Page 44 of Save Me (The Wolf Hotel Mermaid Beach #2)

C onnor trots down the steps of Palmy Daze, wearing swim trunks, his brawny chest on display.

“It’s not a four-story beach house, but it’s okay, right?”

“You kidding? Bed, shitter, TV, AC, beach.” He marks each one off on a finger. “ And I can literally stumble to work every morning. It’s perfect.”

Skye and Rebel stroll past in their bikinis, towels draped over their shoulders.

“You comin’ for a swim before dinner?” Skye calls out over her shoulder, her Southern twang heavier than usual. A dead giveaway when she’s flirting.

“Hell yeah.” Connor takes off after them, the three of them passing Frank on their way to the water.

And so it begins.

Frank ambles toward me, covered in dust and dirt from the task of moving the fire pit. “You sure that’s a good idea?”

“No, but it’s too late now. I’ll warn them.” Rebel and Skye may be close, but not that close. They won’t be up for sharing Connor’s body parts.

“He’s paying his fair share. So is the other one.”

“Yes, sir.” I mock salute.

He rolls his eyes. “Come and see what we’ve done.”

“I’m allowed?” I drifted off after Ronan left to get Connor, exhausted by the last few late nights, and woke up to Rebel clattering in the kitchen and strict rules to stay away from the back because Frank and the beach crew were at work.

I was in no hurry to watch them dismantle five decades of history, so I helped finish dinner, and then I freshened up the trailers in anticipation of Bailey and Connor.

“Come on.” Frank jerks his head. “Everyone helped. Even the pipe cleaner.”

I hold my breath and follow him around back to where a sweaty group of Sea Witch staff lingers, chugging water. Nearby, Jeremy flips burgers on the grill, the smell of BBQ permeating the air.

“Wow.”

What used to be just sparse grass and sand is now a small oasis. They leveled the ground and spread screening, setting patio stones to form paths toward the stone fire pit, from both the house and the beach. In each corner, the soil has been churned and small palm trees planted.

“My uncle owns the garden place out in Old Town. He’ll sell plants to us at cost. You just gotta tell me what you like.” Rolland leans on his shovel, his tanned arms smeared with dirt. He doesn’t look so scrawny anymore.

“I can’t believe you guys did all this today. ”

“It took, what, three and a half hours?” Ron says, checking his watch. “Had some old materials in storage at the compound that we hauled over.”

“The pit looks the same.” It’s like they picked it up and carried it over in one piece. Same sooty stones, same size, same shape.

“I had the power washer ready, but Frank said he’d aim the gun at my nut sac if I touched that dirt,” Brock, a quiet guy, says.

“And he knew I meant it,” Frank adds, as the others laugh.

“But look, see? We’re still close to the beach. It’s just over there.” Will waves his hands in the direction of the water, where Connor and the girls lounge, waist-deep.

“Yeah, now the hotel can go fuck themselves if they call the cops on us again.” Mick studies a fresh scrape on his knuckle. “And we can keep having our fires like we always do.”

“Guys, this is incredible.” They worked their Sea Witch jobs all day in the hot sun, and then they came here to do this. “Thank you.” It seems inadequate.

“We’re the Sea Witch fam.” Jeremy appears then, throwing an arm around me. “We’re always here for each other.”

Would they be here, though, slaving for me, if they knew how I’d sabotaged them?

“How much longer for the burgers, dude?” Mick whines.

“Five minutes. Ten, tops,” Jeremy promises. “Just enough time to jump in the water, you filthy pigs.”

A chorus of curses sounds, and then the guys are abandoning shovels and work gloves, their sights set on cooling off.

The guilt that’s been gnawing at my conscience for weeks finally erupts. “I’ve got to come clean,” I blurt. Might as well get everything out in the open today. “I know you guys applied for seasonal at the hotel.”

Wary glances dart around. Rolland appears utterly confused.

I rush on before I chicken out. “I blocked your hires. Well, Ronan did. For me. I couldn’t lose you all. Not like that. Not to them. But I know it was wrong.” I hold my breath as I study their faces, waiting for their reactions.

