Keeping Guard (10 page)

“I like that idea, Kylie. I really like that idea. Make whatever you want. The Revolutionary Grill is going to do something new today.”

Kylie nodded, looking a little too pleased that he'd taken her suggestion. He ignored her small smile and picked up the phone again.

Harvey agreed—seemed thrilled, even—to help out at the restaurant, and Darlene seemed equally thrilled to have him out of the house. He arrived at the restaurant less than ten minutes after Nate called him. Kylie showed him the ropes while Nate continued to prep the kitchen area. The sound of Harvey's cheery voice in the dining area made Nate think that Kylie had been right. Harvey might make a great fill-in today. He sure hoped so. The restaurant wouldn't survive much longer under these conditions.

At eleven o'clock, when the doors opened and Suzy was still nowhere to be found, Nate called Simon again. This time, his friend's concern was more obvious. His voice sounded strained.

“You're right, that's not like her to not be there yet, Nate.” Simon sighed, weariness evident in his voice. “I was really hoping she'd show up. Let me make some calls and I'll be back in touch.”

Nate's gut twisted and he wanted to somehow fix the situation but knew he couldn't. At this point, there was very little he could do to help, even. “Can I do anything, Simon?”

“Just let me know if you hear from her. Most likely, she's just being irresponsible. But let me check with her friends, just to be on the safe side.” He paused again. “I hope she's just being irresponsible.”

He tried to put Suzy's disappearance out of his mind as customers began coming in. As they worked, Nate noted that Kylie seemed quieter than normal. Nate had to wonder if Suzy was on her mind. With everything else that had been going
on in Kylie's life, something like this could likely freak her out, make her mind go places it shouldn't.

Nate would keep an eye on her today especially. Her emotional state still seemed fragile, and the last thing Nate wanted was for Kylie to reach her breaking point.

 

After the lunch crowd passed, Kylie paused to catch a breath. Suzy had been on her mind all morning. Certainly, the girl was simply being irresponsible. Just yesterday she'd told Kylie that she was praying for some rich gentlemen to sweep her off her feet and get her out of this town. Maybe that had happened? She rubbed her temples to ease the pounding there.

Kylie didn't know the girl that well, but somehow, she doubted that was the case. She continued to make a Cornwallis Corned Beef, complete with rustic bread, freshly sliced meat and gooey melted cheese.

Nate worked the station behind her, saying very little. Maybe that was good. She didn't have much to say, and the thoughts that did sweep through her mind would only make her sound paranoid. Instead, Kylie chose to work silently, only asking questions about orders or yelling when a meal was up.

From the door to the kitchen, a deep, masculine voice called Nate's name. Kylie turned to see who'd arrived and spotted a man with smooth skin but a shock of white hair that made him appear possibly older. The serious look in the man's eyes instantly concerned Kylie.

“Simon.” Nate walked briskly toward the man, his shoulders looking rigid as he approached. “Any word from Suzy?”

The man shook his head, worry showing in the dullness of the man's eyes. “No, none of her friends have heard from her. The best I can tell, you both were the last ones to speak with her. Did she mention going anywhere after work last night?”

“Not to me.” Nate turned to Kylie. “Did Suzy say anything to you about doing anything last night?”

Kylie shook her head, wishing she could offer something. “No, my impression was that she was going home. She said she was tired and that her feet hurt from working the long shift.”

The man's chin dropped down toward his chest. “I just thought I'd check here first to make sure she didn't show up. I'm going to go tell the sheriff, report her as a missing person. They probably won't be able to do anything yet, but my gut tells me that something's wrong.”

“Simon, is there anything I can do?” Nate stepped forward. “Anything at all?”

“Just pray.”

After he left, Nate and Kylie stood in silence. Finally, Kylie cleared her throat. “I hope she's okay.”

“Yorktown isn't known for its crime, unless you count the occasional vandalism. The chances of something happening to her here are highly unlikely.”

Kylie couldn't decide if he'd directed that statement toward the situation with Suzy or if he was speaking about Kylie's stalker. Either way, Kylie hoped his words were true. She hoped Suzy was okay.

Shortly after seven, an older man with a slow gait and perceptive eyes walked into the restaurant. Nate introduced him to Kylie as Detective Blackston.

“I know Simon already talked to you, but I just wanted to ask a few questions also about Suzy,” Detective Blackston said. “It's too early to consider her a missing person, but we want to go ahead and get some preliminary information.”

“We'll be happy to help in anyway possible,” Nate said.

