“Then why does it still feel like I’m one misstep away from losing everything again?” Lena’s words were barely audible over the whisper of the waves.
That angst lived in her chest, a constant companion, making her overly cautious, making her second-guess every decision that mattered.
“Because you haven’t healed yet. People like Bob and Chester taught you not to trust others. But you’re not a naive little girl. You’re strong. You’re a fighter. These days, you’re the one keeping this place standing when it should be falling apart.”
Kate’s words wrapped around her own like a fleece blanket, soothing something raw inside her.
Lena smiled, faint but real, the corners of her mouth lifting genuinely for the first time in this conversation. “Emma says I’m too stubborn to stay down.”
“She’s right.” Kate gave her hand a gentle squeeze, the pressure reassuring. “And David sees that too. Maybe more clearly than you do.”
Kate’s fingers paled against her own sun-bronzed skin. “I’m scared I’ll mess it up.” Lena took a deep breath, forcing herself to voice the fear gnawing at her since that first flutter of attraction. “I’m scared because he’s my boss. Been there, done that. Have an arrest record to show for it.”
The words were bitter, but her tone was lost. The parallel ran too strongly, too terrifying. What if David turned out to be another Chester? What if her judgment failed her again?
“Tell him that,” Kate said. “David isn’t Chester. If he’s the right one, he’ll help you carry it. Not run from it.” Kate’s voice cut through Lena’s spiraling thoughts, subdued but steady.
Kate squeezed Lena’s fingers a little tighter. “You’re not repeating history. Nick made it clear your role here stands on its own. If you and David didn’t work out, nothing changes professionally. That was important to him. And to Zach.”
Lena exhaled slowly. “Kate?—”
“And just so you know,” Kate added, softer now, “David’s been trying not to fall for you since day one. He’s not playing with you. He’s trying not to ruin something he values.”
They sat in stillness for a moment, the tide whispering in the distance, the breeze now carrying the scent of salt and freedom. Something loosened within her, like a knot unraveling.
Kate spoke again, more hesitantly this time, her expression uncertain. “Can I tell you something a little weird?”
Lena glanced up, grateful for the shift. “Always.”
Kate shifted in her chair, her free hand fidgeting with her napkin. “Lately I’ve been… I don’t know, picking up things. Emotions that aren’t mine. Like echoes. When I touch people, or sometimes just being close to them.”
Lena’s brows knit, curiosity replacing the heaviness that had settled over her. She didn’t speak, just listened.
“The last couple of nights, I’ve been having this dream,” Kate continued, her voice dropping lower and her fingers tightening. “A woman running. Barefoot, terrified. A shadow chasing her. I never see her face, but last night when I woke up, I thought of you. My mind associated that woman with you.”
A chill ran down Lena’s spine despite the heat, goosebumps rising on her arms. “Me?”
Kate gave a half-shrug, as if embarrassed, color tinting her cheeks. “I know it doesn’t make sense. Maybe it’s my subconscious mixing things up, but… I’ve never had dreams like this before. Not ones that stick.” She met Lena’s gaze. “Not ones that feel like foreshadowing.”
Lena didn’t laugh or wave it off. The dream sounded too specific, too pointed, especially with everything happening at the resort. She just nodded, her pulse quickening. “Sometimes, your gut knows more than your brain does.”
Kate offered a small, almost uncertain smile, relief flickering across her face. “So you don’t think I’m losing it?”
“I think you’re tuned in. To people. To energy. To what matters.” Lena squeezed her hand, trying to offer the same comfort Kate had given her.
Kate let out a breath, her shoulders dropping. “Good. Because if I start hearing voices, I’m dragging you to the psychic fair with me.”
That earned a genuine laugh, the sound bubbling up. “Fair enough.”
“Lena?” Kate’s expression sobered, worry creeping back into her eyes. “Be careful. Just in case.”
Lena smiled, warmth squeezing her heart, touched by the concern. “Will do.”
For the first time in days, Lena wasn’t just holding it together—she was moving forward. The sun warmed her face; the breeze played with her hair, and Kate’s hand in hers anchored her to something good, something worth fighting for.
Chapter 14
Storm Front
