Chapter Fifteen

Sky sat on the huge wraparound porch and pushed the swing with her toe. Kadey was sitting on the porch playing Barbie Dolls with her new BFF, Lizzy. The sweet little blonde-headed girl was over the moon about having a new friend, and Kadey was just as enamored.

Sky watched the girls play. She was still paranoid and kept Kadey in her direct line of sight. According to Doctor Cassidy, Kadey's procedure was a complete success, but Sky'd been worried for so long, not worrying was… well, it was impossible. She could feel herself hovering like a helicopter parent. She knew she was doing it, but until Kadey got the all clear from the cardiologist, who was scheduled to fly in next week for her check-up, she wasn't going to allow Kadey to do a single thing that was remotely strenuous. The surgical wounds were healing well, so her sitting outside on the porch with Lizzy getting some fresh air on an unusually warm late September day wasn't too risky. Well, it wasn't risky at all, at least that is what Doctor Cassidy and two other doctors here at the ranch had told her. Sky really liked the team of doctors at the complex.

"Are they getting along?" Sky glance up as Lizzy's mom came out on the porch. The woman was strikingly handsome. Keelee Cassidy was uncharacteristically tall, with long blonde hair. She had an athlete's body, hard and toned, but she was a kind lady who doted on her daughter. Sky had learned Keelee's father owned the ranch where the hospital and training facilities were housed. He also built the log cabin mansion where she and Kadey were living. The place was a woodworking marvel.

"No problems whatsoever. They are so good together." Sky moved her legs so Keelee could sit down.

"They are. Lizzy is around adults most the time. It is wonderful that Kadey is here." Keelee pushed the swing sending them on a gentle back and forth. "How are you doing?"

"Me?" Sky blinked repeatedly and finally shook her head. Why would Keelee ask that? "I'm fine."

Keelee chuckled and turned in the swing. "If I knew you better, I'd probably call you on that lie."

Sky pulled up her legs and hugged them while still looking at her daughter. The girls were changing their dolls' clothes for the tenth or twentieth time. "How about, I'm hanging in there?"

"That, I'd buy." They sat in a compatible silence for a few minutes until Keelee cleared her throat. "So your man is a Guardian?"

Sky turned her head and gazed at Keelee. "Kaeden? I'm not sure you'd call him my man, but yeah…he is. He works for Guardian, and Guardian is taking care of Kadey, but I really have no idea what he does."

Keelee pushed the slowing swing again. "I don't really know what Adam did… and still does on occasion."

"Why don't you ask him?" Sky gave a quick glance towards the girls, but returned her attention to Keelee waiting for an answer.

"Not sure I want to know, to tell you the truth. You see, my sister works for Guardian. I've pieced together a patchwork theory of what they do. Suffice to say they are the good guys and what they do is dangerous as hell, but important."

Sky grabbed a strand of hair that blew into her face and pulled it behind her ear. "I keep thinking of Kaeden like Jason Bourne. I know that sounds stupid…"

"I've seen that film. That dude's the assassin with the memory problem, right?"

"Yeah, but I know Kaeden isn't an assassin, I mean… there's no way. Like I said. Stupid."

"No, it isn't stupid. Not really. The people that Guardian select to work with them are the best at what they do, kinda like that guy Bourne was. They constantly train, here and at other facilities, across the world. The men and women who work for Guardian are held to a standard not many can achieve."

"How do you know that?" Did she know more than she was letting on?

Keelee let out a small laugh. "Honestly, I don't, but I heard my husband's boss, Jason, who is actually my step-brother, say it over and over. Adam and the other doctors here on the ranch take care of those who are hurt while doing their job. I have never heard of an agency who cares for their people the way Guardian does."

"So your husband is a mercenary, too?"

"Mercenary? Where did you get the idea that Guardian hires mercenaries?"

"Kaeden said something about it." Sky vividly remembered him telling her that's what he was.

"Huh, really? I don't think I've ever heard that. From what I know about the organization, which granted, isn't a ton, Guardian doesn't hire or train mercenaries. My husband was part of a team of men who did jobs no one else could do. That was how he lost the sight in his eye."

Sky tensed and snapped her attention over to Keelee. "Then what are they if they aren't mercenaries?" Why had Kaeden let her believe he was a mercenary if Guardian didn't employ them? She brought her thumb to her mouth and nibbled on the small edge of the nail that had just started to regrow.

Keelee shrugged and looked out over the ranch buildings. Her voice was thoughtful, "In my opinion?" Keelee glanced over at her, kicked the floorboard and sent them on a gentle glide again. Sky nodded, and Keelee looked out over the property again. "They are men and women who have an incredible conviction that this world can be a better place and are willing to put their lives on the line to make it so. The teams that train here defy what I thought I knew about altruism. They are selfless, to a fault." Keelee rolled her head and looked at Sky. "Especially the men. Lord above, if I had a nickel for every time one of these men screwed up with his girlfriend or wife because he did what he decided was the right and selfless thing to do… Well, I wouldn't need any of those cows in the pasture for income, I can tell you that!"

"You keep mentioning teams. Kaeden doesn't work with a team." Sky watched as the girls exchanged dolls and dug through a large plastic tub looking for yet another outfit to put on them.

"Ah, well personal security officers work alone. They do protection details for people. My stepsisters all work or have worked for Guardian. One works with computers, one left the company and now heads security for her husband who's a country-western superstar, and the other is a crazy woman, but she's a kick ass personal security officer. She travels all over the States. Overseas too… sometimes."

"That must be what Kaeden is then, but he said he only worked overseas."

Keelee turned her big blue eyes to Sky and stared at her long enough to make her uncomfortable. "What?"

"He only works overseas?"

"Yeah? Is that a bad thing?"

Keelee let out a huff of air and chuckled. "Nope. I wouldn't worry too much about your guy. I'm sure he'll be fine."

Sky nodded and watched the girls play. I wish Kaeden was out there doing that selfless and stupid thing for them. She gave herself a stern mental shake. She wasn't Kaeden's girlfriend, and he wouldn't be coming for them.