“I also wanted to let you know that Suzy's car is still in the parking lot out back. After she left here, she must have gotten a ride with someone else to wherever she is now, or walked.
I have investigators out there now, looking for any clues as to where she might be.”

Kylie sucked in a breath. Things were looking more and more suspicious. She prayed Suzy was okay.

“Did Suzy mention anything at all yesterday that might have given you the impression she wasn't going home?” The detective waited with pad poised in hand.

Should Kylie mention the tidbit Suzy had told her about wanting to get out of this town? Kylie decided that every detail could be important.

“The only thing she mentioned yesterday to me was that she'd like to be swept away one day by a rich man who'd take her away from this place,” said Kylie. “But she probably said that at three o'clock, so it doesn't seem likely it happened between then and the time she left.”

“Were there any customers here who were acting strangely?” Blackston asked.

Arnold Stephens's face flashed in her mind. Kylie couldn't imagine the producer harming Suzy, but had he swept her away? He was handsome and had money. He wasn't from around here, from New York City, as a matter of fact. Kylie shook the thought away. No, it didn't seem likely that she'd somehow met up with him and they'd run off together. But again, any detail could be important. She should let the sheriff decide what was of relevance to her disappearance and what was not.

“Ms. Summers?”

Kylie blinked out of her thoughts and saw the detective staring at her. She glanced at Nate, searching his face for a sign of what she should say. He nodded, as if reading her thoughts.

Kylie cleared her throat. “A producer from Cuisine TV came in yesterday.”

The detective waited for her to continue and finally said, “And what was this producer's name?”

Kylie wet her lips nervously, not wanting to give away too much information. But if someone else's life was possibly in danger, then how could she hold back? “His name is Arnold Stephens. He's doing some TV specials from this area.”

“Did you speak with him?”

Nate stepped toward Kylie. “He was interested in possibly filming here.”

“That sounds like a great opportunity for your restaurant, Nate. What did you say?” The detective's eyes seemed friendly, but equally as perceptive, as if he soaked in every detail.

Nate shifted his weight. “We said no. The timing's just not good right now.”

Kylie could tell that Nate was trying to protect her by not giving away too much of her reason for being here. Still, Kylie couldn't help but think about Suzy. Not that she could imagine that Suzy's disappearance and her stalker had a connection, but still…stranger things had happened. Kylie couldn't remain silent.

Kylie sucked in a breath, wishing her heart would stop beating so fast. “May I tell you something that requires a bit of privacy, Detective?”

He stared at her a moment before nodding and lowering his pad of paper. “Okay, Ms. Summers.”

Nate nodded toward his office. “Why don't you go back there? I can handle things out here.”

The detective followed her into the back, away from the listening ears of customers. Kylie rubbed her hands together, emotions battling inside until finally fear won and rose up to the surface. She tried to swallow it back.

“Detective, I came to Yorktown to get away from a stalker who's been terrorizing me for the last several months. The police back in Lexington, Kentucky, set up a sting that was supposed to take place today to catch the guy, but the officer who was supposed to be my double hurt herself, so the operation has been delayed.”

“A stalker, you say?”

Kylie nodded. “Yes, I have my own cooking show back in Kentucky and the police think my stalker is one of the show's fans.” Her head felt woozy, so she sat in Nate's chair. “I didn't want to tell you this out there because I'm trying to stay as low-key as possible while I'm here in Yorktown. That producer, unfortunately, recognized me and wanted to film this week. I'm not comfortable filming until I know this man who's been causing me nightmares is behind bars.”

“I don't see any reason why I'd have to share any of this information with anyone, Ms. Summers. I would, however, like the name and number of your contact with the police department back in Kentucky. I'd also like Mr. Stephens's contact information, if you have it.”

“I appreciate your discretion,” Kylie said. “My brother is the police officer who's been handling much of what's going on. I'd be more than happy to give you his information.” She reached in her pocket and pulled out Mr. Stephens's card. “Here's the producer's information.”

“You said that Suzy didn't have any interaction with this producer who came in?”

Kylie shook her head. “None that I know of. But just in case there's any connection, I wanted to let you know the situation I'm in. Only two people know that I'm here—three if you include Arnold Stephens.”

“Thank you for sharing.”

He turned to leave when Kylie called his name. He paused and looked at her. “Yes?”

“Is there anything I can do to help? I hate feeling so helpless.”

“Just keep an eye out for anyone suspicious. And if you think of anything else, let us know.”

T
wo hours later, the last table was wiped, the last dish put into the washer and Harvey had headed home for the evening. Kylie leaned with her palms against the counter, dreaming about melting into bed and giving rest to her weary limbs and mind. What a day.

