Chapter 2 #2
“I’ll grab my go-bag,” Charlie said. “In case we’re setting up at a safehouse.”
Kyle nodded. “Good thinking.” Kyle turned his attention to Alex. “You know if George is available?”
Alex raised his eyebrows. “He and Sylvie are working on her Mustang before her shift tonight. Why are you calling my father-in-law in on this?”
“The abuser’s a cop.”
Charlie’s jaw tightened. Cops who hurt people were the worst kind of abusers—they knew the system, knew how to manipulate it, knew their victims were terrified to report them. And if the ranks closed in to protect the bad cop…
“Then she definitely needs protection,” Charlie said. “I’ve got her.”
“I know you do.” Kyle’s voice held absolute confidence, and Charlie felt that warmth in her chest again. Kyle didn’t give compliments lightly. When he said someone was good at their job, he meant it.
Shane was watching her again, that knowing look in his eyes. “You good, King?”
“Fine.” She met his gaze steadily. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“No reason.” But his slight smirk said he’d caught the way she’d reacted to Ben’s name.
Damn him.
She turned to go inside.
“Hey, King Charlemagne,” Shane called, using her full nickname. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
She stopped and turned. “Forgetting—Oh! Shit!”
Flo sat patiently beside Pete, hopeful gaze glued to Charlie.
Charlie let herself smile this time. “Come, girl. We’ve got work to do.”
The Malinois sprang up and loped to Charlie’s side, tongue hanging out, big doggy smile giving away exactly how she felt about her new human.
Hide what you love.
The words echoed in her head as she headed to her locker to grab her go-bag. She kept a packed duffel for exactly this kind of situation—clothes, toiletries, tactical gear, everything she’d need for an unexpected protection detail.
As she checked the contents, making sure her backup weapon was loaded and her phone charger was packed, she let herself have one moment. Just one.
She was getting to see Ben Massey today.
The man she’d been half in love with since the first time she’d seen him at Sean’s memorial, standing with his brothers, looking both powerful and gentle at the same time.
The man whose picture she’d seen in Sean’s wallet for years before she’d ever met him, standing in the St. Vrain River with his friends, laughing.
She’d come to Lyons partly because of that picture. Because those guys looked like they were good men. Like they were the kind of people worth knowing.
And Ben... Ben looked like someone special.
Not that it mattered. He’d never see her that way.
She was just Charlie King, Shane’s old crewmate, one of the Boat Guys.
Too tall, too masculine, too intense. Not the kind of woman men like Ben would want to ask out.
They liked dainty women. Women who had no problem showing their affections.
Princesses they could rescue and protect.
Just like Princess Evelaine.
Otherwise, why did he avoid talking to her whenever they were at the same party?
You’re too masculine.
Stop it. Focus on the job.
Charlie zipped the duffel and slung it over her shoulder. She had a woman to protect. That was what mattered.
Not the fact that her heart was beating too fast at the thought of seeing Ben walk through those doors.
Not the fact that she’d finally gotten her own dog, something she’d wanted her whole life.
Not the fact that for just a moment, standing in that training yard with Flo at her side, she’d felt like maybe—just maybe—she deserved to have good things, too.
Hide what you love.
The mantra whispered through her mind as she headed for her desk to finish up her paperwork, Flo following her.
Because the only way to keep good things was to make sure no one knew they mattered.
Kyle buzzed her an hour later and she headed for his office, Flo heeling beside her.
Shane met her in the hall. Sergeant George Williams arrived a couple minutes later.
The older cop had the kind of weathered face that came from decades of seeing humanity at its worst and still choosing to believe in the good, like his daughter, Officer Sylvie Hoff. He nodded at Charlie.
“Heard we might need your skills tonight.”
“Whatever you need.”
“Sounds like we’re going to be working closely on this one.” He pulled out a small notebook as Kyle filled everyone in.
“Woman’s name is Shelly DuPaul. Boyfriend’s a cop named Dexter Morrison. Works out of Douglas County. Ben found her broken down on the side of the road—car was sabotaged. Loose lug nuts, damaged serpentine belt.”
Charlie’s stomach twisted. “He tried to kill her.”
“That’s my read on it, too.” George’s expression was grim. “Morrison’s going to claim it was mechanical failure if we can prove anything at all.”
