Free Picket Fence Pursuit by Jennifer Johnson

started to stand. “I’ll come back tomorrow. Sounds like you need to get home.”
    Jim shook his head and motioned for him to sit. “No. It’s fine. Callie had to take the SUV to the shop. She feels like she’s getting the runaround. She just needed to know I’d take care of it.”
    Jim’s words echoed in Ryan’s mind. Callie wanted security. Kylie wanted security. Maybe Kylie’s wants were less about money and more about her need to feel cared for. Ryan would do anything to ensure that Kylie was safe and taken care of. Somehow he had to prove it to her.
    Maybe I need to take Jim up on a job here. Maybe she needs to know that I go to work each day and come home each night. Help me, Lord. I love the freedom I have to serve You in any way You lead. Now that Kylie’s entered my life, show me how I’m to follow.
    ❧
    Having spent a never-ending dinner with her future supervisor, Kylie led Brad Dickson to the exit of Marinelli’s. If she had to spend another moment listening to Brad praise himself for his business abilities or brag about the many women who fell at his feet, Kylie felt sure she would vomit. She glanced at her watch. We’ve spent forty-five minutes in the restaurant—it seemed like hours.
    She looked back at Brad, noting his exquisite pinstriped navy suit, starched white shirt, and red, silk tie. A power outfit, for sure. She wondered what he thought of her not-so-elaborate attire of a good pair of khakis and a fitted sweater. She’d thought their dinner would be a get-to-know-each-other-a-bit kind of thing. Obviously, he’d expected something a bit more formal. She pushed open the door and walked outside.
    “That was a quaint place. Do you go often?” Brad peered down at her with a condescending smirk plastered on his face.
    She recognized the tone. His intent was to make her feel inferior. Marinelli’s was beneath him. Well, where did the man usually eat? A five-star restaurant? She agreed with Gramps. Marinelli’s had awesome Italian food.
    “Yes. It’s probably my favorite restaurant.”
    “Really?” He wrinkled his nose. “I’m surprised you would take your future boss to such a second-rate place. I thought the meat was overcooked, the noodles pasty, and the bread had hardly any garlic taste to it at all.”
    What an arrogant, self-righteous baboon! Okay, so he didn’t like the place. But why act as if she’d purposely tried to displease her boss? Anger surged through her veins. Taking slow breaths, she remembered who dwelled within her heart. Help me turn the other cheek, Lord. She closed her eyes for the briefest of moments. God called His children to love, to tell others about Him. You never said it would be easy. Give me patience with him, Lord.
    “Hi, Kylie.” She turned at the sound of Gramps’s voice beside her in the parking lot.
    “Hello, Gramps.” She hugged the older man, then nodded toward Brad. “Gramps, allow me to introduce you to Brad Dickson. He’ll be my supervisor at Miller Enterprises.”
    “How do you do, Brad?” Gramps grabbed Brad’s hand and shook it firmly, then pulled Kylie close and patted her back. “You’ve got a good one here.”
    “I couldn’t agree more, Gramps.” Brad’s smug tone made Kylie want to punch him in the jaw. She couldn’t fathom how she would stand working with him on a day-to-day basis.
    Gramps leaned toward Kylie. “Did you see Elma’s hair this morning at church?”
    Kylie shook her head. She watched as Brad’s eyebrows lifted in humor. He cupped his chin with his finger and thumb, then smirked at her and Ryan’s grandfather.
    “The woman’s hair was pink! Silly woman can’t make up her mind.” Gramps chuckled and nudged her shoulder, knocking her back a step.
    Ryan walked up beside them. A knot formed in Kylie’s throat. She hadn’t seen him in two weeks, and she’d missed him more than she expected. Heat rushed to her cheeks. She didn’t want Ryan to think she was dating Brad. “Ryan.” She touched his