Chapter 41
Still Waters
Kate stepped into the Still Waters Spa, and the scent of eucalyptus and lavender enveloped her.
The dim lighting and soft instrumental music immediately worked their magic on her frayed nerves, soothing her soul.
She needed this—time to relax and unwind, to let her body and mind recover from the emotional roller coaster she’d been on.
She approached the reception desk, where a smiling attendant greeted her.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Danvers. We’ve been expecting you. Callie booked the signature four-hour mini-day package for you.”
She blinked. “Callie did what?”
The attendant smiled broader. “She said you needed to relax and rejuvenate, so she upgraded your appointment. Your first treatment is a 90-minute deep tissue massage with our top therapist, Elena. Then you’ll have a calming facial, some time in our sauna, and lastly an invigorating body scrub.”
A lump formed in Kate's throat at her friend’s thoughtfulness. “That sounds fabulous. Thank you. Callie is the best.”
The attendant chuckled. “I would have to agree. Now, all our treatments include aromatherapy, so since your friend mentioned relaxing and rejuvenating, may I suggest a tract for that? Start with a calming blend of lavender and chamomile for your massage and facial, move to frankincense and ylang-ylang for the sauna, and finish with eucalyptus during your scrub. How does that sound?” The attendant looked at Kate warmly, waiting for her input.
Kate grinned. “Amazing. Lead the way!”
When she exited the dressing room, wrapped in a snuggly spa robe, the attendant led her to her treatment room.
The tension in her shoulders lightened as soon as she lay down on the warm, comfortable table, lavender and chamomile perfuming the air. Elena’s skilled hands worked out the kinks and knots in her muscles, and Kate drifted into a state of deep relaxation.
The facial that followed soothed her even more. The cool cucumber slices placed over her eyes blocked out the world and its worries. She barely stirred as the esthetician applied various creams and serums to her skin, her mind blissfully quiet for the first time in ages.
More at peace than she had been in weeks, Kate made her way to the sauna. The heat enveloped her like a warm embrace, and she settled onto the wooden bench, closing her eyes and allowing the steam to work its magic.
However, as the minutes ticked by, the heat became oppressive rather than soothing, hotter than it should have been. Kate’s heart began thumping, and a wave of dizziness washed over her. She tried to stand up, but her legs wobbled like jelly.
Is it getting hotter?
She stumbled to the door and checked the thermometer there: over two hundred, in the red zone.
She pushed against the door with all her might, but it refused to budge. She was trapped. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and her vision swam. She hammered on the door, crying out for help, but her voice sounded weak and distant to her own ears.
Kate cast a desperate gaze around the room for any sign of escape.
Of course, there was no other way out. The walls closed in; the air grew thin and suffocating.
Desperation turned to determination, and she mustered every ounce of strength left within her and pounded on the door as noisily as possible.
As her vision blackened, the door swung open, and she almost fell into the arms of a concerned-looking woman, her eyes wide with alarm. “Ms. Danvers? Are you alright?” She grabbed Kate’s arm when she swayed, helping balance her.
Kate staggered out of the sauna, gulping in the cool air. “The door... it was stuck. Sauna… too hot,” she gasped out.
The woman’s brow furrowed as she glanced at the door. “That’s strange. It opened right up for me. Let me help you to the lounge, and I’ll fetch you some lemon water.”
As Kate sat in the lounge sipping her water, trying to make sense of what had just happened, a security guard approached her.
“Ms. Danvers, my name is Kevin Brooks. I’m with Security. I understand you had an incident in the sauna?”
Kate nodded, still shaky. “Yes, the door stuck. I couldn’t get out. And the temperature was much too high, even for a sauna.” Dread swirled in her gut.
Brook’s expression darkened as he squatted down in front of her and met her eyes. “I’m sorry to inform you, but it appears the door may have been tampered with. I found unusual marks around the lock. We are investigating further.”
A chill raced through her as the implications of his words sank in. Someone tried to hurt her—possibly kill her. Her sense of peace shattered, replaced by cold, hard fear.
Not in any shape to continue with her treatments, Kate stepped inside the changing room and dressed in her own clothes, Brooks’ promise to investigate echoing in her mind, but the unease refused to dissipate.
She couldn’t shake the visceral feeling of having a target on her back, and the thought of someone willfully trying to harm her sent a chill down her spine. She needed to tell Nick, but would that endanger him?
When she exited the dressing room, Brooks fell in beside her. “I’ll drive you back to your suite, Miss Danvers, since you shouldn’t be driving yet. Another guard will bring your golf cart.”
He handed her into another golf cart emblazoned with the Ivory Tower logo and the word SECURITY across the front. Another uniformed guard hopped into her cart and set off in front of them.
Kate lifted her face to the breeze, trying to push her fears out of her mind and instead concentrate on just the facts. Someone jammed the sauna door. Who would know how to do that? Who would have access to do that without being seen? Maybe there were cameras in the hallway.
