Page 98 of Storm Warning
Grinning, she padded down the hall to the bathroom for a quick shower, the hardwood floor cool beneath her bare feet. She needed to wash the remnants of fog from her mind, to feel clean and human again.
When she finished, steam billowed around her in a protective cloud as she wrapped a towel around herself.Water droplets traced paths down her shoulders, raising goosebumps in their wake. She headed for Nick’s closet to find something to wear. There must be something in there she could borrow.
She opened the door and stared dumbfounded, her jaw actually dropping. All her clothes hung inside! Her favorite jeans hung next to her sundresses, her shoes lined up on shelves, even her jewelry box sat on the built-in dresser. She peered around, turning in a slow circle. None of Nick’s? There must be another closet. Her heart swelled with love, pressing against her ribs until she could barely breathe. He moved all her stuff over while she slept, transferring her entire life into his space without waking her.
Was that caring or creepy? She giggled, almost giddy. The answer came immediately—caring. Definitely caring. This was Nick declaring she belonged here, with him, permanently.
She dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, the soft cotton familiar and comforting against her skin, before padding out of the bedroom. Kate followed the sound of voices and laughter to the living room, the male camaraderie drawing her forward like a beacon, where she found the brothers engrossed in an animated conversation, their laughter warm and inviting. The sound wrapped around her like a hug.
As Kate entered the room, the conversation tapered off, and the men turned to greet her with smiles. Nick’s eyes found hers immediately, green and bright with concern and love, scanning her face as if checking for any sign of distress.
“Good morning,” Nick greeted, his voice soft and full of love, washing over her like honey. “I see you found your closet. How are you feeling?”
Kate sank down onto the couch beside him, the leather warm from where sunlight streamed through the windows, reveling in the warmth of his presence. Just being near him made the tension in her shoulders ease. “Better. Not great, butI’ll get there. I had a few nightmares last night, but as soon as I felt you next to me, they disappeared.”
She remembered waking with a gasp, Nick’s arms tightening around her, his voice murmuring reassurances in the darkness. “And yes, I found my clothes! I can’t believe you moved everything over while I was sleeping!”
“Of course I did. I’m not giving you the opportunity to change your mind.” His arm slid around her shoulders, anchoring her to his side.
She playfully smacked Nick on the shoulder, squeezing the solid muscle beneath his shirt, before turning to his brothers. “I want to thank you two again, Zach and David. For everything you did for me, for finding me, rescuing me. You’re both incredible.” Emotion thickened her voice, gratitude swelling in her chest until it ached.
“Not as incredible as you,” David quipped with a wink. “Seriously though, we were just talking about your book. It was great.”
Kate blinked, surprised and touched by the sincerity in his voice. Warmth spread through her. “You what? You read one of my books? Which one?”
“Storm Watch,” Zach replied. The first in her current series. “Callie sent it to Nick a few days ago to read. He shared it. I’m not much of a reader, but I enjoyed it. Your action plot wasn’t half bad.”
Pride flickered through her, followed by affection for these men who’d taken the time to read her work. He studied her face for a moment before continuing, his tone shifting to something more careful. “Don’t worry about the nightmares. That’s normal. Your brain is trying to piece together the fragments of memory. The fear attached will fade, and the nightmares will stop.”
Zach’s expression shifted, a trace of something grimmerbeneath his calm, shadows passing behind his eyes. “Maybe knowledge will help. While you were resting, we questioned the men who took you.”
Kate’s breath caught, her lungs seizing. The room swayed, and she felt Nick’s hand tighten on her shoulder. “And?”
“They’re professionals. Ex-military. Someone hired them through a shell company—the LLC—no names, no faces. Their directive was to cause trouble at the resort. They’re a kidnap team—that’s their specialty.”
Her fingers curled around Nick’s, seeking his warmth, his steadiness. His palm was rough with calluses, solid and real. “Why me?”
“They targeted you because Victoria did. That was reason enough for them. They planned on holding you until they received further orders. The good news is whoever hired them didn’t know you were taken or even selected. They hadn’t checked in yet.”
Relief trickled through her veins like cool water, loosening the knot in her stomach.
He met her eyes, his gaze direct and honest. “Ninja linked the payments made to these guys and the maintenance guy to the LLC. With the allergy guy, all the payments out of the LLC are accounted for now.”
Zach sighed and kneaded the back of his neck, the gesture betraying his own tension. “Whatever this is about, it isn’t just random. Someone wants to hurt the resort and/or us. But it’s over for now, Kate. We picked up their full team, and it doesn’t appear anyone else was aware of your involvement. You’re safe.”
Kate drew a steadying breath, pulling air deep into her lungs, slowing her racing heart. The answers weren’t complete, but they were enough for today. She wouldn’t let fear steal any more of her life. That darkness had already taken too much.
Kate ducked her head, shy. “Thank you, Zach. That’s good to know. And thank you for reading my book. It means a lot.” More than they could know—her writing was a piece of her soul laid bare.
“Just think, Kate. Now you have Nick to help you with those sexy scenes. You know, research.” David waggled his brows at her until a pillow hit him in the face—Zach had moved so fast she didn't process the motion, just a blur followed by the softthwapof fabric meeting face. “Hey, what was that for?”
Nick laughed, the vibration rumbling through his chest where she leaned against him. “Thanks, Zach. Your aim and timing are perfect, as always.”
Kate’s eyes slid to Nick, a profound depth of love and gratitude welling up inside her, rising like a tide that threatened to overflow. Her throat tightened with emotion. “And speaking of perfection... I read your note. It was perfect.”
Nick’s smile was soft, his green eyes full of tenderness, the gold flecks in them catching the light, as he pulled her onto his lap. His arms came around her, solid and secure, and she melted into him, breathing in his scent—clean soap and something uniquely Nick. “I meant every word. You are so brave, Kate. So strong. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I love you, now and forever.”
Kate reached for his hand, entwining their fingers together, marveling at how perfectly they fit. “You saved me,” she whispered, her voice thick. “In every possible way. I was so afraid of opening myself up to love again, of that vulnerability. But you showed me what true love looks like. What it feels like to be cherished, accepted, supported.” Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but they were happy tears, cleansing.