Keeping Guard (12 page)

Nate appeared at her side. “What is it?”

Kylie blinked rapidly. “I guess I'm just seeing things.”

They began walking between the headstones together. The skin on Kylie's neck prickled. Was someone watching them? She paused and turned. She and Nate were the only ones in the cemetery. Everything that had happened lately was making her paranoid.

Nate's cell phone rang. He pulled it from his belt, checked the number and then glanced back at Kylie. “I've got to take this. Will you excuse me for a moment?”

Kylie nodded and watched as he walked toward one of the towering nearby trees. His voice sounded low and she couldn't make out what the call was about. The water main break, maybe? She continued walking, not straying too far from Nate.

She paused. The feeling of unseen eyes on her was all too familiar. She'd become accustomed to it back in Kentucky. Without turning her head, she scanned the area in front of her. Woods that ended at the river. She saw no one there, not even a wild animal.

Trying to appear casual, she turned toward a nearby cannon, but her eyes wandered over her surroundings. When her gaze reached the visitor center, she stopped. Was that a figure she'd seen dart around the corner? Or were her eyes playing tricks on her?

The place was already foggy, with shifty shadows and low visibility. Perhaps her paranoia was at play again.

“Kylie?”

She let out a small scream and jumped, spinning around toward the voice.

“Whoa, it's just me.” Nate stood there with his arms raised.

Kylie's heart rate slowed some. “Nate,” she breathed in relief.

“Who did you think it was?”

She shrugged, her gaze darting toward the visitor center again. “I don't know. I just keep feeling like we're not alone here.”

Nate scanned the area. “I don't see anyone.”

“I know. I don't either. I guess it's more of a feeling. Maybe it's just something that's been ingrained in me after all of my experiences back in Kentucky.”

He put an arm to her waist. “We should probably head back, anyway.”

“Why? Is everything okay? Was the phone call about Suzy?”

He glanced toward his phone. “The phone call? No. That was…that was nothing. No news yet.” He began leading her back toward the road. “Now, let's get you home.”

Kylie nodded, but she couldn't help but wonder who the phone call had been from. There was something Nate wasn't telling her. Kylie's heart twisted at the possibility. Had it been Bruce? The sheriff? She sucked in a breath. She would have to trust Nate. If the phone call was something she needed to know about, Nate would tell her…wouldn't he?

B
y the time Nate arrived back at the restaurant, his thoughts over the phone call had been replaced by worries over Kylie's safety. Certainly Kylie had imagined things while in the cemetery. Her stalker couldn't have found her here.

Or could he?

Nate twisted his key in the lock with such force that the metal nearly broke. He hoped Kylie didn't notice as he led her inside. He'd remain on guard, make sure Kylie didn't get out of his sight. He wished Bruce would catch the guy behind these threats to Kylie and throw him in jail. He'd feel better once Kylie was safe and this madman was no longer a threat.

Of course, once she was safe, that meant she could go back to Kentucky. Why did that realization cause his gut to twist?

Could it be because Kylie had been the only bright spot about the restaurant for the past week? His heart lurched at the thought.

“Well, I'm at your disposal. Anything you need me to do?” Kylie stood staring at him, looking so earnest with her doelike eyes, tiny chin and steady gaze.

He wanted to touch that adorable chin, to see if her skin felt as soft as he imagined. He kept his arms at his sides, however. “Why don't you take the rest of the day off and I'll
get caught up on my paperwork. I've been working you too hard anyway.”

Kylie remained where she stood and shrugged. “I actually prefer to stay busy. It keeps my mind off of things.”

“Okay, then.” He nodded, wishing the weather was a little nicer today so they could remain outside with reasonable visibility. The fog made it too easy for someone to conceal themselves, and Nate couldn't chance that. “How about if you fix us lunch?”

She nodded, looking pleased as her gaze traveled to the kitchen. “I can do that. Any requests?”

“Whatever your specialty is. Just remember, you'll have to use some of the extra water jugs I have stored in the pantry. The water line still hasn't been turned on.”

“No problem.” She glanced toward the dining area and beyond, to where it appeared the beach had expanded to reach the restaurant. “I wonder how long it will take the crews to fix all of this? What a mess.”

“I'm going to go talk to them in a minute, see if there are any updates.” He stepped away, his heart thumping uncontrollably. He liked being near Kylie. Probably too much. Which meant he needed some space before his heart got him into trouble. “Do you need anything?”

“Nope. Not a thing.”

Nate walked into the dining area and opened the front door. Water, probably a foot high, still stood on the street. Thankfully it stopped right before it reached the stoop of his restaurant and remained outside. The last thing he needed was the inside of his restaurant flooded.

