Page 12 of Save Me (The Wolf Hotel Mermaid Beach #2)

“Sorry,” I mumble. “I was being a dick.”

She studies her painted nails for a beat. “What were you and Henry arguing about yesterday morning?”

“Nothing.”

She cocks her head. “You expect me to believe that?”

“Why? What’d he tell you?”

“Absolutely nothing.”

“Like I said, then.” Belinda’s going to find out soon enough, and when she does, she’s going to want to skin me alive.

Is that what all this building tension in my shoulders is about?

Me knowing I’m likely about to fuck everything up in my life over a woman, and yet I’m diving headfirst into shallow waters?

“Just under a lot of pressure these days to do the right thing.” In so many ways.

Like, the right thing to do is warn Sloane about what’s coming, but I’m a coward.

It’s not even the confidentiality agreement I signed that I care about.

It’s Sloane punishing me for my association.

“Yes, I can sympathize. Hotel openings are always very stressful, even if you’re not new.” She pauses. “There are ways to help manage that stress, though.”

“Like what? ”

She makes a point of slowly uncrossing and recrossing her legs, but not before giving me a clear view up her skirt and the lack of panties.

My chest rises with my deep inhale. Her meaning could not be clearer, and this is crossing into very dangerous territory. How the fuck do I get out of it? “This might be against the rules.” It’s definitely against the rules, not that I’ve ever cared.

“And when have you ever been concerned about that?” she says, echoing my thoughts. “You certainly didn’t that day at the old Wolf cabin.”

I didn’t care about a lot of things during my time in Wolf Cove, and that day will go down in history as one of the most unexpected fucks of my life. “I know who will care. Your boss.”

“Right.” She leans back, holding herself up with outstretched arms. “Should we ask him for his blessing? Sure, maybe after he’s done fucking his former assistant who’s now his wife.”

Touché . Though Henry is a fan of playing the “do as I say, not as I do” card.

“Didn’t you say this would never happen again?” I’m grasping for straws, but reminding her of her deep regrets the last time her hormones got past her level head seems like a good idea.

“I didn’t think it would either, and yet here we are.

” Something soft flickers across Belinda’s normally stony face.

“In case you haven’t noticed, I work a lot.

I don’t have time for relationships. But I do have needs.

And so do you.” Steady eyes bore into mine.

“So why don’t we just fuck and get it out of our system. ”

Hell, she’s throwing back my words from yesterday.

Belinda uncrosses her legs again, this time leaving them parted.

Fuck me. How do I find myself in these situations? Honestly, this is probably karma coming around to bite me in the ass for all the women I haven’t called back, even though I was always clear that I wouldn’t.

If I were the old Ronan, I’d already have my fly undone and Belinda’s skirt hiked up around her waist. But I’m not that guy. I don’t want meaningless. Not anymore. There is only one woman I want.

And it’s not the one laid out like a buffet treat in front of me now.

Acknowledging that nearly brings a smile to my face—I’ve evolved!—but I stifle it because that reaction at this particular moment might get my balls ripped off.

I need to get out of here, pronto. “Belinda, don’t get me wrong, I think you are smoking hot.” I settle my hands on her bare knees and gently pull her legs together. “But we should keep this professional.” I stand as a wave of déjà vu hits me. I said the same thing to Sloane weeks ago.

That was a lie then.

But it’s not now.

A stunned look passes across Belinda’s face—has she ever been turned down before?—before she seems to snap out of it. “Yes, of course. I don’t know what I was thinking. This was completely out of line. I understand if you’d like to report me to HR for?—”

“Shut up.” I can’t help but laugh. “I’m not reporting anyone for anything.” I’d have to pull out my own laundry list of scandalous behavior. It’s a mile long and would get me fired a hundred times over.

She clears her throat as she quickly retrieves her glasses. “Okay, then.”

I try to soften the blow to her ego. “If this were any other time in my life, I would be all in. Again.” Hell, if this were even a few weeks ago, before I met Sloane. I’d regret it after, but I know I wouldn’t turn her down. I’m not Superman.

She purses her lips, her eyes flittering up to meet mine. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

“I will.” But I won’t. Not while Sloane’s in the picture.

“I’ll see you at dinner tonight.” Clearing her throat, she hops off the table and struts away at a clipped speed, unlocking the door on her way out.

And I breathe a shaky sigh of relief.

“ You said no ?” Connor stares at me like I just admitted to ripping up a winning lottery ticket.

“Dude.” I push my office door shut. “She Basic Instincted me.”

His jaw drops. “No fucking way.”

“ Way . Like, fully.”

