Page 28 of Save Me (The Wolf Hotel Mermaid Beach #2)

“ E x-army ? You didn’t think to mention that?”

“Why? Is that a bad thing?” Frank hovers over the espresso maker that quit halfway through the early morning rush, turning a tiny screwdriver with his giant hands. I would have had to replace the pricey machine by now if not for him and his uncanny skills with mechanical things.

“No, it’s good. It’s great. She’ll be on time and a hard worker.” I scan the dates. Bailey must be in her mid-thirties, at least. She’s mature. Another positive.

“Hey, New Girl, more water,” Frank hollers, waving an empty pitcher.

I roll my eyes. “Her name is Lara.”

She sweeps in with a laugh. She doesn’t seem bothered.

“Did Bailey say why she left the army?”

“Nope, and I didn’t ask. She said she was looking for something fun and stress-free, and a summer contract on the water would be ideal. ”

“As long as she wasn’t dishonorably discharged. “

Frank tosses the screwdriver to the counter and wipes his sweaty brow with his forearm. “I’m sure you’ll find out as soon as you get her in for an interview.”

“Who’s coming in for an interview?” Skye sweeps past on her way to the storage fridge to replenish the milk and cream before another round of customers arrives. “New tiki captain. Potential new tiki captain,” I correct. I have to meet her first. “So no one has to be subjected to Frank anymore.”

Frank waves his middle finger in the air before snagging a different tiny screwdriver and returning to his work.

“How do such meaty paws handle such delicate instruments,” I mock ponder.

Skye returns with two full cartons. “That would be amazing. Then all you’d need is one more, and you wouldn’t have to be out there every afternoon.”

“And then I could do all the work I’m supposed to do. Wouldn’t that be nice.” I sigh.

“Thought you hired Lover Boy,” Frank mutters, and I can’t tell if he’s just being Frank or if he still disapproves.

“No. Well, I don’t know what’s going on there. He went in this morning. Somehow still has a job.” Or maybe Henry wants to fire him to his face. “You know, he calls you King Kong?”

Frank scowls as if offended but then pauses to weigh that nickname. “Huh … I think I like that.”

“I had a feeling you would.”

He plugs the machine in, and lights ignite. “He ever tell you what Wolf did to make him punch him? ”

Skye gasps. “Ronan punched Henry Wolf?”

“Yeah. Last night.” To Frank, I say, “No, but I have a feeling it had to do with me.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

Lara appears with the pitcher. “Who’s Ronan?”

“The guy Sloane’s banging.” Frank accepts the water with a grunt and pours it into the receptacle.

“Oh, wait ’til you see him? He is so hot.” Skye’s blue eyes widen as she nods approvingly.

“Oh yeah, so dreamy,” Frank mimics, holding his hands together and pressing them against his chest while fluttering his eyelashes.

Skye flicks him playfully in the neck on her way past to restock the napkins. “Sloane’s landed a good one. Which she deserves, considering the last one,” she adds in a singsong voice, trailing it with a wince.

Lara’s focus ping-pongs back and forth between us all, trying to keep up. “He was bad?”

“His name is Cody, and he is rotten. We don’t like him.”

“He’s banned.” Frank reaches up and opens a cupboard door to reveal a copy of Cody’s mug shot taped to the inside. Above it, in Frank’s aggressive handwriting, states “Do Not Serve.”

“When did you put that up?” I exclaim.

“Monday. After your run-in with him at Starfish Island. If you see him in here, you come and get me. Got it, New Girl?”

Lara’s head bobs up and down.

“And what’ll you do, Frank?” Skye’s smile is mischievous. She’s egging him on for entertainment’s sake .

“I’m gonna rip his arms off and beat him to death with them.”

Lara’s eyes widen as Skye cackles.

Meanwhile, my worry flares. That mug shot was from before Cody and I met, when he got arrested for drunk and disorderly after a bachelor party.

The charges were dropped, but the picture remains.

“Listen, if Cody sees that up there, he’s going to be angry, and Angry Cody isn’t good for me . ” I arch my brows with meaning.

“That’s why it’s on the inside instead of front and center. And you know what’s worse than Angry Cody?” Frank hits a button on the machine. “Angry King Kong.”

“I’ve created a monster,” I say as a whirring sound announces the newly repaired espresso maker.

“Yes! Thank you !” Skye skips past, leaning in to drop a friendly kiss against his cheek on her way past.

“Just keep that door closed,” I warn, waving at Cody’s stupid face. “And no hitting anyone. Last night was enough for me.”

Frank begins collecting tools. “Ronan’s got balls to punch a guy like Henry Wolf, I’ll give him that much.”