Behind her, Kylie sensed Nate approaching. Maybe it was the whiff of his musky cologne mixed with the scent of cheese, fresh veggies and garlic that gave him away. Would anyone else but a cook enjoy that combination?

Kylie turned and saw him leaning against the counter opposite her with a wry grin on his face. For some reason, the image made her heart race.

She swallowed and dug her nails into the counter behind her. “We survived.”

His eyes looked smoky and intense and captivating all at once. “I'm supposed to be helping you, but I think I got the better end of the deal.”

Kylie's cheeks flushed. “I don't know about that.”

He pushed himself away from the counter and stepped closer. “You okay? I know today's been stressful for you.”

Kylie suddenly felt the need to fan her warm cheeks. “Yeah, I'm okay. Better than Suzy.” Her tone sobered at the mention of Suzy's name.

Nate stood in front of her now, close enough to touch.
That's exactly all she could think about doing. “There's still a chance she could be with a friend somewhere.”

Kylie studied his face, the tight lines around his eyes and mouth. “You don't really think that though, do you?”

Nate pressed his lips together as if in thought, then shook his head. “No, not really. But I'm praying the explanation is more along those lines than the other places my mind goes.”

“That's probably a good idea.”

Nate tilted his head toward her and sucked in a breath before slowly exhaling. “Listen, what do you think about going to catch a late movie? Get away from here for a little while and do something to take your mind off of everything?”

“You might have a very sleepy employee tomorrow.” The idea sounded tempting now—very tempting—but she'd regret staying up late when the morning hit. Still, the idea of being swept away by a movie had its allure. Otherwise she'd be in her apartment all evening, trying to sleep but unable to because of thoughts of Suzy and her stalker.

Nate's blue eyes glimmered down at her, making her throat dry. “I think I could forgive a sleepy employee, especially when she's such a hardworking employee.”

She sucked in a breath, trying to gain composure. Why was Nate having this effect on her? Even when she'd dated Colin she didn't remember feeling this infatuated.
Get a grip, Kylie.
“A movie would be a great distraction.”

With a promise to meet in ten minutes, Kylie rushed up stairs, wishing she had time to take a shower and get the smell of food off of her. Instead, she settled for clean jeans and her favorite sweater.

Nate was waiting for her downstairs. He smiled when he spotted her, and Kylie appreciated his effort to keep her mind off Suzy. Kylie knew that was the only reason he'd offered to take her to the movies at this hour. The gesture was sweet, though, for a moment, she wished there was more to it.

“You ready?” Nate asked as she joined him.

She nodded. Nate took her elbow and led her outside. The chilly nighttime air cooled her skin, which seemed to be constantly heating up this evening. The fresh smell of the river drifted with the wind, and somewhere in the distance a man played the guitar and sang.

Kylie hadn't been outside in more days than she cared to admit. She needed to start remedying that. Fresh air could do wonders for the mind and body.

After Nate helped her into his truck, they started down the road. The nighttime sky sparkled around them as they traveled down the historic Colonial Parkway. With no lights on the street, the stars looked clear and vivid. Even the treetops looked crisper against the black of the sky.

“It's beautiful.” Kylie said, gazing out the window.

“Yeah, I love this road. You'd never know civilization is so close.”

She glanced at Nate. “You like it here in Yorktown, don't you?”

He shrugged then nodded. “Yeah, I do like it. Most of the time, at least. I've always thought it would be a great place to raise a family. The town has so much history, the locals are great, the tourists are always interesting and the location is right on the water, which is a prerequisite for any place I live.”

“Do you boat?” It made sense, Kylie thought. He was former Coast Guard.

“I like to, but I don't have a chance very often. The restaurant keeps me busy. Too busy, probably.”

“You ever thought about hiring more staff and giving yourself another day off?”

“I wish I could, but I can't. Not now.” Lines formed at his eyes as the words left his mouth.

Kylie nodded and pressed her lips together. She wanted to admonish him that if he didn't hire more staff, he wouldn't
have a restaurant to run. She could survive working twelve hour days for the brief time she was here, but most people wanted a life outside of work. He really needed to take that into consideration after she returned to Kentucky.

She glanced over at Nate and saw that the lines still remained around his eyes, and as he focused on the road, Kylie had a feeling his mind was elsewhere. Probably on the restaurant and his struggles there.

A few minutes later, they pulled into the packed parking lot of the theater. Nate, with his hand on her back, guided her toward the entrance. Just having him close made Kylie feel safe and protected—something she hadn't felt in a long time.

