Page 57 of Storm Warning
Zach studied him, his gaze sharp, homing in on the storm brewing inside. “Did you dump Kate, or did she dump you?”
Nick raked a hand through his hair, blowing out a breath. “I guess it’s fair to say she dumped me.” The admission came out like a lead balloon, heavy and sinking. The words tasted bitter on his tongue.
“Oh, no!” Marguerite’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. “Why?”
A bitter laugh tried to escape, but he swallowed it down. “I’m not entirely sure.” He shrugged, feigning indifference, though inside his heart was shattering into a thousand pieces. “First, she said something about how we didn’t fit together, that we’re from different worlds. Then she started babbling about me inviting some Jessa woman here and playing her.”
Confusion swirled in his mind, a tangled mess of feelings he couldn’t quite unravel. He didn’t hide his bewilderment; they could see right through him. They already knew how much he cared for Kate, and that made it sting more.
Did you pick up any thoughts from her?
No, but I didn’t try. It wouldn’t be right, especially since she doesn’t know I can do this. However, I haven’t picked up anything from her at all. She might have a natural shield.
Zach nodded in response.
Nick! Where are you?David’s voice broke into his mind, sharp with urgency.
The kitchen.
A minute later, David rushed in, his expression urgent, chest rising and falling as though he’d sprinted across the house. “Nick, you’ve got a problem. A blonde bombshell type of problem.”
Nick frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Lena called. You’ve got a mess on your hands. Last night, a woman named Jessa tracked down Lena, demanding to know where you were. She claimed to be your fiancée and said you invited her down, but no one knew where to find you. Lena told her you weren’t at the resort—which is true, by the way—but she would pass along a message. Then Walter came in and said she’d been at the bar earlier, repeating the same thing to him, pissed no one would tell her your whereabouts. He was the one who sent her to Lena.”
As David’s story poured out, dread settled in Nick’s stomach like a stone dropping into dark water, even as understanding dawned.
David took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “Kate was sitting at the bar when this went down. She heard everything. Walter said Kate looked upset when she left. Sorry, Nick. I missed Lena’s call last night—I turned my ringer off to work on a project.”
“Not your fault.” Nick ran his hand through his hair, frustration mingling with confusion. He slumped onto a stool, all his anger at Kate draining away like water through a sieve.
“This makes a little more sense now.” He glanced at David. “I just saw Kate on the beach, and she dumped me, saying something about us being from different worlds and I was playing her. Now I understand why.”
He rubbed his hands over his face, the rough scratch of stubble against his palms grounding him for a moment. “Shit. What do I do now? And who the fuck is Jessa? The only one I know with a similar name is Jessica, the model I went to the gala with, and I’m sure as shit not engaged to her!”
He paused. “That must be her. She’s often described as a blonde bombshell. But why the fuck would she claim to be my fiancée, or that I invited her here? And how do I find out when I can’t leave the house?” Nick jumped up and started pacing back and forth, his footsteps echoing against the tile.
David’s head snapped up. “Wait a minute. Email. Walter said she got an email inviting her down.”
“Yeah, so?”
David grabbed his tablet and powered it up, the screen casting a blue glow across his face. “Let me hack her email. Give me a minute.” He glanced at Marguerite before he sent his fingers flying over the keyboard with an urgency that matched the pounding of Nick’s heart. “Bingo! Jessica Wynn checked in yesterday afternoon. Her email is on the reservation, so this should be quick.”
Nick stepped closer, peering at the screen over David’s shoulder. It bothered David when someone hovered, but he had to see for himself. His life was unraveling, and he didn’t want to miss a single detail.
The screen flashed a blur of colors, and tension thickened the air as David tapped away randomly for Marguerite’s benefit as he poured his energy into the device, bypassing the keyboard. A wave of gratitude washed over Nick. David was pushing himself without being asked—would be drainedafterward—because Nick needed him. God, he loved his brothers.
The flashing stopped, and an email popped up on the screen. Nick leaned in, his heart racing, pulse hammering in his ears, and read it aloud for Zach to hear too.
“Jessica, I was so pleased to attend the gala with you last month. I never gave any credence to the hopes of our parents, but after spending that evening with you, it has been on my mind. I would like to spend more time with you and get to know you better. Please come join me at Ivory Sands in Florida for a few days. I would love to have your company. Nicholas.”
Nick’s stomach dropped, each word like a punch to the gut. The invitation threatened everything he had hoped for. He clenched his fists, knuckles whitening as his temper rose.
He straightened up. “Obviously, I didn’t send that. It doesn’t even sound like me.” He sighed, heavy with exhaustion. “And equally obvious, Jessica was used. She did receive an email she thought came from me. Although the engaged crap is all on her. Shit. How do I handle this? I’m not even here!”
Zach spoke up for the first time since David had arrived, his voice resolute, cutting through Nick’s swirling thoughts. “You let David and me handle it. This is a security matter. Someone spoofed your email, so David was alerted.”
David nodded, focus sharpening. “Yes, I’ll track it down and find out where this email came from. Given the timing, it’s very likely related to the LLC issue.”