At least the gushing from underground had stopped, he reasoned. That had to mean some progress was being made. The city crew had a machine drilling into the asphalt. The supervisor walked toward Nate when he stepped outside.

“So, what's the update?” Nate had to shout to be heard over the machinery.

“Water should be back on in a few hours. This street will be closed at least until Monday, though. Those pipes down there are old. It's gonna take some time to get them replaced properly. Probably should have been replaced years ago. We're working as fast as we can to resolve the situation, sir.”

Nate nodded, then made his way back inside. Kylie whipped up something in a metal bowl as he passed. He tried to pinpoint the mouthwatering scents swirling around him…garlic, parsley, Kylie's sweet perfume?

He shook the thought away and went to his office. He had to look at his books one more time. At his desk, he pulled them out and settled them on top of his desk calendar. The numbers blurred together. He rubbed his eyes. Focus, Nate. Focus.

He did a few calculations and ran some numbers before sighing again. He wasn't seeing things. A weight that felt heavier than rescuing a wet, three-hundred pound man from the ocean pressed on him.

At this rate, he'd be bankrupt by next year.

He put his hand on his throbbing forehead. Why had this situation turned into such a nightmare? He'd hoped being in the restaurant would make him fall in love with it. Instead, the opposite had happened. He only disliked it here more and more every day.

His only hope seemed to be the man who'd called him today, interested in potentially buying the place. But was Nate really ready to sell?

A picture of his father on the shelf above his desk stared down at him. He kept the photo there to remind him of how much his dad had loved this place. Seeing it reminded him of the sacrifices his father had made in order to give him a good life.

Wasn't that what love was about? Sacrifice? Isn't that why he kept this place open, even though working here made him miserable?

Kylie drifted into his mind. What she would say if she knew he was talking to a buyer? She seemed so loyal to her family and to her values. She'd probably never understand why he was tempted to sell.

Little did she realize that Nate had no desire for wealth or status or even a trophy wife, for that matter.

That was probably why Deanna had left him. She'd wanted Nate to be someone he wasn't. Why hadn't he seen that earlier?

He knew one thing—he'd never fall into that trap again. Her whining, her constant mini-emergencies that were anything but emergencies, her insecurity. Sometimes it took a bad relationship to make you realize what you wanted in a good relationship.

He needed someone strong and independent, who didn't care about worldly things as much as she cared about the heart.

Kylie stuck her head into the doorway, the worry from earlier today gone from her eyes and replaced with lightness. “Hey, Boss Man, it's time for lunch.”

He stood, closing the books before Kylie caught a glimpse of what a mess the restaurant was really in. “It smells great.” He stretched. “And you don't have to call me Boss Man. In fact, please don't.”

She smiled. “Got it. And I'm glad it smells good. I made one of my favorite dishes. All my viewers seemed to really like it also, which makes it even more satisfying to me.”

He followed her to a table in the dining area that was elegantly set for two. He pulled a chair out for her, feeling a bit as if they were on a date. She gingerly sat and he lowered himself across from her. Before him was a large bowl of pasta and a colorful salad.

He looked at the artfully arranged food. “Now, what exactly is this?”

“I call it Salmon in a Net.” She smiled. “It's just some
blackened salmon with linguine in a lemon butter sauce. The salad is called Florida Fields. It has cranberries, walnuts and a few other secret ingredients.”

Everything smelled delicious. After praying, he dug in. The food truly was good. Really good. Everything tasted fresh and hit different parts of his taste buds. Kylie watched him a moment.

“You like it?” Kylie chewed on her lip in what appeared to be anxious anticipation. Did she really care what he thought of her dish? Delight rushed through him at the possibility.

“Like it? I love it.”

She smiled—beamed, actually—and then picked up her fork to eat. A moment later she cleared her throat. A serious expression stretched across her face, one that it appeared she tried to conceal but did a poor job of. “So Nate, have you ever considered trying out a few new recipes here? Your menu has been the same for quite some time, from what I hear.”

Nate swallowed his food and wiped his mouth as he absorbed her question. “New recipes? What's wrong with the ones we have?” People—his regulars—came into the restaurant because they had favorite dishes they liked to order time and time again.

Kylie tilted her head. “What's wrong with them? Nothing, I suppose, but—”

“Why fix what's not broken, then?”

She paused a moment, as if in thought. “May I speak openly for a moment, Nate?”

“Please do.”

“I think you could do so much more with this restaurant, Nate,” she said.

He offered a slight nod. “Go on.”

“The crab cakes you serve, for instance—they're frozen. Do you realize how much better they would taste if they were fresh? It wouldn't be that much more work and it could make a huge difference. And you get your fish from a wholesale club.
You should buy them fresh, utilize some of the local fishermen who get their catfish from the river right here in front of the restaurant.” She pointed toward the windows. “Or how about the outside of the place? I bet patrons would love it if you set up some café tables with little umbrellas. They would eat here just so they could sit outside and enjoy the view.”

