Page 30 of Save Me (The Wolf Hotel Mermaid Beach #2)

“ Y ou’re coming with us to Siren’s Call tonight!” Beverly declares, earning a raucous cheer from the others.

I laugh as I steer us into the harbor, where Jeremy’s group is climbing the steps up.

After four hours on the water and countless cans of margaritas, these ladies are burned by the sun and pickled by the booze.

I’ve seen this episode before, and I doubt they’ll even make it to dinner, let alone out to the bar.

“Would love to, but I have plans, remember? I’m going to see Gigi tonight.” They’ve all heard about her, fascinated by the origin story of the Sea Witch Brews and Cruise.

“Who is that ?” Samantha pulls her sunglasses down, her eyes glued on the dock.

“Oh, that’s probably just Will, here to …” My words fade as I spot the lone figure standing on the dock with Jer. “That’s Ronan.” I also told them about him.

My heart rate ticks up .

The spunky woman lets out a low whistle. “Either I’m drunk, or that is one beautiful man you have there.”

I grin. “He is that.” And you’re drunk.

“Where? Jesus, I can’t see anything that far away.

” Rhonda roots through her purse to fish out a pair of dark green-framed glasses that she slides on.

“Oh, golly gee. Would ya look at that.” Rhonda has a two-year-old granddaughter at home and uses words like golly gee and oh, shucks instead of Beverly’s colorful array of fucks and shits.

The other ladies ohh and ahh as we get closer.

Meanwhile, my concern sparks. What is Ronan doing here?

On impulse, I fish out my phone to see that he messaged me.

Ronan:

I need to talk to you. I’m coming by the docks.

The excitement I felt a moment ago withers, replaced by panic as I stare at those words.

I need to talk to you.

About what? It sounds serious, which can only mean … Did Abbi break her promise?

Is the bottom about to fall out from under our whirlwind romance?

The women are buzzing with appreciation for Ronan as I edge into our mooring spot. There is no way he can’t hear their disorderly comments about his tailored pants and fitted golf tee.

All I can focus on is his face. Does that look like a man who just found out his fun-time girl is hiding a huge secret? I can’t tell. He’s his usual unreadable self, his mood impossible to gauge, especially when it’s partially hidden by those aviators.

The bumpers barely nudge the dock when Tabitha stumbles out, yelling, “Ahoy!”

With lightning-quick reflexes, Ronan dives for her arm to keep her from tripping and falling into the water on the other side. “You look like you had a good time.”

“Oh, Lord, that voice. It’s so raspy and deep.” Beverly drops her own voice a few octaves in a poor but comical attempt to match it, earning a round of unhinged laughter from them all.

“We heard all about you, and it sounds like Sloane’s having an even better time,” Tabitha purrs, a slur in her words as she gapes up at him.

Oh my God . “Don’t forget your things!” I manage as my cheeks burn.

If Connor were here, he’d be strutting like a peacock. But all they get from Ronan is a flicker of amusement across his face.

The ladies step off one by one, each one grinning up at Ronan on their way past, heading for the stairs with careful steps.

“Our ride is four minutes away!” Darlene, who made the reservation and is the least inebriated, hollers before muttering, “It’s like traveling with kids.

” She grabs a towel and a T-shirt from a hook before slapping a wad of twenties into my hand.

“It’ll be hard to top this day. Thank you so much for everything, sweetheart. ” With a wink, she hops off.

Up ahead, Tabitha stumbles again while laughing hysterically.

“How about I escort you lovely ladies up to the parking lot.” Jeremy trots forward and links his arm through hers.

I should have done that—God forbid one of them tumbles off the dock or falls while climbing the stairs—but I’m too distracted.

With them gone, I turn to Ronan.

When he left my house this morning, he was wearing clothes from last night. Now, he’s in a coral-colored golf shirt and light gray dress pants, and I can’t decide if I want to admire him as is or peel his clothes off to enjoy what’s beneath. “What are you doing here?” Suspicion laces my voice.

“Didn’t you get my text?” Ronan wastes no time, hopping onto the tiki and coming around to herd me into my captain’s spot.

My back hits the helm. “I did, just now.”

Leaning in, he meets my lips in a soft kiss, much like this morning, pulling away just far enough to whisper, “Hey.”

“Hey.” I close my eyes for a moment to inhale his cologne. “What’s up?”

He presses his body flush against me.

“Besides you,” I clarify. Whatever brought him here hasn’t upset him. That’s a good sign, I think?

His chuckle tickles my ear. “I’ve got to book a decent fishing charter for a rich and important guest, and I figured you’d know the good ones. My assistant found four that can do it. Everyone else is booked. ”

“A fishing charter? That’s what this is about?”

“For tomorrow morning.”

I breathe a heavy sigh of relief.

