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)
“Okay!” Tasha rushes in, grabbing Carrie by the biceps and gently guiding her to face the hotel entrance. “Follow them so we can get checked in to our rooms. I’ll be there in a second.”
“Okey dokey. See you later, Ronan.” She skitters away.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” Tasha hides her face under her palms for a beat. “We got no sleep last night and started the party early.”
“Give her some water. You don’t want to miss dinner tonight. It’ll be one of the best meals you’ve ever had.” I can give Wolf credit for that much, at least.
“I don’t doubt it. This place is even more incredible than the pictures.” Her eyes trail up the storied facade. “You’ll have to take me for a tour. When are you going to be done for the day?”
“Actually, I don’t work here anymore.”
Her jaw drops with shock. “What?”
“Yeah, as of this morning.”
“Seriously?” She pouts. “What happened?”
“It’s a long story. Don’t worry, it’s all good. But I’m losing the house. I’m on my way there now to pack up my shit. Which means I don’t have a place for you to crash this weekend.” I wince with apology. “Sorry.”
“Oh, right. Of course. Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure something out. But what are you going to do?”
Perfect segue … “Crash at my girlfriend’s until I can figure out my next move.”
Tasha’s mouth makes an “oh” shape. “That’s—a relief, that you have a place, I mean.” But the disappointment in her eyes says otherwise. “Does she live around here?”
“Yeah, right next door.”
“Nice.” Her head bobs slowly. “Has it been long? I mean, did you know her before you moved here?”
“No, I met her when I got here.”
“So, it’s still new.”
I know that pitch in her voice. It’s hopeful. She’s hoping I’m going to say “nah” or “we’re just having fun” or any combination of words that means she still has a way in.
There might have been a time when I would have felt satisfaction with crushing that hope after the pain Tasha caused me. Now, I only wish her well.
“Yeah, but it’s serious.” At least it is for me.
“Well … I’m happy for you. Truly. Kinda shitty for me.” She smiles sheepishly. “But I guess I realized what a good thing we had too late.”
From the corner of my eye, I spot Olivia strolling toward a black sedan, dressed in a business suit, pulling her suitcase behind her. What the hell? She’s supposed to be on that fishing charter. Shit. “I gotta go.”
“Oh, yeah, go, do what you’ve gotta do. I hope I see you around so we can catch up.” Tasha takes off in a rush to rejoin her friends.
And I jog over to reach Olivia just as she’s about to climb into an airport taxi. “Hey.”
She stalls. “Ronan.”
“Why aren’t you out there reeling in a grouper or some shit like that?”
“Because I lost my fishing partner. Some man with a broom for a mustache showed up at my door to replace you. I turned him away.”
“That’s Darian.” I chuckle. “Damn, has Belinda already promoted him into my position?”
“I have no idea. I stopped listening the moment I opened my door. So, that’s it for you here?”
“Looks like.”
She slides her sunglasses off to reveal concerned eyes. “How are you doing?”
“I’ll be fine. Sorry if the back half of your game wasn’t as much fun.”
“I wouldn’t say that. The eleventh hole was something. And then Henry triple bogeyed, twice. It was a spectacular fall from grace. I doubt he’s ever played such a terrible round in his life.”
“I guess he won’t be claiming that pot.”
“I’ll say.” She grins. I think I’ve finally met someone—other than Sloane—who truly dislikes Henry. “That county commissioner and the mayor left their rounds and hunted down Henry to speak with him at length. Stalled our abysmal game, and then he drove off after the fifteen hole without so much as an apology. They were definitely not happy. I noticed a few carts with people holding cameras whizzing by.”
“Rushing to get their shot before the evidence vanishes.” I don’t know what it is about Henry Wolf, but he attracts headlines like flies to shit.
“Those bed sheet banners will be on the front page of state and local news by Saturday.” Olivia nods in agreement.
“That’s what we’re hoping for.” Because a lot of questions will inevitably follow.
She studies me intently. “Was it worth it?”
“I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” Breaking a confidentiality agreement is the least of my worries now. I give her the thirty-second rundown about Henry’s plans.
She hums when I’m finished. “You must really like this woman to go to all this trouble.”
“I do. But I also don’t like Henry demolishing people’s lives so he can get richer. How much money does one person need?”
“You do know which industry I play in, don’t you?” Her laughter is soft.