Where's Steve? Kate Gosselin Steps Out In NYC Without Ever-Present Bodyguard Neild Amid Reports Their Relationship Has Turned Romantic

He was by her side throughout her stint on Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice, but bodyguard Steve Neild was noticeably absent from Kate Gosselin's latest New York City publicity run, RadarOnline.com is reporting.

Gosselin, 39, was photographed outside Good Morning America on Thursday morning, after promoting her TLC special, accompanied by a gaggle of security — none of which were the silver haired fox that's been known to be by her side since the beginning of her reality TV career.

So where was Neild?

Rumors of a romantic relationship between Gosselin and Neild have been running rampant since 2009, when her ex-husband, Jon Gosselin, charged the two were having an affair.

Neild has been married to his wife Gina for at least 20 years and they have two children together, while Gosselin split with Jon in 2009.

Neild and Gosselin’s relationship has continued to raise eyebrows for years. In 2010, they spent four days in Cabo San Lucas together, and the year before that, he accompanied her while she vacationed with the kids on Bald Head Island, North Carolina.

Just last March a source told RadarOnline.com that Gosselin and her two teenage daughters attended a Demi Lovato concert in Va., in which Neild was with them — holding hands with Gosselin.

"The biggest surprise of all was who she was holding hands with. She was holding hands with Steve Neild, her ‘bodyguard,’” the eyewitness told RadarOnline.com.

They are most definitely a couple and were NOT trying to hide it. We were surprised considering we kept up with all the Jon & Kate Plus 8 drama."

And then just days after RadarOnline.com discovered Neild's wife had posted a family photo on her Facebook account, flaunting their "perfect family," a new report sprang claiming Gosselin and Neild were sharing a hotel room at the Trump International Hotel while she filmed Celebrity Apprentice.

"Steve and Kate would have one room and the kids would have a separate room when they traveled,” Jon said in response to the report.