His Lifeguard Obsession

Sutton ignored my snarky comeback and pressed on with his line of questions. “Are there more lifeguards?”

“A few. More than swimmers.”

Mr. Sutton raised his eyebrow as if doubting my words.

“Swimming can make a mess of fresh fake tan or Botox, which rules out more than half the members.”

Mr. Sutton’s deadpan expression broke, and he chuckled. It was as rich and decadent as thick hot chocolate. “You’re a breath of fresh air, Chloe. Most of the people I’ve met so far are shit-scared of putting a foot wrong or upsetting me.”

Curiosity warred with caution in my chest, but impulsivity won out. “I don’t scare easily. Ask anyone. Why would I be scared of you?” I asked, putting my hand on my hip.

Sutton’s smirk had a far more sinister caste this time. He leaned in, lowering his tall body to speak in my ear. Heat radiated from the point of his proximity across my body, causing a gale of gooseflesh that made me shiver. “Because I’m the new boss, and most people don’t want to lose their jobs in the upcoming downsizing. It’s a breath of fresh air to find someone who isn’t bothered.”

The last was delivered with a wink, and then he was moving past me, strolling through the perfectly manicured walkways toward the main estate.

Crap. I’d gotten off on the worst possible foot with the new boss. This wasn’t anything new for me, but something told me Mr. Sutton was going to make my life harder than anyone else had before.

I didn’t know whether to be upset or excited about it.