Page 90 of Release Me

“I only started here yesterday, so I can’t take credit for the hires up until now.”

“Yeah, well … It’s hard to find reliable workers. Impossible when you have no idea they’re all quitting on you at once.”

“I imagine it is.” He studies me intently. There’s a different, less playful air around him now than on the beach and at the Sea Witch. Then again, he didn’t know who he was flirting with.

Silence hangs in the room.

“And the other reason?” I finally ask.

“Huh?” Wherever he just went, I seem to have interrupted his thoughts.

“The other reason you helped me. You said ‘for one,’ which usually means there’s more than one reason.”

“Right.” He smirks. “Given your reputation, I was worried you’d cause a scene, which would attract Belinda’s attention, and then we’d have an evenbigger sceneonce she figured out who you are.”

“Who’sBelinda?”

“The general manager. I report to her, and she takes her job very seriously. She wouldn’t be above having you dragged out in handcuffs, if she didn’t claw out your eyes first.”

“Belinda sounds like fun.”

“She has her moments.” That tiny smile appears again but disappears just as quickly, as if he’s catching himself. “But it wouldn’t reflect well on anyone.”

“Especially for Wolf.”

“Foranyone,” he reiterates. “So, you’re welcome.” He lets those words hang.

What’s going through his head, now that he knows who I am? Probably that I’m certifiable. “Thanks,” I offer after a delayed moment. “I should go. I have to figure out how to keep my business from running into the ground.” If I sound dejected, it’s because I am. The day keeps getting worse. If Mick and Will are here too, who else is?

I should have stayed in bed.

“You assume we’ll hire them all,” Ronan says.

“Oh, you will. My tiki captain, Jeremy, is the best employee we’ve ever had. Ron is eager and hardworking. They’realldecent people,” I admit begrudgingly. “Except for Cody. But he doesn’t work for me anymore.”

“Your ex?”

“Yeah. Be careful if he’s anywhere near the bar.”

“Heavy drinker?”

“More like a heavy dicker. Loves to ply women with free shots so he can get into their pants.”

“That’s a new one.” Ronan chuckles. “Is that how he got you?”

“I don’t fall for that.” I don’t even touch hard alcohol. “But I’m sure it’s how he got all his side action while we were together.”

Ronan nods, as if he’s not surprised to hear that Codycheated on me. He could be the type to cheat on women too, though.

“He got fired from Siren’s Call for giving away bottles’ worth of tequila, though he’s probably not stupid enough to use them as a reference. But don’t expect a solid employee there. Or even a mediocre one. God, why am I giving you advice while you steal people away from me!” I roll my eyes at myself. “If you could show me how to get out of here without walking through that ballroom again, I will be gone, and I promise, I willneverstep foot on Wolf Hotel soil again.”

Ronan hums but doesn’t move, seemingly in thought. “Jeremy … what’s his last name?”

“Smith. Why?” I ask warily.

He reaches for a pad and pen on his desk, the fine material of his shirt stretching across his chiseled torso. “We have a lot of people to choose from. I don’t see why we have to hire your staff. Any more of it, anyway. So, we can help each other out. Who are the other ones?”

Shit. My guilt flares. “You’re asking me to make a hit list?”

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