Paige goes on, and I lose myself in the spectacular backdrop out the wall of glass behind her—trees and water and, far in the distance, white-capped mountains. I can see why they would build a ballroom here. What an incredible wedding reception location this would be.

Jed and I were supposed to have our reception in the old barn out back, the one we use to store all the tractors and farm equipment. It was going to be rustic and romantic, with flowers strung along the beams, and candlelit lanterns on the tables.

I push that thought aside in time to hear Paige say, “Mr. Wolf has every intention of earning a Five Diamond and Five-Star rating for Wolf Cove. Y’all play such an important role in making that happen. We need you to work hard and make each guest’s stay memorable. That’s why he’s here to speak to you this morning.”

My heart rate spikes.

She gestures to her left and everyone’s heads shift as one.

The air grows thick as a man enters the room from a door off to the side and saunters toward the podium, the pant legs of his tailored suit falling gracefully with each step.

My mouth drops open.

It wasn’t the alcohol. He is that dazzling.

And he shaved his beard off, leaving only smooth skin and a stunning profile behind. The man’s face has been carved by the gods themselves, with chiseled edges and a small cleft in his chin.

“Dang. Autumn wasn’t kidding,” Tillie murmurs. “Hello, soaked panties in two seconds, flat.”

Mine, too. I stare at him unabashed, remembering how good he smelled last night; how the salt from his skin tasted. How his arms felt wrapped tightly around me. I was being carried by an Adonis and I was too drunk to appreciate it. Instead, I babbled his ear off about my ex and virginity and all kinds of mortifying things.

He towers over Paige, who’s in three-inch heels and staring up at him like a child in awe. Everyone seems to stare at him in awe, their attention riveted on his frame as it fills the space behind the podium, his upper body broad and solid in the gray suit and yellow tie.

He looks every bit the billionaire.

And that hair... It’s a rich chestnut brown, combed back and curling at the ends. My fingers twitch, remembering playing with them at his nape. What would it feel like to run my hands through that thick mane?

He clears his throat and reaches for a tall glass of water. Takes his time drinking it, the muscles in his neck pulsing with each swallow. His eyes wander over the group, seemingly unruffled as we all watch.

I shrink down a little in my chair, hoping to avoid his notice.

It doesn’t work.

That steely gaze of his settles on me. I freeze, my heart rate spiking, my cheeks burning bright.

“Oh my...,” Tillie murmurs under her breath beside me.

Finally, he releases me and focuses on the podium in front of him, but not before I catch the tiniest smirk touch his lips. He sets his glass down and, leaning into the microphone, offers coolly, “Good morning, everyone.”

His voice is as deep and as sexy as I remember it being.

And, I swear, every last female shudders a sigh at the sound of it. A wave of “good morning” responses roll through the group as people sit up straighter in their seats.

The left side of his mouth kicks up in a sexy smile, like he knows what his voice can do.

“Lord have mercy,” Tillie whispers. “I would maul that man in a heartbeat.”

Would you fuck me if I asked you to?

Panic explodes inside me as I replay the words in my head, my hands pressed against my mouth to hide my gape.

But he said, “maybe.” At least, I think he said maybe. Am I remembering that correctly? If so, was he simply toying with me?

“I’m sure Paige here has given Wolf Cove the introduction it deserves, and I trust that she’ll provide you with more than adequate training. I wanted to stop in and reiterate how important it is to me, personally, that each and every guest here has an exceptional experience. My family has owned this property for hundreds of years. I’ve always considered Alaska to be a home to me, even when I’m not here. As such, I want to see this Wolf location prosper.” He speaks eloquently, his grammar impeccable, his words flowing. How did I not notice that last night? “It is my dream to make us one of the only 0.3 percent in the world to achieve Five Diamond status. Many people have told me it’s impossible; that it can’t be done.” His perfectly groomed eyebrow arches. “And I tell them that I live for a challenge. This is why I’ve flown in the most prestigious Wolf chefs, and sous chefs, and I’ve hired you bright and eager people to help me succeed.” His eyes wander through the group again. Where there was plenty of adjusting in seats and bowed-head doodling before, there is only rapt attention on the man now. “I’ll leave you in Paige’s capable hands. She has helped train hospitality staff at three Wolf hotels so I trust she’ll whip you all into shape and you, in turn, will make sure every guest will wish they never have to leave Wolf Cove. I expect the best, and only the best, from each and every one of you.” His eyes sail around the room again, and I’m relieved that they skate past me without stalling. “I trust you’ll find all of the employee benefits more than fair. Should there be a point when you feel they aren’t and you don’t enjoy being here, I ask that you let our hotel manager, Belinda Cartwright, know right away. We’ll have you on the first ferry out.”

Was he this cool last night? He’s not exactly Mr. Charming, that’s for sure. Intolerant, if I had to choose a word. A man like this must think I’m a complete idiot, the way I rambled on. No wonder he wanted to be rid of me. And here I thought there was perhaps a connection. That, at one point, with my mouth against his neck, I managed to arouse him.

I’m never drinking again.

“Thank you.” He turns, but then stops and leans in to the microphone again. “Oh, and before I forget: Please make sure you are well versed in the staff conduct section of our orientation package. The main hotel grounds are meant for guests only. We expect staff to utilize the facilities in the staff village and remain there while off-duty. There has already been one incident of drunk and disorderly conduct. Future incidents will result in termination of employment.”

My face burns with his words. That’s got to be a warning for me. That, should I ever try to make out with him again, I’ll be fired. I guess that’s fair.

His humorless eyes graze mine one last time and then, with a small nod toward Paige on his way past, he strides out the door he came in through. I’m torn between wanting to crawl beneath the table and hoping he’ll find a reason to stick his head in, so I get a chance to see his beautiful face again.

By the look of it, everyone else in here is wishing the exact same thing.

“Abbi?” I turn to meet Tillie’s raised brow. “Did that warning have anything to do with you?”

I sigh. “I don’t want to talk about it. Please.”

Paige claps her hands again, drawing everyone’s attention back to her and, thankfully, ending any chance for Tillie to press. “Okay! So where were we? That’s right. Learning about Wolf Hotels’ housekeeping excellence.”

Chapter Six

“Why would you want to work outside? It’s so dirty,” Tillie mumbles as we walk through the main lodge toward the reception desk, the vaulted timber ceiling towering several stories above us. Her pretty face scrunches up, and I notice for the first time the flecks of brown in her otherwise crystal-blue eyes.

“And wiping urine off toilet seats isn’t? How about ‘disposing of used condoms with discretion’?” I air-quote Paige’s exact words with my fingers. The past two hours have been focused on how important it is for guests to know that the staff is discreet. That we will see all kinds of things in these rooms—high-end clientele or not—that may make us take a second glance. We’re not to do that. We’re to keep our mouths shut, tidy up their rooms, hide the dildos we find in the soiled bedding in the nightstand, and offer the guests nothing more than a polite, nonjudgmental nod should we pass them in the hallway.