Just listening to her suggestions somehow made Nate feel weary. “All of those ideas might work in an ideal situation, but this is not an ideal situation. There are other things at play with running this restaurant that you don't understand, Kylie. I'm barely hanging on here. You have no idea.”

Her hopeful expression fell slightly and she drew in a deep breath. “I just think you could go from barely hanging on to being a great success. I'm not an expert, but I am passionate about food and about restaurants. And this place could be so much more. You need more staff. You need staff that care. You need to give up some of your responsibility—”

He shook his head trying in vain to hide his frustration. “I can barely afford the staff I have. I don't think you have any idea what's it's like when I have to do payroll every week and I go in the red, or when I have to pay the bills for the restaurant out of my savings.” He paused, his gaze set on her. “I like the restaurant. I really do. But it just isn't working. This just isn't working. And it never will.”

 

Kylie dropped her hands. Was he talking about the restaurant or her? Either way, it was clear that she had no place here. She had to keep her distance—from the restaurant and Nate.

She stood from the table and placed her napkin beside her plate. “I'll be out of your hair soon. I'm sorry my being here has been a headache to you.” She hurried toward the kitchen, grabbed a dish towel and began wiping down the counter.

“That's not what I meant, Kylie.”

She whirled around. “That's exactly what you meant, Nate.
And that's okay. I don't like having people do favors for me. I prefer to get by on my own two feet. So it seems we're both out of our comfort zone.”

She started to turn and continue cleaning, but Nate grabbed her arm.

“I'm sorry, Kylie. Sometimes being out of your comfort zone is a good thing. And you do have a lot of good ideas. I've just…” He shook his head and looked around the kitchen, feeling like a foreigner in the very place he owned.

“Given up?”

His eyes met her soft, compassionate ones. “Yeah, I guess that's right. I'm tired of trying, yet I'm too stubborn to give up.”

Kylie stepped closer, putting her hurt feelings to the side. “Nate, this isn't your passion. You never wanted to be a restaurant owner or cook or businessman, even. You should sell. I think that's what your dad would want you to do.”

“You didn't even know my father, Kylie.”

She touched his arm. “But Harvey and Darlene have told me that he was just like you. And I know you. I know if you had a son, you'd want him to be happy. I can't imagine your father would want you to be miserable just to keep his dream alive.”

At her proclamation, the tension drained from his shoulders. His head dropped toward the floor and his hands went to his hips. When he pulled his head up, Kylie's eyes met his. She tried to read the emotion there. Relief? Gratitude?

“You really believe that?”

She reached up and touched the stubble on his chin. “I do.” She lowered her hand until it rested on his chest.

Nate's fingers trailed across her cheek, his touch sending electricity through her. Kylie's heart seemed to simultaneously speed up and freeze at the same time. She couldn't tear her eyes away from Nate's.

He looked at her lips. Then back up to her eyes. His thumb caressed her cheek.

Kylie sucked in a breath and closed her eyes. The next instant, his lips covered hers. Soft, gentle but firm. His arms circled her waist, pulling her closer. Kylie melted into the moment, enjoying the feeling of being held and protected and safe.

As soon as the kiss began, it ended.

Nate pulled away and pressed his forehead against hers, as if his emotions tortured him. Kylie could feel his heart racing underneath her hand, which still rested on his chest.

“I probably shouldn't have done that,” he mumbled.

Kylie's head was spinning around equally as fast as Nate's heart raced. “Me, neither.”

Despite her words, she couldn't seem to step back from him. Something unseen kept her grounded where she was—in his arms. Her brain told her this was a bad idea. That Nate would tell her what to do, have too much say so in her life. Hadn't she been there before? Her relationship with Colin had turned out to be a disaster. So why was she standing here now?

“We're a bad idea, aren't we?” she whispered.

He pulled his head back just far enough to stare into her eyes. “Probably. But there's just something about you, Kylie Summers…you capture my heart whenever you're with me.”

“I'm going to be going back to Kentucky soon…” She wanted to say that she would give up her life there to be here with him. But she didn't. She had to keep her independence. She couldn't fall into the same traps she had before.

Nate closed his eyes again. “I know.” He kissed her forehead and then pulled her into a hug. “I'm as anxious as you are for this stalker to be caught, but…”

He didn't have to finish. Kylie knew that he didn't want her to go back to Kentucky, either. She'd never dreamed when
she came here that she'd develop these feelings for Nate so quickly.

She stepped back and swiped her hair behind her shoulders, keeping her eyes on Nate's chest. “We should pretend that never happened.”