“But we’re going to make sure Shelly’s safe first,” Kyle said. “Everything else comes after that.”
“Understood,” Charlie said. Flo sat at Charlie’s left heel, alert but calm, like she knew something important was happening.
My dog, Charlie thought, and allowed herself one small moment of pride before locking it away again.
Kyle’s phone buzzed. “They just went through the gates. Here’s how we’ll play it.” He stood up and came around the desk. “I’ll meet them up front with Camo. You all hang back until I get a read on her, get her calm. We don’t need to overwhelm her.”
“Sounds good,” George said.
Kyle and Camo headed for the parking lot. Kyle’s office was at the front of the building, so Charlie heard the truck before she saw it. The low rumble of a diesel engine, tires crunching on gravel. Her pulse kicked up and she told it firmly to calm down.
It’s just Ben. Shane’s friend. That’s all. Nothing special.
Except he was special. She’d known it the moment she’d seen him. The way he carried himself—that combination of quiet strength and unexpected gentleness—and the way he made himself smaller around people who were scared, like he understood what it meant to be intimidating without wanting to be.
Charlie, Shane, and George watched as the truck pulled into the parking lot and stopped. In the low light, Charlie could see two silhouettes in the truck.
The driver’s door opened and Ben climbed out.
Six-seven, easily. Broad shoulders, long hair tied back, moving with the kind of controlled grace that came from years of military training. He was wearing cargo pants and a black t-shirt that stretched across his chest, and Charlie’s mouth went dry.
Get it together.
He walked around to the passenger side and opened the door, stepping back to give the woman inside plenty of space. Even from this distance, Charlie could see the way he made himself smaller, less threatening. The woman—Shelly—climbed out slowly, looking exhausted and scared.
Ben’s hand hovered near her elbow, ready to steady her if she needed it but not touching without permission. The gesture was so gentle, so careful, that Charlie felt something twist in her chest.
He’s one of the good ones.
Kyle stepped forward with Camo at his side. Shelly’s attention immediately went to Camo. She knelt and smiled as she scratched his ears.
“Kyle has fantastic instincts,” Charlie said.
George nodded beside her. “We’ll give ’em a few minutes to settle into the conference room. Better leave the other pups here for now.” He looked at Flo and Pete, curled up beside each other in the corner but alert to every word and movement.
Charlie and Shane agreed as they watched the three of them head inside, Charlie painfully aware of Shane studying her.
He’d poked fun at her more than once, implying that she had a crush on Ben—which she vehemently denied.
Charlie blanked her expression. Shane had even offered to set them up once, but she shut that down immediately.
She didn’t need her teammate to set her up on a pity date.
As they approached the conference room, Charlie heard Shelly talking.
“But Dex is a cop,” Shelly said. “Won’t they protect him?”
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” George said as he walked in.
Ben’s gaze landed on Charlie for just a second—long enough for her breath to catch—before moving to Shane, then George, then back to Shelly.
Professional. Focused.
Of course he is. What did you expect? That he’d see you and suddenly realize you’re not just another bodyguard?
Idiot.
Charlie locked her expression into professional neutrality as George spoke to Shelly, reassuring her and making introductions. She studied Shelly, her heart breaking silently for the woman with fear in her eyes.
“This is Charlie King,” George said. “She’s the best bodyguard here at Watchdog and she’s gonna keep an eye on you.” He nodded at Shane. “Shane Foti here’s not half bad, either,” he added with a smile.
Charlie smiled warmly as she reached out to shake Shelly’s hand. “You’re safe with me, Shelly.” The next words came out before she could stop them. “I swear it to you upon my honor.”
It was a quote from Sword of Embers, one of her favorite books. The words the knight spoke to the princess when he swore to protect her.
She saw Ben’s expression change—surprise flickering across his face for just a moment—and then Shane was smirking at her like he knew exactly what she’d just revealed.
Damn it.
But Shelly was smiling, looking less scared, and that was what mattered.
Still, that surprise on Ben’s face and smirk on Shane’s stayed on her mind for the rest of the night as she got Shelly settled into the safehouse.
It’s nothing.
And another, familiar voice in her head added, No man would ever want you.