Page 64 of Release Me

I stall on an answer. I’m shocked is what I am. “Why me?”

Wolf pivots, setting his hands on the back of another chair, his ice-blue eyes settled on me. I can’t argue that I don’t see the appeal. The guy won every lottery at birth, including the physical genes. If my proclivities leaned that way, I’m sure I’d be eager to impress him. “Because you’ve earned my trust, and I trustveryfew people.”

“I’m … honored?” What else do I say? “But how does that translate into running a hotel for you?”

His chuckle is dark. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. Notrunningthe hotel. You’d report to the general manager.”

“But the grounds and facilitiesandadmin managers would all report tome.”

“Yes.”

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I consider this. “Why me?”

“You have a degree in business administration and management from Indianapolis, don’t you?”

“It’s a piece of paper.”

“Graduated near the top of your class too,” he goes on as if I hadn’t spoken. “And you were hired as a staff coordinator at Wolf there?—”

“Before I begged them to move me outside because I hate being stuck behind a desk.”

“This will be nothing like that, I can promise you.” He chuckles. “I have to say, I’ve never had anyone try to talk their wayoutof a huge promotion.”

This isn’t a promotion. This is a joke. “I have no experience with this type of role,” I say instead.

“True,” he concedes. “But in the last year, your supervisor has been giving you more responsibility, has he not?”

“He’s definitely unloaded his job responsibilities onto me, if that’s what you mean.”

“Because I asked him to.”

My eyebrows arch. “That was coming fromyou?”

“It sure as hell wasn’t coming from Charlie. He’s still paranoid we’re replacing him.” Henry pauses. “But he’s been impressed. Says you’re not nearly as stupid or lazy as he assumed.”

I snort.

Wolf settles into the chair he was leaning on. “If youhaven’t figured it out yet, I make a lot of my decisions based on my gut, and it has rarely steered me wrong.”

“Whatever you base it on, you seem to be winning at life,” I agree begrudgingly. The guy has more money than he knows what to do with.

“My gut says you are capable of a hell of a lot more than popping umbrellas and stacking firewood. In the last two years, you have proven your loyalty?—”

“To your wife, not you,” I cut in.

His jaw clenches. “Don’t think for one second that I’m clueless about your feelings for Abbi. Now shut the fuck up and listen.”

After a beat, I purse my lips and nod.

Taking a deep breath, he continues, “You’ve proven your loyalty to my company and to those I would kill for. You keep your mouth shut when you could be cashing in on the things you know. You’ve got solid instincts. From what Abbi says, you’ve been trying to turn your life around, make better choices. You’re not fucking every female that walks across your path.”

Hey, Pot. I bite down on my tongue.

“You keep calm and pragmatic in the face of pressure.” He rubs a hand across the back of his neck, as if uncomfortable. “You crawled into a collapsed mine shaft to get me out. I literally owe you my life.”

My chest rises on an inhale, but I have no answer. Again, that was for Abbi.

“What do you know about Mermaid Beach?” he asks, swinging our discomfort to safer waters.

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