Keeping Guard (13 page)

She looked up in time to see confusion flash in Nate's eyes until finally he stepped back also. “You're probably right. It would be the best thing to do.”

Why did she feel disappointed that Nate agreed with her? Sometimes she didn't make sense to herself. “I think I will take the rest of the day off, if that's okay with you. I'm feeling exhausted.”

He nodded stiffly. “Of course. You deserve the time off. I'll meet you downstairs for church tomorrow, if you'd like a ride.”

“Thanks.” She hurried upstairs and closed the door to her apartment, wishing those locks would make her heart feel equally as safe as her person.

N
ate walked back to his office, leaving lunch on the table to be cleaned up later.

What had he been thinking? One minute Kylie had infuriated him and the next moment he was kissing her.

He rubbed his temples. He couldn't deny that he was attracted to Kylie. He'd been attracted to her from the moment he set eyes on her delicate figure and seen those beautiful brown eyes.

But was she just like Deanna? Would she waltz in, using him until another opportunity came along, and then waltz out when he was no longer useful? Kylie wasn't like Deanna, he told himself for the millionth time. Kylie had her own cooking show back in Kentucky. She had opinions on how to make his restaurant better, knowing that she had nothing to gain from the restaurant either changing or remaining as it was. She simply offered her suggestions as a way of trying to help Nate.

He had to admit she had some good ideas. If he had the energy, he might try to make some improvements. But Kylie was right—Nate had simply given up on the place. He needed to remedy that.

When Kylie told him he should sell…it felt like a burden had been lifted from him. He wasn't sure why he wanted her approval or why it meant so much to him. But it did.

Her words, for him, had sealed the attraction between them.

Still, she was a woman on the run. Vulnerable. In a precarious situation. He needed to give her space.

He rubbed his eyes again. Yes, it was best that they weren't spending time together right now. But if he were honest with himself, he'd admit that he'd rather be with Kylie right now than doing anything else.

 

Kylie heart raced a few extra beats the next morning when she saw Nate standing at the bottom of the stairs wearing khaki pants and a crisp striped button-down shirt. He was so handsome. His hair naturally seemed to spike up before flopping in a haphazard manner. He always sported the slight shadow of a beard, and his physique was lean and trim.

She looked away before he spotted her admiring him.

She'd spent a miserable evening trying to not think about him or their kiss. But she'd been unsuccessful as the moment replayed in her head over and over again. As she approached, she glanced up long enough to acknowledge him.

Nate offered a small smile when he spotted her. He stuffed his hands deep into his pockets and averted his gaze also. He obviously regretted what had happened yesterday, too. They'd both simply given in to the moment. A big mistake.

“Hey, you,” Nate mumbled.

Kylie sucked in a breath, not prepared for the fact that hearing his voice would cause her heart to race. “Morning.”

“I'm glad you're joining me again at church this morning. Darlene and Harvey will be happy to see you.”

At least someone will be happy to have me there.

As Nate opened the door, Kylie wanted to slip her hand into the crook of his arm, but she stopped herself. She needed to take some steps back. It didn't help that every part of her seemed to be pulled to Nate like a magnet. They stepped outside, and sunlight greeted them. Even the wind seemed to be cooperating today, feeling balmy instead of chilly.

After a silent ride to church, they finally found a seat in the sanctuary. When Nate slipped his arm around the back of the pew, Kylie reasoned that it was out of comfort. And when she scooted closer to him, she told herself it was only because a family had slid into the pew beside them. Deep inside, she had to admit that she felt safe and protected next to Nate. The feeling was one she wanted to cling to, especially with everything that had happened over the past several months. Feeling safe was something that was hard to come by.

How would she feel when she went back to Kentucky? Her stalker would be behind bars by then. But still, she couldn't imagine feeling protected anywhere without Nate by her side. What did their future hold, though?

Nate had probably concluded that a relationship between the two could never work, just as Kylie had. Soon Kylie would be going back to Kentucky. She'd resume life there and Nate would resume life here.