He frowns. “Why? What’d you think it was about?”

“No idea. What are their names?”

He digs his phone out of his pocket and opens it up. “First one is Marlin O’Keefe. You know him?”

“Yeah, and you don’t want him. That guy’s boat looks like it’s a day from sinking every day. How he keeps his license is beyond me.”

“Okay. What about Barry Philips?”

“ Barry ?” I scoff. “Did your assistant read any reviews before calling?”

Ronan’s brows pucker. “So, not a good choice?”

“Not unless you get off on being verbally abused. He makes Frank look like Winnie the Pooh. That guy is one of the most miserable assholes in Mermaid Beach. Seriously, look him up on Yelp. I think he has a one-star average rating. There’s a rumor that he made his crew swim to shore once.

I don’t know if that’s true, but I wouldn’t be surprised. ”

“Shit, I can’t bring Olivia out with someone like that.”

My stomach clenches. “Your client is named Olivia?” As in, a woman?

“Yeah. Apparently, she’s big into fishing.”

“Sure she is.”

He pauses, studying me. “Why?”

“No reason. How old is she?”

Ronan’s lips curl with a knowing smirk. “I don’t know, and I don’t care.”

“Good answer,” I mumble, though it doesn’t help much with the knot forming in the pit of my stomach. A woman wants to get Ronan alone on a boat?

Then again, I can think of sexier ways to lure him in without literal bait and hooks.

“Yeah? Well, how about this answer: I have everything I want right in front of me.” Ronan reaches into my gaping uniform shirt, slipping his finger under my bikini top to tease my nipple.

It hardens instantly.

Memories of last night flood my mind, and a swell of heat quickly follows. I edge in closer until our bodies are flush once again. I’ve missed this all day. “Do you have time to come back to my house?”

“Fuck, I really wish I did.”

I reach up and slide my bikini cup to the side, exposing my breast for him only.

His eyes flare with heat. “Maybe I can?—”

Heavy footfalls sound on the dock then.

Ronan curses under his breath and drops his hand to his side.

My irritation flares while I readjust my suit before turning around.

“Hey, boss,” Will calls out. Jeremy is on his heels. “Ran into your group up top. Looks like you had a wild bunch.”

“Yeah, those ladies can party.” I point to the empty cans in the trash bin, evidence of their afternoon debauchery.

Will jumps onto the boat, casting a “Hey, man” to Ronan before he sets to cleaning up.

Our private time is officially over. For now .

“Who’re the other charters?” I prompt. He did come here for a reason besides fondling me.

“Randy Pegg,” Ronan reads out loud.

“Randy Pegg,” I echo, my face pinched up in thought. “His name is super familiar, but I don’t know … Hey Will, do you know a Randy Pegg? Charters fishing boats?”

He pauses halfway off the dock, his tan arms straining under the weight of the cooler. “Yeah, isn’t that the guy who accidentally impaled his brother in the thigh with a spear gun?”

“Oh my God, you’re right!” I laugh, even though it’s the furthest thing from funny. “He tripped over a rope or something. The brother’s fine,” I quickly add.

“No to Randy Pegg.” Ronan curses. “And let me guess, Nic Wheeler just got out for manslaughter.”

“Nic’s available?” That’s a rarity. “No, he’s great! Really reliable. More expensive, though.”

“I don’t give a shit. It’s on Wolf. Let me get Archie to book him.” Ronan’s thumbs fly over his screen. “All right, thank God that’s done. I need to get back.”

“I’ll walk you out. I’m heading to Gigi’s.” I grab my bag and throw a wave at the guys. “By the way, the new captain starts tomorrow. Her name’s Bailey.”

“Is she hot?” Will asks.

Jeremy cuffs the back of his head. “See you tonight at the bonfire, Sloane?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there tonight.”

His eyes flitter to Ronan, darting to his bruised knuckles. “You too?”

“We’ll see how the day goes.” Ronan casts a lazy salute before falling into step beside me, his hand settling on the small of my back. “So, you hired her?”

“Yeah, and I think she’s going to be great.

” We sat on two beach chairs in the shade outside the coffee shop while Bailey filled in details about every aspect of her life, including her honorable discharge after multiple deployments to the Middle East. In my head, I’d hired her within the first five minutes.

I hope my gut isn’t wrong. “Things around here feel like they’re getting back to normal.

” Except for the whole pregnancy thing, of course.

Ronan’s face pinches with discontent.

I reach up to squeeze his bicep. “Don’t worry, Tiki One is still yours if you want it.”

“Yeah, maybe.” He chuckles, but the sound is off.

“How was work today?”

“Weird.” He tells me about his golf morning and his meetings as we climb the steep staircase, side by side. By the time we reach the top, I’m laughing.