Page 2 of Savage Romance
A gust of wind blew icy rain in Zoe’s face as she took the RideKC metro toward River Market, disembarking on Main Street right in front of the hotel. Although the temperature was about average for November, the wind and rain made Zoe shiver.
Why couldn’t Mikey have chosen a nice Florida or California city to live in?
Zoe walked quickly to the hotel entrance to get inside as soon as possible.
I love doing job interviews with my hair all frizzy.
Although pointless, she tried to smooth her curls with her palms as she used the automatic sliding doors to enter the lobby.
The place had a modern almost minimalist ambiance without being cold, with modern artwork on the walls and inviting seating areas in browns and grays that might have been dull if not for the golden cushions scattered around. The decor was sleek but still had an inviting quality to it, and Zoe could admire that at least. Dennehy might be a ruthless bastard, but he had excellent taste.
His staff on the other hand…
She frowned when she spotted two employees on her left who clearly had more interest in each other than in helping the guests.
What kind of crappy hospitality policy is that?
Her perusal halted on a haggard-looking woman behind the reception desk who seemed to be having trouble with the hotel’s computer system.
Forget about the lack of hospitality, let’s talk about lousy collegiality! Something is definitely wrong with the morale in this hotel... But should it be any wonder with an owner like Ben Dennehy?
Ben Dennehy might wear a suit and a pleasant smile, but he was a ruthless opponent at the poker table and a cutthroat businessman. Zoe had done her homework. Dennehy’s great-grandfather built the Dennehy empire, his grandfather enlarged it and his father almost ran the business into the ground, spending his time, money, and energy on booze and women. Within three years after taking over the business, Dennehy not only reclaimed the possessions his grandfather once owned but exceeded his ancestors’ wealth.
Determined to find the men who wronged Mikey, she’d investigated and found two names, Byron Nolan and Ben Dennehy. Then she discovered Ben Dennehy needed a new hotel manager. Zoe had always been excellent at managing people and problems, and although overqualified, she applied for the job.
Continuing her brisk pace, Zoe walked up to the reception desk and waited for the woman to deal with the two customers in front of her, frowning as the young receptionist butchered the first hotel guest’s name and handed the second customer a keycard without first activating it.
While the bumbling receptionist tried to correct her mistake, Zoe glanced around the hotel lobby. The gossiping hotel staff had grown to three people and still appeared oblivious of the guests waiting in the lobby or how their colleague behind the desk was struggling. The staff didn’t seem up to par, and she almost hoped she would get the job for a different reason than getting even with Dennehy.
Chapter Three
Ben crossed his legs and studied the woman who’d introduced herself as Zoe Jones. With a dusting of freckles on her nose and cheeks and a mop of unruly hair, she looked young for the amount of job experience stated on her resume. She wasn’t exactly small, but then his six-eleven, bulky frame dwarfed most women. So, when he shook her hand, he’d been extra careful not to crush the delicate bones and elegant long fingers.
Intriguing woman.
Although she wasn’t exactly his type, quite the opposite since he preferred to date tall, blonde, Norwegian-model-type women, something of masculine interest stirred inside him. Suddenly he was picturing her… tied and blindfolded with her ass high up in the air. He shifted in his seat to release the pressure from his zipper and concentrated on her resume instead.
He drew his eyebrows together. Things didn’t add up. She looked excellent on paper, even over-qualified but what motivated her to come to Kansas City to manage a medium-sized hotel wasn’t clear, and she skillfully evaded all his questions toward the subject.
“Listen, Mr. Dennehy, I don’t understand these personal questions. Might I also point out personal questions are mostly illegal to ask.” She leaned back in her chair and met his gaze boldly. “I’m here because you need a manager, and I’m the woman you need.”
Apparently, she wasn’t going to budge on the subject. While he liked her tenacity and her apparent strength, her evasiveness irked him more than it should. Something about this woman had him off his game somehow. It was time for another approach.
The man oozed alpha energy and sexual magnetism. Zoe fought the urge to squirm in her seat and tried not to falter under the intense scrutiny of Dennehy’s gaze.
Ignoring the fluttery sensations in her chest and stomach, Zoe locked eyes and gave the man her most impassive expression. For several seconds, utter silence hung between them. Tingling and pleasurable aches flooded her body, and she braced herself for another barrage of questions about her reasons for being here. If only he wasn’t this attractive, I might find it easier to concentrate.
“So, Ms. Jones.” Dennehy leaned forward in his chair. He braced himself on his forearms, and Zoe swallowed as she stared at his masculine hands and muscled arms.
She forced her gaze back to his to discover his eyes held a challenge.
“What do you think of my hotel?”
Taken aback by the turn and a little unsettled by her reaction to him as a man, Zoe hesitated and considered the merits of lying. Buying time, she hedged, “You strike me as a person who prefers upfront answers over flattery.”
Narrowing his eyes, Dennehy cocked his head. “I’m a busy man, Ms. Jones, I have no time or tolerance for bullshit.”
She blinked at the crude word but begrudgingly admired his straightforwardness. Time to give some brutal honesty of her own. “Okay then, your hotel sucks.”