The thought was heavy on her mind for the rest of the church service.

 

With Kylie securely in his truck after church, he turned to her. “Listen, it's a nice day outside. I need to do something to relieve some stress. What do you think about taking a bike ride down the Colonial Parkway?”

“I'd love it.” Anything beat staying in her apartment with only her thoughts for company.

Nate borrowed the bikes from Darlene and Harvey. They were old-style beach cruisers, but Kylie welcomed the larger seats and more relaxed ride. While Nate got the bikes, Kylie made them a lunch and packed it into a backpack.

Outside, dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans, Kyle felt the sun warm her shoulders and a balmy breeze ruffle her hair. Spring was right around the corner, and Kylie welcomed the change of weather—not only physically, but emotionally also. Her heart had been in winter mode for way too long now.

Nate pointed out various landmarks as they pedaled. Their steady rhythm almost made it seem as if nothing had transpired between them yesterday. Almost.

A good number of other people had the same idea as Nate and Kylie. Large groups of teens rode together. A few people who seemed to be training for a race bolted past them, doggedly focused. Families with children on bike seats or on tricycles leisurely pedaled beside the river.

Kylie could get used to weekends like this, she thought.

They biked for an hour and a half before they found a grassy embankment to pull over at and have their picnic. Kylie welcomed the change of pace as she stretched her legs and shook out a blanket. Soon they settled on the quilt with sandwiches, fruit and bottled water between them. Kylie almost dreaded this time, because it meant conversation. Throughout the day, other things or people had distracted them from discussing anything other than church, the weather and the water main break. Even the restaurant seemed to be a taboo subject right now. So just what would they talk about?

Nate cleared his throat. “Listen, Kylie, I'm sorry that I didn't listen to your ideas about the restaurant the other day.”

“I'm sorry I threw them on you.”

He smiled. “You didn't throw them on me. I just tend to get overwhelmed whenever I think about the restaurant. I'm trying to do the right thing by everyone—”

“Including your dad.”

He glanced up and nodded. “Yes, including my dad. I just don't know how much longer I can keep it up.”

Kylie reached over and squeezed his hand. “You'll make the right decision, Nate. I know the restaurant means a lot to you.”

“I wish I had the same confidence about the place.” Nate shook his head and straightened his back. “Let's talk about
something different. I meant to tell you earlier that I talked to your brother last night.”

Kylie paused with her sandwich midair again. “Did you?”

“The sting has been rescheduled for this Tuesday.”

She frowned. Why hadn't her brother called her himself to share the news? Was this just another way he was trying to baby her?

“Why didn't he tell me?” She pouted. “I don't like it when people treat me like I'm fragile. I'm stronger than people think.”

“Life is about being interdependent on people. None of us can truly stand on our own two feet.”

“My family still treats me like a child. It's like I'm frozen in time at the age I was diagnosed with lymphoma. They'll never see me as an adult.”

“You got all of that because your brother called me instead of you?”

“It's been going on for as long as I remember, Nate. Strangely enough, I seem to be drawn to people who like to baby me. I guess I fall back on what I know.” Kylie thought about Colin, about how easily she'd slipped into that bad relationship. Of course, Colin had been worse than her family. He'd tried to control everything in her life, he'd belittled her and made her feel incompetent, as if she screwed up everything on her own.

“Your brother tried to reach you, but your cell phone was off. He called me instead.”

Kylie looked at the blanket, suddenly feeling foolish.

“Kylie, it's okay. Every family assigns certain roles to its members. Sometimes those roles stick, even when you don't want them to. The great thing about being a child of God is that there's always the possibility for change. There's always a way to rise above the expectations that other people have set for us.”

She nodded, still not convinced. “Thanks.”

He tilted her chin up with his index finger. “You still don't believe me, do you?”