“Yeah, we know,” Mick admits with a shrug. “Cody came by the compound and told us.”

“What? When?” Frank demands to know.

“Yesterday afternoon. You were out at the sandbar.”

A muttered curse, followed by something unintelligible—likely a threat of bodily harm—slips from Frank’s lips.

I knew Cody had it out for me, but I didn’t think he’d be that motivated. If I felt any shed of sympathy after Bailey skewered his ego, it’s gone. “Okay, so …” What do I say next except “I’m sorry, and I’ll understand if you want to quit.”

“If you ask me, you did us a favor.” Ron shrugs. “I talked to Dave, and it doesn’t sound like he likes it over there. Too stuffy, too many rules. Plus, he misses livin’ here.”

The little olive branch he holds out is worth more than he knows. “How can he not?”

“Speakin’ of, when’s Bailey showin’ up?” Will grins .

“Settle down, you don’t have a shot in hell at that,” Jeremy tosses back as he returns to the grill. According to his version of events, Will was tripping over his tongue when the tikis sailed back to the harbor and he got his first look at the new captain. Or, should I say, admiral.

I chuckle. “Soon, actually.”

The group disbands toward the water in a flurry of laughter, taking some of the weight from my chest with them. Even Frank, never much of a joiner, trudges after.

“Feeling better?” The steps creak as Ronan takes them down. He must have witnessed that whole spectacle from the back porch.

“Bless me, Father, it has been—” I mock squint in thought. “— six hours since my last confession?”

“You’re not fully absolved yet. That thing we did earlier is considered a sin in some cultures.”

“Dude.” Jeremy holds his hands out in a what the fuck manner before returning to his burgers.

Ronan’s lips twitch, the only sign of his amusement.

“Settled in all right?” I emptied a few drawers to make room for his clothes.

“All good.” He sidles up behind me, curling his arms around my shoulders. “The new pit looks professional.”

“Yeah, they did a great job. I wish they didn’t have to do it in the first place.” I pause. “You sure you’re okay?” I could be projecting, but his mood has been ominous since he returned with Connor and his duffel bag of belongings. Is he already having doubts? Regrets?

His hand grips my chin, angling my head back to meet his intense gaze, just like he did in my bedroom this afternoon, when he took me from behind. “You and me are perfect.”

How does he read me so well?

Leaning forward, his lips meet mine in a tender kiss that makes my chest swell and my heart race. Even though my entire world feels like it’s crumbling around me, somehow, Ronan gives me the strength I need to face it head-on.

A car door slams.

I force myself to peel away. “That must be Bailey.”

We walk hand in hand toward the parking lot, my attention veering toward the trees and the golf course beyond.

“Do you think they’re still out there taking pictures?

” Rebel said she spied several sets of legs near the fence line this afternoon while she was in the garden.

She couldn’t say if they were curious golfers or media people, or maybe Wolf staff.

“Doesn’t matter. It’s out there.”

“How long before lawyers show up in my driveway?”

“Let them. Can’t wait to hear what they have to say.” He says it with such confidence.

Bailey stands in the middle of the parking lot doing a slow, circular turn as she takes in the trailers, the cluster of cars, and Ralph.

“You’re gonna have to put a leash on Connor,” Ronan murmurs as we approach.

“I’m not worried. She can handle her own.” Tight black workout shorts and crop top show off a honed body, layered in hard muscle. Envy swells inside me as I call out, “Welcome to the Sea Witch commune!”

“When can I move in? ”

“You haven’t even seen your trailer yet.”

“I don’t need to.” She slides off her sunglasses, revealing an eager twinkle. “This feels like home.”

“Put your foot here .” Bailey demonstrates, pointing to a spot on the sandy ground, her hand on Jeremy’s shoulder. At the crew’s relentless whining, she’s been giving basic combat demonstrations for the past half hour.

“Like this?” Jeremy follows the instruction.

In a lightning-quick move, she flips him over her leg, and he lands flat on his back with a dull thud. “Yeah, exactly like that.”

“Ow,” he groans as laughter explodes around the fire.

