew my character. Integrity was important to me. As was telling the truth. Despite my growing feelings for Kayla, I had not crossed a line, so Robert’s accusations were completely unfounded. What he said made my blood boil. Made me want to smack some sense into him. Of course, I couldn’t do that since my Christian values wouldn’t let me, but it was a struggle, nonetheless.
He wanted me off her case because he felt threatened by me. I didn’t have much respect for men who resorted to tactics like that. Worst of all, he put Kayla in the middle, and that was a cowardly thing to do.
Kayla held the phone up to her ear, a don’t-mess-with-me look flickering in her eyes. “That’s right, Troy has never been inappropriate. I even flirted with him a little and he didn’t take the bait.” She glanced at me and winked, and a small smile tugged at my lips at her ease with this topic. The subject didn’t appear to make her feel awkward at all. “I want to make it clear that I’m ending services, not because of Troy, mind you, but because it’s causing friction with Robert. If I find the funds later, I’ll reinstate services, but until then, I’ll just have to be extra cautious.”
I heard Will’s voice on the other line, but I couldn’t make out his words. It really got under my skin that Kayla had to
do this, but I was glad she was standing up for herself with Robert. That guy needed to back off.
All that said, I was still very concerned about her well-being. If something happened to her, Robert would have to answer to me. He’d pushed her to this.
When Kayla got off the phone, she let out a breath and glanced at me, her eyes uncertain. “Well, it’s done. You are no longer my bodyguard.”
Different emotions stirred within me. On the one hand, I wasn’t so sure protection wasn’t a necessity. Granted, besides the incident with the guy who kept trying to get a second date, nothing else had happened. On the other hand, Kayla wasn’t my client anymore which meant… We were free to explore a relationship if we wanted.
Except… Robert’s accusations would appear to be true if I pursued something with Kayla now. I clenched my fist again and took a moment to rein in my anger. I’d have a talk with Will later and explain the situation. See what he suggested. I wasn’t ready to let her go, but I had to make sure everything was above board first.
Kayla pressed her lips together as if trying to be okay with the turn of events. “I’m sad I won’t see you anymore. That’s my only regret in this thing.” Tears welled up in her eyes, and she wiped them away quickly.
“Hey, we’ll stay in touch. I promise. And I want you to keep wearing the watch I gave you at our first meeting. That way, I can continue to track you, and you’ll have access to the emergency button if you need it.”
“Are you sure that’s okay since services are no longer being paid for?”
“Yes, it’s fine.” I didn’t like the idea of her walking around unguarded, an easy target for some creep who was still on the loose. It was imperative that she wore the watch now that I wouldn’t be there to protect her. I would cover the fee for that on my own but didn’t want to bother her with the details and risk her saying she wouldn’t wear it. “We’ll stay in touch.” I wanted to offer more than that, but I couldn’t until Will understood the situation better. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“And you haven’t received any other weird phone calls, right?” The question was more for my own reassurance than anything else.
“Nope.” She tapped her chin with her forefinger and stared out the front window of the car. “I’ve been thinking a lot about Daniel’s journal entry, and I can’t stop wondering if it had to do with our next-door neighbor at the time.”
“Victor was his name, correct?”
“Yeah, good memory. And Tom was the other neighbor who vouched for his alibi.” She bit down on her bottom lip and appeared to consider that. “I never spoke with Tom after the incident. The mugging had been so traumatic that I’d packed up and left, and my parents hired a moving company to get my things later.” She paused as if an idea had just come to her. “Maybe I should talk to Tom—ask him about what he saw. That might relieve some of my fears about Victor so I can stop thinking about it.”
“But the police already did that.”
“Yes, but it’s haunted me all this time. I’ve always felt like Victor was behind Daniel’s death. I need answers so I finally have closure.”
I shifted, turning to face her. “I don’t want you visiting him alone. If you decide to talk to him, I’m going with you.”
“But I can’t pay—”
“I’m not asking you to pay. I’ll be there as your friend.”
Her eyes softened, and her mouth edged up on one side. “You would do that for me?”
“Of course, I would. There’s a lot I would do for you, Kayla. All you have to do is ask.”
I wanted to reach out and clasp her hand. Stroke the curve of her face. Kiss her soft lips. The urge was so strong it threatened to overpower me, but I resisted, knowing I had to keep a clear head. We had to take this slowly. I would not let Robert’s accusations get the upper hand, but I had to make sure I was above reproach.
“I appreciate that more than you know.” She smiled, but there was sadness there. Disappointment.
I sensed she wanted more of a commitment from me. At least a declaration about my interest. I grit my teeth, frustration filling every muscle in my body. Will and I would be having that discussion very soon.
“Since I’m here with you now, why don’t we see if Tom is home. We can take care of it today.”
She straightened and determination crossed her features. “All right. Let’s do it.”
