Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“No. Well, I don’t know what’s going on there. He went in this morning. Somehow still has a job.” Or maybe Henry wants to fire him to his face. “You know, he calls you King Kong?”
Frank scowls as if offended but then pauses to weigh that nickname. “Huh … I think I like that.”
“I had a feeling you would.”
He plugs the machine in, and lights ignite. “He ever tell you what Wolf did to make him punch him?”
Skye gasps. “Ronan punched Henry Wolf?”
“Yeah. Last night.” To Frank, I say, “No, but I have a feeling it had to do with me.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
Lara appears with the pitcher. “Who’s Ronan?”
“The guy Sloane’s banging.” Frank accepts the water with a grunt and pours it into the receptacle.
“Oh, wait ’til you see him? He is so hot.” Skye’s blue eyes widen as she nods approvingly.
“Oh yeah, so dreamy,” Frank mimics, holding his hands together and pressing them against his chest while fluttering his eyelashes.
Skye flicks him playfully in the neck on her way past to restock the napkins. “Sloane’s landed a good one. Which she deserves, considering the last one,” she adds in a singsong voice, trailing it with a wince.
Lara’s focus ping-pongs back and forth between us all, trying to keep up. “He was bad?”
“His name is Cody, and he is rotten. We don’t like him.”
“He’s banned.” Frank reaches up and opens a cupboard door to reveal a copy of Cody’s mug shot taped to the inside. Above it, in Frank’s aggressive handwriting, states “Do Not Serve.”
“When did you put that up?” I exclaim.
“Monday. After your run-in with him at Starfish Island. If you see him in here, you come and get me. Got it, New Girl?”
Lara’s head bobs up and down.
“And what’ll you do, Frank?” Skye’s smile is mischievous. She’s egging him on for entertainment’s sake.
“I’m gonna rip his arms off and beat him to death with them.”
Lara’s eyes widen as Skye cackles.
Meanwhile, my worry flares. That mug shot was from before Cody and I met, when he got arrested for drunk and disorderly after a bachelor party. The charges were dropped, but the picture remains. “Listen, if Cody sees that up there, he’s going to be angry, and Angry Cody isn’t good for me.” I arch my brows with meaning.
“That’s why it’s on the inside instead of front and center. And you know what’s worse than Angry Cody?” Frank hits a button on the machine. “Angry King Kong.”
“I’ve created a monster,” I say as a whirring sound announces the newly repaired espresso maker.
“Yes! Thank you!” Skye skips past, leaning in to drop a friendly kiss against his cheek on her way past.
“Just keep that door closed,” I warn, waving at Cody’s stupid face. “And no hitting anyone. Last night was enough for me.”
Frank begins collecting tools. “Ronan’s got balls to punch a guy like Henry Wolf, I’ll give him that much.”
“Yeah, he’s got those.” And plenty more, and he overwhelmed me last night with how thoroughly he consumed my body. But beyond the physical, Ronan has a big heart and fierce loyalty. My attraction to him is quickly growing far beyond the physical, which is dangerous given my situation.
I need to tell him.
No, I want to tell him. Because I’m growing hopeful that he might actually be the man I want him to be.
“Sloane?”
“Huh?”
Frank’s watching me closely. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just tired. Didn’t sleep well, and I have this headache behind my eye.” It’s likely caffeine withdrawal. I’m normally on my second cup of coffee by now, but I’m still savoring my first, letting it grow cold on my desk.
He’s not buying it, though. “You’ve been out of it the last few days.”
“Oh. Yeah. I mean, no, I’m good.” I’m far from good.
And Frank can always tell when I’m lying. He has the same keen sense as Gigi where that’s concerned, and the longer I stay here, fumbling through excuses, the more likely he is to ferret the truth out of me.
“I’m gonna give Bailey a call,” I say, waving the résumé in the air as I aim for the doorway between the two sides.
“Hey, New Girl, can you get me …”
I shut the door to my tiny office, and Frank’s voice vanishes. But instead of calling Bailey just yet, I text Ronan. It’s midmorning, and I’ve waited as long as I can.
Should I save you a tiki, Captain?
There. Quick and playful. Completely unserious. I’m sure he’s in the middle of some important ass-kissing meeting, but at least I’ve given him a reason to reply, if he wants to. And, while I wait for him to, I might as well get this army veteran in here to see if she’d be a good fit.
I’m halfway through punching in Bailey’s number when my phone chirps with a text.
Ronan:
Too soon to tell, but that wet spot in your bed is mine.