Keeping Guard

Keeping Guard
Christy Barritt

You can't hide from me. Her anonymous stalker's threats are getting scarier and scarier. Now Kylie Summers fears for her life. She flees her home for the protection of a former military man in a small Virginia town. But her brother's handsome best friend already has a long list of obligations.Kylie knows she's intruding on Nate Richardson's life. Even though he promises to keep her safe, Nate's keeping her at arm's length emotionally. Until her stalker emerges from the shadows, forcing Nate to choose between keeping guard over his wary heart - or Kylie.

“I hope Suzy’s okay.”

Nate grabbed Kylie’s hand and squeezed it. “The police are working on it.”

She squeezed his hand in return. “Nate, do you think…”

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

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.

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

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

“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.

CHRISTY BARRITT

loves stories and has been writing them for as long as she can remember. She gets her best ideas when she’s supposed to be paying attention to something else—like in a workshop or while driving down the road.

The second book in her Squeaky Clean Mystery series, Suspicious Minds, won the inspiration category of the 2009 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery. She’s also the co-author of Changed: True Stories of Finding God in Christian Music.

When she’s not working on books, Christy writes articles for various publications. She’s also a weekly feature writer for the Virginian-Pilot newspaper, the worship leader at her church, and a frequent speaker at various writers’ groups, women’s luncheons and church events.

She’s married to Scott, a teacher and funny man extraordinaire. They have two sons, two dogs and a houseplant named Martha.

To learn more about her, visit her website at www.christybarritt.com.

Keeping Guard

Christy Barritt

Guard my life and rescue me;

let me not be put to shame,

for I take refuge in You.

—Psalms 25:20

To my new baby boy, Silas Timothy,

who gave me a good kick in the ribs

whenever I started to slow down

while working on this book.

Thanks for keeping me going…

now and for many, many years to come.

I also want to thank the many people

who gave me insight into the Coast Guard,

being a rescue swimmer, living in Yorktown

and running a restaurant. Pamela Tison,

Lorna Poston, Stephanie Adams, David Dolloff,

Carrie Pagels, Paul and Courtney Schaefer

and Butch Slytce—thank you!!!

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE