“I still don’t understand why you wanted her. She has no hotel or corporate experience,” I hear Belinda say through the servants’ entrance, still ajar to Henry’s cabin.

I freeze, knowing they’re talking about me, but unable to keep myself from listening.

“She has some experience. And she’s a college student with exceptional grades,” Henry offers.

I’m a straight-A student. But how does he know that?

“She didn’t interview well. She shook through the entire interview, wringing her hands like a worried mother hen.”

“She was nervous.”

“She’s awkward. And frumpy.”

I don’t think there’s anything worse than eavesdropping while someone talks negatively about you. I should go, but now I’m afraid they’ll hear the door creak open again, and figure out that I was still here all this time.

“Not everyone looks like you, Belinda,” Henry says, and I can hear irritation in his voice beginning to mount. I don’t know if I should find comfort at his words.

“She doesn’t fit the Wolf employee mold. Did you see that cheap small-town special she wore to the interview?”

I didn’t think it was that bad.

“You’re making some bad choices lately, Henry.”

“What the hell is your problem?” he snaps.

Yes, exactly. What does Belinda have against me working for Henry? I’ve never done anything to her!

“Is this about Kiera?” she asks.

Who’s Kiera? Henry’s ex?

Silence hangs in the room and I take a step closer to the door, afraid I’ll miss his answer.

“I heard things got ugly. And expensive.” Belinda’s voice has turned soft, more cautious, as if she knows she’s treading on thin ice. “I got a call from your father a few days ago.”

“For fuck’s sakes,” he grumbles, and then heaves a sigh of exasperation. “A few days ago? Why didn’t you tell me right away? What did he want?” This is a new Henry, and not a happy one at that.

“He asked me if there was anything going on up here that he should be worried about.”

“And you told him what?”

She clears her throat. “That everything was going smoothly.”

“Good. Let that be the answer every time he calls.”

“And will it be the truth?”

“I don’t like this version of you, Belinda. You work for me.”

“I work for Wolf, and right now that’s still William Wolf, until he officially hands the company over to you. And I’ve worked too hard for this company to have it all go down the drain because you’re fucking some farm girl. She’s twenty-one!”

My mouth drops open in shock with the suggestion. She thinks he... we’re... why would she think that?

Henry starts to laugh. It’s not a happy sound, though. “Is that what this is all about? Are you jealous of Abbi? What’s wrong, Belinda? You’re starting to panic about the big forty coming up?”

“Fuck you.” The contrite woman is gone again.

“Don’t forget who gave you this job,” he warns through a growl. “I chose the farm girl to avoid any more headaches.”

“Well, she’s not exactly ugly.”

“No, she’s not,” he agrees. “But she is a girl, pining for some spineless dickhead who dumped her and is never coming back. Insecure, stupid little girls don’t attract me, Belinda. You know that.”

My cheeks burn with hurt and confusion. He just finished telling me that I was a smart woman, and I lapped it up. Now I’m an insecure, stupid little girl?

“Maybe I need to be reminded.”

I frown at the suggestive tone in Belinda’s words.

There’s a long, lingering pause, unsettling my nerves. “Wolf Hotels will be mine next month, and you won’t have a job here if you don’t inform me the second my father calls next time.” Henry delivers that threat in a curt, no-nonsense tone that I never want him to use with me. “And if you ever feel like giving him truths, how about you tell him how much you loved having my dick in your mouth while we were opening that hotel in Istanbul. Find out if he thinks that was professional.”

Oh my God.

He’s her boss. Isn’t that against the rules?

Above my shock, though, envy erupts in my chest. Now I know why she hates me so much. Though it’s ridiculous.

Belinda’s heels click along the tile and then the main entrance door opens and shuts. I steal a peek through the tiny window in time to see Henry marching two steps ahead of her down the covered path.

I’m alone.

I drop the suit over the desk chair, the high of being hired by Henry as his assistant dampened. While I never truly believed that Henry could be attracted to me, I must have been holding out some hope, some fantasy, that he might be. Now I know for certain that the looks, the moments, the erection pressing against my ass, were all wishful thinking on my part. I feel all the more ridiculous that my subconscious ever entertained such thoughts.

At least hearing it straight from his mouth will help me keep myself grounded and my head out of the clouds.

I shouldn’t let it get to me. I am a farm girl. I am insecure, especially after what happened with Jed. I wish I wasn’t so. And I would be stupid to believe that anything that’s happened equates to his attraction to me.

But the idea that he sees me as an insecure, stupid little girl pining for a spineless coward has slipped under my skin like a bothersome sliver.

Because, deep down inside, I know he’s right.

Enough already. It’s been three months, and Jed is dating someone else. I need to move on. I’m twenty-one years old, I’m in Alaska, and I need to let go.

And become someone that Henry not only trusts, but respects. After all, I’m going to be spending the next four months working for him.

He’s given me a job—a gift, really. I’m going to be the best assistant he could ask for.

Marching back to the desk, I collect the scrap of paper. “Cedric... Phil...” I read off my notes, all chicken scratch. Nearly illegible, even to me. “Oh, you’re going to regret this, Henry.” I dial the concierge desk.

“How may I be of assistance, Mr. Wolf?” A deep male voice croons.

“It’s not Mr. Wolf. It’s his personal assistant.” I try that on for size. It sounds weird. “Is Autumn there yet?”

Chapter Twelve

The main doorbell rings.

I pause mid e-mail. Is Henry expecting someone? I know he doesn’t want anyone in here.

A bellhop stands outside with a large rectangular box in his hand. “Delivery for Abbi Mitchell.”

“Me?” I frown, taking it from him. He trots off down the path, leaving me staring at the box with the Patagonia logo on top. It’s so light, it feels empty. I open it at the dining table to find something wrapped in tissue and a handwritten note sitting on top. My heart flutters as I recognize Henry’s writing from earlier today.

Deepest apologies for allowing a grizzly bear to eat your clothing.

And your turkey jerky.

P.S. They didn’t have pink, but I thought this would look nice on you.

I can’t keep the stupid grin from my face as I unwrap and pull the lightweight silver down vest out and hold it up in the sunlight. It’s soft and luxurious and the feel of it beneath my fingers tells me it’s probably three times more expensive than my Target special. Beneath it is a North Gate College black zip-up sweatshirt to replace the one dragged through the mud by the bear.

Warmth spreads through my chest. The ever-busy billionaire, who has a hotel opening today, took the time to order this and have it brought here. I can’t even say his assistant did it for him, because he didn’t have one until today. How did he find the time to take care of this? And so fast!

Something weighs the right-hand pocket down. When I reach and pull out a package of turkey jerky, I start to laugh, and it helps break the dark cloud that’s been hovering over me all morning.