Page 14 of Save Me
“Listen …” Ronan purses his lips as he seems to choose his words. “I think it would be good for both of you to get to know each other.”
“Why? Do you think I’m going to be charmed by Henry Wolf, and everything he put me through in the last five years will suddenly be okay?” Does Ronan think I’m a fool?
“No, he’s a fucking prick. You won’t like him.”
“So then why would I go there to meet him?” I’m baffled. “And, also, I thought he told you to stay away from me.”
“Yeah. He did.”
“So then …” A thought strikes me. “Henry Wolf doesn’t know you’re inviting me, does he?”
“He doesn’t need to know. And I don’t care about him. It’s Abbi that I want you to meet.”
Satan’s wife? “Why?”
He bites his bottom lip. “Because she’s one of my best friends, and it would be good if she met you.”
Why do I feel like there’s more to his reasoning? Either way … “I can’t sit across from a table and play nice with that asshole. I won’t be able to control myself. I’ll throw my butter knife at him, and then I’ll go to jail for assault.” I’ll be forced to have a baby in prison!
Ronan chuckles. “There’ll be a bunch of people. You won’t have to sit across from him. I promise.”
I’m shaking my head when he pushes, “Just think about it, okay? I’ll come by tomorrow at around six, and if you’re ready to go, great. If not …” His eyes rake over my towel-wrapped body, lingering on my bare thighs. “I’ll convince you to come.”
“Good luck with that.” My stomach clenches, though. Something tells me Ronan could convince me to do just about anything.
Another door slams shut, signaling more arrivals.
“Six o’clock. Wear something nice.” He strolls away, his bare feet leaving wet prints on the stone.
5.Ronan
This is either my smartest idea or one of the dumbest things I’ll ever do. Only time will tell.
The plan began to percolate in my brain somewhere between the moment I laid eyes on Sloane and when she sank into my arms, her body taut with stress, but it didn’t truly formulate until I pulled away and admitted to myself that I’ll do anything to keep this woman in my life.
Anything means sabotaging Henry’s big plans for Mermaid Beach.
I can’t sit back and watch as he blows up her entire life, and if there’s any hope in hell of convincing him not to, it’s going to be through Abbi. There’s no one else on this planet Henry cares about pleasing but her. If I can get Abbi in my corner, I might have sway, and the only way to get Abbi in my corner is for Sloane and her to become friends.
So, tomorrow night it is. I’ll throw Sloane over my shoulder and carry her out if I have to.
As long as King Kong isn’t standing in the driveway, on guard.
“Hey, Frank.” I stroll past him toward my car, pretending the sharp points of the gravel aren’t cutting into my bare feet.
He grunts in answer, his heavy brow furrowed at my dripping clothes. Getting into that shower fully dressed also probably wasn’t a smart idea, but with Sloane in that bikini, it was the only way things wouldn’t go too far, too fast.
On the plus side, the sight of him has killed my erection.
Skye and the other coffee shop girl with the short dark hair loiter behind him, their eyebrows crawling halfway up their forehead.
“Hello, ladies.”
“Hello,” they echo, synchronized, giant smiles splashing across their face.
A guy sits on the porch of the blue trailer, cigarette in hand, watching quietly. One of her staffers I haven’t met. I wonder if he was one of the guys I axed from Wolf’s hire list.
I wait until my back is to them before I allow a wince. Why didn’t I at least slide on my shoes? This is going to be the most uncomfortable drive home ever.