“I just want to be around people who will respect me for who I am. I don't want other people to think I'm expecting things from them.” Her statement was aimed just as much at Nate as it was anyone else in her life. Sometimes she did get the impression that Nate saw her as an obligation. That was the last thing she wanted to be to anyone.

The rest of their meal they ate in silence. Finally, Nate turned to her. “We better get going if we want to be back in time for the candlelight vigil for Suzy.”

They pedaled back at a leisurely pace, but thoughts still turned over in Kylie's mind. When Nate hadn't responded to her last statement, that led her to believe that he agreed with it, that she was an obligation.

The sting couldn't happen soon enough. The moment her stalker was behind bars, she'd leave Yorktown and Nate be hind. She'd put a close to this entire chapter of her life and simply pretend it hadn't happened. Her cooking show would resume. Maybe she would become nationally syndicated. She'd prove to everyone that she could succeed on her own.

At the sound of a car accelerating behind her, she moved to the shoulder of the road. Cars had been passing them all day and had been more than willing to share the road with them and the other bikers who were out.

The engine revved behind them and Kylie glanced over her shoulder. Just as she looked back, the car charged forward.

“Watch out!” Nate gestured toward the grassy area beside them and Kylie pumped her legs to get out of the way of the oncoming car. Her bike tires hit the grass and rolled toward the woods along the road.

The car sounded close, too close. She glanced over her shoulder. The vehicle headed toward them. Was the driver trying to run them over?

Nate maneuvered his bike so that he was between Kylie and the oncoming vehicle

Kylie feared it wouldn't make a difference. They'd never make it to the woods before the car slammed into them.

J
ust as they reached the tree line, the car clipped Nate before turning sharply and speeding away.

Nate and Kylie crashed to the ground.

Was Nate hurt? Kylie untangled herself from the bike and knelt beside him. A gash split his temple and blood trickled down his face. Her eyes traveled to his leg, where the car had hit him. His pants were ripped at the calf and blood stained them.

“Nate! Are you okay?” She cradled his head in her lap, trying to elevate his wound.

He tried to raise himself, but pain etched his features. “That was no accident. Whoever was behind that wheel was trying to run us down.”

“Why would they do that?”

He closed his eyes. “I have no idea.”

Kylie pressed her lips together, worry over Nate superseding any other thoughts. “I need your phone, Nate. I'm going to call an ambulance—and the police.”

“I don't need an ambulance.”

“You have a terrible cut on your leg, Nate. And your head is bleeding.”

“Are you okay?” He looked up at her and the concern Kylie saw in his eyes touched her.

“I'm fine. Thanks to you. You didn't have to put yourself between me and the car.”

“Of course I did. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something happened to you.”

“Or you're afraid my brother wouldn't forgive you.”

He shook his head and placed his hand over hers, which rested on his cheek. “It has nothing to do with your brother and everything to do with you.”

Kylie's face flushed and she looked away, unsure of how to take that comment. “I need your cell phone. I'm calling 911.”

Kylie explained to the operator what had happened and she was told that help was on its way. She clicked the phone shut and stroked Nate's hair, trying to comfort him.

The crash kept replaying in her mind.

“I'm fine, Kylie.” He tried to sit up again, but his face squeezed in pain.

She pushed him back down. “Stay still until help gets here. Head injuries can be serious.” She glanced at his leg again and saw more blood. Was it broken? How were his ribs?

“We could have been killed,” she mumbled.

“But we weren't.”

“Why would someone do that?” An image of her stalker came to mind. No, she told herself. He'd never tried to hurt her. Not really. He just tried to scare her. Of course, maybe she'd upset him by coming here.

She looked down the road, waiting for an ambulance to appear. “Maybe the accident had to do with Suzy's disappearance. Or maybe the car's driver was drunk. Hard to say.”

“With the accuracy he came at us with, I'd say he wasn't drinking.”

Kylie glanced down at Nate's still perceptive eyes. “Did you get a good look at him?”

“The windows were tinted. I got the license plate number, though.”

