Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 108846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“Where are we going?”
“To my office, like I said.”
I follow, secretly admiring his sleek stride, the graceful, confident way he moves. And here I thought he was appealing while half naked and sprawled on the sand but, no, no, no … business attire Ronan is like a luxurious present waiting to be unwrapped, especially when his clothes look tailor-made for his body and I know what’s hiding beneath. Well, not everything.
I clear my throat to shake out the intrusive—and blush-inducing—thoughts. “What do you do here?”
“I’m the director of operations for facilities, grounds and, admin. As for what I do …” He pushes through a glass door, holding it open for me. The door shutters behind him. “I have no fucking clue.”
I snort at the unexpected candor. “How old are you?”
Ronan perches himself on the edge of his desk and crosses his arms. The material of his dress shirt stretches across his biceps, distracting me. “Is that polite to ask?”
“I think we’ve moved past polite.” Why does he seem so familiar? I’ve seen his face before, I’m sure of it.
“You’re probably right.” He studies me with amusement as he seems to consider his answer. “I’ll be twenty-seven in the fall.”
Five years younger than me. How does a person that young get promoted to a position this high? “Someone up top must have faith in you.”
“Yeah, well …” His green eyes drift over a framed photo of the Emerald Coast waters on the wall. There isn’t much to the office—a desk, a computer, a rack holding men’s dress clothes. Certainly no personality, and nothing that tells me who Ronan is. “I’ve questioned Henry’s sanity more than once, believe me.”
My eyebrows arch. “The Henry Wolf gave you this job?”
“The one whose reputation you’re intent on smearing with your little art project? Yeah, him.”
“I have a right to protest.”
“If that’s what that is.” Ronan’s tone is dry. He’s hard to read. Is he mocking or teasing me?
“So, you guys are friends?”
“I wouldn’t call us that, no.” The sly smile curving Ronan’s lips is secretive. “Enough about me. Honestly, what were you thinking, coming here to hunt down your employees?”
“I was not …” My denial fades with a heavy sigh. “It was a stupid idea. And not that it matters, but it wasn’t mine. It was my twenty-one-year-old barista—oh, shit! Give me a sec.” Skye is likely freaking out, wondering where I’ve disappeared. I feel Ronan’s gaze on me as I quickly type out a text to her, telling her to meet me at her car.
With that done, I turn my focus back to him. “So, why’d the director of operations rescue the crazy rooster commune lady? You could have left me out there to disgrace myself.”
“Well, for one, I know why you came here. It must be a kick to your stomach to see the people you rely on abandoning you, especially at the start of your season.”
I swallow the flare of emotion, his words hitting deep. Abandoning. That’s the perfect word. “I guess I have you to thank for that.”
“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 even bigger scene once she figured out who you are.”
“Who’s Belinda?”
“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.”
“For anyone,” 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’re all decent people,” I admit begrudgingly. “Except for Cody. But he doesn’t work for me anymore.”