Page 3 of Save Me (The Wolf Hotel Mermaid Beach #2)

“ D o you hear that?” Chester holds up a crooked index finger, aimed at the floor-to-ceiling aquarium in Opal Reef.

I pause and listen intently as a cluster of tropical fish glides past. “That weird whirring?” It fades in and out, a repetitive sound.

“Ray said it wasn’t doin’ that yesterday during his daily inspection, and it’s getting louder by the hour.

Staff noticed it this morning.” The facilities manager frowns at the tank.

Back in his day, I’ll bet Chester was a sturdy guy, but his cheeks have hollowed with age, and his lanky arms are more bone than muscle. “That there could be a big problem.”

I imagine every problem with this enormous fish tank is a big problem. It might rank up there with the most expensive feature in this entire hotel. “What does that mean?”

“Don’t know yet. Ray checked for clogs in the filtration systems and didn’t find any, so he’s pretty sure it has to be a faulty part, but he needs the manufacturing company to confirm. They’re sending someone in tomorrow. Then we may need parts.”

“How long will that take?”

Chester shrugs. “They come from overseas.”

“You’re fucking kidding me right now.”

“Wish I was.”

I shake my head. “Why does it seem like every system we have in this hotel is giving up on us before we’ve even opened?” First the sprinklers, now this?

A second shrug. “I worked at the Aspen Wolf when it opened after the remodel, and I remember three hot-water tanks blowin’ the hell up one morning. Not the first time that’s happened either.”

“Something to look forward to is what you’re telling me?” I mutter.

“Let’s hope we’re in the clear.” He reaches out to knock on a wooden wall panel.

Potential hot-water issues are not our concern now, though. “We can’t have this aquarium going down on us, this week of all weeks.” Belinda expects our mermaids to make the front cover of every major travel magazine.

He holds up his hands in surrender. “I know, boss. We’re doing everything we can. Just thought you should be in the know, in case it outright quits on us before we get it fixed.”

“And what happens if it quits? I mean, what about all these fish? And can the entertainers still use it?”

He scratches the top of his thinning hair.

“We need the system to clean the water, or it’ll get funky real quick.

How quick? I’m not an expert on giant fish tanks, but I can’t imagine any of those girls will want to get in murky water.

Pictures probably wouldn’t look ideal either.

” He cringes at the thought. “Hopefully, it doesn’t get to that, and I’m on it. ”

I sigh. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

His phone chirps, and he scans it. And curses. “That’s because you idiots connected the kegs wrong.”

My eyebrows arch in question. “Problem?”

“Just foamy beer. Better go deal with that.”

“Better you than me.” I think I’m beginning to see how this director thing works—these guys do all the problem-solving and running around and only loop me in when there’s something they can’t solve without it costing, in which case I get to take the heat from the higher-ups.

Commotion sounds from the kitchen, and a moment later, a man dressed in a white chef’s uniform plows through the swinging door, his hand wrapped in a tea towel, his face pinched with pain.

“That can’t be good,” Chester declares as a petite woman in a peach-colored manager’s uniform chases him out Opal Reef’s doors.

“No, but that’s Lena’s problem.” I have enough to worry about, and it’s not even noon.

I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to be in a meeting somewhere.

“Call this tank manufacturer back and get someone here today. After hours if they have to. Drag them out of a hospital bed, I don’t care.

A system like this going down on our opening week?

Unacceptable. They should be jumping through hoops to please us. ”

“Will do, boss. ”

I grit my teeth. “Call me Ronan.” I don’t need anyone kissing my ass.

He salutes me and takes off.

With one last look at the enormous tank, I head back to my office, my mood growing more acerbic by the hour.

Britt:

Do you have featherless pillows?

Define featherless

I’m not kidding! I have allergies, remember?

You’re all good. No feathers.

Okay …

I’m so excited.

See you soon.

I set my phone down. My baby sister and I have always been close, and I don’t mind admitting that I’ve missed her. Still, I wonder if inviting her this weekend of all weekends was the smartest move. I won’t have time for her.

“Fourteen stitches,” Lena confirms, reading a text from her phone before leaning back in the plush armchair, the oversized umbrella above our table providing shade against the sweltering afternoon sun. “And he’s lost part of his finger.”

“We haven’t even opened our doors yet,” Belinda muses, setting her fork on her plate to mark her salmon salad finished. The server hovering over us like a seagull swoops in to collect. “I thought chefs were trained to not maim themselves.”

Lena snorts.

