Page 103 of Last Resort

Lizzy’s right.

They definitely are trying.

The question is, what am I going to do about it?

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Sutton

I go through the motions at work upon my return.

The debriefing with Roz. The company-wide meeting she calls where she praises me and the whole staff claps in celebration. The one-on-one with her afterwards where she pats my back and offers me a promotion.

It’s everything I strove for and yet when I stand in Sharpe International’s suite after a long day, all I feel is empty inside.

Yes, there will be more jobs to immerse myself in. Yes, there will be more locations to fall in love with. But I know that Ocean’s Edge will always hold a special place in my heart.

I have what I wanted, I achieved the goal I set for myself, but sitting in this luxurious hotel room, all I can think about is him. About that first night. About everything that happened since and wonder what if.

What if I dare to want more?

What if I don’t settle?

What if I had said yes to Callahan?

But none of it does me any good.

And late at night when I snuggle into the expensive sheets in this luxurious bed, I pretend he’s here with me.

And I smile through the tears.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Sutton

It’s like déjà vu sitting here in this imposing conference room.

Nerves still rattle and my pulse still pounds, but it’s for completely different reasons this time.

“We’re offering you a full-time position at Sharpe International,” Ledger says, his hands clasped in front of him.

Ford nods and smiles. “We’re more than impressed with the role you played in turning Ocean’s Edge around. It’s been, what? Eleven weeks since you began working there and we’re already seeing an uptick in reservations and secondary spending for our periphery items. The staff surveys are positive and with the interior renovation set to begin in a few weeks’ time, we think that once that is complete, we’ll achieve an even larger return on our investment than we expected.”

“That’s great news.” I smile. “But it wasn’t all me, I assure you. You have great staff there, and Callahan was an excellent partner to work with.”

I’m not blind to the glance that Ledger gives Ford. Is it because they miss him being here with the company? Is it because they are glad he’s gone? Is it because they think I’m covering for him? I wring my hands where they sit in my lap beneath the table.

“We’ve told him as much the last time we spoke with him.”

Where is he?

What is he doing now?

I take a deep breath, push my emotions aside, and quiet the questions I want to shout at them but can’t. “He’ll probably be pleased to hear that. Or pissed,” I say. “It can go either way with him.”

They both laugh while I dance an awkward tightrope and try to figure out how to act.

“So, the job offer,” Ledger redirects. “We know Roz has given you a promotion as she should have after the excellent work you did for us, but we’re greedy. We want you for ourselves.” He smiles. “Of course, compensation and the like would all be negotiable, but I assure you it would be a fair share higher than Roz’s.”