Page 67 of Release Me

He punches in the code and the gate glides open without a sound.

I feed Connor directions, and he follows them while humming to the music, winding Darla through the community streets until we reach the house wearing the right number on its wall.

I double check the address. Is Wolf for fucking real?Thisis part of my compensation package?

“Well,damn.” Connor eases his driver door shut. “This whole thing isours?”

“No, it’s mine. You’re squatting, remember?” I’m struggling to play it cool as I check the number in the email for the third time. I did not expect beachfront and I sure as hell wasn’t expecting this four-story behemoth. There must be an error. I keep telling myself this as I make my way to the ornate solid wood front door to punch in the code. It works. This is definitely our place.

I lose my cool in the entryway. “Holy shit.”

“There’s an elevator!” Connor echoes my inner thoughts as he jabs at the button and a door opens instantly. He files in. “All aboard!”

“I’ll meet you at the top.” Because I need a moment alone to digest Henry’s generosity and find the trap hidden within.

I take the stairs, sizing up the suites of lavish furnishings and ocean-view balconies off the back, until I reach the kitchen and living area on the third floor. This feels like something Henry himself would stay in, with all its French doors and high-end appliances and designer décor. It’s way too rich for my blue-collar blood.

“Ronan! Get up here!” Connor’s voice booms from somewhere above.

I take the set of stairs leading up two more flights and find him standing in the middle of a rooftop deck. “Is this for fucking real?”

“I keep asking myself that. Seems like it.” I rest my elbows on the rail balcony and take in the five-million-dollar panoramic view of emerald waters and white sand as far as the eye can see in both directions. Below is our private pool.

We have a fucking private pool because having the oceanright thereisn’t enough.

Connor’s penetrating gaze is on me.

This is going to be good. “Yes?”

“Do you top or bottom with him?” he blurts.

I laugh. “What?”

“Come on, man. You’re practically a monk, turning down women left and right. And then you go into a room with Wolf and come out with this huge promotion? Might I remind you that you were a crew grunt days ago.”

“Trust me, I don’t need reminding.”

“So then, what gives? Because I don’t see him doling out special perks to me and I dragged my ass into that cave just as much as you did.”

“You’re here, aren’t you?”

“Because ofyou, not him. He doesn’t even like you. So, what is it? You got dirt on him? You blackmailing him?”

“Shut up, man. As if I’d ever.” I glare at my friend for suggesting it. Connor has no idea what went on that night in Alaska between me, Abbi, and Henry, and he never will. That’s no one’s business.

But the wheels in my brain are churning. Is this Abbi’s doing? No hotel operations director gets a perks package like this. A VP, maybe … but a guy helping run one hotel? Absolutely not. I dig out my phone.

“What are you doing?” Connor’s voice is laced with accusation.

“Calling Red. Either this is a mistake or her husband is playing some sort of game.” He’s right—Henry has never liked me. He’s probably setting me up to fail so he has an excuse to fire me once and for all and not feel any guilt over it. If a guy like that is swayed by guilt.

“Are you nuts?” Connor grabs my phone out of my hand. “You’re not saying a fucking thing! We are gonna live here like two Cinderellas, and you’re gonna pretend like you can do that job until you screw it all up.”

I snort. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“You’re welcome. What are friends for?” He slaps my phone into my palm. “Do you think they stocked the place?”

“Who’s ‘they’? The royal ‘they’? Doubt it,” I say but he’s already ambling back inside, surely heading for the fridge.

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