Relief washed through her as the turn to the mansion came into sight. The other cart missed the turn onto the path, careening straight ahead toward a tree.
Kate’s heart pounded as the cart slammed into the tree before tipping over, the front end crumpled from the collision.
In her horror, it took a moment for her to realize the guard driving had jumped out, and now stood staring at the mess.
He shook his head before heading over to them.
“Sir. The steering locked, and the brakes failed.” After a quick glance at Kate, he continued. “Given the incident in the spa, I’ll have it checked for tampering.”
Kate’s eyes widened. For an instant, she couldn’t blink, couldn’t breathe. Her gaze swept the wreckage, her stomach twisting tighter with every detail. Someone did this—to hurt her. And they hadn’t cared if someone else got in the way.
A sharp, hot pressure built in her chest, part outrage, part something close to panic. Her hands clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms as the thought took hold: This is real. They tried to hurt me—and they don’t care who might get in the way.
“Here you go, Miss Danvers. Is there anything else I can do for you right now?” Brooks watched her, concern clear in his eyes. She glanced around; they were at her suite.
With a shaky breath, she thanked him and rushed inside. She grabbed her phone and called Nick, her fingers trembling as she held it to her ear. When he answered, the sound of his voice soothed her raw nerves.
“Nick, there’s been an incident... well, two actually,” she started, her voice thin and reedy. She described the events at the spa and the golf cart accident, her words tumbling out in a rush.
Nick listened, probably trying to decipher her babbling, before growling, “I’m on my way,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Stay inside and keep the door locked. I’ll come through the interior door.”
She hung up the phone but couldn’t shake the dread encompassing her. She couldn’t face this alone. She needed Nick, and, more importantly, she needed to trust that they could face this threat together.
On shaky legs, she checked the lock on the outside door before opening the interior doors to see Zach striding down the hallway toward her.
“Kate, are you alright? I heard what happened at the spa.”
She let out a shaky breath, grateful for his presence, and opened the door wider in silent invitation.
“Yes, come in. I just called Nick. Did you hear about the golf cart, too?”
Zach stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room as if assessing for any immediate threats, but his eyes snapped to hers at the question. “No. Tell me precisely what happened. From the beginning.”
Kate wrapped her arms around herself, a chill snaking down her spine despite the warm room. She sank down into a chair and recounted the events, from the relaxing massage and facial to the terrifying ordeal in the sauna. Zach listened, his expression growing grimmer with each detail.
“You said the door was jammed?” he asked, his voice tense.
She nodded. “The guard, Brooks, said it appeared someone had tampered with it. Then there was the golf cart.” She described the story of the golf cart accident. “The other guard said he'd check it for tampering. Zach, who would do something like this?”
His jaw tightened, and he stared down for a moment before meeting her gaze again, his expression troubled. “We’re not sure yet, but I have my suspicions. Logic says the same people causing trouble for the resort might be behind this. They may be targeting you to get to Nick.”
A shiver ran down Kate’s spine. The thought of being a pawn in some twisted game unnerved her. "Why? What do they want?”
Zach sighed with obvious frustration. “I wish we knew. My best guess right now is they see you as a vulnerability, a way to get to him.”
A pang of guilt zinged through her. She didn’t want to be a burden to anyone, but now, she was. “What can we do?”
Zach’s expression softened. “First, we need to keep you safe. I’ll post some of my men outside your suite. Nick and I will handle the rest. We’ll find out who’s behind this and make sure they can’t hurt you again.”
Kate nodded, a sense of relief washing over her. She trusted Zach and Nick to protect her. “Thank you, Zach. I appreciate your help.”
He gave her a reassuring smile. “That’s what family does, Kate. And you’re family now.”
As Zach finished speaking, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Nick burst into the room, his eyes filled with concern and a hint of fear as he ran toward Kate. “Kate, God, are you alright?”
She jumped up and rushed into his arms, needing the warmth and strength of his embrace. “Yes, I’m okay. Zach was just telling me about the security measures he’s putting in place.”
Nick looked at Zach, gratitude shining in his eyes. “Thank you, Zach. I owe you.”
“Never. I’ll leave you two alone now.”
Zach left the room, and Nick turned his attention back to her. He cupped her face in his hands, his eyes searching hers. “I was so worried about you, Kate. When you told me what happened, I... I can’t lose you. I’ll lock you in here if I have to.”
Kate’s heart swelled with emotion at the genuine concern and caring in Nick’s eyes, and it filled her with warmth and security. “I’m okay, Nick. Really. Although I may never step foot in a sauna again.”
Nick’s expression softened. “Fair enough,” and he leaned in to kiss her, tenderly, evocative of a love and caring that Kate had never experienced. It promised protection, support, and a future together.
When they pulled apart, Kate held Nick’s eyes, which mirrored her own feelings. She understood then that she was cherished. And for the first time in her life, she felt worthy of that love.
“I won’t let anything happen to you, Kate,” Nick said, his voice adamant. “We’ll find out who’s behind this, and we’ll stop them. Together.”