***
Twenty minutes later we were on the freeway, fighting traffic to get to Kayla’s old neighborhood. “Did you and Daniel know this Tom guy well?”
Kayla stared straight ahead, her hands resting on her legs. “No, not really. He and his wife, Beverly, stayed to themselves mostly, and we rarely saw them together. He worked at home doing something on his computer—not sure what. She was a paramedic and had a crazy schedule. I noticed this one woman coming and going whenever Beverly wasn’t there, but I didn’t want to be a busybody and ask questions.”
“Hmm. You think he was having an affair?”
“Maybe. I’m not sure though. I wanted to bring it up to Bev, but we had opposite schedules and our work hours never coincided. Whenever I was at home, she was at work, so we rarely had the opportunity to talk. Plus, I didn’t want to assume anything bad. For all I knew, the woman could have been his sister. I wasn’t trying to stir up trouble.”
“I get it. No one likes a nosy neighbor.”
“Oh, we need to get off here,” she said, hurriedly. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”
The traffic was heavy, but I managed to move over two lanes and get off at the correct exit.
“Make a left at the light and a right on Green Mountain Drive,” she said.
“Got it.”
We were both silent as I followed her directions, and I prayed silently that Tom would be home and that the conversation with him would be helpful. I wanted Kayla to have the closure she needed.
As I drove down the street, I took note of the trees and perfectly manicured lawns. It was a quiet neighborhood, and the houses were well maintained. “Do you miss living here?”
Kayla hesitated for several long moments, and I wondered if I shouldn’t have asked the question. “Sometimes, but I would never consider moving back. There were a lot of good memories here, but everything ended so horribly. Even if Victor moved, I still don’t think I could return.”
“That’s understandable. It makes sense that you needed a new start.”
I continued driving until she pointed to a light blue house on the left. “It’s this one here.”
I parked in front of the house next door so we could talk for a minute without being seen. “You okay?”
She nodded quickly as if to convince herself she was fine. “Victor lives right over there.” She gestured to a brown home across the street. “And Daniel and I lived next door in the cream-colored house.” She paled, and her bottom lip quivered the slightest bit. “This is the first time I’ve been here in four years.” The last part came out as a whisper.
I felt the urge to comfort her, to put my arms around her, but I kept my hands on the wheel. “You don’t have to do this. We can leave.”
“No, we’re here, and I’m not turning back now.”
I nodded, and we both got out of the car. We walked up to the front door, and I stepped forward and knocked. A few seconds passed and then a tall man with brown hair and a salt and pepper mustache answered. He wore jeans and a red and tan striped shirt that clung to him.
“Can I help you?” His gaze fell to Kayla, and he inhaled sharply. “Kayla. Haven’t seen you in years.”
“Hi, Tom.” She forced a smile, but it was faint. “I know it must be a surprise to see me, but I was wondering if we could come in? There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
He had a deer-in-the-headlights look in his eyes, and he just stood there for several moments, not saying anything. Finally, he let out a breath and his shoulders sagged. “Of course. Come in.” He sounded g
ruff. Maybe a little put out for having to speak with us.
He showed us to a couch in the living room, and we both sat down. The shades on the windows were drawn, creating a dark atmosphere. Tom turned on a lamp rather than open one of the shades and then seated himself on a couch facing ours. He had a reserved demeanor, or maybe he was just concerned seeing Kayla all of a sudden. He wasn’t unfriendly exactly, but I didn’t sense much warmth emanating from him either.
“So, what brings you here?” he asked. He maintained a blank expression, showing no emotion.
“I came to get closure.” Kayla glanced at me and then turned back to Tom. “We never spoke after Daniel passed away. I know I left in a hurry, so I didn’t get the chance to hear your side of the story.”
He frowned. “My side of the story?”
“Oh, I mean, what happened with Victor. His alibi.” She paused. “You saw him the night Daniel and I were attacked, right? That’s what you told the police?”
Tom pressed his lips together hard and glanced away. “Yes, that’s correct.”
“Do you mind telling me what you saw?”
He ran a hand over his jaw and one finger curved over his mustache. “I was outside watering the lawn when his mother drove up. She parked in the driveway and went up to the front door and knocked. Victor answered and let her in. That was pretty much it.”
Kayla scooted up until she was on the edge of her seat. Leaning forward, she rested her elbows on her knees. “And how did you know it coincided with the same time Daniel and I were mugged?”
He shrugged, and his voice turned sharp. “Happened to check my watch. The time was seven-thirty p.m.”
My brows scrunched together at the defensiveness in his tone. He seemed uncomfortable with the question, but then again, the subject wouldn’t exactly put anyone at ease. “You just happened to check at that moment?”
“Yes, that’s what I told the police.”
Protected By The Bad Boy (Bad Boy Bodyguards Book 1) Page 11
