Page 29 of Save Me (The Wolf Hotel Mermaid Beach #2)

“ S o, Ronan.” Olivia McEowan studies me through thick black frames from across the table of the Coral Cafe like a detective assessing a criminal, deciding how they can best pin a crime on them. “How many years did you say you’ve worked for Wolf Hotels?”

I didn’t. “Close to five.” Rounding up, graciously. “At four locations.”

“Four locations,” she echoes in a soft Texan accent, scanning my bruised knuckles.

Her dossier says she’s forty-four. Her platinum-blond hair is freshly colored and styled in a chin-length bob that highlights her angular jaw.

She’s wearing navy pants and a white silk sleeveless blouse that accentuates her thin, lean figure.

She’s far from a knockout, but she’s spent plenty of money filling and smoothing her face into her ideal image. “In this capacity?”

“Various capacities.”

She hums, but her pursed lips reveal her skepticism.

I hide my smirk behind a long sip of coffee— my second this afternoon, thanks to this stupid schedule. Olivia may have stepped into the role of Black Titan’s CEO due to her father’s untimely demise, but she seems sharp and far from underqualified to hold the position.

Unlike me in my role, I sense she’s digging to prove.

Olivia is nothing like Shelby Singer, my first coffee “date.” That woman was more than thrilled to educate me on all things duck herding the second I brought it up.

I even have an invitation to join her next weekend, but given how many times she stroked my arm, I’m pretty sure she’s hoping it’ll end with less herding and more fucking.

When I broached the subject of a large-scale event here, Shelby laughed.

Do you know how much that would cost?

My constituents would skin me alive if they found out!

Why I’m entertaining these silly meetings is beyond me. I’d rather be at my desk, going over budget updates. Words I never thought I’d say.

But I’m here, and I’m on thin ice with Henry, so I might as well make the best of it. “I hear you have a future Olympian.”

Olivia’s eyes soften for a split second. “Maisy. Of all three of my girls, she is the most passionate and skilled.”

“Show jumping, right?”

“Right.” She pauses. “Are you familiar?”

I could lie. I could regurgitate the crap I learned watching YouTube videos. But something tells me this woman would see right through me, so I decide to be myself. With pants on, per Belinda’s advice. “Honestly, I had no fucking clue that was a thing until two days ago.”

The corners of Olivia’s mouth twitch. She takes a long, leisurely sip of her coffee—pinky up—before setting the cup down. “Belinda loves her dossiers, doesn’t she?”

I chuckle. This is unexpected. “So it’s not a well-kept secret.”

“What else did she prep you for? Oh, wait, let me see if I remember from the last grand opening.” She leans back in her chair, crossing her arms over her small chest. “I was a competitive swimmer in college, I’m divorced, I have three daughters, and my father, the previous CEO of Black Titan, died in a tragic skydiving accident.

My brother fought me for the company and even accused me of sabotaging Dad’s parachute.

I loved my father very much.” Pain cuts like a lightning bolt across her face before it’s gone, as if it never made an appearance.

“I won the company and fired my brother. Does that about cover it?”

“You missed your husband’s affair with your nanny.”

“Oh, right, we mustn’t forget that.” Unlike the mention of her father, she seems unbothered by her unfaithful husband.

“I know why I was invited here, Ronan. It’s the same reason I was invited to the Alaska opening.

Henry Wolf wants to wine and dine me and convince me to spend exorbitant amounts of company money at his hotels. ”

“If you’re not interested, why do you come to these things?”

She shrugs. “Because I like being wined and dined? And who knows, maybe one of these times I’ll be wowed.

But for now, I can get a few days away from the office and enjoy the quiet of a luxurious new place.

” She gestures around us with a wave. “And all I have to tolerate is a thirty-minute meeting where you guys pitch Wolf Hotel.”

“Like a time-share program.”

“Exactly.” Her lips twist. “Of course, I expected Henry to greet me.”

“And instead, you got me.” Lowly operations director. Would she be so stiff if she were sitting across from Henry?

Her blue eyes skitter over my sleeve of tattoos. “I suppose there are worse choices.”

Okay, she’s softening to me. “You’re right. You could have had Belinda.”

Her head tips back with a laugh. “Not likely. Belinda knows she doesn’t appeal to me.”

Huh. Interesting. “So, you know the game she plays.”

“The one where a pretty face and money gets you what you want faster than a brain and hard work?” Her eyebrow arches in question.

“Tell Belinda to stop recycling research points if she wants whatever reward she gets for my business. Also, there are far more interesting things about me than my ex-husband’s infidelity. ”

“Such as?” Because now I’m curious.

Her attention drags over the giant potted palm tree next to us. “I was the first female CEO of a major oil and gas company. There are a few more now, but I was the first. And I negotiated a multibillion-dollar takeover, which expanded Black Titan’s holdings by thirty-five percent.”

I’m sure Olivia’s used to reciting her résumé and getting impressed responses. “Your company is about as interesting to me as your ex-husband’s cheating.”

Her mouth hangs open for a beat. “Fine. My equine rehabilitation center is the largest charity of its kind in the state of Texas.”

“What’s your horse’s name?”

She hesitates. “I don’t have a horse, personally.”

“You have a giant charity, and your children are all competitive riders, and you don’t have your own horse.” I may not know much, but even I know that’s strange. By the way she adjusts in her seat, I suspect there’s more to this story. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t ride horses.”

“Why not?”

She sets her jaw as she considers her answer. “Because I’m afraid of them. Always have been. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Actually, yes.” I can tell it’s the truth and something she doesn’t normally admit to strangers. A slow smile curves my lips. “Now we’re getting somewhere interesting.”

“And here is the entrance to the spa.” I check my watch. “Right on time.”

“I appreciate the escort.” Olivia’s smile isn’t flirtatious, but it’s warmer than it was when we first sat down to coffee.

“No problem. It’s all a part of my role as liaison.

And I’ll let you know what I can set up for fishing.

” It turns out Olivia may be terrified of horses, but she’s a deep-sea fisherwoman who used to spend full days out on her father’s boat with him.

She hasn’t gone since his death. Given she’s in the perfect location, I said I’d find a charter for her.

On Wolf Hotels’ dime, of course, but mostly because, turns out, I like her.

“Oh, you were serious about that.” She smirks.

“Weren’t you?”

“Yes, but you won’t find anyone reputable on such short notice. My assistant already tried.”

“That sounds like a challenge.” One I’ll happily put Archie on.

“Fine. Tomorrow morning.” She pauses in thought. “And only if you come with me.”

“You want me to go fishing with you.” And I sense she actually means fishing. Olivia’s given no indication that I’d be of use to her any other way, which is a refreshing change of pace for me.

But, fuck, that means my entire morning gone, and my calendar is jam-packed. Plus, I have to get Britt from the airport.

“It’ll give you a chance to keep talking me into holding a corporate event here.”

“Belinda does need another gold watch.” I open and hold the door for her. “Stay tuned. You have my number if you need anything. I’m gonna go take my third time-share pitch for the day. I’ll see you at the cocktail reception later.” I turn to leave.

“Hey, Ronan?” Olivia nods to my knuckles. “Who’d you punch? ”

I stretch my hand out in front of me to regard the discoloration. “Henry.”

Her jaw drops in genuine shock. “Seriously? Why?”

“I didn’t like the way he was speaking about my girlfriend.”

A strange look passes over her face. “You know, you’re different than I expected.”

“Not the first time I’ve heard that.”

“Well, I ’m rarely wrong about people, so I’m surprised. Pleasantly so. See you later.”

She disappears inside the spa.

I’m halfway to my office to task Archie with chartering a fishing boat when I run into Abbi. She’s wearing a tropical-print bathing suit that hugs her belly and shows off her enormous tits, a flowing cover-up, and a wide-brim tan hat to shield her perfect skin.

“Pool or beach?” I ask.

“Haven’t decided yet, but I’m meeting Margo out there.” She collects my hand in hers to study my bruises. “How are you?”

“Looks worse than it is.”

She hums with disapproval. “That’s what Henry said too. I know you’re both lying. What was it about?”

“Nothing worth repeating.”

Her brow furrows. “Look, I tried talking to him about this expansion project of his, but he doesn’t seem too willing.”

“Yeah, I know. I appreciate it, though. What have you been up to?” I ask, changing the subject.

“This and that. Had some work to catch up on, but then I went to the spa, ate a nice meal. You know, enjoying my quiet time while I still can.” Her palm smooths over her belly.

“Still hard to believe there’s a whole-ass human growing in there.”

“I know, right?” She peers up at me. “What about you?”

I frown. “What about me?”

“You know … What about kids?”

“Uh …” Not a subject I’ve broached with anyone since Tasha, and now it’s been twice in one day? “Yeah, one day, I guess. I’m so far away from that, though.”

“Maybe not that far ,” she challenges. “I mean, Sloane’s in the picture now, right?”

“Jesus, Red. I just met her.” I chuckle. “What did you two talk about yesterday?”

“Nothing! Just, you know, stuff.” She twirls a strand of her red hair between her fingertips.

It’s a dead giveaway when she’s nervous. “You’re acting squirrelly.”

“Am I? I guess it’s just my hormones? I go from laughing to crying in, like, seconds. Sorry, I didn’t mean to freak you out with that question. I just have baby on the brain.”

“Right. Well … the only thing on my brain is finding a fishing charter so I can convince a very rich oil CEO to sign on with Wolf Hotels.”

She holds up her hands in surrender. “Don’t let me keep you, then.”

“See you at dinner tonight.” I give her forearm a friendly squeeze and then take off to find Archie.