Page 31 of Storm Warning
Her pulse quickened at the idea of reaching out, of letting herself be seen—truly seen.
Was Callie right about her ex? About all of it?
“Okay,” she whispered. Determination pulsed through her as she straightened her posture, drafting the scene in her head. She pulled her sun lotion from the drawer and smoothed it overher skin, the scent of coconut and vanilla calming her racing thoughts, Callie’s eager voice chattering in her ear like a lifeline.
“Don’t forget to keep it subtle with your makeup,” Callie reminded her, a playful edge in her voice. “You want to look effortlessly stunning.”
Kate glanced in the mirror and made quick work of her makeup—a little shine, a touch more color, enough to enhance, not overwhelm. Callie’s encouragement buzzed in her veins like champagne, urging her onward.
“I wish you were here,” Kate said, emotion thick in her throat.
“Me too,” Callie replied, her voice tender. “But I’m only a call away.”
Kate’s throat constricted further, gratitude welling up. “Thank you.”
“Text me with updates.”
“I will,” Kate promised, the words a vow.
She ended the call and sat for a moment, the phone warm in her palm, still holding traces of her friend’s voice. Maybe she wasn’t ready to believe everything Callie said. But she wanted to.
And maybe…that was a start.
Chapter 13
Captivated
Yo,Nick.Zach’s voice resonated in Nick’s mind, teasing and light. A lump formed in Nick’s throat. It had been a long time since Zach had sounded so carefree.Gorgeous babe at the pool. Thought you might want to know.
Nick chuckled, his heart racing as he stood from his desk. Hell, yeah, he wanted to know.Thanks.
Cool air surrounded him, a stark contrast to the heat generated when he thought about Kate. He glanced at his wrinkled clothes and grimaced. Unacceptable.
He reached for shorts and the crisp white shirt Marguerite insisted would attract women. Wife hunting, she’d teased. To him, that meant woman hunting. He hadn’t found a woman worth spending a week with, let alone a lifetime.
The thought of Kate sent an unexpected blend of excitement and nervous energy through his veins. She was unlike any woman he’d ever met: smile bright, laughter infectious, intelligence blazing. And she didn’t act drawn to his money or position.
Exhilaration flooded him as he adjusted the shirt before themirror. Would today be the day that changed everything? He frowned. Did he want anything to change? He loved his life.
Nick grabbed his sunglasses and headed downstairs, steps faltering when he sighted Kate through the glass.
She lounged on a chaise at the beach entrance to the pool, the deep red of her bikini popping vibrantly against the sheer white shirt fluttering around her. Head tilted back, eyes shielded by sleek sunglasses, she exuded an aura of calm and effortless beauty.
He couldn’t tear his eyes away, admiring every curve and line. He splashed into the water, shattering the stillness. A warm smile washed over her face.
“Hello, Nick. I’m happy to see you haven’t been swept away by the tsunami.” Her voice flowed like honey, smooth and inviting.
His brow quirked. “Ah, yes. The world’s worst emergency alert.”
“Hard to miss. Nothing like a full-blown panic notification while lounging poolside. Is everyone okay?”
He dropped onto the lounger beside hers, stretching his legs with a groan. “They are. Most people didn’t see it—we pulled it within five minutes. A few confused guests asked, but no one bolted for higher ground.”
Kate leaned in. “So… what happened? Was it a hack?”
Nick shook his head. “Still investigating. Someone routed a false alert through the guest app. The backend logs don’t show it being scheduled.”
“So someone forced it through manually?” Concern shadowed her features.