I unfasten a button at my shirt collar, wishing I’d chosen a golf shirt.

I wasn’t expecting an afternoon meeting at Seraphina’s.

I’ll admit, the view over the gulf is a million times nicer than staring at the frosted glass walls of the meeting room, but we’re on hour two of comparing notes about all the ways we’re still not ready for guests, and I’m minutes away from stripping down and diving into the pool on the other side of the privacy wall.

“Does this mean no dinner party tomorrow night, then?” I was looking forward to it because Abbi will be there, but now I’d rather eat a bag of tacks than be around her husband.

“You’re kidding, right?” Belinda counters. “We have an entire kitchen of chefs. Besides, he’s the master chef. You don’t need a finger to give orders.”

“Good to know everyone has their priorities straight,” I say under my breath.

“Is that dinner mandatory?” Lena asks, her tone reluctant.

“Is it mandatory that you accept an invitation from the CEO of Wolf Hotels?” Belinda arches an eyebrow. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t ask me that.”

Lena’s shoulders sink. “That’s not … I mean, who else is going to be there?”

“Your boss and his wife, which should be enough,” Belinda begins with forced patience. “Henry wants to celebrate the opening of the hotel. Besides, it’s a good trial run for the servers in a less stressful environment.”

“Serving Wolf is supposed to be less stressful?” Ten bucks says they don’t get through the night without another blood-letting injury.

Belinda’s lips purse. “It’s a more casual atmosphere. His people will be there. Preston and Merrick, for one. You remember them from the wedding, Ronan?”

“How could I forget?” They were both groomsmen. Two richer-than-thou bastards—one a pompous hedge fund executive from England, and the other one a guy who runs a hotel in Vegas and may or may not be tied to a crime family. The whispers are loud but inconclusive.

I got along well enough with them regardless, so I guess it’s not the end of the world.

“And, of course, Margo,” Belinda continues.

I stifle my inward groan. That changes things. Wherever that woman goes, chaos and debauchery follow. “Are we positive this dinner is mandatory?” I echo Lena’s question.

“Yes.” Belinda’s voice is laced with annoyance. “You can bring your sidekick if it makes you feel better. Gary is coming, right?” She stares expectantly at Lena.

“Yes, though Daniel has a soccer game that one of us should be at.” Lena studies her fingernails while her passive-aggressiveness seeps into the conversation.

Belinda’s phone rings. “I need to take this.” She smoothly vacates her chair as she answers, leaving Lena and me alone with our tablets and our thoughts.

I check my watch. It’s almost three. What’s going on with the mermaid tank?

And have they figured out the sprinkler situation yet?

I punch out quick messages to Chester and Dorian, checking in.

What I really want to do is get the hell out of here and go find Sloane.

It’s been twenty-four hours since I’ve seen her, and I think I’m suffering from withdrawal.

But what the fuck do I say to her? No, you’ve got me all wrong . I’m not a fuckboy, I promise.

And now, there’s this whole eminent domain bullshit that I have to either play dumb about or tell her, in which case I can basically kiss my job goodbye.

I feel Lena watching me.

“So … Daniel’s your kid?” I knew she was married on account of the flashy ring, but I know nothing else about my counterpart. Maybe I should attempt to be friendly. And, hey, at least then I can honestly say I haven’t slept with every woman in my life.

“Yes. My twelve-year-old son, who is very angry about his mother taking this job and forcing him to move away from his friends. You’d think the beach would be more enticing than Chicago’s suburbs, but apparently not.” Her smile is tight.

“That’s where you’re from?”

“Charlotte, originally, but we were living in Chicago for the past decade.” She smooths a hand through her auburn hair. I note the faintest hint of gray at her temple. “It’s all Daniel knows.”

“I’m lucky, I guess. I didn’t have to think about a wife or kids when Wolf told me I had three days to get here.” No one to pack up except for a giant man-child. Speaking of, I should check in to see how Connor’s knee is doing. Though I’m sure Katie and Rachel are taking really good care of him.

Lena’s golden-brown eyes narrow as she regards me.

“Something on your mind?” I ask guardedly.

“I still can’t figure out how you ended up in this job.”

“Besides my sharp intellect and vast experience?” I quip. Me, an outdoor crew guy with no real management experience. Everyone knows it. It’s a fair statement, and yet I can’t tell if she’s genuinely curious or if it’s an attempt to insult me. “I must have skills you haven’t seen yet.” I wink.

The simple move seems to startle her. She clears her throat while refocusing on her tablet, her cheeks pinking.