The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks Read Free Book Online Page A

jealous."
    "Jealous?"
    She shrugged. "You'd have to live with him to understand."
    Richard raised an eyebrow, but he let the comment pass.
    "So what are you doing here?" she asked.
    "I thought I'd see how you were doing."
    "I'm fine, but I'm kind of busy right now. I've been swamped all morning. Why aren't you at work?"
    "I am. Kind of, anyway. Being a consultant gives me a bit of freedom, and I decided to pop into town."
    "Just to see me?"
    "I couldn't think of anything I'd rather do."
    She smiled. "I had a good time on Saturday night," she offered.
    "So did I." Richard's eyes darted from Mabel to Andrea, and though they both appeared to be occupied with other things, he knew they were listening. "Do you think you could take a quick break so we can talk outside? I called earlier, but you weren't in."
    "I'd love to, but I've got someone in the back."
    "It won't take long."
    Julie hesitated, glancing toward the clock.
    "I promise," Richard added. "I know you're working."
    A quick estimate said she had maybe a few minutes.
    "I guess that's okay," she said, "but it can't be long. Otherwise I'll have to spend the rest of the day trying to fix the color and you're going to find yourself in the doghouse. Give me a second to check on her, though, okay?"
    "Sure."
    Julie went to see her customer again. The woman was having highlights put in, and her head was covered in a perforated plastic cap. Assorted strands of hair, sticking through the holes in the cap, were coated in purple slime. Julie checked the color, turned the dryer on low, buying an extra couple of minutes, and went out front again.
    "All right," she said, walking toward the door, "I'm ready."
    Richard followed her outside. The door swung shut behind them, the bell jingling again.
    "So what did you want to talk about?"
    Richard shrugged. "Nothing important, really. I just wanted to have you all to myself for a minute."
    "You're kidding."
    "Not at all."
    "But why?"
    "Gee," he said, playing innocent, "I'm not really sure."
    "I found your card," she said. "You didn't have to do that."
    "I know I didn't. But I wanted to."
    "Is that why you called the salon this morning? To see if I got it?"
    "No. I just wanted to hear your voice. Good memories, you know?"
    "Already?"
    "I was charmed."
    Julie looked up at him, thinking, Flattery is such a nice way to start the day. After a moment, Richard began to tug at his watchband.
    "But actually, besides wanting to see you, there is another reason I came by."
    "Oh, I get it. Now that I'm all buttered up, the truth comes out, huh?"
    He laughed. "Sort of. The truth is I wanted to see if you'd like to go out again this Saturday."
    Saturday, Julie remembered with a pang, was supposed to be dinner at Emma's with Henry and Mike.
    "I'd love to, but I can't. A couple of friends invited me over to their house. Can we go on Friday instead? Or maybe sometime during the week?"
    Richard shook his head. "I wish I could, but I'm going to Cleveland this evening and I won't be back until Saturday. And I just found out today that I might be out of town again the following weekend. It's not set in stone, but odds are I'll have to go." He paused. "Are you sure you can't make it?"
    "I really can't," she said, playing out the words, wishing she didn't have to say them. "They're good friends. I can't blow them off at the last minute."
    For an instant, an unreadable expression crossed Richard's face, but just as quickly as it had come, it was gone. "Okay," he said.
    "I'm sorry," she said, hoping he knew she meant it.
    "Don't worry about it." He seemed to look into the distance before focusing on Julie again. "Look, these things happen. It's no big deal. But you won't mind if I give you a call in a couple of weeks? When I get back, I mean? Maybe we could arrange something then."
    A couple of weeks?
    "Well, hold on," Julie said. "You could always come to the dinner with me. I'm sure my friends wouldn't mind."
    Richard shook his head. "No. They're your friends, and