Chapter 13 Captivated
Captivated
Yo, Nick. Zach’s voice resonated in Nick’s mind, teasing and light. A lump formed in Nick’s throat. It had been a long time since Zach had sounded so carefree. Gorgeous babe at the pool. Thought you might want to know.
Nick chuckled, his heart racing as he stood from his desk. Hell, yeah, he wanted to know. Thanks.
Cool air surrounded him, a stark contrast to the heat generated when he thought about Kate. He glanced at his wrinkled clothes and grimaced. Unacceptable.
He reached for shorts and the crisp white shirt Marguerite insisted would attract women. Wife hunting, she’d teased. To him, that meant woman hunting. He hadn’t found a woman worth spending a week with, let alone a lifetime.
The thought of Kate sent an unexpected blend of excitement and nervous energy through his veins. She was unlike any woman he’d ever met: smile bright, laughter infectious, intelligence blazing. And she didn’t act drawn to his money or position.
Exhilaration flooded him as he adjusted the shirt before the mirror. Would today be the day that changed everything? He frowned. Did he want anything to change? He loved his life.
Nick grabbed his sunglasses and headed downstairs, steps faltering when he sighted Kate through the glass.
She lounged on a chaise at the beach entrance to the pool, the deep red of her bikini popping vibrantly against the sheer white shirt fluttering around her. Head tilted back, eyes shielded by sleek sunglasses, she exuded an aura of calm and effortless beauty.
He couldn’t tear his eyes away, admiring every curve and line. He splashed into the water, shattering the stillness. A warm smile washed over her face.
“Hello, Nick. I’m happy to see you haven’t been swept away by the tsunami.” Her voice flowed like honey, smooth and inviting.
His brow quirked. “Ah, yes. The world’s worst emergency alert.”
“Hard to miss. Nothing like a full-blown panic notification while lounging poolside. Is everyone okay?”
He dropped onto the lounger beside hers, stretching his legs with a groan. “They are. Most people didn’t see it—we pulled it within five minutes. A few confused guests asked, but no one bolted for higher ground.”
Kate leaned in. “So… what happened? Was it a hack?”
Nick shook his head. “Still investigating. Someone routed a false alert through the guest app. The backend logs don’t show it being scheduled.”
“So someone forced it through manually?” Concern shadowed her features.
“Most likely. Or spoofed a system input. David’s checking code-level logs now.”
Kate nodded, unsettled. “I thought it might’ve been part of your sabotage. Seems a bit coincidental.”
Nick held her eyes for a beat too long. “Agreed. I don’t believe in coincidence.”
Kate settled back. “So, other than random tsunamis, how was your day?”
Laying back, he couldn’t help but grin. “Great. I’ve had a productive day, and the guys say they have, too. How about you? Did you get any writing done?”
His focus narrowed; his hungry gaze roamed over her frame, safely hidden behind his aviators.
“Yes. I wrote for several hours before I took off for the day. I also have some news for you on the suspect front.”
“Already?” Surprise jolted him.
Kate shifted, tablet in hand, that mischievous smile playing on her lips.
“Get comfy, and I’ll tell you all about it,” she said, waving the tablet like a magician revealing her tricks. “Would you like it alphabetically, chronologically, or by order of importance?”
Amusement bubbled, and he leaned closer. “Chronologically. Tell me everything.” The way her eyes sparkled captivated him.
Oddly, he wanted to learn about her day—the little joys and frustrations that painted her world. He’d never cared about anyone’s day before, other than his family.
“Well, first, let me say I’m loving it here,” Kate began, voice bubbling with excitement. “The suite, the atmosphere—it’s perfect. You might need a crowbar to pry me out at the end of the month.” Her playful grin radiated warmth, igniting something hopeful in him.
He chuckled. “Glad to hear it. How is your stay going? Have you been out yet?”
Mischief danced in her eyes. “I tried the breakfast buffet yesterday morning. The food was incredible. Sally was the hostess on duty, and she was excellent, as was Mai, my server.”
Nick nodded appreciatively. “What else?”
Pink stained her cheeks. “Oh, it’s a funny story. I overheard some gossip about... me.”
Intriguing. He raised a brow. “What sort of gossip?”
Her eyes twinkled. “Let’s just say it revolved around my presence here. Apparently, the staff thinks I’m important, maybe even sleeping with the boss.”
His heart surged, a wave of unexpected possessiveness washing over him. He smirked, locking his eyes on hers. “Not surprising. I mean, who wouldn’t want to?”
