Page 34 of Storm Warning
“We try. We hire people with the right temperament for guest service and train them extensively. You never know who the guest in front of you is—a mild-mannered professor splurging on the vacation of a lifetime or a corporate CEO representing thousands of room nights a year. The goal is to treat everyone as if they’re that CEO.”
He flicked a glance at Zach—still talking. “For our staff to do that, they need to be happy. It’s our job to treat them well, so they, in turn, treat the guests well.”
Kate nodded. “You see it everywhere. Unhappy employees are lackluster at best and rude at worst, while happy ones are helpful, creating an overall atmosphere that makes customers feel at home.” She understood.
Zach returned just as Kate finished speaking, brow furrowed. “The hospital gave the girl the all clear. No sign of any health issues. The guests are still confined in the security office. The guy’s acting squirrelly. Mark was going to call me to discuss it. Since I’m not supposed to be on-island, I can’t interrogate him myself. So, I reached out to Logan. He’s on his way to handle it.”
Zach’s jaw tightened as he crossed his arms. “I updated Logan on what’s been going on, and what we need to know from this guy.” Zach shifted his focus to Kate, answering the unspoken question written on her face. “Logan is the sheriff here. He’s an old buddy of mine from the military. He’ll get answers.” Turning back to Nick, he continued, “I sent the guy’s name and ID to Ghost. He’s going to check for any connections to that LLC.”
“Hah! I knew you were former military. Which branch, if you don’t mind my asking?” Kate sounded elated.
Zach smiled. “Army Rangers. Delta Force.”
Kate’s eyes widened comically, an appreciative grin spreading across her face. “Wow. That puts you in the best of the best category! So, heads-up: you’ll make a fantastic research reference for future books.”
Ha! Look out, Zach!Nick smirked.
The look she gave Zach was pure mischief. “And Ghost? Who—or what—is that?”
“My hacker. Or, to be more politically correct, my cyber technology consultant. It was his call sign in the military. I’m not sure I remember his real name.”
Zach’s smile grew as he talked with Kate, his usual stoicism slipping, letting warmth—and something akin to camaraderie—shine through. Nick’s heart warmed at the notion that Zach liked Kate. He was an excellent judge of character.
“Will you let me know what you find out?” Kate leaned forward. “I’m getting invested in this. I’ll die of curiosity if I don’t hear the end of the story.”
Nick burst into laughter.
“It’s not funny! I can never stop in the middle of a book!” Kate imitated a petulant teenager, crossing her arms tightly, brow furrowing as she pouted. Unfortunately for her, the twinkle in her eyes gave her away.
Nick’s amusement blurred the lines between playfulness and genuine admiration. “I think you’ll survive, Beautiful. However, we wouldn’t want to cause any health problems, so we promise to keep you in the loop if you keep feeding us information,” he purred.
Kate giggled, her eyes bright and unguarded, and Nick knew he’d never met anyone quite like her—and he wasn’t sure he ever wanted to let her go.
Chapter 14
Butterflies
“Deal.I’m having way too much fun.” A flush crept up Kate’s cheeks, accompanied by a surge of both excitement and uncertainty. Her skin prickled with awareness, heat blooming across her face.
Did he just call her beautiful? She had felt his gaze lingering on her, sending a tingle down her spine that started at the base of her neck and cascaded like champagne bubbles all the way to her fingertips, but doubt gnawed at her—sharp-toothed and persistent—was it genuine admiration or simply the typical male appreciating a woman in front of him?
“So, what’s next? We just wait for your sheriff and Ghost to get back to you?” She glanced between Zach and Nick, her fingers twisting together. She hated waiting—it made her antsy, like her skin was too tight for her bones.
“Yes, that’s it. Neither one should take long,” Zach’s deep, gravelly voice resonated in her bones. His presence evoked a sense of security, like standing in the shadow of an ancient oak during a storm.
“I’m going to head back in and call Logan—give him a bit more info on what’s happening.” With a lazy salute to Nick anda warm smile to Kate that crinkled the corners of his eyes, he strode back inside, his boots making a solid, reassuring sound against the stone, leaving her alone with Nick.
“Such an exciting life you lead!” The words tumbled out, lighthearted, but laced with a need to make him smile—she loved seeing the genuine smile he hid behind the practiced facade he wore, the way it transformed his entire face and made something in her tighten with pleasure. “Corporate espionage, spies. You know, I could write a bestseller from this.”
Nick chuckled, the sound a balm to her anxious heart, warm and rich like honey drizzled over toast.Yes! Her spirit soared, light as a feather caught in an updraft.
“Don’t forget to change the names to protect the innocent. And the rest of us, too.” His smirk carried a playful edge, but shadows flickered in his eyes—dark and quick as a passing cloud—a hint of seriousness infringing on their banter. It tugged at her heart, weaving a thread of concern through the levity of the moment.
“What’s wrong? You seem a little off.” Kate couldn’t keep the sliver of unease from her voice, which came out softer than intended, almost tender.
A wisp of surprise crossed Nick’s face, his eyebrows lifting, before he offered her a sexy smile, the kind that lit up his emerald eyes like sunlight through sea glass and set off a swarm of butterflies, their wings beating frantically against her ribs.
“You are indeed observant. Nothing is wrong, per se. I’m just trying to figure out how to ask you to dinner while we’re still hiding here from the staff.”