Page 65 of Release Me

“There aren’t actually mermaids there?” I flash a crooked smile before I shift into semiserious mode. “It’s an up-and-coming area on the north side of the Gulf of Mexico.” I’ve overheard more than one person talking about getaways there lately.

“It’s exploding. This location is primed to become one ofour most successful.” He tosses a travel magazine across the table toward me, to where a modern white Wolf Hotel graces the cover—a luxury resort on the Emerald Coast. “My father saw the potential decades ago when he bought that land. He knew the area would draw tourism one day, and here we are. They’re calling it the Hamptons of the South. The sand is made of white quartz crystal from the Appalachian Mountains, carried down by rivers and bleached by the sun. It looks and feels like sugar. I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere else in the world.” He hesitates. “This was William Wolf’s baby, and I’m determined to make sure it exceeds expectations.”

I don’t know much about Henry’s father except what I’ve heard from Abbi. It sounds like their relationship was complicated, but Henry obviously respected him greatly. “Which is why, again, I’m wondering how your gut says a guy from your outdoor crew is the right call. I’m a little worried. Should I call Abbi in here?”

He smirks. “I thought you’d be more excited.”

“Did you, actually?” I counter dryly.

“Why does everything with you feel like a test? I’m seconds from pulling this offer.”

“Okay, okay,” I hold up my hands in surrender. “Say for a second I was mildly intrigued. What if I go out there and it doesn’t work? What if I hate it? What if I fuck it up?”

“You have a team of experienced managers who know how to do their jobs, and you have Belinda to help you get a handle on things. I’m sure you remember her,” he adds.

“Vaguely,” I lie. “Is she on board with this?” With having a supremely underqualified guy run all the facilities, one she got caught on a security camera fucking two summers ago?

“Of course she is,” he retorts without missing a beat, his lie delivered as smoothly as mine. “Give it six months. If you hate it or still feel like you’re not the right person, you can demote yourself and go back to doing grunt work. Here is yourcontract, which includes compensation and perks.” He slides a sheet across the table with his index finger.

I scan the page.

And struggle to keep my calm. “That’s … enticing.”

“I thought it would be.” He pauses. “So, is that a yes?”

“Wait, you want an answer rightnow?”

“Before I leave this room in …” He glances at his gold watch. “Four minutes. We’ve moved up the start dates for the last wave of hires to next week. I need you in your new office by Thursday.”

“Fuck, man! I knew you were impatient, but that’s in, like,three days.” Today is Monday, which means I’d be leaving Miami onWednesday.“That doesn’t give me any time to sort out my shit.”

“And whatshitdo you need to get sorted, Ronan? Rent for the condo you share?” He leans back in his chair, a triumphant expression on his face as if he’s already won. The truth is, he probably has. I don’t have anything tying me down here. This new salary is more than enough to cover my rent—which is higher now with Ryan moved out—andwipe out my student loans, forget the perks of a company vehicle and paid accommodations.

I’d only be committing myself for six months.

Still … that’s a long time in a place where I don’t know anyone, while I prove to this arrogant prick that his gut isn’t always right.

A thought strikes me. “Hiring decisions are mine?”

“Theoretically, yes. A lot of the staff is already in place. We still need to fill seasonal roles, which we’ll do at this Friday’s job fair. Your managers will take care of that, but you’ll oversee final decisions.”

“So I could bring in my own people?”

“Youhave people?” he asks smugly.

I grin. “One extremely annoying person.”

Henry’s lips twist with his curse. “Let me guess …”

“Hey, you’re asking me to pick up my life in three days, and I don’t know a soul there besides Belinda, and we both know exactly how that’s going to go.” After that fateful day, she avoided Connor and me like we were carrying no less than ten communicable diseases. “Besides, Con and I are a package deal.” We’ve been attached at the hip since the day I stepped off the plane two years ago. Something tells me he will riot if I don’t negotiate on his behalf.

“That’ll leave Charles two bodies short,” Henry says after a moment.

“You and I both know he can replace us like that.” I snap my fingers.

With a heavy sigh, he concedes. “If you want to bring your man-child with you, that’s your call.” He leans in, suddenly serious. “But this is not Wolf Cove. I can’t have my director of operations fucking every staff member there.”

“It would only be the female staff.” The flat look I get back has me retreating. “Those days are done, I promise you.” I’m not about to admit that I haven’t had sex since New Year’s Eve and even that interaction left me feeling hollow.

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