Page 46 of Storm Warning
Effervescent
Kate floppeddown on her balcony chaise, the sea breeze kissing her damp skin after a much-needed cold shower. Heat still seemed to radiate from somewhere deep inside her—a warmth that had nothing to do with the tropical sun. She slipped in her earbuds as she dialed Callie, her fingers tapping an anxious rhythm against the armrest. The seconds stretched as she waited, each ring amplifying the flutter in her chest.
“Hey, girl! How goes it with the eye candy?” Callie’s voice chirped in her ear.
A laugh bubbled up from Kate, releasing some of the giddy tension coiled in her stomach. “Well, you cut right to the chase. Want an update?” She sank deeper into the soft cushions, her body melting into the moment, craving a good, long chat with the one person who always understood.
“You bet! You went to the pool yesterday?”
“Oh, yeah, and it worked just like you said.” The memory rushed back vividly—the sun glinting off the water like scattered diamonds, Nick’s smile lighting up the space around him, her heart stuttering when he’d flirted. God, even remembering it made her pulsequicken.
“Nick came outside about fifteen or twenty minutes after me.” Her voice softened, almost giddy, the words tumbling out faster now. “He actually asked about my day, about my writing, before he asked about the news!”
Callie’s squeal hit Kate like a sudden burst of noise, startling her into an upright position, her hand flying to her ear. “Hey, keep it down! I need these ears!” she exclaimed, rubbing her temples as her ears rang, though she couldn’t quite suppress her grin.
“Fine, tell me from the beginning.”
With a sigh, Kate sank back into the plush cushions, letting them cradle her as she closed her eyes. The afternoon sun warmed her legs, and she could almost imagine herself back at the pool.
“Alright, so I found a lounge chair half in the water by the pool entrance. Out of nowhere, he just walked up to me.” The air itself shifted with his presence. “I said hello, and that I had some news on the suspect front if he wanted to hear it.”
The memory of his muscles flexing as he pulled up a chair, the scent of salt and something distinctly masculine accompanying him, flashed into her mind. Her mouth went dry then and now.
“He asked about my day, starting with whether I got any work done. We chatted about my writing, and he seemed genuinely interested.” Her voice hitched, emotion swelling in her throat. It was such a small thing, but Dan had never—not once—asked about her writing like it mattered. “Callie, he even called me a professional author!”
“Youarea professional author, Kate! I told you your ex is an idiot. Go on, there must be more if you’re calling!” Callie’s excitement buzzed through the phone, infectious, and Kate couldn’t keep the grin off her face. Her cheeks ached from smiling.
“Oh, a lot more!” Kate laughed, the sound bright and free. “So, I told him about lunch at Tiki Beach. God, Cal, you’d love that place! It’s right on the sand, with these cool tiki hut bars and comfy sofas. Did I tell you that yesterday?” And she was rambling…
“Anyway, I mentioned that’s where I witnessed a heated argument. He asked if the others should hear this. I figured Zach should, since he’s security. He called Zach, and while we waited, he got me a glass of wine.”
Just thinking about that moment—Nick handing her the cool glass, his fingers brushing hers, watching her with his magnetic green eyes—made her stomach flip.
“Once Zach arrived, I went over the details about how I heard some guests yelling at a server, and when I mentioned security getting involved, Zach made some quick calls and rushed off to handle it. That left me alone with Nick again.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, as if disclosing a state secret. “That’s when he surprised me by asking me to dinner!”
“Ooh, perfect! Oh, wait, how does that work? Aren’t they in hiding?” Callie asked, curiosity alive in her voice.
“Yes, we decided on steaks in my suite. At least there, his brothers wouldn’t be around to tease him. Although he told me later, they heckled him at the grill!” She could still see the sheepish smile he’d worn when he admitted that, the way it had made him seem so human despite everything. “God, Callie, dinner was amazing. We ate on the pergola—it was so romantic, with tiki torches and everything.”
The memory washed over her in waves. The golden light flickering across his features. The way the ocean breeze had carried his voice, low and warm. How her whole body came alive, every nerve ending attuned to his proximity.
“We talked about everything under the sun for hours. He’s just so incredible.” The words were inadequate for how he’dleaned in when she spoke, like every word mattered. For the easy flow of conversation, the laughter, the moments of comfortable silence where their eyes had held just a beat too long.
“And then he did the dishes! He said that since he invited me to dinner and I did most of the cooking, it was only fair he cleaned up. Dan wouldn’t touch a dirty dish if his life depended on it!” Bitterness threatened to creep in, but she pushed it away. Dan didn’t matter anymore. This—Nick—this mattered.
“OMG! A billionaire did your dishes? That's amazing! Keep going; tell me it gets better!” Callie’s excitement crackled through the line.
“Oh, it does. He kissed me.” Her voice turned dreamy, her eyes fluttering closed as the sensation flooded back. “And do I mean, kissed me! God, that man can kiss!”
The memory hit her full force—his hands cupping her face, gentle but sure. The taste of wine on his lips. The way her bones liquified, forcing her to grip his shoulders for support. The heat that ignited low in her belly and spread through her entire body like wildfire. Just remembering it sent a fresh wave of warmth rushing through her, making her flush until she waved a hand in front of her face, trying to cool down. Her breath came a little faster.
“You’re babbling, so it must have been awesome. Please tell me you didn’t stop there!”
“Well, kind of. We made out for a bit, and things got a little handsy, but it didn’t go beyond that.” Her body thrummed with residual want even now, the weight of his hands on her thighs, the way his thumb traced under her hem, making her shiver. “You know me; I’m not the type to sleep with someone on a first date. I think he picked up on that vibe too, because he didn’t push.”
A smile crept over her face as her body hummed withremembered pleasure and unfulfilled desire. Honestly, if he had pushed? She didn't know what her answer would have been. The thought both thrilled and terrified her. She’d never been so hot and bothered before, never wanted someone with this kind of intensity that made rational thought seem optional.
Callie’s laughter bubbled through the phone. “I told you Dan-X was a loser! Is there more?”