Page 6 of Save Me
“Fourteen stitches,” Lena confirms, reading a text from her phone before leaning back in the plush armchair, the oversized umbrella above our table providing shade against the sweltering afternoon sun. “And he’s lost part of his finger.”
“We haven’t even opened our doors yet,”Belinda muses, setting her fork on her plate to mark her salmon salad finished. The server hovering over us like a seagull swoops in to collect. “I thought chefs were trained to not maim themselves.”
Lena snorts.
I unfasten a button at my shirt collar, wishing I’d chosen a golf shirt. I wasn’t expecting an afternoon meeting at Seraphina’s. I’ll admit, the view over the gulf is a million times nicer than staring at the frosted glass walls of the meeting room, but we’re on hour two of comparing notes about all the ways we’re still not ready for guests, and I’m minutes away from stripping down and diving into the pool on the other side of the privacy wall.
“Does this mean no dinner party tomorrow night, then?” I was looking forward to it because Abbi will be there, but now I’d rather eat a bag of tacks than be around her husband.
“You’re kidding, right?” Belinda counters. “We have anentire kitchenof chefs. Besides, he’s the master chef. You don’t need a finger to give orders.”
“Good to know everyone has their priorities straight,” I say under my breath.
“Is that dinner mandatory?” Lena asks, her tone reluctant.
“Is it mandatory that you accept an invitation from the CEO of Wolf Hotels?” Belinda arches an eyebrow. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t ask me that.”
Lena’s shoulders sink. “That’s not … I mean, who else is going to be there?”
“Your boss and his wife, which should be enough,”Belinda begins with forced patience. “Henry wants to celebrate the opening of the hotel. Besides, it’s a good trial run for the servers in a less stressful environment.”
“Serving Wolf is supposed to belessstressful?” Ten bucks says they don’t get through the night without another blood-letting injury.
Belinda’s lips purse. “It’s a more casual atmosphere. His people will be there. Preston and Merrick, for one. You remember them from the wedding, Ronan?”
“How could I forget?” They were both groomsmen. Two richer-than-thou bastards—one a pompous hedge fund executive from England, and the other one a guy who runs a hotel in Vegas and may or may not be tied to a crime family. The whispers are loud but inconclusive.
I got along well enough with them regardless, so I guess it’s not the end of the world.
“And, of course, Margo,” Belinda continues.
I stifle my inward groan. That changes things. Wherever that woman goes, chaos and debauchery follow. “Are we positive this dinner is mandatory?” I echo Lena’s question.
“Yes.” Belinda’s voice is laced with annoyance. “You can bring your sidekick if it makes you feel better. Gary is coming, right?” She stares expectantly at Lena.
“Yes, though Daniel has a soccer game that one of usshouldbe at.” Lena studies her fingernails while her passive-aggressiveness seeps into the conversation.
Belinda’s phone rings. “I need to take this.” She smoothly vacates her chair as she answers, leaving Lena and me alone with our tablets and our thoughts.
I check my watch. It’s almost three. What’s going onwith the mermaid tank? And have they figured out the sprinkler situation yet? I punch out quick messages to Chester and Dorian, checking in. What I really want to do is get the hell out of here and go find Sloane. It’s been twenty-four hours since I’ve seen her, and I think I’m suffering from withdrawal.
But what the fuck do I say to her?No, you’ve got me all wrong.I’m not a fuckboy, I promise.
And now, there’s this whole eminent domain bullshit that I have to either play dumb about or tell her, in which case I can basically kiss my job goodbye.
I feel Lena watching me.
“So … Daniel’s your kid?” I knew she was married on account of the flashy ring, but I know nothing else about my counterpart. Maybe I should attempt to be friendly. And, hey, at least then I can honestly say I haven’t slept witheverywoman in my life.
“Yes. My twelve-year-old son, who is very angry about his mother taking this job and forcing him to move away from his friends. You’d think the beach would be more enticing than Chicago’s suburbs, but apparently not.” Her smile is tight.
“That’s where you’re from?”
“Charlotte, originally, but we were living in Chicago for the past decade.” She smooths a hand through her auburn hair. I note the faintest hint of gray at her temple. “It’s all Daniel knows.”
“I’m lucky, I guess. I didn’t have to think about a wife or kids when Wolf told me I had three days to get here.” No one to pack up except for a giant man-child. Speaking of, I should check in to see how Connor’s knee is doing.Though I’m sure Katie and Rachel are takingreallygood care of him.
Lena’s golden-brown eyes narrow as she regards me.