Don't get used to the idea. You'll be leaving soon.

Besides, Nate seemed to think of her as either a little sister or a damsel in distress. Neither was grounds for developing a relationship. Her heart sank at the thought. Why did she wish that a relationship between the two of them was a possibility?

“What do you think?” Nate looked up at the theater marquee, its light softening his features. “Comedy, mystery, sci-fi?”

She glanced up at the titles. “Definitely the comedy.” Laughing just might be the perfect medicine.

Inside the theater, sitting beside Nate, Kylie reminded her self that they weren't on a date. But when their elbows brushed, or they both reached for popcorn at the same time, or they laughed together at a punchline, Kylie felt like they'd done this a million times before.

Kylie couldn't even begin to fantasize about what it would be like to date Nate. That was just one big, bad idea. He seemed to like rescuing people, and Kylie hated to be rescued, so the two would make a terrible pair.

But if they'd make such a terrible pair, why did Kylie enjoy being with him so much?

 

As they bounced down the road back to Yorktown, Nate thought the movie had worked well as a distraction. Yes, they'd both be tired tomorrow. But getting his mind and Kylie's off of Suzy and the stalker and even the restaurant had been nice.

Kylie stared out the window until, gradually, her head leaned against it and her eyes closed. From her soft breathing, Nate guessed she'd fallen asleep. He had the urge to offer his shoulder or to put his coat over her, but he didn't. He couldn't get into a relationship with Kylie. She'd be leaving soon. Her situation in being here—more than her personality itself—reminded him too much of Deanna. He couldn't fall for someone like Deanna again. He didn't need to nurse another broken heart when she left, nor did he want to be taken for a fool.

Nate stole a glance at her while she slept. She really was lovely with her soft features and beautifully sculptured face. It seemed like she'd been a part of his life for much longer than a week.

A part of his life? Was she really a part of his life? He stared at the road ahead of him in thought.

The two had been thrown together in unusual circumstances, so of course they'd bonded. His job was to watch over her, to stand guard until her stalker was behind bars. And that's exactly what he intended to do until the man behind the threats against her was behind bars. Nothing more. Nothing less.

He pulled into the parking lot and cut the engine. Silence filled the truck. He glanced over at Kylie as the streetlight bathed her face in a warm yellow. Her breathing sounded so soft and peaceful. He hated to wake her.

As gently as possible, he touched her shoulder. She startled, sitting up ramrod straight. Her eyes darted around in an almost panicked way before settling on Nate. Some of the tension melted from her face as she leaned back into the seat.

“I didn't mean to scare you.”

She shook her head. “I can't believe I fell into such a deep sleep. The hum of the truck must have knocked me out.”

“Glad you could rest a bit.” He nodded toward the restaurant, which looked a little eerie at this time of the evening with all its lights out. “We better get inside, though. It's late.”

She rubbed her eyes. “Thanks again for the movie, Nate. It was good to have a bit of fun in the midst of all of this craziness.”

“I agree.”

She looked into the distance and frowned. “I hope Suzy's okay.”

Nate grabbed her hand and squeezed it, reveling in the softness of her fingers. “The police are working on it.”

She squeezed his hand in return, still looking across the parking lot. “Nate, do you think…”

He knew exactly where her thoughts were going. “Do I think Suzy's disappearance is linked to your stalker?”

Kylie turned her big eyes back on him, nibbling her lip as she nodded.

“It's doubtful, Kylie, but we can't rule anything out.”

Kylie's eyes seemed to search his for answers, for comfort. He wanted to tell her that everything would be okay, but that was a promise he couldn't make yet. Instead, Nate thought about reaching over and touching her cheek, peppering her eyelids with kisses until all of her worry disappeared.

Kylie looked away and offered what appeared to be a forced smile. “I guess we should get inside. We have another busy day ahead of us.”

They climbed out of the truck and Nate placed a protective arm around her as they walked toward the back entrance to the Revolutionary Grill. All of the normal town sounds—tourists, fife and drum, kids on the beach—were silenced at this hour. The only sound was that of their footsteps tapping on the pavement.

Just as they reached the door, a crash sounded in the alley.

Kylie clutched at his shirt. Her heart hammered against his arm.

His gaze darted around them, but he didn't see anything. The sound hadn't materialized out of nowhere.

“Get inside. I'll check out the noise.” He pushed Kylie behind him.

As he stuck his key into the lock, the clatter sounded again. Nate jerked his head to the left as a figure stepped from the shadows. He braced himself, ready to protect Kylie no matter the cost.