Page 4 of A Texas Hero

“The NFL player?”

Archer wasn’t much into football, more of a soccer guy himself, but he’d seen the player providing commentary on a postgame wrap-up show a few nights ago. Still sharp as they came, the former Dallas Cowboy player knew the game better than most.

“Yeah, that’s the one.”

“Problem with an obsessive fan?”

“Well, not exactly.” Ian picked up a piece of paper and handed it over to Archer. “More like a new onslaught of hate mail, phone calls, and threats seemingly from someone upset about a statement he recently made on ESPN. Years ago, when Patch defected from the Cowboys to the Niners, he made a few enemies. Then he returned, and not long after, retired at the height of his game. Things were fine for a while, but now this. Somebody’s sending death threats to Patch because he complimented the Niners defense and criticized the Chiefs.”

Dio mio. American football fans were ridiculous.

“Sounds serious,” Archer lied. “I’m on it.”

“Hang on. The thing is, Patch already has a security detail. He wants a bodyguard for his only child, a daughter.” Ian’s finger traced a paper on his desk. “Zoey Lambert.”

“Okay,” Archer said slowly. “I understand. Sometimes you need a bodyguard for family members. Has she also received threats?”

“Not exactly.” Ian winced. “There’s an overzealous boyfriend involved, but none of us are taking that very seriously. Not even Patch. We’ve looked into it and the dude is harmless.”

“I don’t understand.” Archer shook his head.

“Patch is being a rather sly father and using that as an excuse to hire a bodyguard for her. He’s very protective of his daughter, and Zoey isn’t exactly low profile. She throws a big party every September, apparently, which once got a mention in the local society papers. It has her father worried due to the timing of these threats. It would be easy to make the connection, and even if the threats are only directed at Patch for now, he’s worried they might target her to get at him. And…he doesn’t want her to know he’s received death threats because it will only cause her distress.”

“So what’s my approach?”

“You’ll be on-site security detail in her home. Stay on until Patch’s security detail is satisfied there’s no longer a threat.”

This sounded like Archer’s nightmare. He would be a glorified security guard for an entitled rich girl.

“I appreciate this, sir, but doesn’t Ronan Sheridan live in Charming? Or have a fiancée or cousin who lives there? He might appreciate this one.”

“Yeah, well, he’s in Greece right now.”

Damn. Ronan had been given the coveted assignment of being part of an elite team guarding a head of state. Archer understood he was too green for that one, but it was exactly what he wanted to do someday. Archer missed the feeling of being on edge, alert, feeling alive every moment—this job wouldn’t give him that. But he had to swallow his pride and appreciate that at least he wasn’t being let go.

“She owns a boutique called…um, Glamtique.” Ian grimaced, reading over his notes. “You’ll transport her to and from work.”

A boutique? Was he going to have to stand like a doorman at a shop? Archer couldn’t help but feel he was being punished. Probably because he was.

“Is there nothing else for me?”

Ian shook his head. “Do well on this one, and I’ll graduate you to something better. I’m assuming this won’t go on for long. The father already has his own security team in place. This is mostly just covering all the bases—a temporary thing.”

“When she has a wealthy father?” Archer gave Ian a doubtful look. What were the odds it would be temporary?

Ian steepled his fingers. “His daughter, if I haven’t mentioned, is thirty. How long do you think she’ll tolerate a bodyguard spying on her every move?”

“So, this is not her idea.” Archer smiled with relief.

“Not even a little bit. He had a difficult time talking her into it.” Ian stood. “Whether she likes it or not, that’s not our problem. We have a job to do. And I’m counting on you to do it well.”

Archer didn’t see a way out of this. He’d take the job, prove himself and go on to bigger and better things.

He reached across the desk to shake Ian’s hand. “Sir, I will not let you down.”

* * *

The next day, Archer packed a bag and drove from the condo where he’d been staying in Houston, to Charming, Texas. When he got off the highway, he took a scenic road along the seawall that drove him past the bay. He spotted a lighthouse in the distance and a boardwalk. If nothing else, the scenery lived up to the town’s name. It might not be the worst thing in the world to hang out here for a while.