Page 37 of Storm Warning
“What can I do?”
“How about taking this food out? I’ll grab the fixings for the potatoes, and we’ll be ready.”
Nick took the serving bowls and potatoes out, and Kate gathered the toppings and wine glasses. They made their way to the table together, a comfortable rhythm developing between them.
As he held her chair, warmth spread across her cheeks—a simple act, yet it sent shivers down her spine. When was the last time someone had treated her with such thoughtfulness? She couldn’t remember any date holding her chair, or even a door, for her.
Each bite they shared sparked laughter, and Kate’s heart raced every time their eyes met. Conversation flowed effortlessly, jumping from favorite travel stories to the best books they’d read and the most embarrassing moments they could remember.
At one point, he leaned closer, grinning. “You’re telling me you actually climbed out a window to avoid a bad date? I thought that was just a meme.”
She laughed, warmth flooding her cheeks. “It was that or pretend to be sick. The window felt more honest.” She pointed her fork at him. “That is why you always meet at the restaurant for a first date. He had no idea where I lived.”
It was intoxicating, this blend of camaraderie and joy, making the meal not simply dinner, but an experience she never wanted to end.
With a contented sigh, Kate leaned back in her chair and placed her fork on the empty plate. The rich, juicy flavor of the steak still lingered on her tongue. The golden glow of tiki torches illuminated Nick’s face and cast dancing shadows on the wooden deck.
“The steak was fabulous. How did you learn to grill so well? It was cooked perfectly,” she said, genuine admiration lacing her voice.
Nick laughed, leaning back in his chair as he picked up his wineglass, swirling the deep red liquid with casual ease.
“Self-defense. When we first started up, we traveled a lot. Without Marguerite to feed us, we had to learn fast if we wanted a decent meal.” He shrugged as if it were no big deal.
“Luckily for us, we each gravitated toward different foods. I like grilling outside, Zach does healthier stir-fry-type dishes, and David is a whiz at Italian food. Between the three of us, we eat pretty well, wherever we are.”
Kate’s curiosity piqued, and she leaned in. “Where do youstay when you travel to your other properties? I’m sure you don’t have homes like this everywhere,” she asked, gesturing around at the magnificent estate.
Nick’s expression shifted, revealing a hint of the complexities of his life. “No, of course not, but we do have quarters everywhere. In the larger hotel-style properties, we generally have an owner’s suite. In the boutique properties, it may be a cottage on the grounds somewhere.”
He continued. “Either way, they always have a full kitchen, so we can avoid the restaurants as much as possible. We save those for business dinners when we have to entertain.” He pulled a face that made her want to reach out and ease his burdens. “If we’re too visible, we’re often interrupted and can’t get any work done, or, maybe more importantly, can’t get away from work.”
That made sense. Not only would staff want his attention, but the ladies would too. Oh, and business associates, of course.
As she met his eyes, a pang of empathy hit her. Beneath his easygoing demeanor, she could almost feel the weight he carried, and her heart ached. A longing stirred to share his world, to help him find the peace he so clearly craved. The idea of being his refuge flickered through her mind—though she knew it was only a dream.
Nick stood up, the chair scraping against the floor, and began to stack the dishes. Kate moved to help, but he raised a hand in a gentle shooing gesture, holding up the wine bottle instead. “No, you go sit over there in the swing and be comfortable. I asked you to dinner, and we ended up at your place with you cooking! The least I can do is clean up.”
Warmth spread through Kate at his words, a smile tugging at her lips as she accepted his silent invitation to refill her wineglass.
She slipped away, a smile still on her lips. The loveseat-sized swing chair waited, its khaki rope frame cradling fluffy white cushions that beckoned her in.
She curled into the swing’s embrace, the night wrapping around her like a promise she didn’t dare name.
Nick sank down beside her, the cushion dipping under his weight. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the night sounds soothing.
“This is perfect,” he said with a contented sigh.
Kate nodded. She couldn’t agree more; it had been a fairy-tale evening—like Goldilocks finding the perfect fit. The worries of the world seemed to melt away, leaving this window of warmth and intimacy.
Kate shifted to peer up at him. “Did David find anything? About the alert?”
Nick exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Some. He dug into the code logs. Turns out the alert was inserted through the admin panel—the same portal we use for real emergencies.”
Her brows rose. “So… someone on the inside? An employee?”
“That’s what we thought at first,” Nick said. “However, the access log showed a guest Wi-Fi device—spoofed to look like it came from one of our internal tablets.”
Kate sat up straighter. “So whoever sent it wasn’t just lucky. They must have known how your systems work.”