Page 8 of Save Me
So … Two nights seems like such a short trip. Any chance you have an extra room at your place in case I wanted to stay until Sunday?
Fuck me, I should have seen this coming. Connor did, back in Miami. Can’t wait for him to grind me about it. I guess it’s fine, though. The house is big, and Tasha is not the woman I’m pining over anymore. Plus, I have a door lock on my bedroom.
Yeah, lots of room. I won’t be around much but Britt and Dani are staying there too.
They can hang out together if they want. I sure as hell don’t have time to entertain anyone. With that taken care of, I flip over to my calendar to see where all these kiss-ass meet-and-greets fit in. “You have me booked for two breakfasts on Friday.”
“Order something light?” Archie counters.
I frown. “And three coffee meetings at the Coral Cafe on Wednesday afternoon.” The hotel’s coffee shop is quaint but small.
“You love coffee.”
“Yeah, but are you trying to kill me with caffeine?”
He tosses his stress ball in the air and catches it. “Drink decaf.”
“Screw that.” I note 7:00 a.m. tee-off times on WednesdayandThursday. Worse, with Henry on my team. As if I want to spend all morning with him. “What’s Axis Core?” Because we’re golfing with a pair from there the first day. Thursday is a media open tournament that runs all day.
“A global consulting firm. They hold their yearly meetings at Wolf locations.”
Two rich assholes who probably golf seven days a week while conducting business. Can I get out of that? Highly unlikely. “Do you know anything about golf?”
“I can hold my own.” The way he says it means he knows his stuff.
“Okay, good. You’re gonna be my caddy. Memorize whatever’s in these two dossiers. Also, I need you to book me with the golf pro tomorrow morning.” Maybe that’ll give me a fighting chance of not embarrassing myself.
Archie stiffens, his demeanor shifting to business in an instant. “Any time in particular?”
“The earlier, the better.” Less chance of my session getting derailed by problems.
A knock sounds on my office door.
“Come in,” I holler.
Dorian and his mustache appear. “Sprinklers are all sorted. Our guys had to dig up some lines, but?—”
“Perfect,” I cut him off. I really don’t care how they fixed it, just as long as it’s one less problem to end up on my plate. “Anything else to worry about?”
“For you? No. Got the replacement beach equipment in today, finally, for everything that arrived busted. I sent you the labor report for the month, plus the updated projections for next month, as well as the equipment list. Ten percent higher than the budget. I prioritized what I think is necessary.”
I sigh. Can’t wait to be lectured by Henry’s CFO for overspending. “Thanks, Dorian.”
With a wave, he ducks out.
Now is the perfect time to escape, before anyone shows up to drop a new problem in my lap. I quickly collect my laptop and tablet. “I’m going home to digest all of this in peace. Don’t call me unless it’s an emergency.”
“Sounds good. I’ll get you in with the pro first thing and update your calendar.”
“Good man.” I rush out before he’s even out of his seat.
It’s all a ruse, of course. Home is not where I’m aiming to go.
My pulse racesas I pull up next to the old blue Cherokee wearing a Sea Witch bumper sticker. That has to be Sloane’s, which means she’s here. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like Frank or anyone else is. The row ofcolorful trailers sits quietly between the line of trees, no vehicle to be seen.
The hens greet me as I step out of my car, flocking to my shoes as if I’ve dropped kernels for them. When they realize I’ve come empty-handed, they strut away, clucking.
“Hey, Ralph,” I call out to the hulkish rooster loitering a few feet away. I haven’t seen a lot of roosters in my day, but I didn’t know they came that big. “Don’t shit on my hood this time, okay?” It took two rounds in the car wash to get off.
