Page 88 of After You Returned

He smiles. “Sorry. I asked my secretary to be discreet.”

I frown. “Discreet? Are you having issues from your football injury and keeping it from Nova?”

“Have you ever tried to keep a secret from Nova?” He chuckles. “Impossible.”

True. Nova is one of the biggest troublemakers on the island. Which is saying a lot considering the island is full of troublemakers. How the Raider brothers haven’t blown up the island by now is beyond me.

“Why the discreet appointment, then?”

“I wanted to discuss the job offer.”

“I—”

He holds up a hand to cut me off. “Before you say anything, please know I am serious about offering you this job. This has nothing to do with Miles.”

Good. Because, as we’ve established, Miles does not and will not control me.

“I’m listening.”

“What I’m about to tell you is a secret. I trust you to not tell anyone.”

“My curiosity is officially piqued.”

“My old NFL team is staying at the resort for training camp this summer. Training camp is happening at a nearby college on the mainland but no other accommodations could guarantee the players' privacy. I can.”

The Hideaway Haven Resortwas designed to give celebrities privacy. Probably because Hudson was living as a hermit when the resort was built. The security is tight. Not even the worst troublemakers attempt to pull pranks there.

“You think this information is secret?”

He drops his chin to his chest and swears under his breath. “Does everyone know?”

My nose wrinkles. “Pretty much.”

“If the press catches wind of the team staying, the resort will lose credibility. We have a reputation for providing privacy for our guests.”

I scowl. “You can’t seriously believe anyone on the island would contact the press?”

He sighs. “I don’t worry about smugglers. I worry about the tourists.”

I flick my hand in dismissal. “Smugglers don’t discuss Hideaway business when tourists are present.”

He rubs a hand over his jaw. “Why do I have the feeling this training camp is going to be the death of me?”

“Don’t exaggerate. It’ll be fun. Can you imagine a bunch of extra-large football players doing mermaid karaoke?”

He groans. “They’ll be riots.”

I waggle my eyebrows. “But it’ll be fun.”

He shakes his head. “No wonder you and Miles are the perfect couple. You’re both perfectly insane.”

“Ah, thanks.”

“Moving on. As part of the agreement with the team, I promised to have a physical therapist on site at the resort.”

I lift an eyebrow. “And who, pray mermaids tell, is your physical therapist?”

“I’m hoping you.”