“Yeah, he’s got those.” And plenty more, and he overwhelmed me last night with how thoroughly he consumed my body. But beyond the physical, Ronan has a big heart and fierce loyalty. My attraction to him is quickly growing far beyond the physical, which is dangerous given my situation.

I need to tell him.

No, I want to tell him. Because I’m growing hopeful that he might actually be the man I want him to be.

“Sloane? ”

“Huh?”

Frank’s watching me closely. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I’m just tired. Didn’t sleep well, and I have this headache behind my eye.” It’s likely caffeine withdrawal. I’m normally on my second cup of coffee by now, but I’m still savoring my first, letting it grow cold on my desk.

He’s not buying it, though. “You’ve been out of it the last few days.”

“Oh. Yeah. I mean, no , I’m good.” I’m far from good.

And Frank can always tell when I’m lying. He has the same keen sense as Gigi where that’s concerned, and the longer I stay here, fumbling through excuses, the more likely he is to ferret the truth out of me.

“I’m gonna give Bailey a call,” I say, waving the résumé in the air as I aim for the doorway between the two sides.

“Hey, New Girl, can you get me …”

I shut the door to my tiny office, and Frank’s voice vanishes. But instead of calling Bailey just yet, I text Ronan. It’s midmorning, and I’ve waited as long as I can.

Should I save you a tiki, Captain?

There. Quick and playful. Completely unserious. I’m sure he’s in the middle of some important ass-kissing meeting, but at least I’ve given him a reason to reply, if he wants to. And, while I wait for him to, I might as well get this army veteran in here to see if she’d be a good fit.

I’m halfway through punching in Bailey’s number when my phone chirps with a text.

Ronan:

Too soon to tell, but that wet spot in your bed is mine.

My stomach erupts with flutters.

Gigi:

So? How was your big night at Wolf Hotel?

OMG, Gi. Too much to text about. I’m at the dock now. I’ll come by after to fill you in.

I hop out of the Cherokee and into the stifling heat, my floral captain’s hat dangling from my fingertips as I stroll toward the hut ahead, memories of what happened in there still fresh in my mind.

Skye sits in the window, registering Jeremy’s group—a bunch of twenty-something-year-old couples in string bikinis and board shorts.

A group of older women sits on a nearby picnic table, waiting their turn, shopping bags no doubt loaded with booze at their feet.

I remember seeing that booking come in—it’s for a sixtieth birthday party, the ladies from all corners of the country. Those groups are always a good time.

Jeremy pounces on me the second I reach the dock, leaving Tiki Two to meet me halfway to mine. “So … Exciting night last night, huh? ”

I hop onto Tiki One , tossing my bag onto the floor. Will has come and gone, leaving the coolers and trough well stocked with ice and everything set up. “Yeah, it was something.”

“What was that all about?” he prods.

“I have no idea,” I lie. Well, it’s not entirely a lie. I have ideas but no confirmation.

He leans over the bar on folded arms. “Did Wolf fire him?”

“Not as of a few hours ago, but it’s still early.” I fish out my sunscreen and, squeezing a dollop onto my hand, begin smoothing over my bare skin. “But if he does, I’m going to hire him to run Tiki Three .”

Jeremy blinks. “Seriously?”

I know that tone. “Yeah, why not?”

“No reason. It’s just, the last time you dated an employee, it didn’t go so well.”

“This is different. Ronan is not Cody.”

“No, I guess not.” Jeremy hesitates. “Does he know yet?”

“About?”

“Come on, Sloane.”

I look up into a knowing gaze.

Right. “He doesn’t know yet. No one does, except for you and Gigi.” And Abbi Wolf.

He traces the countertop’s woodgrain with his index finger. “Do you know what you’re gonna do?” He doesn’t have to elaborate.

“I’m not sure, but I think I might have it?

” It sounds more like a question than a statement, and it’s the first time I’ve actually said it, not just out loud but even in my head.

Almost like a test to see what that sounds like, if uttering the words causes panic.

Would it be so crazy? I’ve been making choices—what I eat, what I drink—as if I’ve already decided, even if I haven’t yet admitted it to myself.

And even if Ronan doesn’t want this, I’m thirty-one years old. I have a home and a business. I can do this on my own, if I have to.

I don’t want to, but I can.

Raucous laughter sounds from the stairs as Jeremy’s group begins their descent.

“I guess that’s my cue.”

“Yeah, see you out there.”

He pauses before stepping onto the dock. “For what it’s worth, I think you’d make a terrific mom.” With that said, he hops out and greets the incoming group with a dramatic bow and flourish.