we heard that same line before?”
Cam shrugged. “I dunno. It’s still kinda sweet. Besides, his voice…” She sighed. “It gives me shivers.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You’re going soft on me, Cam.”
She just smiled. “What’s PW Enterprises?” she asked, pointing to my screen.
“The home of some jerk with too much time on his hands.”
She raised an eyebrow in my direction.
Quickly I filled her in on my morning and the friendly phone call I’d received last night.
“Wow,” she said when I was done. “I had a drunk reality show contestant throw a punch at my camera once, but never anything like this. You must have really pissed someone off.”
“Or it’s a stupid prank,” I was quick to point out.
“Yeah, well, Felix doesn’t think it’s a prank.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Why do you say that?”
“He just told me I’m supposed to take the new girl with me to the evidence hearing in the Pines trial this afternoon.”
I spun around in my chair. “Seriously? But that’s my story!”
Cam shrugged. “Felix said you were off it. I guess now I know why.”
I looked across the newsroom. The new girl was sitting at a vacant desk near the window. Where, coincidentally, her double D’s were directly in our editor’s line of vision. She was staring intently at a computer screen, her little ski jump nose scrunched up.
No doubt trying to figure out how to spell “google.”
“Don’t worry,” Cam said, laying a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sure he’s just trying to get her feet wet.”
“Yeah, well, I hope she drowns,” I responded, jumping up from my chair and stalking toward Felix’s office.
Our editor in chief was deep in conversation with some other guy, but I didn’t care. I didn’t even stop to knock before pushing my way through the glass doors.
“That was my story!” I yelled.
Felix looked up, his brows forming a concerned V over his eyes. “What story?”
“Don’t ‘what story’ me,” I said, advancing on him. “Pines. Cam said you gave it to the new chick.”
“Allie. Her name is Allie.”
“My. Story.”
Felix sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. “You received a death threat this morning, Bender. It would be completely irresponsible of me to send you out in the field.”
I threw my hands up in the air. “It was a prank call! Probably a couple of teenagers.”
“Probably,” he said, jumping on the word.
“This is so unfair. This is so fuc-”
“Bender…” he warned.
“So
I think I heard the other man chuckle, but I tuned him out, my entire pissed-off being focused on Felix.
“I have a responsibility for your safety, Bender.”
“It’s a courthouse. I’ll be perfectly safe!”
“Yes, you will.”
I opened my mouth to argue, when I realized he’d agreed with me. I shut it with a click.
“Right. Thank you.”
“You’ll be perfectly safe because I’ve hired you a bodyguard.”
I blinked. Feeling my face go hot until I’d swear there was cartoon steam pouring out my ears. “A what?”
“Tina, meet Calvin Dean.” He gestured to the other guy.
I turned, giving the man my full attention now. He was tall, almost a head taller than Felix. Broad in the shoulders, slim in the waist. I could tell by the way his T-shirt fit over his biceps that he spent a fair amount of time at the gym. His hair was dark, just curling over his ears, and he had a neatly trimmed goatee that gave him a slightly devilish look. And I could swear his dark eyes were laughing at me.
Which did nothing to lighten my mood.
“You got me a rent-a-goon?” I asked, turning back to Felix.
“Play nice, Bender,” Felix warned. “Think of him like your insurance plan.”
“Hi.” The bodyguard stuck his hand out.
I looked at it.
“Nice to meet you, Tina.”
I stuck my hands on my hips. And turned back to Felix.
“I don’t need a bodyguard. It was one phone call. I can take care of myself.”
“It was a death threat. Made from a blocked number by someone who disguised their voice. These were not some drunk kids. Whoever did this thought it through, took their time, and made sure not to get caught.”
I bit my lip. While I was pretty sure this was still just a prank, Felix had a point. And the fact that someone had put so much thought into trying to scare me took the wind out of my sails a bit.
“Look, Tina,” Felix said, advancing on me, “yes, it’s possible this is just some idle threat. But it’s possible it’s not, and I, for one, can’t take that chance. I don’t know if you know this, but I once worked a story where an actress was receiving threatening letters. She ignored them. Two dead bodies followed. I know this may seem a little overprotective to you, but I can’t take the chance of that happening to you.”
I felt my irritation subsiding a little, the genuine worry in his voice touching me. “I appreciate your concern,” I said, meaning it.
He shrugged. “Of course I’m concerned. Half our advertising comes in because of your column.”
And just like that the irritation was back. “Gee, love you, too,” I said, sarcasm dripping from my voice.
Felix elected to ignore me. “So,” he continued, “you have two choices. Desk duty or…” He trailed off, gesturing to the rent-a-goon.
I took a deep breath, thinking about three dollars worth of nasty words.
“Fine,” I finally spat out. “But I get Pines back.”
Felix bit the inside of his cheek, contemplating the negotiations for a moment. “You can share.”
“With Barbie?”
“Allie.”
“Whatever.”
“Allie works with you on this. End of discussion.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and stared him down.
He crossed his arms over his chest and returned the look.
Neither of us gave an inch.
Unfortunately, it was his name on the door, so I knew who was ultimately going to win.
“Fine,” I repeated. Then I turned on my sneakers and stomped out, well aware that I probably looked like a truculent three-year-old.
I plopped myself back down at my desk with a huff.
And realized the goon was right behind me.
“Please tell me you’re not going to hover all day,” I told him. “Seriously, I think I’m safe at my desk.”
He took the hint, moving to an empty desk a couple feet away. But he didn’t take his eyes off me.
“You’re creeping me out. Quit staring at me.”
I looked up to find him grinning. And not just with his eyes this time. One corner of his lips tugged upward in something that I could only describe as a smirk.
“What?” I asked.
He shrugged and shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Look, pal-”
“Cal. You can call me Cal.”