Of course he'd gotten the license plate number. He was Nate, always prepared, the perfect protector.

Nate tilted his head back until his gaze fully met hers. “This reminds me of the first time we met.”

Kylie saw a twinkle in his eyes. Maybe he was okay. “The first time we met?” That day already seemed like so long ago.

“You know, when you ran from me and Darlene clobbered me over the head with a rolling pin?”

Kylie tried not to smile. “Oh, yeah, I remember. I still feel bad about that.”

Sirens in the distance caught Kylie's ear. A few seconds later, an ambulance and two sheriff cars appeared. Relief filled her. Finally Nate would get the help he needed. She'd never forgive herself if something happened to him because of her.

 

“I don't need a wheelchair.” Nate had already told the nurse that three times. She still insisted that a wheelchair was appropriate for his release.

Sure, he had sixteen stitches in his leg, four on his forehead and bruised ribs. He was going to be sore for a while. But he didn't need to be treated like an invalid.

“I'll help him out,” Kylie said.

Nate glanced at her, wondering how well her one-hundred-pound frame would hold him up. It hardly seemed possible. But he didn't say anything. As long as he wasn't in a wheelchair.

Finally the stern-faced nurse gave a curt nod, along with a scowl, and signed the release paper. Kylie slipped an arm around his waist and began helping him toward the door. Her concern for him touched him. She'd hardly left his side since the accident—the only time being when the doctor insisted on checking her out also. Thankfully, she only had a scraped
elbow. It could have been so much worse. He cringed, not letting his mind go there.

His heart squeezed with sorrow anyway. He couldn't lose Kylie. He'd begun to care about her, but he didn't realize the extent of his feelings until the car had charged at them.

The sheriff was running a check on the license plate numbers now, but Nate guessed it wouldn't turn up anything.

“You doing okay?” Kylie's tiny arm was still around his waist and his arm still draped over her shoulder. He put just enough weight on her that she wouldn't suspect he was holding back. He kept his expression neutral so she wouldn't know how much pain jolted through him with every step.

“I'm fine. Nothing some pain medicine wouldn't cure.”

“You're going to have to take it easy for a few days, you know.”

“That's going to be near impossible, since we're short-staffed.”

“I think Carrie's feeling better, and I'll get Harvey to come in again. We can handle it for a few days.”

“I can't let you guys do that.”

“You're going to let us do it. You need to rest, maybe just work in the office, if you have to work at all.”

“You're getting bossy, aren't you?” The start of a smile twitched at his lip.

“I just know how stubborn you are.”

He stopped outside of the hospital doors and turned toward Kylie. She lifted her eyes up to him, waiting for whatever he had to say. How did he tell her that he was falling for her? He'd been a fool to ever think she was anything like Deanna. Kylie was one of the best things God had ever brought into his life. But how did he tell her that?

“Kylie.” He paused and ran his fingers down the outline of her cheek. Her cheeks flushed.

“Yes?” Her voice sounded whisper-soft.

“I…you—” Before he could finish, a car honked beside them.

Harvey and Darlene pulled up in front of the hospital, and upon stopping, Darlene hurried from the car toward them. She touched Nate's face like a mother would her child's. “Oh, dear. I'm so glad you two are okay. I can't believe someone did that to you. What's going on in this town? First Suzy and now this. I just don't understand.” She shook her head and her lips pulled down in a frown.

Kylie grimaced, and Nate couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking. He hoped she didn't think the crimes had any connection to her. Both crimes had happened since she came here, and she was connected in both of the events. But that didn't mean any of this was her fault.

“The sheriff and his team will figure out what's going on. It just takes time sometimes.” Nate opened the door to the backseat of the sedan and lowered himself inside. Pain screamed through each muscle. He definitely needed to take some more of the pain medication as soon as he could.

He didn't miss the glance that Kylie and Darlene exchanged. Maybe he wasn't doing as good of a job as he'd hoped of covering up his discomfort. A moment later, Kylie climbed in beside him.

