Page 21 of Storm Warning
She shut her eyes, pressing her hand to the center of her chest where anxiety coiled tight. If she finished this manuscript on time and the publisher accepted it, maybe she’d prove—to herself more than anyone—her writing mattered.Shemattered.
Callie’s voice echoed in her memory, bright and reassuring from their quick call that morning.‘Your tour is done, Kate. I know you hate publicity, but you did it. All the events went beautifully; the sales were strong. And yes—the deadline is still the same, end of the month. You only need to do half your normal word count to finish on time. You’ve got this.’
She’d thanked Callie, but the relief hadn’t stuck. Even a successful tour didn’t allay the worry her next book might be the one that failed. That people would realize she didn’t deserve any of this. That she was an imposter.
Kate wished she could have stayed on the call longer, let Callie’s confidence bolster her a little more, told her about meeting Nick, but Callie had been rushing off—something about coordinating a publicity shoot and wrangling an obstinate photographer.
Kate rubbed her palm over her sternum, trying to ease the tightness there. When Nick asked her—so calmly—to keep her eyes open, to pass along anything suspicious she spotted, her heart had stuttered. It had seemed… thrilling, adventurous.
But wasn’t it spying? Taking something she relied on—her instinct to observe, to read between the lines—and weaponizing it? Against people who, in most cases, were innocents going about their day?
Of course, the innocent would be cleared. The goal was to identify the guilty party. Or parties.
She shifted her laptop aside and drew her knees up, laying her cheek against the sun-warmed railing. She was flattered Nick thought she could help. Like she mattered here, in this luxurious mansion that was her temporary home. Another partof her felt… adrift. Like she was trading the fragile foundation of her confidence for the comfort of being wanted by a man whose quiet certainty had become far too interesting.
You don’t owe them this. She came here to rest and to write. Not to slip into other people’s shadows, collecting scraps of information.
She also couldn’t deny she already felt involved—like she was somehow integral to whatever was happening. The sabotage, the tension humming under the resort’s glossy surface.
There was no question the money side would be helpful. She’d saved for years for this trip but could still barely afford it. Deanna bullying her publisher into paying half the room had been a godsend.
Her gaze slid back to the laptop. She had a chapter to finish, a deadline that wouldn’t forgive her distractions. Still—her mind drifted, cataloging every offhand remark, every odd look exchanged. Maybe it was the writer in her. Maybe it was something she wouldn’t be able to turn off, no matter how hard she tried.
Kate exhaled shakily and rested her hand on the keyboard. She would do both. She would finish this story, hold on to her purpose, her integrity. If she happened to see things helpful to Nick and his brothers, well… she’d decide then what to do.
One thing was certain: she would no longer pretend she was only a bystander. Here, in the middle of paradise, she was already part of the story.
She closed the laptop with a click, the sibilation of the waves rushing in to fill the space her thoughts left behind. She stood and stretched, the evening air cool against her flushed skin, and decided she needed something simple—a slight act of care for herself.
In the kitchen, she sliced a piece of sharp white cheese and laid out a handful of crackers while brewing a pot of her newfavorite white tea, her movements unhurried. The last of the sun spilled golden across the counter, softening the edges of her doubt. She hesitated, then added an extra cup to the tray.
She couldn’t control the danger shadowing the resort, or the quiet guilt of being asked to spy, but she could at least choose this: a plate in her hands, a sunset waiting beyond the glass doors, and the possibility—just for tonight—of peace.
She carried her tray outside, settled into a double chaise nestled off the end of the pool, and let the sunset remind her endings could be beautiful, too.
The anticipation of the evening’s performance painted her mood in warmer colors.
The horizon transformed before her into a breathtaking tapestry of fiery orange, rich crimson, and deep indigo. The sunset unfolded like a work of art, each hue flowing into the next with effortless grace. A warm breeze brushed against her skin, carrying the sweet scent of blooming jasmine mingled with the salt-tinged earthiness of the approaching night. As the colors deepened, a sense of tranquility washed over her, the world around her basking in the luminous glow.
“Sunsets here are spectacular, aren’t they?”
A masculine voice broke her reverie. Her heart jolted as she turned to find Nick standing there, his silhouette softened by the fading light. He was pale with dark circles shadowing his eyes, his collar askew, while the breeze ruffled his dark hair.
“They absolutely are,” she murmured, smiling despite the flutter in her chest. “Did you catch it?”
“Not all of it.” He stepped closer, and she caught the faint scent of coffee. “We caught some on the way back from the airport. Mind if I join you?”
“Please,” she said, patting the spot beside her, her fingers brushing the warm cushion. “I was hoping someone would come keep me company.”
Nick sank down with a soft sigh, stretching his long legs out. Up close, the faint shadows beneath his eyes showed darker than this morning, and tension bracketed his mouth: little signs he’d been burning the candle at both ends.
“Have you eaten?” she asked, her concern rising. “I made some tea… and there’s a little cheese.”
“Tea sounds perfect.” He smiled, although it didn’t quite reach his weary eyes. “We grabbed some vending machine sandwiches at the airport.”
“Ah, gourmet cuisine!” She poured him a cup, admitting to herself this is what she’d hoped for when she’d included the extra cup. Their fingers grazed for a heartbeat as he took the cup from her. “You need to take better care of yourself. This place seems determined to run you into the ground.”
He huffed a tired laugh. “That’s the truth. Though… I wouldn’t trade it. Of all our properties, this one is home.”