This Hero for Hire

Rhodes frowned. “I’d like to believe that, Susie.” His facial features softened as he wrapped a big hand around her arm. “Despite everything, it’s good to have you home again.”

Her shoulders relaxed. Her lips trembled when she tried to smile. “Thanks for saying that.” She attempted to give him a hug, but he stood straight and rigid with his arms at his sides.

“When you get to the house, take a shower,” the governor said. “You smell.”

Susannah walked up to Boone’s desk. “Boone? Can I call you Boone?”

“Sure.”

“I’m sorry for the trouble I caused you today.”

He sat back in his chair and stared at her. She had plucked and picked just enough so he recognized a bit of the Susannah he remembered. Her hair, shorter now than when she was in high school, still reached just below her shoulders and was the same pretty, natural blond, kind of like Georgia wheat. Her cheeks were soft and porcelain-looking, and her lips were full and pink. Her nose was defined by a sprinkling of freckles. She had some Georgia left in her, after all. “All part of the job,” he said, though he’d decided this had been one crazy day.

“I’d like to guarantee you that we won’t run into each other again while I’m home,” she said. “But I’m afraid that’s not true. Our paths will definitely cross at a later time.”

Had the governor told her he’d hired Boone to watch over her? Or did she mean something entirely different? She sounded almost prophetic, as if she had her own agenda for seeing him in the future.

“Go on, now,” Rhodes said. “I’m staying behind to have a word with Officer Braddock.”

“I don’t think he can be bribed, Daddy,” she said.

“I don’t need to bribe him, Susie. I’ve bought and paid for two hundred chickens today just so you can go home and soak in a hot bath.”

“Put it on my bill,” she said, but not in a smart-alecky voice.

She and Bodyguard Buster left the station, and Rhodes pulled up a chair next to Boone’s desk. He clasped his hands on his lap. “Quite a spitfire that one,” he said.

“Yes, sir.”

“In case you’re wondering, I didn’t call in any political favors to get her freed, Boone. I just made a phone call to Old Man Jonas and agreed to pay him a fair price for his chickens.” Rhodes frowned. “More than fair. And Sam agreed not to press charges.”

“I suppose that would work,” Boone said.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Rhodes said. “People with money can buy their way out of almost any scrape.”

Boone was thinking exactly that.

“But in this case, I think Susannah had a point. If she truly did save those birds from drowning, then I should support her efforts.”

Boone leaned back in his chair. “I think she saved some chicks. So you paid her chicken ticket because you approve of what she did?”

“No, I don’t approve, but I can’t condemn. Her heart was in the right place. And there’s another reason...”

Boone waited.

“Truth is, I can’t have Sam Jonas telling the media about the governor’s uncontrolled daughter interfering with one of the staple industries of this fine state.”

Especially this close to an election, Boone thought.

“So you see how this went down, son. Chickens freed from an inhumane death and rumors squelched with a check payable to Sam Jonas. It’s a win for yours truly, as I see it. And a better ending than most political stories these days.” The governor smiled. “I hope this won’t affect your ability to look after her while she’s here. I’m still counting on you.”

Was he kidding? Boone assumed he was already fired. He’d arrested the governor’s daughter! But apparently not. Well, if the governor held some outlandish notion that he still wanted Boone for this assignment, Boone had figured out how he could logically back out.

“Pardon me, sir,” he began, “but I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to watch Susannah for you.”

“Why the blazes not?”

“I’m hardly her favorite person.”

The governor’s chest puffed out, straining the buttons on his shirt. “I don’t care if she likes you. I just care if you take care of her. And besides, Susie won’t hold this chicken business against you. Actually, you’re even more perfect for the job now. You’ve reacquainted yourself with Susie. You know the kinds of scrapes she might get herself into—all because of an innate decency that has been her downfall on more than one occasion.”

Rhodes slapped his hand on the desk. “No, sir, Boone, I want you and you only.”

Boone almost winced. Besides what had just happened between them, despite that kiss in the equipment room, he and Susannah had hardly said two words to each other growing up. He couldn’t convince himself that she would accept him shadowing her every move.

