Page 26 of Storm Warning
The question caught her off guard, touching a tender spot she usually kept hidden. “Maybe teaching,” she said after a moment, throat tight. “My Lit professor… he was the first person who made me feel valued, like I was good at something.”
“That’s no small thing,” he replied, with a gentleness that made her eyes prick with unexpected tears.
They walked on, the hush between them now companionable, filled with the night sounds of the ocean and the distant murmur of the resort behind them.
After a while, she swallowed, mouth dry, eyes glued to her feet moving through sand grown cool in the evening air. “I’m not… good at this.”
“At what?”
“Talking to people. Being… normal. I always think I’m about to say the wrong thing. Unless it’s about my books.” The confession exposed something soft and unprotected, like peeling back skin.
He remained silent for a beat, and panic rose—she’d said too much, revealed too much—before he spoke softly, and a little less formally. “You’re doing fine.”
Kate risked a glance at him. His expression wasn’t amused or pitying—but relaxed, open, as if he meant it, as if he truly saw her. The knot in her belly loosened a little, clenched muscles relaxing.
“Thank you,” she murmured, the words carrying more weight than they should.
“You’re welcome.” He stared out at the water stretching before them, vast and dark and endless. “If it helps, I don’t find it effortless, either.”
Surprise lightened something in her chest. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“Most people say that,” he admitted, a rueful note in his voice. “It isn’t true.”
They kept walking, no need to fill the quiet. For once, it was enough just to be there, side by side, without expectations, their footprints trailing behind them in the sand, temporary marks that the tide would soon erase.
Chapter 11
Exposed
Bzzzz.
Kate stirred, mind hazy, trapped between story visions and daylight. The buzzing grew louder—her phone alarm. Squinting at the screen, she groaned. Almost two? She’d been that deep in the zone?
Stretching with a wince, her muscles admonished her for every hour spent hunched over her laptop. Her stomach growled in protest. Lunch. And sun. That rustic red bikini from Callie’s spree flashed to mind—flirty, fun, perfect for a late lunch at the Tiki Beach Bar.
Moments later, she stood before the mirror. The halter top flattered her shoulders, while the high-waisted bottom hugged her curves just right. She twirled once, indulging in the flash of confidence it gave her, then slipped on a gauzy coverup that whispered against her skin and fastened a delicate gold chain around her neck. Her heart thumped in anticipation as she grabbed her beach tote and stepped into the blazing sun.
The golf cart ride passed in a blur of palms and hibiscus, warm wind tangling through her hair. At the bar, ivory umbrellas bobbed in the breeze, casting dappled shadows overteak chairs and warm sand. Salt and grilled pineapple hung in the air, sweet and savory. A muted joy bloomed in her chest—this place felt like magic.
She paused at the steps, scanning for a suitable spot before making her way to a satellite bar. The stool she chose offered a clear view of the action, while still feeling tucked away. The bartender looked up as she approached.
“Welcome to paradise,” he grinned. “I’m Walter. What can I get you?”
Kate smiled. “Something cold and fruity. What’s your favorite?”
He leaned in, eyes sparkling. “Coconut fan?”
“Absolutely,” she said, nodding, taste buds already tingling.
“Peanut Colada it is. Trust me—it’s life-changing. Unless you’re allergic?”
She laughed. “No allergies. Hit me with it.”
With a wink, Walter spun away to work his magic, leaving her with a menu and a little thrill of flirtation that warmed her cheeks.
Sun on her skin, sea breeze in her hair, Kate relaxed into the rhythm of the bar. When Walter returned, he placed the frosty concoction in front of her, condensation already beading on the glass.
She took one sip and gasped at the explosion of flavors dancing on her tongue. “This is divine.”