Page 1 of Save Me (The Wolf Hotel Mermaid Beach #2)

I f the dictionary included pictures, Henry Wolf’s smug face would be right next to the definition of a prick.

If Satan were searching for a human host to possess, he would look no further than the evil specimen seated next to me, humming along like a fucking pioneer woman at a washboard on a sunny spring day.

If we were on a sinking ship with only one lifeboat, this motherfucker would shove past women and children to?—

“You’re quiet.” Henry interrupts my brooding.

“I’m always quiet.” I deftly maneuver our golf cart past the small army of staff unloading linens from a delivery truck, my foot crushing the pedal.

Okay, so maybe Henry wouldn’t strong-arm children—Abbi would never marry a guy like that. But he is a Grade A douchebag. And maybe I am unusually quiet, but it’s because I’m struggling to keep my cool about the bomb he just dropped on me .

He is intent on destroying Sloane’s life.

How long has he been planning this? If he’s talking about eminent domain, then it’s clear this is not an overnight grudge he’s indulging. He had to have set wheels in motion months ago, and he has the right people in his pocket to make it happen.

There’s no doubt it’ll happen because Henry Wolf always gets what he wants.

My hands hurt. Probably because I’m choking the steering wheel.

I ease up on my grip and force indifference into my tone.

“These big plans for Mermaid Beach … what do they look like?” I didn’t have a chance to ask before.

He took a call and directed me to drive back to the hotel with a dismissive wave of his hand, like I’m Jeeves, his chauffeur.

“New harborfront, definitely. The one here is dated and lackluster.”

I frown. “You want to put in a new harborfront , right next door?”

“Hell no, not there.” His chuckle is condescending.

“We’ll tear down the docks and replace them with a new system.

Build a new boardwalk, widen the road, add dozens of restaurants and shops.

Make it a true destination for people visiting.

It’ll bring millions in revenue. The chains are dying to get in, especially now that the hotel is here. ”

“And there’s space for all that?” I ask, but the uneasy tingle along my spine tells me I know where he’ll find the space.

“There will be once all those shacks are gone.”

Shacks like the Sea Witch, he means. Fuck me. He’s not just after her home. He wants her business too. “Eminent domain can’t be used for private corporation land grabs.” I don’t know much, but I know that.

A smug smile answers me. “I’m not after the land, just the atmosphere that’ll draw in more people’s wallets, and I’ve spent many months and millions with my architects, designing exactly what people want.”

Sloane doesn’t want it. “So you’re not after that?” I jut my chin toward her property.

“I was,” he admits. “Seemed smart to have it for future expansion. But a new road will work too.”

“A new road,” I repeat. Henry’s going to tear down and pave over Sloane’s entire life. That’s his big plan.

“An access point for the hotel. We’ll benefit from that. When we revitalize the harbor and the boardwalk, congestion will only get worse. The local planners agree, and they’re willing to do just about anything to please me.”

“I’ll bet,” I force out. All hail to the great and powerful Oz.

“With all that space, they’re pushing the idea of a public beach and conservation area, but I’m not keen on having that so close to my hotel.

We’ll see.” He shakes his head. “Sloane Parker would have been smart to take my offer. It was a hell of a lot more generous than what she’ll get with this new deal. ”

“Clearly, she didn’t want the money.”

“And now, she’ll have no choice. The Mermaid Beach council and I are unveiling the design on Friday. It’s going to modernize this entire town. I’m sure the meeting is in your schedule. ”

“Can’t wait.” Archie has stuffed my calendar like a pinata at a five-year-old’s birthday party.

It’s ready to burst. But that’s not my concern now.

My stomach stirs with nausea. “A lot of locals live and work around here. Do you think they’ll have a problem with you coming in and blowing everything up? ”

“Of course they will. People don’t like change,” Henry scoffs.

“Locals tried stopping Wolf Cove too, and now look at them. All the shops in nearby towns have quadrupled their seasonal business. They’re building two new strips for stores and a supermarket.

The growth has only started too. Wait until the ski runs are completed.

A lot of those people complaining are also the first ones in line to benefit.

” He scrolls through his phone screen as he murmurs, “Nothing stays the same forever. The sooner people figure that out, the better.”

“Sloane’s not gonna benefit from this. Short of a fat bank account she’s not interested in. This is a dick move, even for you.” I can’t help the bitterness in my tone.

There’s a long pause, and then …

“You son of a bitch.” Henry sighs heavily. “You went against my orders and fucked her anyway.”

I school my expression. “I don’t know what you’re talking about?—”

“Don’t bother denying it. You’re as predictable as that Florida sun.” He points at the glowing ball in the sky.

I briefly wonder what my tell was. Whatever.

I’m not going to embarrass myself by continuing to deny it.

The hotel’s main doors are coming up ahead, and Belinda is loitering, waiting for her supreme commander.

So I lift my foot off the pedal and bring us to a halt.

It’s best we finish this conversation here.

“What I do on my own time is my business.”

“I own you.” Henry snorts derisively. “I gave you the opportunity of a lifetime, and you couldn’t even keep your dick in your pants long enough to reach opening day.”

I don’t miss the past tense in that sentence.

Is this him firing me? If I’m going down, I might as well do it swinging.

“Funny, didn’t your father say the same thing to you?

” Abbi once let slip that William Wolf had all but threatened to take the hotel from Henry if he couldn’t stop sleeping with his assistants.

Of course, enter Abbi stage left, and what Daddi-O wanted didn’t matter.

Henry’s gaze narrows. “What the fuck did you just say to me?”

Okay, I’ll admit, bringing up his late father was a douche move. “Look, it’s not a big deal?—”

“The hell it isn’t! You are senior management now, Ronan. What you do reflects on this company and on me,” he barks.

And Henry is all about image. Again, I’ll bet he had this exact same conversation with his father when he was fucking around, but I bite my tongue this time. He hasn’t officially fired me yet.

“When did it happen?” he demands. “Before or after she agreed to take the signs down?”

“Why the hell would that matter?” I’m not giving Henry or anyone else details about my time with Sloane.

“Because I need to know if I’m going to have a PR mess on my hands because of this.”

“Why would you …” My words drift as I clue in. Do es he think I used sex as a negotiating tactic? That I seduced Sloane into getting what I want out of her? Pieces of shit like Cody do that.

I don’t fucking do that.

My teeth grind as I fight the urge to defend myself.

Admitting that what happened with Sloane was way more than just an opportunity to get laid, that I’m developing feelings for her, is not what Henry wants to hear.

“Any PR mess you have won’t be because of me.

Bulldozing half of Mermaid Beach will earn you that. ”

“That’s business. I can deal with that. What I can’t have are sexual harassment headlines tied to this hotel’s name.”

“Jesus, are you kidding me right now? That’s not how it happened!

It wasn’t anything like that,” I snarl, my typical even keel vanishing with a rare flare of temper.

“That’s not me, and you fucking know it!

” I’ve never laid so much as a finger on a woman without her being crystal clear about wanting it.

“Honestly, what kind of situations have you gotten yourself into that your brain thinks this way?”

“That’s not the point!”

Pieces are beginning to click together. Is this what Belinda was hinting at that day she warned me off the “unhinged neighbor?” Because this can’t just be unhealthy paranoia on their parts.

I doubt many people have the balls to raise their voice to Henry.

I brace myself for a yelling match that I will gladly participate in, but instead, Henry’s answer comes in a calm and collected tone.

“Sometimes, when people are hurt or angry or embarrassed, they lash out in unexpected ways,” he answers vaguely, and then his brawny chest sinks with his exhale.

“You know, what? It’s done. Those stupid signs are down. That’s all that matters.”

I falter at the unexpected and quick course correct.

“She is a complication for me, and I don’t need complications.

Find someone else to entertain yourself with.

Go to the beach, go to the bar, go to the fucking Piggly Wiggly, I don’t give a shit where you pick them up, as long as I don’t hear another word about Sloane Parker that involves you ever again.

And we can pretend like you didn’t take a piss all over my wishes. Deal?”

Wishes? More like demands. And who does he think he is? Vito Corleone?

But it doesn’t sound like I’m looking for a new job yet. “Sure thing, boss.” Whatever I need to say to end this conversation.

The electric golf cart whirs as I set it in motion again.

We’re almost at the front door when Henry adds, “And just in case you’re tempted, let me remind you that you signed a confidentiality agreement when you accepted this position, which means you better keep your mouth shut about this revitalization project, or I will gladly bankrupt you.”

“I can always count on you for a threat.” As if I want to be the bearer of that news.

Belinda meets us at the hotel’s front doors with a cautious expression. “Enjoyable tour?” She couldn’t have overheard our conversation, but I’ll bet our body language told a convincing story of two men inches away from choking each other out .

“Peaceful one. I’m looking forward to early morning rounds,” Henry says, playing it off. “Happy to see our problem has been dealt with.”

I wish I’d never convinced Sloane to take down those signs.

“Yes, your director worked his magic.” Belinda’s sharp blue eyes dissect me, reminding me of her not-so-subtle proposition not even an hour ago. We’ve been working well together lately. Too well, I guess. “Dorian is looking for you, Ronan.”

“Again?” Dealing with that guy and his mustache more than once a day is too much. “The sprinklers still?”

“I have no idea and no interest in knowing until it’s resolved. Henry? We’ll have our meeting outside, at Seraphina’s.” She gestures toward the revolving door, leaving little room for negotiation.

With a secretive smirk, like he could remind Belinda who’s boss but finds this role reversal “cute,” Henry slides out of his seat. “Keep up the good work, Ronan.”

“Yup.”

They stroll into the hotel without a backward glance.

“Fuck you,” I mutter under my breath as soon as they’re gone.

And fuck me. I squeeze the bridge of my nose as I weigh the impossible position he’s put me in.

Do I warn Sloane about his plans for decimating her life?

I don’t even know when it’s happening, but if he’s presenting models on Friday, I imagine someone official will be knocking on her door sooner rather than later.

I wouldn’t be in this position had I listened to him in the first place and stayed the hell away from her. Had I not gotten to know and like her. Now what? How can I look Sloane in the eye and pretend everything’s fine?

But maybe it’s a nonissue. The way we left things yesterday at the end of our little tiki booze cruise, it’s likely she’s already written me off. She all but called me a man whore, and it’s been radio silence since.

I dig out my phone to confirm: still no response to my update about Katie’s twisted ankle, which is surprising.

I would have thought Sloane more considerate than that, as a business owner.

I guess that solves the problem of her hating me once the local government forces her out with a fat check because I don’t see how my association with Henry won’t be another black mark on my name.

And yet, the idea of giving up on whatever this is between us stirs a feeling harsher than disappointment.

Sloane’s different, and the way my pulse spikes when her jade-green eyes are on me, the intoxicating smell of her hair, her soft skin beneath my fingertips, the sound of her laugh, her playful smile …

I can’t pinpoint what it is, except to say that I can’t get her out of my head.

My phone rings in my grip, startling me from my daydreaming.

Chester’s name appears, and I groan. He wouldn’t be calling me if there wasn’t a problem with my name written on it.