“What does that mean?” a voice chirps out of nowhere.

I spin around to find Archie sitting in one of my chairs. “Where the fuck were you hiding! ”

“I wasn’t … I was right here, waiting. For our meeting,” he stammers.

I hadn’t noticed him. I left the meeting and saw Connor standing at my door, so I yanked him in and downloaded on him in a hurry, and fuck, I didn’t notice Archie there.

I know how gossip works around here. This would be terrible for Belinda if it got out.

“Listen to me carefully.” I aim an index finger at his face. “You never repeat a single thing you just heard in here. Not to anyone. Not even to Gizmo, do you understand?” There’s only one picture on Archie’s desk, and it’s of a cat whose hair is as orange as his owner’s.

“I didn’t hear anything.” He shakes his head furiously.

“Good.”

“Wait, but how does Gingersnap not know what getting Basic Instincted means? How old are you?” Connor waves his hand.

“Actually, never mind. I don’t care if you came out of the fucking womb two weeks ago, everyone should understand what that means.

Sharon Stone is a rite of passage. In fact, you’re gonna watch that movie tonight.

I expect a full report by tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.! ”

“Okay, settle down, Professor.” I take a deep, calming breath. “Archie, give me five before our meeting. Do me a favor and go find Eleanor from Events. Tell her I’m bringing two people with me to dinner so she can plan accordingly.”

“Got it.” With a cagey look at Connor—who is easily twice his size—Archie scurries out, shutting the door behind him.

“What dinner?” Connor asks the moment he’s gone.

“The one you’re coming to with me. It’s here, tonight.”

“Seriously? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I did. You forgot,” I lie. If I counted on my hands the number of times he’s left me in the dark about plans he’s made for us, I’d run out of fingers, several times over. Payback’s a bitch. “Wear something nice. Abbi’ll be there.”

That distracts him. “I haven’t seen her in forever. How’s the, uh—” He holds his hands out in front of his belly.

“Growing.”

“Damn.” He smiles wistfully, and I know he’s thinking about that day in the truck. “Who else are you bringing?”

“Sloane.” I hope.

“Neighbor girl?” He frowns. “She and Henry good now?”

“Nope. He doesn’t know I’m bringing her.”

“But he’s gonna be there.”

“Yup.”

His frown deepens. “What the fuck are you up to, Lyle?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s a long story that I don’t have the time to get into, but I’m bringing Sloane, and they’re going to meet her, and Abbi’s gonna love her.” I hope.

And then I’m going to ride in like a white knight and derail Henry’s capitalistic dreams, even though the woman still has no clue about any of it.

“So … I should pack my bags and get ready to head back to Miami, then?” Connor muses wryly.

“Maybe, but not yet.”

“For the record, you’re fucking nuts.”

“I probably am,” I agree.

“And have you thought about what Belinda is gonna do?”

“She’ll defer to Henry, and I have Abbi to help me with him.” Belinda’s devoted to a fault. If Henry maintains his cool over Sloane, she won’t attack.

“Dude, forget about that. What about what just happened over there?” He tosses an aimless thumb toward the hall beyond my door.

“Belinda’s not looking for a relationship. She has an itch she needs scratching, and I was an easy option.” At least, she thought I was, and probably for good reason—because I usually am.

Connor looks at me like I’m about to jump into alligator-infested waters. “You rejected Belinda , and now you’re about to stroll in with another woman. A younger woman.”

“Who she despises. Shit.” I’m beginning to see where Connor is going with this, and he’s right—Belinda will have the nuclear codes at the ready and aimed at me. Or worse, Sloane. “Okay, I need you to do something for me.”

“What?”

“Belinda.”

He barks with laughter. “Yeah, right. Funny guy.” When he notices I’m not laughing along, his mirth fades. “Oh, you’re serious.”

“Yeah.”

“You want me to scratch Belinda’s itch?”

“I want you to see if she’s willing to let you scratch it.” There were three of us in that cabin room that day, and she didn’t seem to have a preference. “But do it discreetly.”

He groans. “Fine, but if I get fired for this, you better fix it.”

“Fine.” If I’m not already fired for showing up with Sloane. But I’m banking on Abbi not allowing that to happen. “Just be you. If she hasn’t sacked you for that yet, she won’t.”

He drops a meaty hand on my shoulder. “The things I do for our friendship.”

“Yeah, you’re really hard done by.”

“I really am. And, you know, I was thinking earlier about what Mermaid Beach is missing. Something that would solve problems like this.”

“This oughta be good,” I mutter.

“The first rule of fuck club is …”

Despite everything, I laugh. “You idiot.”