Cavanaugh's Bodyguard by Marie Ferrarella Read Free Book Online

in?”
    The man remained standing exactly where he was. The suspicion deepened on his face. “What’s this all about?” he demanded.
    “Mr. King, really, this will be a lot easier on everyone if we step inside your apartment. You’re not going to want to hear this standing out here like this, half naked,” Bridget told him, her voice taking on a gentle note.
    After a moment, the man took a step into his apartment, opening the door wider so that his unexpected visitors could enter.

Chapter 4
    L ooking somewhat perturbed and confused about this unexpected invasion, King turned around just as Josh closed the door to the apartment behind them.
    “Look, I just got home from the gym and I was taking a shower when you started leaning on my bell,” he told them irritably. “You mind if I get dressed first before you ask whatever it is you’re here to ask?”
    “No. As a matter of fact, I’d highly recommend it,” Bridget replied as the man tugged his sagging bath towel back up to his waist.
    King looked slightly amused at her answer. For a moment, it seemed as if he forgot he was annoyed and transformed into a player right before her eyes. “Really? Most women don’t say that to me.”
    It was Josh’s turn to be annoyed. He didn’t particularly like the way the victim’s so-called boyfriend was eyeing Bridget. He moved forward, placing himself between King and his partner. “What are you doing going to the gym in the middle of the day? Don’t you have a job you’re supposed to be at?”
    King had already walked into his bedroom to get dressed. He left the door open; whether it was as an invitation or just to be able to hear better wasn’t clear.
    “Not anymore,” the man bit off. “My company decided to relocate to Utah last month—without me.” There was a bitter note in his voice. “I’ve got to do something to keep myself occupied during the day so I go to the gym. I’ve got seven months left on the membership. No sense in letting it go to waste,” he retorted defensively. It was obvious that this wasn’t the first time he’d been asked about his free afternoons.
    King walked back into the living room where he’d left them. He wore a pair of beige slacks and a light green golf shirt. He was still barefoot and he hadn’t bothered to try to towel dry his wet hair.
    “Look, what’s this all about, anyway?” he asked, looking from one to the other. “Is this Karen’s idea of some kind of a joke?”
    “Why would you think that?” Bridget asked. It seemed to her rather an odd thing for the victim’s boyfriend to think, especially since they hadn’t told him anything yet. Just what sort of a relationship did King and the dead woman have?
    “I dunno. Maybe she thinks sending over two pretend cops might get me to find a job faster. Well, it can’t. I already told her, there’s nothing out there. I’ve been looking my butt off and I can’t find anything decent to even apply for,” he answered angrily.
    Bridget didn’t bother pointing out that they weren’t “pretend cops.” He would realize they were real soon enough. “You didn’t go out with her last night.”
    She didn’t make it sound like a question, but he answered it anyway. “We had a fight.”
    “About what?” Josh asked.
    “Aren’t you paying attention?” King demanded, clearly annoyed at the interrogation. “About me not working. She hates it,” he complained. “Karen earns a boatload of money at that place she works, but she wants me to be paying all the bills. She thinks that’s what a ‘real man’ is supposed to do.” He sneered at the very thought. “Well, the hell with that and the hell with her!”
    Josh continued asking questions. He kept his voice mild, as if they were just having a harmless conversation instead of King just possibly painting himself into a corner. “Just how heated did the argument get between you two yesterday?”
    King shrugged, as if this was nothing new. “We got a little loud,