Page 129 of Release Me

I stifle my groan. I was hoping for alone time with her again. This is for the best, though. I can’t be trusted to keep my hands to myself.

“So, tell me.” Connor slaps his big mitt over the back of my neck, squeezing tightly as he slows our stride, letting the others get ahead of us. “How long hasthatbeen goin’ on?” He jerks a chin toward the tiki boat.

“It’s not.”

“Fuck off, man.” Annoyance laces his tone. “I’ve tried to be supportive through this whole monk-life thing you’ve got going on, but I am seriously starting to worry about you.”

“We hooked up once, weeks ago, and I haven’t seen her since,” I admit reluctantly. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated how? Like, she’s married? Has a baseball team of brats at home? Or she has an army of creepy dolls that she talks to.”

I burst out laughing. “No, you jackass. None of those things. It’s just …” There’s no point keeping Connor in the dark. It’ll only make things more painful for me as he needles to get answers. “You heard about the neighbor at the hotel, right? The one with all the ‘Fuck you, Henry Wolf’ signs aimed at our green?”

“Oh, yeah. Heard they’re a real whack-job.”

“She’s not.”

“She.” Connor’s eyes widen. “Oh, wait.That’s her?” He jams a finger in the tiki boat’s direction. “The crazy neighbor?”

I knock his hand down so it’s not so obvious that we’re talking about Sloane. “Yeah. And she’s not crazy. She’s just not happy about having a massive hotel next to her. I don’t blame her. I’d be pissed too.” Wolf Hotel has invaded her home and her livelihood.

Connor studies Sloane like he’s seeing her again for the first time and she’s suddenly grown a horn on her forehead. “Well, the signs are all down now from what I’ve heard, so what’s the problem?”

“She and Wolf have beef. It’s been goin’ on for years. And Belinda wants to mount her head on a pike at the front gate. They both warned me to keep my distance before I even met her.”

Realization dawns on Connor. “So, you fucked the one woman Wolf told you explicitly not to fuck.”

“Basically.” He said she’s off-limits. Itcouldleave room for interpretation. For an idiot.

“Not basically.Exactly. Because he knows you.”

“Yeah, well … fuck him. He doesn’t get to cock-block me.” Besides, he already has Abbi.

Connor seems to ponder this. “And what happens if he finds out?”

“He’ll fire my ass. Belinda will make sure of it.” I’ll lose the job I’ve been killing myself to learn. I know this, and yet I’m incapable of staying away whenever Sloane’s around. The second everyone hopped into the water, I was moving for her like a kid slinking toward a cookie jar, desperate to get a taste of what was inside.

So, fuck Henry Wolf. What he doesn’t know can’t hurt me.

Connor hoots with laughter. “You’re right, man. That iswaymore complicated than creepy dolls.”

Tasha

Flights are booked! Oh my God, we’re so excited. Party of ten heading your way. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I can’t wait to see you! XOXO

Glad I could help. I’ll send you the codes tonight so you can register.

“So,how long have you lived in Mermaid Beach?” Ryan leans against the bar, gazing dreamily at Sloane.

I chuckle. She’s four margaritas and a tequila shot in and slurring her words. I’ve never seen her drunk before. It’s cute.

“My whole life.” Sloane tosses a used straw in the trash behind her. “It’s all I know.”

“That’s so nice.” Ryan studies Sloane’s tan, svelte bodyunabashedly. There’s nothing but wistfulness in her expression. She’s always been like that since I’ve known her—acutely aware of other female bodies. At first, I wondered if she was secretly into pussy, but then I realized it was more about her obsession with anyone with a form that doesn’t match her compact, curvy one. Either way, Ryan seems more confident in her own skin since meeting Kyle, which I’m happy to see. She has a lot going for her—in beauty, brains,andpersonality.

But I guess it’s hard not to admire a figure like Sloane’s. I know because I’ve been ogling her long torso and perky breasts since I parked my ass on this stool, counting down the minutes until I can touch her again. This afternoon cruise feels like an eternity, and she’s been keeping her distance. Probably smart. Just the thought of her coming on my hand makes my dick hard. I’m going to have to go chill my erection in the Gulf again.

“Here, you should drink this.” Sloane cracks open a bottle of water and sets it in front of Ryan. “The sun’s extra hot today.”

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