Page 69 of After You Returned

“You’re seriously offering me this job? It’s not a pity ask?”

“Not sure what a pity ask is, but I’m offering you the job. It would be full-time, and you’d also be on call for weekends and holidays. You can bring your own clients with you and maintain your current payment arrangement with them. The resort would earn no money on those clients.”

Holy smugglers. This sounds perfect. I could stay on the island and still work as a therapist.

“Miles might have reminded me you’re a therapist, but I should have offered you the job before.”

“I need to think about it.” And go find Miles so I can give him a piece of my mind.

“Take your time. And don’t hurt him too bad.”

He rings off and I shove my phone in my pocket before grabbing my keys. Miles better hope I can’t find him because I am not a happy mermaid.

I stomp out of my apartment, but once I reach the sidewalk, I pause. I have no idea where Miles is. But I have an ace in the hole. Someone who can’t refuse to answer me after what she did.

Harper answers on the first ring. “Hey, Hazel. Where are you? Are you coming?”

“Coming where?”

“Mermaid Mini Golf.The whole family is here.”

“The whole family?”

“If you’re asking whether Miles is here, he is. If you hurry, you can be on his team. Dad, don’t touch that. Sorry, I need to go before Dad destroys a mermaid.”

When we hang up, I check my phone. No messages from Miles inviting me to a family event. Great. Mr. Hot and Cold has arrived at the party. This is why I didn’t want to give him a chance. I can’t trust him to always be there.

Like now. He’s switched off again. But why? Why arrange a job for me and then switch off? Miles Raider is the most confusing man I’ve ever met.

He’s also the man who will be answering all my questions. As soon as I can make it toMermaid Mini Golf.

I jump in my car and drive as fast as possible toward the cliffs. On one side isMermaid Mystical Gardens.On the other side isMermaid Mini Golf.In between is a statue of a poor mermaid who believed a smuggler when he claimed he loved her and ended up diving to her death off the cliffs.

The Raider family has taken over the mini golf course. There are Raiders everywhere. Pearl is running around the giant mermaid at the fifth hole while Rhett chases her. Dakota is sitting on a bench with baby Mira, laughing.

“Miles Raider!” I stomp toward where he’s standing with Jaxon and Sloane, waiting for their turn to begin.

“It’s about time you got here,” Jaxon says. “We’re about to start.”

“You were expecting me? Odd since I wasn’t invited.”

Miles holds up his hands. “I didn’t invite you because you’re supposed to be working atSmuggler’s Cove Restauranttonight.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “How do you know when I’m supposed to work?”

He shakes his phone at me. “I have your schedule synced to mine.”

“You have…” I shake my head. Miles knowing my schedule is not the issue here. His not inviting me tonight isn’t either. Although, I’m happy to hear he didn’t forget all about me. Maybe Mr. Hot and Cold hasn’t returned to the party yet after all.

“Did you speak to Hudson?”

His cheeks darken. “Y-y-yes.”

“How dare you ask him to offer me a pity job!”

“Can we discuss this somewhere private?” He motions to his brothers, who have given up on mini golf and are inching their way toward us.

“What’s a pity job?” Sloane asks.