Kate swatted at him playfully, laughter ringing like a soft melody. “Okay, fair point.”
Her delighted smile enveloped him in warmth. The way her eyes sparkled sent a pulse of pure desire through him.
“Zach and David are both quite handsome,” she continued.
Nick grinned. “Touché! Tell me about lunch. No, first, what did you do after breakfast?”
“I came back here and wrote for hours. It was fabulous. Some days, writing a single word can be like pulling teeth. On other days, the words flow as fast as I can type. Yesterday and today were very productive.” Kate’s smile lit her golden eyes on fire.
“I made substantial progress. At this pace, I’ll be ahead of schedule. ”
“That’s wonderful! What are you working on now? And how do you usually write? In smaller blocks, or whole days? I’ve never met a professional author before.”
Nick sprawled back, soaking in the sun’s heat. His heart raced as he locked onto her eyes, desperate to absorb every word.
“My current work is a romantic suspense novel, part of a series—the final book, actually. As for how I write: I try to write on a schedule. It is a job, after all, and having money for food is kind of a priority. I try to do the Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 thing. However, my imagination doesn’t work on a schedule.
When the inspiration hits, I run with it. ”
Her eyes shimmered with passion as she spoke.
She wrinkled her nose. “You can’t force the words. If you try, you end up deleting it all the next day. I’ve learned if the words don’t flow, to walk away and do something else. When they do, I keep at it as long as I can.”
Kate giggled, eyes flashing with mirth. “If my assistant is around, she brings me food and water to keep me fueled. If she’s not, I have to set an alarm, or I’d starve to death!”
Nick nodded—some days his thoughts bounced around, while on others he fell into a focused zone, the world fading away. “That makes sense. Have you gone out for a meal yet?”
“Oh, I went over to Tiki Beach today. What a fabulous place! I loved the comfy sofas and all the teak and rattan furniture. I sat at the bar first for lunch and then lounged on a sofa for a while. I particularly enjoyed the show.” Kate’s sultry tone wrapped around him.
Nick smirked. “Since we don’t offer shows there, I assume this is your news? Is there anything the other guys should hear? Shall I call them?”
Kate paused, brow furrowing. “Maybe Zach. He’s security, right? A couple of his guards got called in, so he might be interested. Although I’m sure there must be some kind of incident reporting.”
“Yes,” he replied, “but those are never as complete as a first-hand account. Let me call Zach.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, hitting Zach’s speed dial.
Zach picked up on the first ring. “What’s up?”
“Kate has a story about an incident at Tiki Beach. Some of your security guys got involved, so I thought you’d want it firsthand.”
“Incoming.”
Nick ended the call, and Kate’s empty water bottle caught his eye. “May I get you a refill? Or something else to drink?”
He rose, stretching. “I’m going to grab a beer. We’ve got everything—wine, cocktails, whatever you prefer.”
“A glass of white wine sounds perfect.”
He nodded and selected a crisp Riesling he thought she’d enjoy. As he poured, he acknowledged a flicker of something unfamiliar—an easy contentment he hadn’t experienced in a long time, if ever. He snagged two IPAs from the fridge as Zach stepped onto the patio, handing one off.
He let himself just appreciate her as he sank back into his chair—the way sunlight highlighted the gold in her hair, the way her eyes brightened when she met his gaze.
It surprised him, how natural this felt: as if sitting here with her was where he should be.
Kate set her glass aside, straightening as Zach pulled up a chair. She looked almost eager, curiosity sparking in her eyes. He liked that about her—she wasn’t intimidated by them. If anything, she seemed energized by their attention.
“I heard the amazing Kate had an interesting day,” Zach teased, stretching out and propping his feet on Nick’s lounge chair.
Nick relaxed back, relishing the banter. “Oh? Here I thought you only cared about security news!” Kate’s gaze flicked between them, mirth dancing in her gold-flecked eyes.
“Guess I’m just doing my part to keep up. But really, I’m interested in what Kate may have found.” Unmistakable sincerity laced Zach’s voice. “You’ve got our attention now. Spill the details. And take your time. I need a break, and it’s beautiful out here.”
Kate’s laughter bubbled up, infecting the air. “So, you’d like the long version? I am a storyteller. Be warned!”
“The long version sounds good to me!” Nick shifted closer, anticipation prickling in his chest. More time with Kate meant more time to study her lithe body.
