Page 30 of Storm Warning

Kate blinked, her breath catching, and looked out through the terrace doors. The ocean shimmered under a lazy sun, smooth as glass, peaceful and utterly serene. Not a cloud in sight.

“What the—” she exclaimed.

“What is it?” Callie’s voice sharpened with alarm.

Kate snapped a screenshot, her fingers fumbling slightly. “I got an emergency tsunami alert on the resort app.”

“Oh, my God. Are you serious?”

“I’m looking at the ocean right now. It’s flat calm. Trust me, if a tsunami is coming, it’s the slowest sneak attack in history.”

“Could it be a mistake?”

Kate hesitated, her pulse racing, then sent the image to Nick with a short message:

Please tell me this is a joke.

“Possibly,” she said, her voice unsteady. “But if it is, it’s a really bad one. There’ve been a few weird tech glitches around here.”

Her phone buzzed again, the vibration sending a small jolt through her. A reply from Nick:

Looking into it. Stay put. Thank you.

She read it twice, warmth flickering through her like a candle flame. “Nick’s on it.”

“Of course he is,” Callie said, back to playful. “Because you picked the hot, mysterious resort owner who also moonlights as your storm shelter.”

Kate snorted, the tension breaking. “I did not pick anyone.”

“Mmm-hmm. Sure. You just happened to fall into the arms of the only man on the island who can order a full security sweep and make you tea in the same breath.”

“I made the tea,” Kate muttered, but she was smiling now, her cheeks aching from it. “And Zach’s in charge of security.”

Callie laughed, the sound bright and infectious. “So? Progress. You’ve already established a division of labor. This is how relationships work.”

Kate groaned and flopped back on the cushion, sinking into its softness. “We haven’t even had a date!”

“Fine. Let’s talk about when you’re going to see him again. Soon.”

A small, secret smile tugged at her lips, warming her from within. “I was kind of hoping he might drop by tonight… Now, enough about me. How are you doing? How’s the new project going?” She hesitated. “We’ve been so busy with me lately, I haven’t asked.”

“Oh.” Callie let out a laugh. “It’s… good. Better than I expected. I’m not sure I love being the youngest person in every meeting, but I’m holding my own. And—” she sighed dramatically, “—I finally figured out how to use their expense report system without wanting to throw my laptop out the window.”

Kate smiled despite herself. “Progress.”

“Exactly. And—” Callie’s voice turned shy, vulnerable in a way Kate rarely heard, “—I might have gone on a date last weekend.”

Kate sat up straighter, her heart lifting. “What? You didn’t tell me?”

“I didn’t want to jinx it! But… he was nice. Really nice.”

“You deserve nice,” Kate said, genuine happiness for her friend warming her soul like sunshine. “You deserve everything.”

“So do you,” Callie shot back. “Which is why you’re going to stop spiraling and do something bold.”

“Alright,” Kate’s heart skipped a beat, anticipation thrumming through her veins. “What did you have in mind?”

“Good. Here’s what you’re going to do: grab a bottle of water, your sun lotion, and find a lounge chair by the pool where they can see you without it looking intentional. You want them to be curious. If it’s Nick who finds you, great! If not, that means he’ll be on his way before you know it.”