Keeping Guard by Christy Barritt Page A

will figure out the person at the demonstration isn’t me. Time isn’t on our side in this case.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Kylie.” He looked at her sitting alone on the couch. What would it would be like to sit beside her and pull her into his arms, to comfort her? No, soon she’d be leaving. Besides, she despised Nate’s efforts to protect her. No doubt she’d feel the same if he tried to comfort her.
    â€œMe, too.” She looked in the distance, tension still present around her eyes and mouth. “I’m going to have to call myproducer and let him know I’m extending my ‘vacation’ for a bit longer. He won’t be happy, especially not now that Arnold Stephens has called again.”
    â€œHe’ll get over it.”
    Kylie remained silent, pensive.
    â€œDo you want a national cooking show, Kylie?”
    Kylie’s lips pulled into a tight line before she finally spoke. “I do. I mean, there are some things I’m still unsure about.” She paused and shook her head. “I know I sound crazy, but I’ll probably have to move to New York, and I’ve never been a big city type of girl. Those types of things cause some uncertainty. But do you know how many people dream about having a nationally syndicated show? I’d be crazy to pass the opportunity up.” And maybe it would finally show her family that she was truly a “grown-up” and that they didn’t need to treat her like a child anymore. Of course, the measures of success she’d already achieved hadn’t done the trick.
    â€œIt does sound like a great opportunity.”
    â€œWhen I was diagnosed with cancer, I realized how short life was. I want to take advantage of each opportunity and live life to the fullest. But it’s like I’ve told you, I haven’t taken a vacation in years, so I haven’t mastered the whole ‘living life to the fullest’ yet either.”
    â€œLife is a journey. We learn as we go.”
    She stood and sighed, almost as if she didn’t want to leave. “I know you’re probably anxious for me to go so you can resume your life.”
    Nate stood and reached for her arm. “Kylie, I don’t know what I would have done today without you. You can stay here for as long as you need to stay. Understand?”
    Her cheeks flushed before she looked away. “Thanks, Nate. I appreciate all you’ve done.”
    He squeezed her arm, realizing he didn’t want to let go—right now or ever.
    Â 
    Back in her apartment, Kylie sank into the couch, replaying her conversation with Nate. He was a surprisingly good listener. His encouragement to follow her own heart had warmed her in surprising ways.
    She’d expected Nate to react more like Colin would have, telling her what she should be feeling and how she should be handling the situation. Strangely, she hadn’t even realized how controlling he’d been until many months into their relationship. How could she have been so blind? Why would she ever even try to be someone she wasn’t just to please a boyfriend?
    The thought shamed her.
    Colin had wanted someone who’d do whatever he said, who would be a quiet, compliant wife who always stood by his side and never talked back. Kylie wasn’t that person. She dreamed of a balanced marriage that was built on mutual respect, where listening to each other’s opinions was a priority. She’d hold out until she found that.
    In the meantime, she’d vowed to never let a man control her again. Yet that was exactly what the Man in Black was doing. His very presence sent her into a nervous scurry, even being this far away
    He couldn’t find her here.
    But could he?
    Crazier things had happened in life. For instance, Arnold Stephens, of all people, coming into the Grill today. She’d known the world was small, but was it really this small?
    Mr. Stephens couldn’t be her