White-Hot Hack (Kate and Ian #2)(47)

“Thanks, Diane. I have my days, but I’m okay. Really.”

“How long were you together?”

“Twelve years. We met when I was twenty-two and got married two years later.”

“Kids?”

“Neither of us really felt a strong urge to have them. We mostly enjoyed each other. We ran the design firm together, and that’s been one of the hardest adjustments. I no longer have a business partner. Now it’s just me making the decisions.”

The fact that Jade and her husband used to work together just like she and Ian did saddened her, and her tears threatened to return. Kate felt very undeserving of her good fortune and wondered if the universe would someday expect payment.

Jade laid her hand on Kate’s arm. “Are you okay?”

“I’m sorry. I should be asking you that.” Fearing her reaction would seem extreme, she scrambled to come up with a plausible reason for why the news had rattled her so. “A good friend of mine lost her husband not long ago, and it was so hard on her. She didn’t think she’d ever get over it.”

“You never really do. But in time it fades enough for you to put one foot in front of the other. The worst thing is how much I miss the little things like eating breakfast together or sitting on the couch holding hands and watching TV. Maybe I’ll find someone to do those things with again someday.”

“I know you will,” Kate said. And she meant it.

The hostess approached them. “Please follow me. Your table is ready.”



They found themselves tucked away at a table for two in the back corner. Kate opened her menu, and when their waiter arrived to take their orders, she ordered the lobster risotto.

“So what’s your story?” Jade asked. “Linda told me you moved here from Minnesota and, I know Will owns his own company. What’s your background?”

“I used to be an attorney.”

“Wow, that’s impressive.”

“Well, I didn’t stay in the profession. I left my law career to run a nonprofit food pantry, which I found very satisfying. Then we moved here, and now I help Will.”

“Why this area?”

“A few of his clients are here, and it made sense to be closer to them.”

“How are you settling in?”

“It’s been slow going. To be honest, Will is kind of a private person, so we haven’t met a lot of people.”

“I’m sure you will eventually. It just takes time.”

Their conversation flowed easily, and they never ran out of things to talk about. The lobster risotto was every bit as good as Charlie said it would be, and after she and Jade split a lemon tart for dessert, they lingered over another glass of wine. It was almost closing time when they finally left the restaurant.

“I’m parked on the street,” Kate said.

“Me too,” Jade said as they walked in the direction of their cars.

A thick fog had descended while they were inside the restaurant. The eerie glow of the gas-lamp-style streetlights and the cobblestone pavers under their feet reminded Kate of London circa Jack the Ripper.

“I’m glad I’m not walking to my car alone,” she said.

“Me neither. It’s quite spooky.”

“I’d love to do this again,” Kate said before they parted ways.

“Anytime,” Jade said, reaching out to give her a quick hug. “Drive safe.”

Kate headed for home. It was almost ten o’clock, and the roads were deserted except for the car that had been behind her for the past five minutes. It seemed to be following a bit closer than normal, its headlights illuminating the interior of her car. Or maybe the lights seemed brighter because of the fog and the clouds that obscured the moon, making the darkness more noticeable. The driver never got close enough to qualify as a tailgater, but they were near enough that it was hard to ignore their presence. Had someone taken notice of her and Jade as they’d stood in the parking lot chatting? If they’d watched her get into her car, they’d know she was alone.

She stayed on her route until she reached the turnoff that would take her the rest of the way home. Though it was open to the public, it was more like a narrow, private driveway than a road, and only someone who knew where it went would have a use for it.

The car turned too.

A prickle of unease wormed its way under her skin, and even though she told herself she was overreacting, she called Ian.



He was sitting on the couch with his laptop when his phone rang. “Hey, sweetness. How was dinner?”

“I think someone’s following me.”

He removed his feet from the ottoman and leaned forward, pressing the phone tighter to his ear. “What?”

“There’s a car that’s been behind me for a while. It’s following awfully close. It’s probably just a coincidence. Should I not pull into the driveway?”

“Kate. I want you to pull in.” His tone left no room for debate.

“But if someone’s following me, they’ll know where we live.”

It was a valid concern, but if someone was following her intentionally, the only thing he could think about was getting her safely on the other side of the gate. There was no reason to jump to any conclusions, at least not yet. Maybe someone had noticed Kate and Jade when they left the restaurant. Maybe they figured they’d follow her. See if she stopped somewhere on the way home. Someplace deserted and not well lit.