Undaunted, Rhodes went on. “But in all fairness, I should fill you in on a little of Susie’s background. She’s never been an ordinary child, though I can’t tell you how many times I wished she were. I would have preferred if she had been content to sit on the sidelines of issues and be a nice young Georgia lady. But that kind of life wasn’t for her. She’s always been a pot stirrer, stirring things up until lids were ready to explode.”

The question, which was certainly none of Boone’s business, popped out of his mouth before he’d thought enough to suppress it. “Is that why you sent her off to private school?”

The governor’s eyes darkened. “I didn’t want to do that, but I didn’t think I had a choice. Susannah’s mother took off when Susie was only thirteen. That’s a tender age, and Susie acted out. Guess I can’t blame her. After all, Miranda encouraged her free-wheeling behavior, telling her that she was creative and spunky.” The governor huffed. “What good is spunky for a young lady? So, yes, I picked an all-girls academy in Atlanta that was known for discipline and a thorough schooling of the social graces.”

Susannah Rhodes in a stuffy girls’ school? Boone couldn’t picture it. “How did that work out, sir?”

Rhodes shrugged. “At least the reason for the headaches she caused me over the years were contained in another locale. And I believe Susie was happy there. I wasn’t breathing down her neck. We weren’t arguing every night at dinner. If anything, she saw boarding school as an opportunity to concoct new ways to circumvent the rules.

“You may find this hard to believe, Boone, since you’re a fine, upstanding Georgia boy, a believer in our traditions...”

Why did that analysis make him seem boring?

“...but I’m proud of Susannah. She’s made her own way, and the world is probably the better for her active participation in it.” He smiled. “That’s not to say she doesn’t require a reminder every once in a while, like today. And protection from outside influences that might try to corner her to get some dirt on me. That’s where you come in.”

Was the governor suggesting that Boone was to be a disciplinarian? He definitely wasn’t in agreement with that role. “Sir, I’m not comfortable with the idea of being the one to remind your daughter about her behavior. I’ve seen enough today to know that she won’t like the idea, either, especially not from me.”

“You let me worry about Susie’s reaction. Besides, it’s okay with me if you think of yourself as fulfilling a security detail, a description that’s probably more to your liking. But while you’re keeping watch over her, you can see that she doesn’t jump blindfolded off a cliff, can’t you?”

“If I see the cliff before she does, then yes, I suppose so.”

“Good.” The governor stood and extended his hand to Boone. “It’s settled then. I’d like you to come out to the house tonight for supper, Boone. The three of us will sit down and go over our responsibilities.” Rhodes grinned. “And I promise that even after paying a big bill today and adding more than two hundred chickens to my holdings, I won’t serve one!”

Was there a way around this invitation? Boone didn’t think so. “All right. Have you told Susannah anything about hiring a special security person? And have you even hinted that the person is me?”

“All in good time, Boone. I’m figuring to do just that once a bottle of good ol’ Georgia chardonnay is breathing on the table. Nobody knows my Susie like I do.”

Watching the governor walk out the door to the big black Cadillac parked at the curb, Boone wasn’t convinced that the man knew his daughter as well as he thought he did. He wondered if anyone did.

CHAPTER THREE

BOONE TURNED ONTO High River Road as the sun was setting over the harvested corn fields. The temperature had dropped to a cool sixty-eight degrees, a great night for bass fishing in Lake Cullowhee if he weren’t headed to the governor’s mansion. There was no other outcome to this evening than having it be a disaster. Boone wished he’d been able to come up with a reason to decline the governor’s invitation—and his job offer.

His phone rang. Boone pulled the device from his pocket and recognized the familiar number. He immediately pictured Menendez with her black hair pulled back under her cop hat, her dark eyes focused on her pledge to serve and protect. He’d managed to avoid her and thus her invitation for a beer, but this might be business, so he switched on his speaker. “Menendez, what’s going on?”

“Hello, Braddock. I looked for you after work, but you’d taken off. So I’m calling with an offer you won’t be able to refuse.”