Nate leaned his head against the back of the seat, trying his best to get comfortable. “I appreciate the ride back.”

“It's the least we can do.” Darlene glanced behind her at Nate, giving him that same motherly look that he loved her for. Sometimes having people in your life that worried about you felt nice.

Nate glanced at his watch. One hour until the candlelight prayer vigil began on the beachfront. He wanted to be there to support Simon and his family. And if the sheriff called for
search parties to go out tomorrow, as Nate suspected he might do, he wanted to be the first one in line, with or without his injuries.

“You're going to still try and make it to the vigil, aren't you?” Concern caused a little dimple to form on Kylie's chin.

“I need to be there,” Nate said.

She reached for his hand and squeezed it. “I want to be there, too. I keep praying that Suzy will come traipsing into the restaurant sometime and admit that this was all a big misunderstanding.”

“Suzy could very well do that. I pray nothing's happened to the girl, but she's always been a bit flighty,” Harvey said. “I can say that because I've known her since she was in diapers when Darlene conned me into working in the toddler class at church.”

“I might think the same thing, that Suzy was simply being irresponsible, if it weren't for her car being found in the parking lot,” said Nate. “Too many things aren't adding up, and I think something's wrong—really wrong.”

“I just want our little town to return to normal.” Darlene waved her hand toward the window, where they passed a row of peaceful-looking houses. “None of this crime that we've had lately.”

Nate's cell phone rang and he pulled it off his belt. He recognized the sheriff's number and answered.

The sheriff got right to the point. “The car that tried to run you off the road was stolen from Williamsburg.”

“I figured that, since the license plates were visible,” Nate said. “No luck locating it yet to see if whoever stole it left any evidence behind?”

“Not yet, but we will. I'm glad neither you nor that young lady was hurt. I feel like the whole town is being turned upside down lately. I don't like it.”

Everyone in town seemed to feel the same way. They were ready for all of this nonsense to stop.

They hung up and Nate told Kylie the news. Apprehension tightened her features again. She closed her eyes and nodded solemnly.

He wanted to tell her that none of this was her fault, but he couldn't with Harvey and Darlene within listening distance. He had to remain the only person in Yorktown who knew the real reason for Kylie being here. Instead, he squeezed Kylie's hand, hoping she'd get his subtle message. She opened her eyes and offered a weak smile.

Finally, they arrived back at the restaurant. Nate thanked Harvey and Darlene before leading Kylie inside. He needed to check on the progress of the water main break. And he still hadn't checked all of his produce to make sure he had enough to last the week. He'd foolishly skipped working the past two days, and tomorrow, when the restaurant opened again, he'd regret it. Still, he didn't regret any of the time he'd spent with Kylie.

She planted herself in the hallway leading to his office and put her hands on her hips. “You need to lie down.”

He would have put his hands on his hips also, but the action would hurt too badly. “I've got stuff to do that can't wait. Plus, the vigil is soon. I don't have time to rest before that.”

“Just lie down then. I'm not saying you have to sleep. I'm just saying you need to take it easy.” Fire flashed in her eyes and Nate knew better than to argue. He hated to admit it, but he almost liked being bossed around…by Kylie, at least. It had been a long time since he'd had someone who wanted to take care of him for a change. He was so used to taking care of other people.

He nodded. “You win. I'll lie down.”

Her eyes widened, as if she were surprised by his easy surrender. That look was quickly replaced by stubbornness,
though. “And remember—you can
just
lie down. You can't sleep. Not with the head injury.”

“It seems like we just had this conversation last week. Oh, wait, I think we did.” He smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

Kylie scowled and pointed upstairs. “I'll come get you at five for the prayer vigil.”

He saluted her before starting up the stairs. As he climbed up to his apartment, an image of what life would be like after Kylie returned to Kentucky flashed in his mind. Lonely. Empty. Sad.

He trudged up the remainder of the steps, each lift of his leg heavier than the last.