“Well, in that case, I’ll start with lunch. My salmon and avocado salad was to die for. Your chefs are sensational,” she teased, sincerity radiating.
Nick leaned back, pride surging through him. “Glad to hear it!”
Kate launched into the story, gestures animated, every expression filled with life. Her words, the vibrancy in her voice, the way she lost herself in the storytelling—it was captivating. She was captivating.
When she got to the part about the guest and the peanut allergy, his attention sharpened. “So, I’m assuming the officers will give you some kind of report? I’m curious—Walter said to take them to the MOD. What’s that, and what would have happened there?”
“Manager on Duty. From what you described, they are either thieves or con artists. Neither is tolerated, but given recent events, we’ll add some additional investigating.
” Zach answered. “The MOD would question them about their plans—trying to scam a free meal by complaining, or if it was a distraction from something else. The video is interesting. Not sure what they thought they would get. Excuse me for a second.”
Zach moved away, pulling out his phone. Kate’s eyes shot to Nick, wide with curiosity.
“He’s probably calling the security manager on duty right now for the rest of the information. Regardless, I’m sure he’ll run deep checks on those guests.” Nick answered her silent question. “You are a remarkable storyteller. That was an extremely detailed recount. Everything else was fine?”
“Yes, Walter is marvelous, and I thought that before he handled the annoying guest. Now, I think he is beyond amazing. Lisa was also superb. You have some outstanding employees here.”
Nick smiled and sank back, surprised by how much he was smiling. Genuine smiles, not the fake ones he wore so often. Something about her brought it out.
“We try. We hire people with the right temperament for guest service and train them extensively. You never know who the guest in front of you is—a mild-mannered professor splurging on the vacation of a lifetime or a corporate CEO representing thousands of room nights a year. The goal is to treat everyone as if they’re that CEO. ”
He flicked a glance at Zach—still talking. “For our staff to do that, they need to be happy. It’s our job to treat them well, so they, in turn, treat the guests well.”
Kate nodded. “You see it everywhere. Unhappy employees are lackluster at best and rude at worst, while happy ones are helpful, creating an overall atmosphere that makes customers feel at home.” She understood.
Zach returned just as Kate finished speaking, brow furrowed.
“The hospital gave the girl the all clear. No sign of any health issues. The guests are still confined in the security office. The guy’s acting squirrelly.
Mark was going to call me to discuss it.
Since I’m not supposed to be on-island, I can’t interrogate him myself.
So, I reached out to Logan. He’s on his way to handle it. ”
Zach’s jaw tightened as he crossed his arms. “I updated Logan on what’s been going on, and what we need to know from this guy.
” Zach shifted his focus to Kate, answering the unspoken question written on her face.
“Logan is the sheriff here. He’s an old buddy of mine from the military.
He’ll get answers.” Turning back to Nick, he continued, “I sent the guy’s name and ID to Ghost. He’s going to check for any connections to that LLC. ”
“Hah! I knew you were former military. Which branch, if you don’t mind my asking?” Kate sounded elated.
Zach smiled. “Army Rangers. Delta Force.”
Kate’s eyes widened comically, an appreciative grin spreading across her face. “Wow. That puts you in the best of the best category! So, heads-up: you’ll make a fantastic research reference for future books.”
Ha! Look out, Zach! Nick smirked.
The look she gave Zach was pure mischief. “And Ghost? Who—or what—is that?”
“My hacker. Or, to be more politically correct, my cyber technology consultant. It was his call sign in the military. I’m not sure I remember his real name.”
Zach’s smile grew as he talked with Kate, his usual stoicism slipping, letting warmth—and something akin to camaraderie—shine through. Nick’s heart warmed at the notion that Zach liked Kate. He was an excellent judge of character.
“Will you let me know what you find out?” Kate leaned forward. “I’m getting invested in this. I’ll die of curiosity if I don’t hear the end of the story.”
Nick burst into laughter.
“It’s not funny! I can never stop in the middle of a book!” Kate imitated a petulant teenager, crossing her arms tightly, brow furrowing as she pouted. Unfortunately for her, the twinkle in her eyes gave her away.
Nick’s amusement blurred the lines between playfulness and genuine admiration. “I think you’ll survive, Beautiful. However, we wouldn’t want to cause any health problems, so we promise to keep you in the loop if you keep feeding us information,” he purred.
Kate giggled, her eyes bright and unguarded, and Nick knew he’d never met anyone quite like her—and he wasn’t sure he ever wanted to let her go.