Despite his usual reservations at hearing one of Lila’s “offers,” Boone couldn’t help but picture the smile that transformed her serious expression into a poster for youth and exuberance. Bright coral lipstick usually framed her white, slightly crooked teeth. Menendez was a cutie, and she was a good rookie cop and a fine partner, but at twenty-four, ten years younger than Boone, he felt like he was mentoring his little sister. He just couldn’t switch his admiration for Menendez into anything personal.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“I was cleaning out some boxes today, and I came across the first three Terminator movies on DVD. Made a quick trip to the supermarket and picked up a six pack of microwave popcorn.”

She paused, and Boone knew where this was leading.

“Are you in?” she asked when he didn’t respond.

“It’s tempting,” he said. “But I’m sort of on duty tonight.” He switched on his high beams to see better on the dark, narrow road.

“But you worked today. You were the lead investigator in the poultry prison escape.”

“I was the only investigator, and I hear the laughter in your voice. Don’t even try to hit me with more one-liners. I’ve heard them all.”

She chuckled. “So what duty did Stickler give you tonight?”

Since Lila might be involved in protecting Susannah part time, Boone had planned to fill her in on the details of the assignment tomorrow—if he didn’t come up with a way out of the job tonight. But for now, he’d skirt the issue. “I’m actually on my way out to Albee Rhodes’s place.”

“You’ve been invited to the mansion?”

“Yeah, but it’s business. The governor wants to talk to me about a detail coming up. I don’t have all the particulars about it yet.”

“I’m impressed,” Lila said. “Why don’t you stop by later after you hear what the governor wants? We can still get in one movie and a couple bags of popcorn.”

Lila had tried about a half-dozen times to get Boone to “stop by” her place. He’d always come up with an excuse. Tonight he didn’t have to invent one. He didn’t know how late he would be at the mansion. One of these days he’d just have to quit coming up with lame excuses and sit Menendez down and tell her to set her sights on one of the other single guys in Mount Union. He didn’t look forward to that discussion. He liked her, but just not like that. Besides he’d almost married a lady cop after his academy days, and that had ended badly when, after devoting two years to a relationship, Clair had been offered a detective’s job in Macon and he’d watched her drive out of his life. Once burned...

“I could be late,” he said. “I’ll see you at the station tomorrow. I’ve had a rough day policing chickens. But Menendez?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks. That was definitely the best offer I’ve had all day.”

He disconnected and wondered if he should have said that. He reminded himself to discourage Menendez’s romantic interest. His headlights reflected off the high iron gates of the Rhodes’s property. He turned into the drive and pressed the button on the security speaker. After identifying himself to a man whose gravelly voice probably belonged to Buster or one of the other strong arms the governor kept around, the gates swung open and he drove in. The house, set back from the road, was nestled in stands of oak and magnolia trees. The sprawling, two-story white stone façade glistened in the last rays of the sun.

He drove around the circular drive and chose a paved spot next to a low wall of manicured shrubbery. He could have driven his personal truck out here, but decided on the police cruiser to keep the meeting professional. He’d left his uniform on the hanger, though, and chosen a knit sport shirt and khakis. At the last minute he’d added a casual sports coat. As much as he wondered what Susannah would look like cleaned up and feather free, he cautioned himself several times that this meeting was about a quasi security job. Nothing else.

Boone expected a staff member to open the door when he rang the bell. So he was surprised when Susannah stood in the entry.

She stepped back and motioned him in. “Hi, Boone. Glad you could make it.”

She looked much better than was good for the cop who’d arrested her a few hours earlier. And the same cop who was supposed to enter into a security arrangement with her. In fact, she looked like she could have stepped out of a fashion magazine. No jeans tonight. She wore a belted, sleeveless dress that showed off a nice little figure. The dress had tiny yellow flowers on a white background, and she had on white sandals that looked nice against pink toenail polish. Dainty earrings sparkled in front of the loose hair tucked behind her ears. Either she wore very little makeup, or what she did wear didn’t cover the freckles. He imagined the governor liked this look, more Georgia-traditional. Boone took a deep breath of Susannah Rhodes–inspired lilac air and stepped inside.

“I think I’m on time,” he said.

“You are.” She smiled. “Somehow I thought you’d be punctual.” She led him to a room off the foyer. “Daddy’s in the study having a drink. He’d like you to join him while I check on dinner preparations.”

