Chapter 15 #2
“Luckily for us, we each gravitated toward different foods. I like grilling outside, Zach does healthier stir-fry-type dishes, and David is a whiz at Italian food. Between the three of us, we eat pretty well, wherever we are.”
Kate’s curiosity piqued, and she leaned in. “Where do you stay when you travel to your other properties? I’m sure you don’t have homes like this everywhere,” she asked, gesturing around at the magnificent estate.
Nick’s expression shifted, revealing a hint of the complexities of his life. “No, of course not, but we do have quarters everywhere. In the larger hotel-style properties, we generally have an owner’s suite. In the boutique properties, it may be a cottage on the grounds somewhere.”
He continued. “Either way, they always have a full kitchen, so we can avoid the restaurants as much as possible. We save those for business dinners when we have to entertain.” He pulled a face that made her want to reach out and ease his burdens.
“If we’re too visible, we’re often interrupted and can’t get any work done, or, maybe more importantly, can’t get away from work. ”
That made sense. Not only would staff want his attention, but the ladies would too. Oh, and business associates, of course.
As she met his eyes, a pang of empathy hit her.
Beneath his easygoing demeanor, she could almost feel the weight he carried, and her heart ached.
A longing stirred to share his world, to help him find the peace he so clearly craved.
The idea of being his refuge flickered through her mind—though she knew it was only a dream.
Nick stood up, the chair scraping against the floor, and began to stack the dishes.
Kate moved to help, but he raised a hand in a gentle shooing gesture, holding up the wine bottle instead.
“No, you go sit over there in the swing and be comfortable. I asked you to dinner, and we ended up at your place with you cooking! The least I can do is clean up.”
Warmth spread through Kate at his words, a smile tugging at her lips as she accepted his silent invitation to refill her wineglass.
She slipped away, a smile still on her lips. The loveseat-sized swing chair waited, its khaki rope frame cradling fluffy white cushions that beckoned her in.
She curled into the swing’s embrace, the night wrapping around her like a promise she didn’t dare name.
Nick sank down beside her, the cushion dipping under his weight. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the night sounds soothing.
“This is perfect,” he said with a contented sigh.
Kate nodded. She couldn’t agree more; it had been a fairy-tale evening—like Goldilocks finding the perfect fit. The worries of the world seemed to melt away, leaving this window of warmth and intimacy.
Kate shifted to peer up at him. “Did David find anything? About the alert?”
Nick exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Some. He dug into the code logs. Turns out the alert was inserted through the admin panel—the same portal we use for real emergencies.”
Her brows rose. “So… someone on the inside? An employee?”
“That’s what we thought at first,” Nick said. “However, the access log showed a guest Wi-Fi device—spoofed to look like it came from one of our internal tablets.”
Kate sat up straighter. “So whoever sent it wasn’t just lucky. They must have known how your systems work.”
Nick nodded. “Exactly. And they used a login tied to an inactive staff account. One that should’ve been archived months ago.”
Kate’s eyes widened. “That sounds deliberate.”
“It is,” he said. “It wasn’t some bored teenager with a keyboard. This was someone trying to make us appear incompetent. Or dangerous.”
She reached over and touched his hand, a silent gesture of support. “And they picked the worst kind of alert to do it.”
Nick looked at her, something dark flickering in his eyes. “We’re tightening everything. David’s already pushed a patch. Whoever did this… they knew how to exploit the cracks.”
Kate laced her fingers through his. “You will find them. And when you do… I hope I get to write about it.”
Nick smiled and relaxed, as she’d hoped, before settling an arm around her shoulders, tucking her into his side.
After a few minutes of contented silence, Kate stirred. “Two questions. First, did your brothers tease you while you were grilling the steaks like you expected, and second, why do you refer to them as your brothers? Are you really related?”
She hesitated, a knot forming in her stomach as she realized her curiosity might be too intrusive.
“Oh, you don’t have to answer if it’s too personal.
I wasn’t thinking! It’s just that you have different last names and don’t resemble each other at all, yet you keep calling them your brothers. ” God, she was rambling!
Nick smiled down at her, his expression warm and reassuring, easing her anxiety.
“Shush, it’s okay. You’re fine. Yes, they harassed me.
” He glanced toward the outdoor kitchen with exasperation.
“They sat at the bar and heckled me every time I stepped outside. Why do you think I came back so quickly?”
He flashed a playful grin that made her heart stutter. “As for the brothers‘ part, well, that’s a bit of a long story. Are you up for it?” His gaze held hers, inviting and earnest.
Kate twisted and peered up at him from her spot snuggled into his side. A spark of excitement flared in her chest—he was opening up, and she didn’t want to miss a moment.
“Author, remember? I will never turn down a story, and definitely not one important to you. Tell me,” she urged, settling deeper against him, her heart thudding with anticipation.