Page 102 of Release Me

“And now you’re suddenly not interested? What should his job matter?” She scoffs. “It’s not like he’s dealing drugs. It’s a perfectly respectable occupation.”

“But he’s also a liar. Check this out.” I dig out my phone and open my photo album to the picture I saved last night.

“Oh dear, this isn’t what I think it is.” Gigi tsks. “You promised me you’d delete the Henry Wolf file.”

“I did, I swear! But something about Ronan seemed familiar, and I couldn’t figure out what. Then he told me Henry personally hired him, and it triggered something, so I foundthe pictures again.” I hold up my phone to show her a magazine photo of Henry Wolf alongside his groomsmen. I’d seen wedding pictures before during one of my hate-stalking sessions—they weren’t hard to find, splashed all over the internet—but they were nothing more than a group of obscenely attractive people celebrating a man who was destroying our peace. “Thisis Ronan.” His dark hair is cropped short—nearly a buzz cut—and he’s less muscular, but there’s no doubt it’s him.

Gigi hums. “That boy’s face sure has been blessed.”

That’s an understatement. “But why was he one of Henry Wolf’s groomsmen? He said they aren’t friends.”

“I’m sure there’s an explanation.”

“Or he’s a liar.” And now he and Henry are laughing about the crazy rooster commune lady throwing herself at him. I can’t shake the humiliation I’ve worn since Ronan’s rejection. Ineverput myself out there like that.

Gigi’s face pinches with worry. “You know, sometimes I think it was a mistake taking up that fight with the hotel. Maybe it would have been better to cash the check. It’s just a little house on the water.”

I’m already shaking my head. “No, it’s our home.” It’s everything I grew up knowing. “Some billionaire doesn’t get to come in and force us out!”

My phone rings, cutting off my rant. Frank’s number shows up on my screen.

Gigi’s eyes light up. “Oh, let me talk to him!”

I throw the call on speaker.

“You haven’t come to see me in two weeks!” Gigi says by way of greeting.

“I know. I’m sorry.” Frank’s gruff voice carries. “I’ve been busy getting Rainbow Alley ready. I’ll come by tomorrow, if your granddaughter lets me have a day off, I promise.”

I roll my eyes, even as Gigi laughs. Frank wouldn’t take a day off unless I put a gun to his head. He could be dyingand he’d pick up a shovel and dig the hole for his corpse, just so he had something to do.

“Sloane, you got a second?” Frank asks.

He wouldn’t bother me while I’m with Gigi unless it’s important. “Yeah, for sure. Hold on.” I slink away and turn off the speaker. “What’s up?”

“Three things. A guy came in askin’ for a job. Name’s Rolland. Local kid. Not much in the way of experience, and he’s scrawny. Not a fucking chance in hell he’ll be able to carry four chairs at a time, let alone eight, and a strong wind might blow him over.”

“You’re not really selling him to me.”

“He can start today. And he’ll build muscle.”

“Okay. Hire him, I guess. We need all the help we can get.” My arms and shoulders are screaming at me after loading and unloading umbrellas and beach chairs late into the night.

“You don’t want to meet him first?”

“At this point? Just check his references to make sure he’s not a criminal.”

“Consider it done. Also, AJ called in sick.”

I groan. And so it begins. Though I shouldn’t be surprised after yesterday’s run-in. “Anyone else?” We have two cruise bookings for the afternoon. Will Jeremy bail on me too? And what about Will? He’s supposed to be there to ready the boats.

“All good so far. I can play captain, but that means Mick and this new guy are on their own?—”

“No, I’ll cover AJ today. And every other day,” I add, checking my watch. My Saturday has officially been derailed, but this is par for the course when we’re in season, even without all the staffing issues. “What else?”

“Just got a call from Lover Boy.”

“Who?”

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