“You cook?” He wanted to take back the question the instant he’d asked it. Why wouldn’t she know how to cook? Just because she came from money? Boone had never been one to jump to conclusions about people based on their backgrounds or how fat their wallets were.

“I do. I’m a vegetarian...”

That figured. He was sure her diet excluded chicken.

“But when my father told me he’d invited you to dinner, I asked his housekeeper to prepare a pork loin for the two of you. I don’t cook animals. You understand.”

Sure, he understood. This girl was from Georgia, the unofficial barbecue capital of the nation?

“I think you’ll like it. Maria is a good cook.”

“I’m sure it will be fine.”

“By the way, do you know why my father asked you here tonight?”

Oh, great. Apparently that chardonnay hadn’t chilled enough for Rhodes to tell his daughter the plan. Boone wasn’t surprised that Susannah didn’t seem to know. She was being far too cordial for someone who’d been told she was going to live under a microscope.

He didn’t want to lie, so he said, “I guess we’ll find out.”

“My father has had to apologize for my actions many times in the past,” she said, “but inviting an arresting officer to dinner seems a bit extreme.”

They approached a set of open pocket doors, which revealed walls lined with books. “He’s inside. You can go in and I’ll call you when dinner is ready.”

“Okay.”

Before he stepped across the threshold, Susannah leaned in close to him and whispered, “Oh, this afternoon I recalled something about you and me from our high school days.”

His breath caught. “You did?”

“Yeah. An incident that happened in the gym equipment room at Mount Union High.”

Her warm breath teased his skin and raised the hairs on his nape. Was she baiting him? Had she heard her father’s plan and wanted to maintain the upper hand by reminding him of the time she’d knocked his socks off in high school?

“Ring any bells?” she asked. Her question was almost a challenge.

And those bells were clanging a warning he’d do well to heed. Was he going to end up the butt of a joke she was waiting to spring on him? “Equipment room?” he said. “The two of us?”

“Somehow I didn’t think you’d remember.”

His mind struggled to come up with something to say that didn’t sound completely inane. Luckily Governor Rhodes appeared in the open door.

“What’s your poison, Boone?” he asked, nodding toward a bar in a corner of the room. “If you drink it, I’ve probably got it.”

Aware that Susannah had disappeared down the hallway, Boone said, “I’m on duty, Governor. I’ll just have a club soda if that’s all right.”

“Nonsense. You’re not on duty. This is a friendly dinner between neighbors. I’ll fix you a whiskey neat. One won’t compromise your principles.”

Boone accepted the glass, thankful his hand was steady. The warm, smooth liquid felt good going down his throat but didn’t erase the memory of that crazy moment in the equipment room.

* * *

DINNER CONVERSATION CENTERED around Mount Union, what had stayed the same and what had changed. Susannah decided that little was different from her high school days. A few new people had moved in, and some of the young ones had graduated and moved on. All the talk about her hometown renewed her fondness for where she’d grown up. And she liked that Cyrus Braddock’s grandson believed that this cozy town was the best one on Earth. She’d once thought so, before she became the Rhodes’s black sheep and was sent away to school.

The lushness of Braddock land wasn’t the only reason she’d come back to Mount Union, though she knew the methods she’d studied would succeed here. Deep down she hoped she would feel like she belonged again. She had wandered for so long that a profound yearning to call someplace home had turned her thoughts to Georgia. And her father’s campaign had provided the incentive she needed to return and reconnect. And maybe make amends with him. She had been a difficult child, especially after her mother left.

“Be sure and tell Maria that the roast was delicious, Susie,” Albee said when he’d placed his napkin over his plate. “And your vegetables were good, too.”

For some reason, the praise made her look at Boone. Would he compliment her cooking skills? And if so, why did it matter?

“Yeah, those glazed carrots were really tasty, Susannah,” he said.

She took the last bite of her pasta and spinach salad and stood. “Thank you, gentlemen. I’ll clear the plates and bring in dessert.”

“No dessert just yet, darlin’,” Albee said. He got up and refilled her wineglass. When he walked around the table, Boone covered his glass with his hand. Albee returned to his seat. “There’s a small matter I’ve been meaning to discuss with you two kids.”

