PROLOGUE
Los Angeles,California
One year ago…
“Nice job tonight,Miss Cahill. That risotto you made looked out of this world.”
Scottie Cahill smiled at her studio-assigned bodyguard as the sweet man opened the car’s back passenger door. Six-four, late forties. Kind eyes and a body built like a prize fighter.
The former police officer-turned-bodyguard to the stars offered a sense of safety when she’d needed it most. Not that Scottie saw herself as a star. Far from it. She was simply a small-town girl trying to enjoy her ten minutes of fame.
Recent events, however, had taught her that life in front of a million-plus viewers wasn’t always what it was cracked up to be.
“Thanks, Mitch.” She stepped past the muscular man on her way into the awaiting vehicle. “I’m just glad the judges thought so, too. And I’ve told you a million times, you can call me Scottie.”
“And I told you, as long as I’m on the clock, I’ll address you with the respect you deserve. Now. As for as the judges go…are you kidding?” His deep voice held a hint of playful rasp. “I saw their faces when they sampled your dish. Even Chapman’s eyes lit up when he got his first taste.”
Scottie chuckled, recalling the panel and the toughest judge’s reaction to her dish. “They did, didn’t they?”
“Mark my words...” Mitch stood with his jacketed arm resting on the door’s metal frame as she ducked into the car. “You’re going to win this thing, lock, stock, and barrel.”
“From your lips to God’s ears.”
She settled herself back against the flawless black leather, pretending not to notice the gun strapped to her bodyguard’s right hip. If she noticed it—if she acknowledged its existence—she’d also be forced to acknowledge why Mitch had been hired in the first place.
And she was too damn tired to think about that.
Scottie waited until he shut the door beside her to release a tired breath. Who knew being a contestant on a live reality cooking show would take so much out of a person?
Your exhaustion is about more than just working your ass off to prove yourself to the judges…and you know it.
Her head fell back, resting against the cushioned seat. Looking out into the night through the window’s tinted glass, Scottie watched the city of Los Angeles pass by in a blur.
It was the first time all day that she felt like she could truly relax. But when Scottie allowed the tension in her muscles to ease and her mind to accept the fact that she was safe, true exhaustion began to set in.
“Why don’t you close your eyes for a spell?” Mitch asked, his knowing gaze meeting hers from the rearview mirror. “This time of night, the traffic’s going to be brutal. It’s gonna be at least another thirty, forty-five minutes before we make it back to the hotel. I’ll wake you when we get there.”
“I appreciate that, Mitch.” She really did. “But if I take a cat nap now, I’ll be up half the night. So as much as I’d love nothing more than to fall blissfully asleep, I think I’ll wait until after I get back and take a ridiculously long, hot shower.”
A deep chuckle left the middle-aged man’s broad shoulders shaking behind the wheel. “You’re the boss, Miss Cahill.”
He reached down and turned on her favorite station.
Scottie smiled, resuming her previous task of staring blindly out the back passenger window. The next thing she knew, Mitch was waking her up to tell her they’d arrived back at the hotel…
“Sorry again for falling asleep on the ride here.” They approached her room. “I hope I didn’t snore.”
Her bodyguard’s lips curved into a grin. “Your secret is safe with me.”
She giggled, standing to the side so he could open the door. As per her newly implemented protocol, Scottie waited just inside the room as Mitch cleared the small suite to ensure it was safe to enter.
“Looks good.” He gave a friendly smile as he let his hand fall away from his holstered weapon. “You need anything before I go?”
Now that you mention it, would you mind standing outside my door all night while I sleep? I’d really appreciate it.
“I’m good.” She shook her head. “But thanks.”
“Okay, then. Have a good rest of your night, Miss Cahill.” His brown gaze softened. “Try to get some rest, yeah?”