“Ron. Toss another one.” Mick holds his hands up, and Ron throws a hot dog, narrowly missing Lara’s cheek.

“Keep your wieners away from our faces!” Rebel scolds, earning several hoots.

I lean back in the seat I’m sharing with Ronan and hold my Sapporo against his lips. “We need more chairs.” A few of the old Adirondacks were not keen on the move and lost pieces along the way.

He takes a sip to help me keep up appearances that I’m drinking. “If only we knew someone who owned a beach chair rental company.”

“If only.” I rest my head next to his and admire the blanket of stars above. My problems are only just beginning, but for tonight, surrounded by my Sea Witch family, cradled in Ronan’s arms, they seem a galaxy away .

Skye trots past then, changed out of her bathing suit and into skimpy cotton shorts and a fitted T-shirt.

“Took you a while.” I note her matted hair and the lazy, crooked ponytail—she rarely walks around without an artful top bun to tame the frizz. And the fact that Connor is still not back from changing either.

“Someone had to clean up the mess in the kitchen. Here, figured you’d be ready for another cold one.” She holds out a fresh beer.

“Thanks.” I accept it.

Ronan’s soft curse tickles my ear. “I’m gonna be wasted if this keeps up.”

I nuzzle my face into the crook of his neck. “Good. Easier for me to take advantage of.”

His phone lights up with a text then, and Tasha’s name appears on the screen.

A dash of discomfort burns in my stomach. For an ex he only just reconnected with, she messages him a lot. “Didn’t you say she was here this weekend for a bachelorette party?”

“Yeah. I saw her at the airport when I went to pick up Britt.” He says it so offhandedly.

I hesitate, not wanting to show my insecurities. Cody used to do that all the time, dismiss frequent texts and meet-ups from female “friends.” When I’d question why, he’d gaslight my concerns, tell me to stop being so jealous.

Turns out I had reason to be then.

Do I have reason now?

“How was seeing her again after so long?” A woman he was in love with, the one he thought he’d marry .

“Weird. But also good. Validated what I already knew, that she’s in the past.”

“Does she know that?” Because I can only think of one reason why a girlfriend is messaging her ex so much.

The firelight casts just enough of a glow for me to see the truth in his eyes as he says, “She does now.”

“Good.”

His answering smile is crooked. “By the way, are you sure it’s okay for Britt and Dani to crash here this weekend?”

“Yeah, as long as they’re okay with sharing the spare room.”

“They won’t care. They’re like two peas in a pod. It’s just for two nights, anyway. But I can put them up in a hotel?—”

“No, don’t be dumb. The more, the merrier. Besides, I can’t wait to meet her.” What is Ronan’s sister like? And his mother and father? Will they like me? Will I like them?

“Yeah?” He toys with a strand of my hair. “And when do I get to meet the original sea witch?”

“Soon. I promise.” First, I have to figure out how to break the news to her that everything she poured her heart and soul into building is going to be gutted, paved over, erased.

My stomach tightens with dismay. “Tomorrow? That’s when he’s rolling out his big plans?

” I don’t have to spell out Henry’s name.

Ronan’s expression hardens. “Yeah.”

How long before that news reaches Palm Oaks? It’s better if Gigi hears it from me.

Heavy footfalls sound from behind us, and a moment later, a bare-chested Connor strolls up, dressed in gray track shorts and holding Ralph like a football under one arm, a bag of potato chips dangling from his free hand.

Jeremy’s jaw hangs. “How did you catch him?”

“Easy. Found him sittin’ on Darla’s hood. Guess he likes her.”

Frank snorts.

“Watch this.” Connor holds a chip out between two fingers.

Ralph’s bird neck stretches as he snatches it away with his beak.

“I have been trying to catch that guy for years , and you got him on your first night here,” Rebel admits with astonishment. “That is amazing.”

“That’s because I ’m amazing,” he counters, winking at her.

“Yeah, Connor’s a regular cock whisperer,” Ronan mocks.

Frank’s head tips back with a deep bellow of laughter. It’s so surprising and so boisterous that everyone freezes for a beat before joining in.

We’re all still laughing when two figures materialize from the darkness next to the oat grass.