Page 55 of Storm Warning
Walter didn’t flinch, though the tightness in his jaw gave him away. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t know. I heard the owners left the day after they arrived, and I haven’t seen them since. Are you certain you were to meet here?”
The woman’s mouth curved in a dismissive little smile. “Of course, I’m sure. I have his email.” She waved her phone for emphasis, the diamonds on her wrist catching the light. “Nicholas and I go back a long way. Our families have been intertwined for decades. We’re practically engaged at this point.”
She said it with a calm confidence that twisted Kate's stomach into a hard knot.
Practically engaged. The words rang in her ears like an accusation, like a door slamming shut.
Kate swallowed, her throat dry, the sweetness of the wine turning sour on her tongue.
The woman turned her head then, her gaze sweeping over Kate with cool appraisal. She paused—just long enough to make it clear she cataloged and dismissed her in the same blink—before moving on. Kate shrank inward, shoulders curling, heat crawling up her neck as ice threatened her heart. For a moment, she wondered if the blonde sensed the way her lungs tightened until she couldn’t draw a full breath.
“Who would know where he is?” the woman continued, her tone edged with entitlement. “Someone here must be competent enough to keep track of him.”
Walter cleared his throat, voice measured. “You could check with Lena at the front desk. She’s the Front OfficeManager and keeps in touch with the owners. She can pass a message for you.”
The woman exhaled dramatically, as though the entire exchange tested her patience beyond endurance. She reached into her bag, pulled out a bill, and slapped it on the bar with the same careless authority.
“Fine. I’ll talk to her. But if you see Nicholas, tell him Jessa is here and not amused by this game.”
With that, she pivoted, heels clicking across the tile, her departure as imperious as her arrival. The scent of her perfume—something expensive and cloying, like lilies left too long in a vase—lingered in her wake.
Kate released the breath she’d held for too long. Her hands trembled as she set her wineglass down, the stem slick with condensation and the sweat from her palms. She stood on shaky legs, the floor unsteady beneath her.
“Thanks for the wine, Walter. I think I’ll head out now,” she managed, though her voice sounded thin to her own ears, stretched tight like a wire about to snap.
He nodded, his eyes gentle and knowing. “Anytime. Would you like me to charge your tab to your suite?”
“Yes, please.” She tried to smile, but it felt brittle, like it would shatter if she moved too quickly.
She turned to leave with a hollow ache throbbing in her chest, spreading outward until it filled every space between her ribs. She didn’t understand what had happened—only knew that she felt smaller than she had in a very long time, like she’d been reduced to something insignificant and easily overlooked. And the tight, jealous knot winding in her belly made her wish she could pretend none of it mattered.
But it did.
Chapter 28
Undertow
Kate slipped off her flip-flops,and the cool, gritty sand squished between her toes as she stood at the water’s edge. The dawn sky melted from deep indigo to soft pastels—coral bleeding into lavender, gold threading through wisps of cloud—but the beauty of it didn’t reach her heart. The world existed behind frosted glass. Exhaustion weighed on her, a lead blanket draped across her shoulders, the result of tossing and turning all night, tangled in damp sheets, haunted by thoughts she couldn’t shake.
With her head bowed, she meandered along the shoreline, the water teasing her ankles before retreating. Her gritty eyes scanned for shells she never saw, seeing only the blur of wet sand and broken fragments. Jessa’s words echoed in her mind like a relentless tide, each repetition eroding her dreams a little more.Practically engaged.Nick had invited her here. Did he want company in his isolation?
Why didn’t Jessa know where he was? Why didn't she just call him?
The breath caught in Kate’s throat. Did it mean anything that he hadn’t mentioned it? Or was it more of a game, aperverse kind of fun? Her heart twisted. Why had he smiled at her like she was the only person in the room if he was with Jessa? Why had he flirted, his voice dipping low and intimate? Maybe she was a warm-up act, a distraction until the real show arrived. Was that why he hadn’t pushed her for more the other night? Because he was waiting for Jessa’s grand entrance?
These thoughts pulled the sand from under her feet, washing away her newfound confidence grain by grain. It all made too much sense, clicking into place with the finality of a lock. Why would a handsome, successful man like Nick choose her over someone like model-perfect Jessa? The painful realization sank in, a cold weight settling in her chest—concrete hardening around her lungs—as she struggled to breathe amidst the crashing waves of doubt, leaving only emptiness behind, a hollow carved out where hope and dreams once briefly lived.
She turned and traced her steps back, each imprint a bitter reminder, already filling with seawater and disappearing. Nick lied to her, played her. He didn’t truly want her—not like she wanted him, not with this aching, terrifying intensity. He was just looking for a distraction, a way to escape the chaos surrounding them, and she was convenient. Available. Foolish enough to believe.
Hugging herself tight, arms wrapped around her ribs to hold the fragile pieces together, her heart cracked like ice—a sharp, crystalline snap that reverberated through her entire being. A stumble made her knees buckle, the world tilting, but before she fell, muscular arms caught her, steadying her against a solid chest. Nick.
“Kate, are you okay?” His voice vibrated against her shoulder blade, tight with concern.
She jerked away as if his touch burned her, her skin prickling with the ghost of his warmth, needing space—a fragilewall between them before she shattered. She couldn’t meet his eyes, couldn’t bear to see whatever truth or lie might lurk there.
“Kate, what’s wrong?”
Finally, she summoned the courage to look up, her vision blurred at the edges. Confusion and worry warred in his expression, creasing the corners of his eyes. “What are we doing here, Nick? This doesn’t make sense.”