Someone To Watch Over Me by Taylor Michaels Page A

but shifted in his seat. His thinly veiled discomfort reminded
her of an awkward schoolboy. She grinned. “Tell Matt, Stella says
‘hi’. So, are you going to tell me what’s going on here?”
    He cast a quick glance over to her and shook
his head. “Nope.”
    Morgan cocked her head slightly. “Sure about
that?”
    “I think you should ask Stella.”
    “Oh, I will.”
    ***
    Shawn pulled the SUV into the side entrance
of the TV station's parking lot. He got out of his vehicle and
surveyed the area. There wasn’t anyone in sight, not even a
security guard. He walked around to the passenger door to assist
Morgan out of the car. As he took her hand he glanced at her face.
“Are you okay?”
    Morgan stared back. “I'm fine. Why did you
ask?”
    “Your hand is ice cold.”
    She forced a small tight smile. “I'm just a
little nervous.”
    Shawn squeezed her hand. “You’ll do fine.
Breathe.”
    He reached behind her, shut the door and then
gently placed his hand in the small of her back as he guided her to
the entrance of the building. His fingers tingled slightly and he
tamped down the urge to caress her in a half-hearted attempt to
massage the tension away.
    Morgan led them to the receptionist and
introduced herself. Within minutes the back office entrance opened
and a woman walked over to them.
    “Ms. Kennedy, I'm Susan Hoffman, the
producer.” She turned to Shawn with an appraising gaze. “And you
are?”
    “This is Shawn,” Morgan replied before he
could speak. “He's a friend who has volunteered to drive me
today.”
    “Okay.” Susan studied him as if not
convinced.
    Because Morgan didn’t want to introduce him
in the role of a bodyguard, Shawn played along. He extended his
hand out to her. “Susan, a pleasure to meet you.”
    “Welcome to KDEZ,” she replied. “Follow me
please.”
    Susan swiped her security badge at the door
and opened it for Morgan and Shawn. Once inside she led them down a
maze of hallways toward the set. Morgan stopped occasionally to
study the pictures of the reporters and news anchors hanging on the
wall. After she stopped for the third time, he leaned in and
whispered, “Have you taped a television interview before?”
    Morgan shot him a nervous look. “No. This is
my first time.”
    Susan cleared her throat. The couple looked
up to find she’d stopped and waited for them to catch up.
    “Sorry,” Morgan said as she scurried up to
the woman.
    The producer ushered them into a room which
had chairs with mirrors in front of them and were lit with a large
bank of lights. “Please take a seat and Liz will do your make
up.”
    Morgan had a puzzled expression on her face
but sat down without comment. Shawn stepped back and leaned on the
wall behind the chair. A middle-aged woman quickly placed a light
smock around Morgan's neck and reached for her makeup.
    “I have make-up on,” Morgan said.
    “You've done a lovely job but with the bright
lights you'll wash out. Don't be concerned. Even though I'm adding
more you won't appear overdone in front of the camera. When you're
finished, come back and I'll tone things down.”
    “Okay.” Morgan smiled and then held still
while the makeup artist applied additional blush, powder and
accentuated her eyes and lips.
    Shawn watched the makeup lady as she worked
on Morgan and déjà vu settled in. What his client didn’t know was
actresses almost always arrived on set without any hairstyling or
makeup on so they were a blank canvas to work on.
    Over the years, he had seen stars and models
considered bombshells, and without the ‘Hollywood magic’ most of
them wouldn't get a second glance in a crowded bar on a Saturday
night.
    When she was done, Morgan and Shawn were
guided to the set. Shawn stood behind the cameraman, scanned the
surroundings, and waited. He'd never been at this station before
but had been at several other ones and they all seemed alike. Space
was at a premium and each square foot had a purpose. Each wall