Here it comes, an end to what had been a surprisingly pleasant evening, despite Boone not remembering anything about the kiss. She figured that mortifying incident had long since faded from his memory. Just as well.

Susannah had suspected an ulterior motive in her father’s invitation to Boone. So far, she hadn’t been able to figure out what it was. She set the plates on the buffet and took her seat again. It was time to find out. “What’s going on, Daddy?”

Albee cleared his throat. “You know I’m glad you came home to help with my reelection campaign, don’t you, Susie?”

“That’s what you’ve been saying.” She looked at Boone, who seemed to find something fascinating in the linen threads of the tablecloth. “But that was before I released Sam Jonas’s chickens.”

Albee waved his hand as if he were swatting a fly. “I’ve already decided that incident is in the past, Susannah. Tomorrow is another day. And speaking of tomorrow, I’m leaving in the afternoon for a three-week tour of the Atlanta suburbs. Planning to hold town hall meetings and do interviews on the local TV stations.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” she said. “All exposure should be helpful this close to the election.”

“I’m leaving my campaign headquarters in Mount Union in your capable hands, darlin’. You know what to do to canvass this area.”

She nodded. “I remember what you told me from your first campaign. We can talk more in the morning before you leave, but I’ve spoken with your outgoing campaign manager, and he filled me in on what has to be done.”

“Harry’s a good man. Call on him if you have any questions. I won’t be back here for the entire three weeks,” Rhodes pointed out.

“Yes, I know.” Susannah slowly twirled her wineglass. “We’ve discussed all this, Dad. I’ll do the best job I can for you.” She turned to stare at Boone when she heard him cough. “I’m thinking that Boone and I are wondering the same thing. What does all this have to do with him?”

“I’ve hired this young man, Susie,” Rhodes announced.

“Boone is joining your security team?” For some reason she found it strange that this cop would leave his beloved Mount Union. Even if the money were good.

She looked at Boone, expecting him to answer. He shook his head. “Not exactly.”

“Then what did you hire him for?”

“Now, Susie,” Rhodes began, “don’t get excited when I tell you...”

Suddenly she knew. Fisting her hands on top of the table, she glared at her father. “You didn’t! Tell me you didn’t hire Boone to watch over me while you’re away.”

Albee affected a wounded expression. “You didn’t give me any choice, honey. I tried to get you to agree to a couple of fellas from my regular security team, but you wouldn’t hear of it.”

“Of course not! I don’t need a security detail. The whole idea is ridiculous. And besides that, what makes you think I’m any more receptive to having a Mount Union cop watching my every move?”

“He’s a local boy. You two know each other...”

Susannah stood. “That was years ago, and we barely spoke to each other!” She felt her face flush. There was that kiss. “Anyway, I wouldn’t feel any differently if he were my brother! I’m not going to be totally alone in this house. We have a housekeeper and a gardener...”

The governor grunted. “One’s older than the other. And they don’t live on the property.”

Susannah’s breath came in short, strong gasps.

“Besides,” her father continued. “I’ve compromised with you. Boone is just one guy, not a detail.”

“I don’t need to be protected by one guy or a hundred.” She released a deep breath as an even more disturbing thought occurred to her. “You don’t trust me, do you, Daddy? You think I’m going to screw up somehow and hurt your election chances.”

“Now that’s just nonsense,” Albee said. “This is the first time you’ve come home for any length of time in years, and I’m concerned about you. Things have changed since you were a girl. I have enemies...”

“Well, I don’t! At least none other than Sam Jonas.”

She took two steps until she was standing over Boone. He turned his head to stare up at her with those intense green eyes. “Did you know about this?” she asked.

“Not before this morning,” he said.

“Well, you can forget about it. I hereby absolve you of any responsibility for my protection or well-being.”

Her father fixed her with his most determined glare. “I’m afraid you can’t do that, Susannah. I’ve hired Boone. He comes well recommended...”

“I’m sure he does, Daddy. I’ve seen him handle escaping chickens, and I can tell he’s a qualified professional.” She immediately regretted the snarky comment.

“Wow, thanks for that,” Boone said. “I guess I know how to handle chickens. Just maybe not local royalty, is that it?”